How dangerous is chicken pox in babies? i have a 5 month old who may have been exposed at the pediatricians office today.

Watch, wait: Incubation for infants and children is long- 21-28 days, but once past 3-6 months of age, infants lose any antibody protection mother may give from her exposure history to chicken pox. Any varicella infection is potentially life-threatening, but most infections in term infants with an intact immune system are mild...See your pediatrician for more information

Depends: If it happens to the newly born it is evident mom never had it and baby has no immune protection. It could be deadly. If YOU had it as a kid, your kid may have partial immunity. At 5 mo, it is usually milder than those that get it at 5 or 10. Incubation ranges from 10-21 days with an average of 14. I would be observant & contact your doc if you think you see sots emerge.