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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to take newborn to a nursing home christmas day?

26 replies

BuggerLumpsAnnoyed · 24/12/2015 09:25

We're down visiting my parents for Christmas day. My mum runs a nursing home and is working till about 4ish. DS2 will be four weeks so hasn't had any jabs or anything yet. There's presently no known infections in the home (is a small, clean, well run bupa home, so they're pretty on top of knowing about this stuff)

What do you think? It'll brighten my mum's day up and the residents love it when we bring DS1 in, but obviously don't want to risk the baby getting poorly. My instinct says it'll be fine but thought I'd get some collective wisdom to check it's not the most irresponsible thing ever. Happy Christmas!

OP posts:
SellMySoulForSomeSleep · 24/12/2015 09:26

Do it, it will be lovely.

Hoplikeabunny · 24/12/2015 09:29

Is it a care home? As in, are they just old rather than ill? Or a nursing home where they are poorly? My nan is in a care home and I'd take a newborn there. I regularly take my 3yo ds and they all love him, although he gets a bit overwhelmed by all the attention!

Birdsgottafly · 24/12/2015 09:31

Your Mum should be able to let you know if there's anyone with a deep chest infection etc.

When I worked in Care homes my children used to pop in and the residents loved it, but they'd go into the conservatory, were the more well residents tended to sit and just briefly walk through the lounge area.

The residents were at more risk of my children, who are walking bags of germs.

kelda · 24/12/2015 09:33

Of course go on. There are always risks for a new born baby at this time of year, but I think it's a lovely thing to do. So many elderly people are forgotten at Christmas (forgotten the whole year round).

DisgraceToTheYChromosome · 24/12/2015 09:52

Go on. If you're lucky, you'll spot the Look, the one Dneff (3 weeks) gave DM while she was dying: "I've just come through the Door and it's fine".

Iloveonionchutney · 24/12/2015 09:57

I took my 6 week old to a nursing home to see my nan shortly before she passed, I checked first it was ok and they were absolutely fine with it.

MatildaTheCat · 24/12/2015 10:02

Many older people absolutely love to see a new baby and it will give them great pleasure. I can't see any infection risk...it's not as if the baby will be crawling or being passed around, is it?

Go. Xmas Smile

Iwonderwhy123 · 24/12/2015 10:12

Just check with your mum to make sure no D&V doing the rounds or bad chest infections then go for it!
I think it can make people's day seeing a snuggly little newborn and you'll probably find many of them won't have other visitors.

villainousbroodmare · 24/12/2015 10:18

Definitely go once no bugs present.

BernardsarenotalwaysSaints · 24/12/2015 10:22

As long as everyone is well I would. My Grandad was very poorly in hospital with cancer when I was born and my parents used to take me to visit him then the nurses and my Mum would take me round visiting all the other elderly patients, apparently it cheered them all up immensely. It will be lovely for the residents to see a little baby especially, as Iwonderwhy123 says, because some may not have any visitors!

AuntieStella · 24/12/2015 10:23

Definitely go!

The sorts of things the early baby jabs protect against aren't found in nursing homes.

And the changes of picking up a winter virus aren't going to be that much different from any other public place.

LizzieMacQueen · 24/12/2015 10:23

Go and wear a blue dress, put the babe in swaddling clothes. How is your rendition of 'Away in a manger'

BikeRunSki · 24/12/2015 10:32

Take him! We used to take ds to visit his great grandma in her care home, everyone was always so cheered to see a baby.

Original poster
BuggerLumpsAnnoyed · 24/12/2015 11:29

Excellent. We'll go and aforementioned baby will be dressed in ridiculous Christmas pudding outfit! Grin

OP posts:
MrsHarveySpecter · 24/12/2015 12:32

Disgrace, that's lovely. My eyes seem to be a tad misty...

Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 24/12/2015 12:35

Definitely take him. There's nothing more therapeutic for the older generation to see a new born baby.

2ManySweets · 24/12/2015 12:36

Disgrace I'm actually crying right now.

And I'm harder than Phil Mitchell Wink

tobysmum77 · 24/12/2015 12:41

Blimey I never ever thought about this, took dd1 to meet my granny in the first week of her life. I would worry far more about germs in places there are full of children or on maternity wards

Vanillaradio · 24/12/2015 12:46

We did this with 7 week old ds at his first Christmas dressed in reindeer outfit! Made everyone's day I think! Smile

ChimpyChops · 24/12/2015 13:06

Yep, do it. Check for any bugs going around but I work in a residential home and would take my baby there. Even a nursing home, they may not be necessarily ill, jut require more care :)

EponasWildDaughter · 24/12/2015 15:26

Bloody hell disgrace!

Sat here now all snotty! Grin

GuyMartinsSideburns · 24/12/2015 15:31

Definitely if you can, when I worked in a nursing home my cousin came in with her newborn and the residents loved having a baby there :) Baby had lots of cuddles Grin I still remember one of the lady's faces as she was holding the baby, she was so happy.

WanderingTrolley1 · 24/12/2015 15:35

Take baby!

Your mum (and the oldies) will love it.

MamaLazarou · 24/12/2015 15:37

How lovely, the elderly folk will absolutely love it.

BogusCatAndThePunk · 24/12/2015 16:55

Be prepared to add …em .…at least an hour on to how long you think you'll be.

Snuggliy baby cuddles