To ask my MIL not to kiss the baby with a coldsore?

[peanutbutterhoney]

My MIL is visiting. I have a 6 month old and MIL is all over her, hugging and kissing her all the time which of course is fine and quite lovely. But today I have noticed she has quite a big coldsore on the middle of her lip. I remember reading something a few months ago about how the coldsore virus can be very dangerous for young babies (there was a baby who died after his dad kissed him and spread the virus - I know not likely, but still).

So WIBU to ask her not to kiss the baby until the coldsore is gone? I am squirming at the thought of asking because I think it will upset her, but I also don't want the baby to get the virus! Neither me or DH have ever had a coldsore in our lives, so it's not something she would be exposed to otherwise.

hello sorry to change the subject slightly but can you catch coldsores only when their visable? Or can you spread them even if its not visable yet? I get coldsores as does my dp, does this mean ill never be able to kiss our future children or is this just when a coldsores showing?

Please don't let her kiss your baby. As others have said, it can kill. It really doesn't matter if she's offended. A healthy baby is the most important thing.

And a friend's baby (about 6 months) had the most terrible first episode, the sore went all inside her mouth and down her throat, she was in agony poor bubba. Since then, touch wood, the virus hasn't come out again - but at the time it was dreadful... and of course she has it for life, so when run down, stressed etc as an adult it could come back.

Good to hear MIL took the warning the way it was meant.... you'd think people with them wouldn't want anyone else to have them, mostly they feel painful and self conscious about them...

According to the herpies association you can only spread them when you have symptoms however symptoms include the tingle or burn some people get before one appears.

Also if both you and your dh have it be very wary of certain intimate actions as a lip can contaminate a penis and what not.

YANBU though I never knew, even before/after my own baby. When I read that story I was horrified as I couldn't believe no one told me

I saw my friends baby today and had to say to her I couldn't give any kisses as though my cold sore is on its way out, I still didn't want to risk it.

IMO, if your mil gets huffy about it, tough shit, your baby's health is your top priority.