Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4

Original poster

Has anyone allowed their parents to meet their newborn during the pandemic?

87 replies

CandleFlames · 02/05/2020 14:09

Just curious to see answers. My baby is three weeks and hasn’t met anyone obviously, and we plan to do this until guidance changes. I’m just wondering if anyone has had anyone meet their baby from outside of the household. Just interested, no judgement!

OP posts:

MsVestibule · 02/05/2020 16:22

I was ridiculously proud to show off my firstborn to my mum (honestly, you'd have thought I'd never achieved anything in my life prior to that 🙄) but hard as it would have been, I would have had to resist under these circumstances.

LolaLollypop · 02/05/2020 16:34

@lollipoplola nice name

I have a 10 week old (and a 2.6yr old). My parents met him once before the lockdown (We stayed there for a few days). If the lockdown rules are not relaxed i am probably going to move back there for the remainder of lockdown. I've had enough of doing this without any help!

Worriedmum54321 · 02/05/2020 16:36

I would probably let them have one brief visit each grandparent, as long as it didn't involve a long drive, in our case they are all retired and staying at home. If they were still working in the NHS I probably wouldn't for now.

I think a lot of people will use this as an excuse to stop family visiting and be secretly glad about it

Worriedmum54321 · 02/05/2020 16:39

Also if grandparents are over 70 , it would not change my decision - it's up to them to decide and a bit patronising for me to bar them for their own good!

lookingforadvice8372829 · 02/05/2020 16:41

I wouldn't stop grandparents from meeting a new baby as long as they were well, had no Covid symptoms, and were isolating.

I would allow them to have a quick visit and sit well apart, no cuddles or getting close. And it wouldn't be a regular thing, just giving them chance to see the baby before it blows over.

CountryCasual · 02/05/2020 16:43

My DS is 7 weeks old, luckily we had a week before lockdown started and my DM met him then.
My sibling was in isolation with symptoms and my DF recently diagnosed with cancer and shielding, neither have met DS yet despite living 20 minutes away. We plan to stick to the guidance and wait until we are told it’s ok again.

RhymingRabbit3 · 02/05/2020 16:45

@Bubblesbubblesmybubbles I havent spoken to them about it yet but they've been taking the isolation quite seriously - started isolating before lockdown was even announced etc. So I assume that's what they will want.

If they are happy for us to visit then I will visit. They're adults and able to make that risk assessment for themselves.

GrimmsFairytales · 02/05/2020 16:47

I would allow them to meet, but not actually interact with the baby. Perhaps a social distanced walk around the park, a chat at the end of the driveway etc.

Bubblesbubblesmybubbles · 02/05/2020 17:01

Those that are saying 'social distanced' meet is that a worry for the babys safety or grandparents out of interest?

NearlyGranny · 02/05/2020 17:07

My first grandchild was born 2 days before lockdown, and I had gone to stay and help a week or so earlier, and sted on another couple of weeks afterwards. How lucky was I?! I feel bad for the other grandparents who have still not seen the baby, though, as my DS brought in a house lockdown early, the day after I arrived, as a precaution.

I was a bit worried about getting home after that, but nobody pulled me over. The order was to stay home, but I had to get home first! DH had been social distancing too, so it felt fairly safe, though he was convinced he wouldn't see me again until August. 😁

GrimmsFairytales · 02/05/2020 17:08

Bubbles

There isn't much of a risk of being within 2m of another person from outside the household, for a brief period of time. However, staying apart reduces the already minuscule risk, so would be my preference.

Wolfgirrl · 02/05/2020 17:12

@NelliePig do you not worry about bringing the virus back from the hospital and infecting your dad, who could potentially pass it on to your mum who is disabled?

Rosebel · 02/05/2020 17:21

Baby is due at the end of June and I'm not sure. Technically both sets,of grandparents could meet the baby as they are both self isolating due to being older but I'm not sure. Guess I'll have to wait and see what things are like closer to the time.
We have two older children but they are teenagers so we don't need anyone to look after them when the baby is born.

NelliePig · 02/05/2020 17:24

My parents are under 50 and my mum is disabled due to a mobility issue so not due to having an underlying health condition. They are both happy to have us over to meet the baby hence why they've decided between them that my dad will use that chunk of holiday.
If either of them were vunerable then I would of course feel differently, luckily neither of them are high risk :)

My dad is a postman so has been working and exposing them both for the past several months and unfortunately will have to continue to do so once his holiday is over after baby :( xx

Lenny1980 · 02/05/2020 17:28

I wouldn’t be worried about the baby catching the virus. I’m more worried about myself getting ill and being unable to look after them. Not a newborn anymore but EBF and a bottle refuser so feeding would worry me if I became so unwell I ended up in hospital.

NelliePig · 02/05/2020 17:29

@Wolfgirrl sorry thought I tagged you!

aimzxd · 02/05/2020 17:34

My grandad died of a heart attack during lockdown before he could see my son. I went to his funeral. He never left the bloody house, neither did my gran other than she came to see me in the hospital. My dad did their shopping before and after lockdown. My biggest regret is not taking my son to see them even once. Ps they are big smokers and my son was very small, skinny and premature. But during lockdown the weather was lovely. I could have took him to see them in their garden. Bloody virus x

Bubblesbubblesmybubbles · 02/05/2020 17:37

@GrimmsFairytales thank you, wasn't judging at all was mearly curious

Hiphopopotamus · 03/05/2020 13:49

So people who are waiting for anyone to touch their newborn - how long are you waiting?

Rosebel · 03/05/2020 15:50

I don't think you can put a time limit on when people will see a newborn. It's such an uncertain time. Tbh I doubt anyone will see my baby this year.

GrimmsFairytales · 03/05/2020 16:06

Tbh I doubt anyone will see my baby this year.

I'm intrigued, does your little one have any health concerns? 7 more months is a long time.

P1nkHeartLovesCake · 03/05/2020 16:08

My friend had her baby and her parents went to the house and saw baby through the window. And left gifts on the doorstep

The aren’t very tech savvy so video calling wouldn’t of worked and I think her parents wanted to see she home and I’m

Rosebel · 03/05/2020 17:12

My baby isn't here yet, won't be until the end of June. I'm terrified of my baby catching it. I'm terrified of my parents (both over 70) getting it. I'm not convinced putting two lots,of vulnerable people together is a good idea. MIL is also over 70 and I'm not letting others,see the baby before the grandparents.
On the other hand things could be worse by Christmas. It's a hard decision so I'm waiting to see what happens (haven't told my parents or MIL yet).

Maggie90 · 03/05/2020 17:41

My baby is 3 weeks old and my mum hasn’t been able to meet him yet. It’s very sad. She’s come to the house once a week and we stand at the french patio doors so she can see him through the window. Every time she leaves I end up crying which is very unlike me. We do FaceTime every night which is very nice.

She is a nurse so not worth the risk. I’m very excited though as she has 4 weeks off work in a week. She is going to self isolate for a week and then have a test to make sure she isn’t carrying virus then all being well will come and stay with us for two weeks.

Two of my friends have also popped round to see him through the window which also just upset me as I wanted nothing more than to have a cup of tea with them whilst they had a cuddle.

Rubbish times, but also very happy to have my baby safe and healthy.

Hiphopopotamus · 03/05/2020 18:55

@Rosebel this year??

Flip

1 2 3 4

Swipe left for the next trending thread