2 1/2 yr old has chicken pox (probably)....what about my 6 month old?

[Anonymous]

I am freaking out... I admit it...totally freaking out. I'm pretty sure my 2 1/2 yr old has chicken pox. We go to the ped in the morning to confirm. Rash just started this afternoon. But I have a 6 month old at home who has not had the shot and has no "coverage". What to do? Has anyone gone through this who can calm me down? I believe if he has it, she has already been maximally exposed (maximally contagious 48 hours before developing rash, although contagious untill the last blister heals). Should I get her out of the house ( i can go to family), or is this just silly and dramatic because frankly if he has it, she probably does too....thanks in advance for any info.

[Anonymous]

Like you said, at this point there is nothing you can do about it--any exposure has probably already happened. I understand why you are freaking out; I was out shopping towards the end of my maternity leave with my first, and some lady with a kid COVERED in chicken pox scabs got in the elevator with us. Now, I know that they aren't contagious once they scab...but mommy-protection just kicks in and I was (internally) furious.

That said, if your DD does get chicken pox, babies USUALLY get a more mild case than adults. I'm sure your ped will tell you what to watch for and what could be dangerous. Plus, there have been tons of problems with that vaccine not working (case in point, your 2.5 year old, if he got the shot). Chicken pox is no fun, but I think actually having HAD the virus protects you a lot better in the long run than the hit-or-miss vaccine. I wish I had gotten it as a young child; I got it in high school, and had much worse scarring than I would have as a child (those big scabs are much more tempting to pick off when you are older and self conscious about looking like a freak!!).

[Anonymous]

My 16 month old is just now getting over it fully (she had the vaccine at 12 months, apparently not so effective) and it really hasn't been that bad. We had two long nights when I think the itching was it's worst and she says "Mama, boo boos" over and over, which breaks my heart, but all in all she's had worse illnesses. I had chicken pox when I was 5 mos, courtesy of my older brother, and I think it made for a bad week for my parents, but all turned out fine. Try to relax as much as possible, though I'm sure you have your hands full!

[Anonymous]

My husband -- yes, husband -- got the chicken pox when our baby was 4 months old. We were told it was rare for a baby that young to get it. The baby was so fresh from the womb and was still breast feeding, so I was told she might get some immunity from me. Bottom line, neither the baby or our 3 year old got the pox.

[Anonymous]

my three year old niece got the chicken pox and gave it to her 8 month old sister. It was a pretty awful two weeks for my SIL, but both kids recovered just fine.

[Anonymous]

When I was an infant (40 years ago), it was common practice to expose all of the children to chicken pox as early as possible. As one of the PP said, it is much easier to deal with a baby having it than older child or adult. So when my 3 year old brother got it, my parents exposed me at 6 months to get it over with. I am happy to report that I have no recollection of it at all and am glad I got it as a baby.

[Anonymous]

when my kids got it, the dr told me that the 2nd child in the family usually gets it worse because it seems that the more one is exposed the worse the case is. seems weird, and i do not know if that is proven or just what he saw, but that is how it happened. my first one got it from exposure to a friend. my 2nd one to get it got it from prolonged exposure to his sibling (weeklong). Id ask, and try to keep them apart (i know-- an impossibility, but try!)

[Anonymous]

pp here- and the 2nd one got a much more severe case than the first. he was 21 months at the time. he's fine.

[Anonymous]

I wouldnt stress to much (impossible I know)

[Anonymous]

Want to have a playdate?

My DS is 3 and we haven't had him vaccinated for chicken pox. He has had some reactions to previous vaccines and severe food allergies...so we have been holding off. Wish he would just get them...so we could negate this issue.

Good luck. On the positive side, I guess you will be done with in, maybe in 1 swoop?