Chicken Pox in Babies

Has anyone had a baby who has caught chicken pox before? We were at my cousins yesterday and she text me today to tell me that her wee girl has come out in chicken pox spots today. I am so worried about Harry (4 months) as she was all over him. I felt like crying when I read her text. (sleep deprivation probably didn't help!)   
Has anyone else ever been in this situation?

i had chicken pox when i was 2 months old and I'm fine now (and was never very badly affected with it at all apparently)

I think mama is right about the spots part not being contagious, but i second giving plunket health line a ring - they are awesome


Edited by Susiec

Chicken pox are contagious until all the blisters have crusted over. The liquid from the blisters contain the virus which transfers the infection from one person to another.

I'd rather my kids got it when they are young than as teens or adults as adults feel a lot worse, take longer to recover and are more at risk of any complications.

When my daughter was about 4 chicken pox went though her Playcentre, I took her to play with lots of children who had it so she'd catch it. But she didn't. She didn't get it until it went though her school when she was 6. One of the parents of the kids in her class got it and was extremely ill.

Actually it is probably better to get it younger than older as at his age he wont be able to scratch the spots. He will be unsettled and the like but hopefully he wont get a bad does.
THey take 14 day before the spots appear and you are contagious for that whole time right through till when the spots have blistered. So I wouldn't hang out with anyone who doesn't want chicken pox for a while.

He probably will still be covered by your immunity at his age.... or so we're hoping!

Yes I am breastfeeding - good point, Fingers crossed! Although maybe like everyone is saying it won't be the end of the world and at least we'll get them over and done with. Will keep you posted in ten days or more!!
Could be a lonely few weeks if we can't be around people. Better get some good toys from the toy library.

My DS got them when he was 3+ (new years eve) my baby was about 3wks old, the dr said he would probably not get them as I was BF & he had not known any other baby that young to get it. The next day he had only a few spots mainly on his feet, the dr said to keep BF as regularly as possible & he may not get any more, he was monitored at the drs regularly till the spots went. He is 4 now & has not had it again so we don't know if he will get them or not even though he has been in contact with other kids with it.

I think it takes 2 weeks for it to show & contagious till last scab has gone.

My now 21mth old got them when she was about 5mths old and OMG she suffered badly, she just cried and cried coz she was so uncomfy and theres nothing you can do but keep them cool and try to soothe them it was very hard.... What made hers worse was that she got about 50 blisters in her groin area so they were hard to get dried up coz of her frequently going wee wee's, not to metion the other 100 or so over the rest of her body....She had to be naked 24/7. I was also advised by the Dr's at our A&E that becasue she got them so young she MAY get them again when she's older....Just keep a close eye on your bubba....I still remember the day my baby got hers.... I changed her nappy in the morning around 8am when she woke and she had nothing on her body and when I went to change her again around 11-12 her groin area was covered with blisters, I took her to the Dr's but he didnt think it was Chkn Pox coz they dont usually start down there but in her case they did, I had to take her to the hosp to get a proper diagnosis...I dont want to scare you but just be prepared in case bubs does get them.... Best of luck that it does skipp your bubba....