Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Visitor with cold

23 replies

mimosaic · 31/10/2018 20:46

Visitors (family) are coming tomorrow, and one of them has a cold. We have a 6-month old baby, so I'm feeling a bit apprehensive. We can't reschedule the visit. Is there a nice way to ask the visitors to wash their hands regularly, and to ask that they don't hug us or hold the baby?

OP posts:
Bobbiepin · 31/10/2018 20:48

6 months is fine as long as baby wasn't premature and doesn't have any other health conditions. You can't expect to be able to protect them from every bug going and washing hands too regularly will contribute to a less developed immune system. PFB by any chance?

user1493413286 · 31/10/2018 20:51

To be honest you’re coming to the time of year when a baby will have a lot of colds anyway. At 6 months I wouldn’t be too worried and would just accept the risk.

MamaLovesMango · 31/10/2018 20:51

Thought you were going to say the baby was 6 days not months.

If your baby catches a cold, they will be fine. It might even be good for them in the long run.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Families
FireworksAndSparklers · 31/10/2018 20:53

You don't need to ask them to wash their hands and not go near you or baby. Six month old babies are fine getting colds unless there's something else going on immunologically that you haven't told us.

SoyDora · 31/10/2018 20:53

You can’t avoid colds! Surely at this time of year everywhere you take your baby you encounter with people with colds?

madmum5811 · 31/10/2018 20:54

Of course you can ask someone ever so nicely to wash their hands. Your baby.

Fluffyears · 31/10/2018 20:54

There are hundreds of strains of the cold virus so each time you get one you are then immune to that particular one. That is good for the baby really as it’s buildibg up immunity and unless there is an underlying health issue it’s just a cold.

JosellaPlayton · 31/10/2018 20:55

You can’t keep a 6 month old away from all winter colds! By Christmas you’ll probably have a crawler that’s trying to eat off the floor. Relax a bit.

SillySallySingsSongs · 31/10/2018 20:55

At this time of year they are going to pick up a cold. At 6m they will be fine.

Thecomfortador · 31/10/2018 20:57

It will be fine - my 6 month old had a cold in his first week of life. He is also just getting over a heavy one, it's miserable for them but part of life. Unless your relative is known to be particularly negligent with basic hygiene I wouldn't say anything.

Original poster
mimosaic · 31/10/2018 20:59

Ok thank you everyone, sounds like I'm being a bit precious! I'll not say anything and hope for the best then.

OP posts:
Bobbiepin · 31/10/2018 21:01

Just as an extra, raising the head of the cot slightly, a humidifier, Calpol and snuffle babe drops will all help when the inevitable happens.

MamaLovesMango · 31/10/2018 21:02

Get some snufflebabe and saline spray in and you’ll be prepared!

formerbabe · 31/10/2018 21:02

Just think op...loads of babies live with snotty older siblings who go to school and pick up all sorts of illnesses!

Original poster
mimosaic · 31/10/2018 21:02

Thank you @Bobbiepin I have calpol and snufflebabe at the ready!

OP posts:
Original poster
mimosaic · 31/10/2018 21:04

I know a cold at some point in her life, or indeed this winter, will be inevitable. But to the extent I can avoid this one without being rude or weird, I would like to!

OP posts:
Purplehammer · 31/10/2018 21:11

If you had said you were thinking of going into work with a cold you would have been told you were BU.
You would have been infecting other colleagues.
That apparently would have been outrageous.
Apparently the view on MN is it’s OK ,it’s only your baby.

Starlive23 · 31/10/2018 21:15

I'm with you OP, why infect a 6 month old baby when you don't have to? If I'm ever feeling under the weather with a cold I wouldn't dream of visiting a friend or relative with a small baby!

I'd ask them not to come, but I don't mind looking crazy! I'd rather look precious than have a poorly baby, but that's just me.

madmum5811 · 31/10/2018 21:46

Ask all the visitors to wash their hands then they may think you weird but not be offended. I know a cold is not serious, but it is miserable when a baby gets it. Not much fun if they give it to you either.

Branleuse · 31/10/2018 21:49

Id ask them how bad the cold is and whether the ill one can stay away.

I dont like seeing people with streaming colds even though i dont have a baby. Id certainly make sure that mr/ms lurgy didnt hold the baby or kiss me

SpottingTheZebras · 31/10/2018 22:00

How serious a cold? My baby could have died from bronchiolitis, that was from a relative who had a cold, so I would point out the risks of that and say that you hope they understand that you will be keeping the baby at a distance.

viccat · 31/10/2018 22:03

I don't even have kids but wouldn't want a visitor with a cold... even if I might catch one anywhere else, having someone bring their bug to my home makes it more likely. But as you say it can't be rescheduled, then hopefully they will be considerate and try to prevent spreading it...

PleaseJustSayNo · 31/10/2018 22:11

Leave some alcohol hand gel out and encourage its use. I appreciate your concern, but as an aside to what PPs have said, does everything she grabs not go straight to her mouth? Just think how many of those things are not sterile and have been lying around. She'll be fine 😊

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.