Sick visitors

[FluffyJawsOfDoom]

I'm due in about a week, so will soon have a lovely newborn to cuddle (ahhh). However cold season is upon us and various members of the family are Fbing they're ill, but I know they'll still want to come and see us regardless of whether they're still symptomatic or not...

What do people do about this? Do you bar ill people from the house or do you just take it as one of those things and accept your newborn is likely to get a stonking cold?

[EdMcDunnough]

Ban them. I am merciless about this sort of thing.

Be gentle but insist you do not want a poorly new born baby - and if anyone does turn up make them wash their hands when they come in.

[EdMcDunnough]

You could put a general advance warning on FB if you want people to see it but not feel singled out, iyswim.

Like, please could we ask that if anyone is poorly when our baby arrives, they hold off visiting till they are better? It would mean so much to us, thankyou.

[Durab]

I don't know, maybe for the first few days you could ban them, but then I wouldn't have anyone but the very closest then anyway and I can't imagine banning GPs because they've got a cold.

Unless you're planning not to take baby to the supermarket or anywhere else it seems a bit pointless IMO.

[FluffyJawsOfDoom]

I most certainly am not planning on doing the weekly shop within the first week that's what DHs are for :o

[kissyfur]

Ban them! I would never go visit a newborn if I was poorly, people shouldn't put u in that position. Anyone with a cold, cough or cold sore should stay away! I'll be banning anyone ill from visiting when my baby arrives in November. Good luck for your DC's arrival

[Durab]

Ok, so the Supermarket was a bad example, but you're not going to leave the house for a week?

[ThePetiteMummy]

People should have enough politeness and common sense to stay away, without being told. If not, then I would just ask they visit when they're feeling better. Of course your little one will be exposed to bugs when they go out, but I think it's different if these people will obviously be handling and possibly kissing the baby.

[FluffyJawsOfDoom]

I wasn't particularly planning to, no......... I'm anticipating being pretty knackered and it taking more than a few days for me to get my shit together tbh! (Plus I don't want to BF in public til I get the knack of doing it discreetly.)

Glad there is a general consensus! I shall be ruthless :)

[Flisspaps]

Durab I didn't, it's not unusual. Trying to feed a newborn when they've got a snotty nose must be a nightmare - its hard enough with a 5mo!

[poocatcherchampion]

I didn't leave the house for at least a week! Ask them not to come sick.

[Durab]

Ok, I was probably the same with DC1, but you'd better quarantine yourself and DH until the birth or it might be you you have to ban! Even if you don't go out, you might be glad to have someone take baby out for a while.

By the time DC2 arrives you'll be used to the whole family having permanent colds and and DC1 will have a routine with toddler groups etc you want to maintain, so it will seem impossible to protect a new baby.

MIL will be put out if she's not allowed to see baby in the first few days (unless shes a saint) and IMO it's not worth starting off badly - there will be plenty of causes of conflict between you over the next few years.

[Flisspaps]

Durab I was the same with DS as I was with DD - we didn't go out for the first week or so, and anyone who turned up with so much as a sniffle would have been turned away at the door. I've not experienced the family having permanent colds, and I work as a childminder so it's not as if we're living in a protective bubble. It is entirely possible - and quite easy - to protect a newborn unless your other child(ren) is/are at school!

[jkklpu]

ban them - it's your dp's job to make sure they don't come
and of course you shouldn't feel you have to go out for at least a week - as long as you like, in fact

[FluffyJawsOfDoom]

Thanks so much everyone :)

[VintageNancy]

I was really annoyed when my MIL turned up to visit us & our new DD with a cold. However she'd flown 5000 miles so couldn't turn her away . DD didn't catch it.
Fast forward 5 months and we're staying at MIL's and guess what? She's got a cold. I don't think we're going to avoid it this time...

[susiey]

Unless they are the grandparents then there is no reason for them to visit with a cold in the first few weeks.
That said we all got the flu within the first 4 days of ds(dc2 ) being born and we were all really poorly barely functioning hallucinating etc but the newborn was fine not even a sniffle!
We were staying at the MIL 's because it was Christmas and managed to infect every other person in the house but not the baby!

[elizaregina]

def ban them how do you know its not the start of something much more nasty?

[Badgerina]

I'm not leaving the house for a week, and won't be having visitors for the first 4/5 days ANYWAY. Regardless of sickness.

This is perfectly normal. You need rest, breast feeding needs to be established, milk is coming in, baby is sleepy, people can wait. They have a lifetime with your child ahead of them. The first days DEFINITELY belong to Mum and Dad (and sibs)