Exposing your kids to chicken pox
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Forum Name: General Chat
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URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=39632
Printed Date: 29 August 2025 at 1:48pm
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Topic: Exposing your kids to chicken pox
Posted By: My3Sons
Subject: Exposing your kids to chicken pox
Date Posted: 20 June 2011 at 9:34am
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We have had all sorts of bugs going all around our kindy including chicken pox but so far nothing. My 10 year old had a mild dose when he was 4 but my 3 and 5 year old haven't had them yet. So heres the question - would you INTENTIONALLY expose your kids to chicken pox? I was talking about this with a friend the other day how it would be nice to get them out of the way while they are young but I dont think I could intentionally expose them, my eldest had a mild dose and it wasnt a bit deal however his friend who he caught them from most likely was covered top to toe and was miserable Would love to hear what others think!! ------------- Mum to Mr 10, Mr 6 and Mr 4 
 
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Replies:
Posted By: Hopes
Date Posted: 20 June 2011 at 9:45am
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I always thought I would - good to get it over with while they're young, I had them when I was a bit older wand was utterly miserable and off school for a month.
Now that I've got a baby, though, I can't stand the thought of taking him somewhere knowing he might get sick because of it, even though I can see it might in theory be a good idea. So I wouldn't anymore. -------------   
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Posted By: My3Sons
Date Posted: 20 June 2011 at 9:48am
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yep thats my thoughts too Hopes, it seems like a good idea to try and get them out of the way but I just don't think I could do it! We have had that grotty vomiting bug and coughs and colds too over the past few weeks and a houseful of sickies is not fun!! ------------- Mum to Mr 10, Mr 6 and Mr 4
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Posted By: MrsEmma
Date Posted: 20 June 2011 at 9:51am
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I am the same as Hopes, I always thought it would be good to get them over with.. Until a friend offered for me to come up when her kids had them to expose DS who was about 11-12 months. I couldn't do it.. He was already teething and I just couldn't knowingly make him ill. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: RicKer
Date Posted: 20 June 2011 at 10:04am
| I would but that's just me. Same thoughts as you with getting it over and done with while they are young. Ive heard of pox parties to expose kids but haven't been to one. |
Posted By: jazzy
Date Posted: 20 June 2011 at 10:23am
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After my experience with DS1 & chicken pox I would of said no. He got a very bad dose & was really sick, completely covered for head to toe & had several trips to the dr to bring his temp down, he was delirious, vomiting it was horrid. DS2 was 3 weeks old, fully BF & got 6 spots on his feet the Dr said he was the youngest child he had seen with them.
DS2 has not had them again. We were going to get DS3 immunised against them due to the server dose DS1 had but a week after making the decision to do it he got them & a mild dose with only a few spots, he was at kindy when he was infectious & no other child caught them off him. |
Posted By: JessDub
Date Posted: 20 June 2011 at 10:31am
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DS1 caught chickenpox before I had the chance to immunise him (was on my list of things to do) and he had a mild dose so a good experience. DS2 I will immunise before he starts daycare at age 2, unless he catches it earlier of course.
Despite the cost, I would immunise before I deliberately exposed a child. DS1 was lucky to get it mildly but some of his friends have been horribly spotty, itchy and miserable. ------------- 
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Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 20 June 2011 at 10:42am
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DD was exposed on several occasions to a family member who had them. I was in hospital at the time and I know her family tried to keep them far apart but when I came back I was relaxed about it. We're BFing, I've had chicken pox and even though she was exposed, she never got them. I've heard that I would have anti bodies to it which would pass through my BM to her... I don't know if that's true or not though.
Anyway... My granddad always tells me this story his father used to tell him. My great grandfather came from a family of about 13+ kids with 4 sets of twins in 5 years... If one got sick they would stick them all together to catch it. Get it over and done with quickly than dragging it on. But apparently they only had that many kids because often if one got really sick then they had a high chance of dying... Plus lack of contraception. Anyway! If I had more than one child I would probably expose them to it if the other one had it too if that makes sense. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: AandCsmum
Date Posted: 20 June 2011 at 10:42am
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It is definitely better to get them as a child as getting them as an adult is a horrid experience & getting them when you are elderly can cause death????? We couldn't go near my in-laws when Alia had them as they hadn't had them before.
