Chickenpox

just after some opinions really, my stepson's come down with chickenpox and I'm trying to suss out how long we need to leave it before he's in contact with Kaitlyn next. He started with symptoms early hours of monday morning, his mum took him to the docs and apparantly they told her he would be clear and no longer contagious in 5 days time. Not sure I believe her, some of you might remember we had this problem a few months ago when he had swine flu, she can't wait to get rid of the kids for a few hours and will move heaven and earth to make sure she doesn't miss out on her time off even when it's not in the kids best interests let alone having any thought for Kaitlyn. Have looked on the net and all the info I can find says 2-3 days after the last spots have scabbed over so not sure how the docs could've said that would definitely have happened in 5 days from the onset of symptoms. Kaitlyn is 11 months old and the info online does say that babies under 1 year who's mothers have had chickenpox (I have) should retain some immunity from their mothers blood and are unlikely to catch it or only get a mild dose. What would you all do in my situation? Don't want to be over cautious but not willing to put Kaitlyn in the firing line if it can be avoided, how long would you want to leave it? Know kids will miss us and we'll miss them but hate the thought of my baby being poorly and uncomfortable just cos OH's ex won't wait a sensible amount of time. Sorry it's an essay again,

love and hugs,
Clare xxx

Well, the info i was given

when Ben's mate had pox was that they are contagious before the spots come out then once the spots appear they are not contagious but to keep him away from other kids because until they scab over they can get an infection in them, like nursery said they dont wanna be getting muck and sand in the spots as it would cause infection.

I would elt him come over, she iss 11 months old and will cope with them fine, and like Surgie says, better to get it over n done with! Also, better for her to get them now than not get them at all, then get shingles in later lfe.

Sad as it is, I want ben to get them now so i know he wont have them for xmas (talk about forward planning lol)!!

Hope this helps

Tina and Ben 19 months

Francis

got them at 10 months. None of the other kids caught them from him and they haven't had them although the Dr said to me that unless the spots appear then parents very often don't know if the child has chicken pox and if Jude and Charlie didn't catch it from Francis I was to assume that they had already had it previously but with no spots.
I'm glad it's over and done with and he was fine with it. Not unwell at all, just looked a little odd. As far as I know it's when the spots looks as if they are scabbing over and fading but I have also heard it's a week after they come up.

Jenx

my son got chicken pox when i was 3 months pregnant with my daughter and my son was only 7 months old himself - so that blows the theory of babies under 1 not getting it if their mother has already had it, right out of the water. i had it as a child, so me and the bump were fine, but oliver got an AWFUL dose of it. it was horrible.

i got told conflicting things - my HV said that by the time the spots actually come out, the contagious stage is over and so i had no particular need to keep oliver away from other children. the practice nurse at the surgery told me however that it is contagious until the spots are scabbed over. to err on the side of caution i didnt let oliver near other kids until it was starting to go away - combined with the fact that people were looking at him as if he had the bubonic plague, so badly did he get it.

there is the argument tho that Kaitlyn is more than likely going to get it at some stage, so might as well get it over and done with! i hated it when oliver had it and it was a rough 10 days or so, but i am glad that it is out of the way - now i dont have to worry about him catching it at school or something in the future. just Emilie!

just do what you think is best hun
love kelly, oliver 19 months and emilie, 28 wks tomoro
xxx

Hi there,
Well my daughter got them when I was 5 month pregnant.
I have already had them as a child so MW n doc said it was fine.
My mate had her baby within the wk my daughter had them n the MW said that she wasn't 2 go near the baby for at least 2 weeks after the scabs had gone, this bein with it bein a newborn.
At nursery they say they can return once the spots have scabbed over, all of them that is! They r most contagious b4 the spots appear though, hence why it spreads fast!!
Alot of people send kids bak 2 nursery 2 early though, I have seen it alot from wkin with kids! Sum think that if the noticeable spots have scabbed then they r alrite!
If u want 2 b sure then I would leave it at least a week b4 puttin them back 2getha. Sum kids only have a few spots though, mine did!
All the best.
mummyand2.x