Taking 6 month old into hospital to visit relative

[OhBabyLove]

I know the first answer is to ask the ward as some won’t allow it. Relative is in hospital and having a procedure and we’ve been asked to visit.
Generally a quiet happy baby and any hint of noise and we’d leave. But my concern is for baby. If taking then into a hospital and ward environment full of bugs is a bad idea for them.

My personal opinion would be, not to take your baby into the hospital. Unless you don't have anyone else to provide childcare, then it's taking a very young baby into hospital unnecessarily.

My son was in hospital for a long stretch and the ward was full of baby visitors, I don't see why it would be any more dangerous on an adult ward.

My child has been an inpatient as a baby. My view is that adult wards are full of flu/virus/covid/chest infection etc and it’s no benefit to them and only risk

@Sassybooklover i could easily stay outside with baby and my partner go in

One partner wants to take them and the other things it’s risky

Rather depends on the ward. Recently visited a medical ward where nothing was contagious just a variety of infections and immobility.

I just wouldn’t risk it. Tag team with your partner instead. No benefit to baby

Most sensible answer

My neighbour had a stroke and I took my 3 month baby in to visit. Didnt occur to me not to in anyway. Baby was only ever in pram or my arms though.
What is the patient in for? Would depend on that. Im taking it that its you not wanting to take them in and partner doesn't?

Is this your first baby by any chance?
Because generally with 2nd and subsequent babies that ship has long sailed with the amount of bugs their older siblings bring back from nursery or they catch at playgroups crawling all over the floor!

@Wavescrashingonthebeach yes I’m being PFB. Yes my view is clouded by the fact that this relative actively hates me and has always refused to hold my child. So I don’t see why some performative visiting for the nursing staff is beneficial. But I’m leaving it up to partner to decide but I have explained I think it’s risky and un needed

@LIZS arent infections by definition infectious?

Well if they actively hate you then fuck em you dont need to take your baby and anywhere near them for any reason whatsoever. That might have made things clearer if this was included in the original post. We aren't mind readers you know. The assumption unless stated otherwise is its someone you get on with, otherwise surely you would have said.
Anyway going back to the germs issue. At 6 days pp or 6 weeks old, then totally, keep away from potentially germy places. But at 6 months unless immunocompromised they really should have more of a robust immune system that they can handle that.
Put it this way my 6 month old was on the floor at playgroup chewing things, pretty sure that was a far worse germ environment haha!

If the patient hates you and isn’t respectful towards you, you should avoid visiting for that reason alone. Baby irrelevant.

Partner should understand that and support your.

I’m wary my judgement is clouded so didn’t include the original information to get unbiased views.
partner is suppprtive of LC and is LC themselves

I wouldn't take my baby to the hospital and risk getting him sick. Definitely no.

I think in this instance it is relevant enough though. Dp can go on their own.

If you don’t have to take your baby in, don’t.

Hosptials are cesspits for germs.

Uti, copd, cellulitis …

If the relative was a close and loved relative and was close to death and it would be the last chance for them to see baby then I would take them. Anything else then no. Not worth the risk.

Who's closest to the relative, you or your DP? Surely the one closest should visit whilst the other has the baby. You say the relative hates you anyway and isn't interested in your baby, or maybe babies in general. So why would they want to see or the baby you when they're at their lowest point?

How long is the relative likely to be in hospital?

I wouldn't do it. The reason why so many wards have an age limit is precjsely because of the infection risk - both ways really, infectious patients and also children potentially taking an infection in.

I wouldn’t

If it’s not necessary, I wouldn’t take the baby. Lots of patients end up picking up infections in hospital from other patients, staff or visitors. Viruses hang in the air.

Thank you all. Would you also think sitting in the hospital coffee shop with them is also a bad idea?