I wish vaxing was free here like in Oz, I will consider getting Cooper done if he hasn't had them by 5yo. ------------- Kel http://lilypie.com"> 
A = 01.02.04 & C = 16.01.09 & G = 30.03.12 |
Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 20 June 2011 at 10:55am
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No. Although some kids don't get it bad others do and I won't intentionally get my kids sick with anything.
I'm someone who didn't get them as a kid. I'd rather immunise myself and my boys than get them. Kel - the vaccine has actually come down a lot in price. For me it use to be $150 odd and last time I checked it was now $70. Kids I imagine would be cheaper? |
Posted By: fire_engine
Date Posted: 20 June 2011 at 11:37am
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No way. I've looked after people who have had bad complications from CP and there is no way I would intentionally expose my children to something that could make them very sick.
The vaccine isn't cheaper for children - it's not subsidised at all, as far as I am aware. ------------- Mum to two wee boys |
Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 20 June 2011 at 11:46am
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I couldn't expose them on purpose, I would feel awful. Most kids will catch it at some point, we all had had it by the time we were 10, I got it when I was 3 or 4. ------------- |
Posted By: Two_Puddle_Ducks
Date Posted: 20 June 2011 at 12:30pm
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I would expose them. I would rather they get it before they start school and while I'm at home to give them lots of love and attention.
I wouldn't go searching for it though. I guess if a friends children had it, it wouldn't stop me from visiting. Just like if a friends children have colds that doesn't stop me from visiting. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Babykatnz
Date Posted: 20 June 2011 at 12:42pm
I would and have purposely exposed mine to CP (not my youngest, although he was unknowingly exposed at only 4 days old  ) My oldest was due to start school in less than a year and I figured having him get it before then, rather than missing out on school time was better. He had a very mild dose, but it seems to have been enough as he hasnt had it again since. Jae got it without being exposed on purpose, but if she hadnt gotten it already, then I would in the next year or 2 if I knew someone had them. Not sure about D as, being my last, and the only one in this house who hasnt had them yet, has noone to catch them off here at home. I wouldnt go asking for people to tell me their kids had CP, but I wouldnt NOT visit had they told me either.------------- Brandon - 05/12/2003  
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Posted By: Redbedrock
Date Posted: 20 June 2011 at 1:18pm
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No way, but maybe my view is coloured by my daughter's experience. She had chicken pox just before her 2nd birthday. after 2 days of syringing water into her mouth and her vomitting because her throat and oesaphagus were so swollen with lesions. At day 3 she could not stand and we were sent to ED, where she suffered a lumbar puncture to rule out a cerebral infection, an IV to rehydrate her, 5 days of IV acyclovir (anti viral med) and morphine infusion to control the pain and sedate her aginst the cerebral irritation.
scariest time of my life, she thanfully does not remember a thing. I wish we had vaccinated before hand tho, we procastrinated for a couple of months before she became ill. I know that she is a rare case, and thank fully has no lasting damage, apart from a few scars on her lady bits. I work as a transplant nurse and I can tell you chicken pox is the one illness we are scared off with dealing with patients on anti rejection medications. ------------- http://www.babysfirstsite.com"> 
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Posted By: crakars
Date Posted: 20 June 2011 at 1:21pm
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We have just had the chicken pox - and it was not fun - little amount of sleep for 3 days and very miserable children. But now its done - i am quite pleased they got it quite early as its all done - being young they didtn scratch much and they were not worried about how they looked. The doctor did tell us that children can die from complications of chicken pox so that was rather sobering.
Also i was breast feeding the little one adn she was covered in them -------------  http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: fallen
Date Posted: 20 June 2011 at 1:35pm
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My eldest daughter was exposed many times while she was a preschooler as cp went round playcentre a few times. As cp is contagious before the spots come out and she had had contact with the kids who came down with it before they got spots I didn't have a problem with taking her to play at her friends houses when they had them. She didn't get them while at playcentre though. She got them when she was 6 and cp when round her school.
DS got them when he was 8 months old and they went round his daycare. His dose was way worse then DD1's. But he was so much easier to manage then DD was. ------------- |
Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 20 June 2011 at 1:36pm
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No I wouldn't expose DD on purpose to any illness or disease I'd prefer to get her vaccinated against CP. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">   [/url] Angel June 2012 |
Posted By: pekay
Date Posted: 20 June 2011 at 1:42pm
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I recently paid $65 for each of my children for the vaccine. I really don't know why you wouldn't! I have heard some pretty bad stories. Also,I happen to know a lot of adults that either haven't had it or didn't get it till adulthood, so I wouldn't totally rely on them getting it naturally. If there was no vaccine, I would seriously consider exposing on purpose. Yes, I would feel awful about it, but they would get it at some point so why not at least choose a convenient time, iykwim?
