Should I separate my 3 months old baby from her sister who is having chicken pox & how long?

Answer 1

I can't say whether you should or shouldn't, but *I* would let my baby continue being exposed. She's already been exposed plenty just by being around her sister *before* the CP broke out, and possibly originally exposed from the same source, so she could be just a day or two behind her with the spots! But the point is, you won't really be "avoiding" exposure by secluding her at this point-- the deed has already been done. ;)

If you are breastfeeding, and are already immune to CP yourself, you may be protecting her with enough antibodies that she may not catch them at all, or may catch a very mild case. My 3rd child caught CP at 5 months while exclusively breastfed, but only had about 6 spots total on her body. She ended up catching them again 5 years later-- full-blown, but still milder than most of my other kids had had them. So if your baby daughter ends up with a *really* mild case, you may not want to rely on that as having given her lifelong immunity.

You aren't by chance in Southern VA/Northern NC, are you? I'd drive a couple of hours to get my two youngest exposed to the CP right about now! LOL

Good luck with everything, and I hope the girls fair the pox well!

FYI edit: The vaccine isn't generally given until 12-18 months old, so little babies are not usually getting it at 2 & 4 months checkups. Also, the vaccine is NOT a guarantee of lifelong, or even short-term immunity. Now after finding out that vaccinated kids are catching them in their teen years & young adulthood (which is much higher risk and more miserable), due the the immunities wearing off , a booster vaccine is recommended to keep the immunities up. Very dangerous for young women growing into the reproductive years!

Also, my 3rd round of CP was caught from kids I babysat, who GOT THE VACCINE and came down with CP very shortly afterwards. It spread to my kids, who caught it within a week or so. I've seen too many cases of vaccinated kids catching them, either from the shot itself, or from later exposure, to trust in the vaccine's ineffectiveness. Varicella is one of least reliable vaccines out there, and w/ CP being such a generally harmless childhood disease, the only reasons it's popular now are A) it prevents parents' missing work for 7-10 days, and 2) the immunization industry is a cash cow that's nowhere near being milked dry.

Funny how CP was never considered a dangerous or deadly childhood illness until after the vaccine came out-- suddenly it had a well-advertised reputation for killing babies left and right... (rolls eyes) Sorry folks, that's one vaccine I'll skip, thankyouverymuch.

Answer 2

Hard to separate two people that live togethor and especially because you will have contact with both of them, but I would do my best to separate them for a week or so.
I wouldn't mind so much if the baby got chicken pox, but I just wouldn't want a sick child if I could help it. A 3 month old won't feed or sleep properly whilst sick, you will get tired and you need your energy to look after a newborn and a sick child!
All the best!

Answer 3

You should not let the baby get chicken pox this early. He/she should be getting the vaccine at some point, you need to ask your doctor at what age your baby can get it. Then you won't have to worry about exposing the child at all. I personally didn't know there was a chicken pox vaccine until a couple years ago, and I'm glad my daughter got one.

Answer 4

Well, you can try but because Chicken Pox starts 2 weeks before you see the rash...your 3 month old is probably already infected. If it's any consolation, if they DO get it...better young than older. It's easier on them if they're younger. Good luck! I feel for ya! I know the poor little girl is just miserable.

Answer 5

i think its best if you both just let them have chicken pox at the same time, this way it makes it easier to get it out of the way. make sure you keep a close on on your three month though, any sickness for a baby that age can be dangerous, specially if they haven't worked up their immune system yet. its likely your three month old has already contracted chicken pox though. id go to a doctor straight away if you see any symptoms.

Answer 6

Babies that are healthy have no problem fighting them off. So call the doc and make sure she can get them keep her away till the doc says it OK. Also I would worry more about her being around adults even if they already had the pox's it is possible to get shingles especially grandparents and that my friend sucks trust me I have had them. Hope this helps and the little people feel better.

Answer 7

when she got her 2month shots she should have gotten one for chicken pox if not in the hospital i have a 4 month old and they told us every baby gets a shot now and he will never get the pox ...
but id call your doctor to see if she got it or not and if its active yet or if she can get it ...
but if she can catch id say dont let her ... chicken pox at that age would be horrible!!!

Answer 8

Yes you should separate her from her sis! Chicken pox is highly contagious and you wouldn't want them both ill...:-(...

To answer your second question: Until the Chicken pox are gone!

Answer 9

Actually.........if you had chicken pox in that past you have passed the antibodies to her and she should have them for the first 6 months of life.

When in doubt call your pediatrician.

Answer 10

you didn't say if the baby had the vaccine or not. if she did she should be able to play with her sister. do call your doctor and also remember it is better to get this early. you will have to watch her carefully. complications can happen in an instant. good luck, you have a long few days ahead of you. if she didn't get the vaccine, she most likely already has it. and this might be emotional for the older sister to be seperated from her baby sister.