Hello!

My baby grandson is with me today as he has hand, foot & mouth disease and I also have our eldest granddaughter who we pick from school & care for in the afternoon. I’m concerned that the bub may be contagious, can older siblings catch it from the younger ones.


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  • Oh yes, it’s one of those super contagious infections.


  • I know an guy who caught it. It is contagious before blisters appear. He only had red patches of rash when he went to the Dr. He was lucky his didn’t blister as much as it normally does.They contacted their State Health Dept. for advice. His wife was adviced to wipe down all surfaces with antibacterial wipes or disinfectant he may have touched, him not prepare food at all, wear a mask and not touch the children or allow them to touch him at all. She washed his clothes separately and put a special antibacterial product in the washing machine.


  • yes it is contagious and often spreads through childcare centres


  • Unfortunately highly contagious :-(


  • Glad things are on the improve!


  • Great to hear things are good now its no fun taking care of a little child when ill. Happy mothers day to you as well.


  • Glad all is ok now. My niece caught it a while back and the only place she had been was the local supermarket. The GP said it could simply have been from sitting in the shopping trolley after another sick child had used it. Not very pleasant. I always try to wipe down trolleys now or use my own bunny rug to line where bub is likely to touch.


  • All OK here now thanks ladies, baby grandson is cleared & back at day care & I just have a cold that has gone to my chest but feel OK to look after the other grandkids. Happy Mothers’s Day to you all. I’m looking forward to it!


  • Although it’s highly contagious between kids, I did not catch it off my son .. not pass it on to any other kids or adults as a “carrier”. And honestly it did not really affect my son as bad as I thought it would. I would take HFM over a tummy bug any day!!!


  • Yes it is very contagious, especially between children


  • Its very contagious my son managed to catch it twice which is very rare but can happen


  • Thanks again for your responses. I feel my symptoms are more like a head cold today but I have to be sure I’m not passing HFM onto my other grandkids so I will the GP to clear me.


  • Yes it’s contagious. Careful as it is like chicken pox as in worse to get as an adult (been there). Lots of washing hands. Good luck


  • Hope you are OK ASHBLONDE, wishing your little one a speedy recovery. Other mums have given great advice so good luck.


  • Yes, Hand Foot and Mouth is very contagious, it is passed on though direct contact and through bodily fluids, saliva, snot etc. Try and limit the direct contact the children have and use plenty of sanitisers and hand washing. Good luck! On the plus side the symptoms are usually more mild for older children and adults.


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