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Posted By: Emmi_
Date Posted: 20 June 2011 at 1:58pm
Ditto! I would like for DD to get them while shes young (<10) (she has eczema anyway so is constantly scratching, so wouldnt make much difference!) Not sure if I would go searching for it, maybe if she was starting to get older and still hadnt had it yet then I would... The one thing that would make me want to intentionally expose her (I say want because I havnt and hope not to, but would prefer it) is because chickenpox is much more likely to cause severe disease in adults than in children. Adults are 10 times more likely to be hospitalized when they have chickenpox than are children. And the vaccine lasts for around 20 years (if Ive remembered my facts right) So the vaccine could be starting to wear off when shes turning into an adult (which is not preferable IMO) ------------- 
+1 May 09 Angel 
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Two_Puddle_Ducks wrote:Posted By: Whateversville
Date Posted: 20 June 2011 at 2:03pm
Me too. |
Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 20 June 2011 at 2:31pm
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I heard and I could have heard wrong but vaccines don't last forever and you protect them while they're young but these diseases can be far more dangerous and worse complications if you get them as an adult. Hardly any adults vaccinate themselves.
I realise that there are serious complications for some with chicken pox but I won't be vaccinating DD against it. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: HoneybunsMa
Date Posted: 20 June 2011 at 3:04pm
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I have a friend whos daughter possibly has it and I will be taking DD to visit shall she have it. Also the kids miss eachother we can't say the girls names in fear it starts a moment like we've had in the past where they say the others name for 20mins at a time.
I would much rather she get them young then older less chance of scratching and now is a great time as I am on break from uni, no exams or anything and not coming up to any significant bdays or anything  ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker"> 
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Posted By: choco69
Date Posted: 20 June 2011 at 7:15pm
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they used to have 'pox' parties when I was young, my mother didn't take us but my brother and sister still got CP and I never got it
when I started TTC the dr checked my immunity, because I work with children, and apparently i have immunity so obviously through exposure my body just fights it on it's own that said I don't think I could willingly expose my child, think I would prefer to vaccinate as it can be really horrid to get at any age ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
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Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 20 June 2011 at 7:25pm
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I tried to expose my eldest to them when he was younger and he never got them. took him till he was 6 to finally get them and it was a horrible week. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: Shelt
Date Posted: 20 June 2011 at 8:22pm
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I got DD vaccinated about this time last year because she gets sick all the time with chest infections, colds, ear infections, tonsilitus etc anyway and I just wanted one less thing she could catch! I only got an incredibly mild dose as a child (about 6 spots mum said) so I was worried about getting the adult version (I have forgotten what its called).
I talked to the doc about the effectiveness of the vax and she said that the more times they are exposed after vaccination the stronger the immunity to CP and the longer it will last. I have a friend whose girls both got it a couple of months ago and Gabrielle had played with both of them right before the spots came out and she was fine. I was so glad that the vax worked ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Nikki
Date Posted: 20 June 2011 at 8:40pm
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I had it at 16 and it was horrible!! (2 weeks off school). DS had them just after he turned two but DD was only a couple of weeks old and fully BF so didn't get it. It was pretty horrible, so as much as I'd prefer she gets it young, I'd much rather vaccinate than expose her on purpose and have to deal with her being that sick. Better get around to that soon.
Shes been exposed a few times and hasn't got them - so I wonder if she has some immunity from when DS had them and I was BFing her. ------------- DS (5yrs) and DD (3yrs) |
Posted By: fire_engine
Date Posted: 20 June 2011 at 9:06pm
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With the vaccine, it's only been around for about 15 years so they don't yet know how long it lasts. I think the latest recommendation is to get your immunity tested after about 20 years and get reimmunised if required. ------------- Mum to two wee boys |
Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 20 June 2011 at 9:37pm
But how many people know that or do that? ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: fire_engine
Date Posted: 20 June 2011 at 9:49pm
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They should be giving that information when they do the jab. ------------- Mum to two wee boys |
Posted By: WestiesGirl
Date Posted: 20 June 2011 at 10:51pm
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I would definitely not expose my child/ren on purpose to the CP. Jackson has had them at 5 months old, thankfully only a very mild dose but was still bad enough.
