Chicken pox exposure - 14 month old?

[allisonrose]

Like many MDCers, I would like my kids to have natural immunity to chicken pox by getting the virus rather than the vaccine. My sons are 3.5 y/o and 14 months (still nursing). I know of a mom about an hour drive who is going to get her child exposed to chicken pox. An hour drive is doable for us and I am thinking about taking the opportunity to have my kids exposed - especially ds1. My husband thinks ds2 is too young to get the chicken pox. I don't think his age is a problem but then I had chicken pox as an infant (around 6-8 months) when my older brothers brought it home from school.

If you had 14 month old child, how would you take feel about s/he being exposed to chicken pox? [Edited to be more clear.] Is there any literature out that about what ages are better/worse to get the chicken pox?

Edited by allisonrose - 4/1/12 at 8:00am

[Marnica]

Personally I would feel fine exposing my DS who is about your son's age. I think a 14 month old would likely fare just fine (although if he is still nursing he may not even get it at all), but my own personal comfort level would NOT expose a child that young on purpose. I feel more comfortable if a child can vocalize to me how they feel just in case there ae any complications or out of the ordinary concerns. However you couldn't really expose your son without exposing your little one because if your son does get it, then your little one will be exposed regardless. Seems like it would have to be a package deal no??

[allisonrose]

Originally Posted by Marnica 

Seems like it would have to be a package deal no??

Yes, I do think that it is a package deal. The hesitation is more about ds2's age (14 months) than ds1. I think I will edit my original post to reflect that.

[brookie514]

If you end up with CP, cn we come play???  :D 

[allisonrose]

Originally Posted by brookie514 

If you end up with CP, cn we come play???  :D 

If I decide to go for it and we get them, I'll send you a PM.