CP can make children at any age very sick, not too sure why anyone would want to expose their children and intentionally make them sick. ------------- Our Angel July 08 Gone but not forgotten
And to complete our family, our princess has arrived 
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Posted By: Plushie
Date Posted: 21 June 2011 at 1:47am
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Shingles is the adult version.
I don't like the idea of willingly inflicting illness on DS and wouldnt do it at his age now, maybe when he was an older toddler. My flatmate got it when he was 20 and it was miserable, he was hospitalised. He was crook for weeks and weeks. Much rather avoid that! |
Posted By: Mum_mum
Date Posted: 21 June 2011 at 9:10am
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I wouldn't willingly expose my kids I don't think but I also won't be vaxxing against it especially my boys (if I get any). Apparently if boys catch CP when they are in their teens or later it can cause infertility, that would be right when the vax is wearing off.
------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
Angel baby - May 2008
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Posted By: My3Sons
Date Posted: 21 June 2011 at 4:19pm
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Thanks for all the opinions everyone, was interesting to hear what others think on the subject!! ------------- Mum to Mr 10, Mr 6 and Mr 4
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Posted By: rorylex
Date Posted: 21 June 2011 at 9:51pm
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Cant chicken pox from 12-13yrs onwards cause infertility? Im sure thats something i have always read.
for that reason I wouldnt stay away from someone who did have cp, though I wouldnt purposefully take my child out where other kids can catch it. seeing someone with there kids at farmers clearly covered in them playing with the toys actually had me quite pissed off. lucky for me all 4 have had them and was all mild spots. ds2 was the worst he had spots all over but they didnt bother him much or for long just lots of pine tarsol baths and it was gone with in a few days. took him to dr just for comfirmation. they got it through playcentre just about half our session had them. most parents werent worried about the kids getting them just meant a week or 2 away from the place. ------------- Mummy to 4 boys Samuel - 18.6.05 Rory - 15.7.06 Mason - 13.06.08 Emmett - 24.01.10 Baby #5 - cooking |
Posted By: Nothing
Date Posted: 21 June 2011 at 9:51pm
I would rather DD got them when she was younger, but I wouldnt purposely drive to a friends house and make her play with a sick child, however if they are around then I wont keep her from activites with kids that might have been exposed. If you get them as an adult then your chances of dying go right up, they can go in your throat and stomach  ------------- 
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Posted By: snugglebug
Date Posted: 21 June 2011 at 10:04pm
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Simple answer from me- no way no how would I intentionally expose my son to anything to make him sick.
Each to their own, I respect all parents and their choices and their right to make them- it's just not for me. ------------- Me 28, DH 29 DS born 20 Nov 2010 (4 years old) #2 due October 7 http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: Nikki
Date Posted: 22 June 2011 at 3:02pm
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They don't know if the vax wears off ... there is just no data longer than 20yrs yet as thats as long as its been around. So quite possibly it will not wear off at all. Theres nothing to suggest it will ... they just can't obviously say it won't when it hasn't been around that long, if that makes sense. ------------- DS (5yrs) and DD (3yrs) |
Posted By: mumtooboys
Date Posted: 22 June 2011 at 9:05pm
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ALL vaccines wane, not even the manufacturers claim that you get lifelong immunity from a vaccine. The length of time it takes to wane will vary, but it will eventually do so. There are studies that show that immunity from the CP vaccine can wane in as little as 5 years for some people. The efficacy of preventing varicella infection in the first place is 70-90%.
New models show that as people who are naturally immune to measles start to die, leaving only a vaccinated population, that by 2050 there will be more people at risk of measles than before the vaccine was ever invented. To answer the OP question...My two have had them, but I certainly wouldn't go out of my way to avoid anyone I knew who had kids with CP, because I would rather they had them as children when there are less risks. DS1 finally got them at his 5th known exposure, through daycare, and DS2 at first exposure courtesy of DS1. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: ....
Date Posted: 22 June 2011 at 10:47pm
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I got the "Chicken Pops" vaccine when I was about 7/8 and caught the Pox when I was 17, three weeks off school. I caught it off my brother who was 20 at the time and he had it bad, had to cancel his trip to Fiji and went through boxes and boxes of Panadol.
But maybe he's just a wuss. |