Meeting another person with small child in tow

[longdistanceclaraaa]

Likely a silly question, but if we can now meet one other person from another household, are very small children included in the definition? I have a two year old and six month old. Can I meet a parent of mine in a park with the children?

I'm pretty sure the answer is no, but I'd love it to be yes.

Thanks

If they keep the correct distance I can't see why it would be a problem.

If you're a lone parent and therefore can't leave the kids at home, then I would.

No. I even heard Radio 5 say a newborn couldn’t be shown to its grandma in the park because the mother plus the newborn was 2 people from one household, so it was against the rules. But you could presumably put the baby down on the ground and walk away and the grandma could approach the baby - that’s just one person from each household after all.
Absolutely batshit. And defying common sense.

I'm planning to. But there are many puritans who'll say no

(I should add, I wouldn’t necessarily stick to the rules, but those are the rules as they stand).

It’s also why I’m annoyed with the ‘meeting friends’ angle on returning to school. Apparently it’s really important to let kids get back to normality by seeing friends in school. But not important enough to let them seem a friend while a parent from each household supervises. That’s against the rules and might spread the virus, even though the adults remember not to get too close. It’s far better to put 15 of them together in school...

Thanks

I'm actually in Scotland so the relaxation is not yet in place. However following recent announcement from nicola sturgeon I'm expecting the same rule to come in towards the end of next week.

I think as long as we're sensible with distancing then common sense must be that it's ok.

Thanks

Yeah I've also wondered about me and my two year old meeting my friend and her two year old. They'd both love it as they're the best of friends to the extent they can be at that age.

It’s a ridiculous rule with newborns but those are the rules. I have a 5 month old EBF baby. We’ve not been apart at all since lockdown. I’ve not even been out for a walk by myself, they’ve not been out with their dad. For all intents and purposes we are one.

New mothers are particularly vulnerable from a mental health perspective and seeing other new mums can be such a help. Lifesaver for some I’m sure. I expect the same is true fur many single parents too.

Dc is 17 months and Ive met up with my mum and dad separately with dc in the push chair. Tbh I’m not counting them as a person as they are too small. Dc stayed in the pushchair the whole time so was no closer than I was. Common sense has to be used

That's bonkers about the newborn

Ah yes a pushchair, or our double buggy, could be the answer, as that way you can ensure distancing (whilst really annoying the 2 year old I dare say....).

You’ve answered your own question and why would you want to put your children at risk.

Don’t really know why I mentioned EBF. I guess it just means I don’t have the option to really go out by myself (bottle refuser).

@Lenny1980 why have you not been out on your own?

My question was not about the risk but about the rules.

In all honesty I would take an older child or a baby to meet a friend and not care that I was technically breaking the rules as I could police the social distancing... but I have a 2 year old and she would not sit happily in a buggy. Neither would she nicely hold my hand or listen to me when I told her not to approach her friend. So if yours will be ok go for it.

So long as you can control the two year old in the lark, hows it any different from bumping into someone you know, while out for a walk? I’ve only been out for a handful of walks since well before lockdown, but I’ve met people I know every time. If you’re walking in a local area, you’re going to meet people by accident.

Maybe try to arrange it around his lunch, so he can eat while in the stroller.

You can get snake trays for strollers and they even have a drinks holder.

We are.

I am meeting a friend from antenatal for a socially distanced walk tomorrow. We live in the arse end of nowhere and will be walking where we are unlikely to see anyone else.

The babies will be in carriers and we will stay far apart. They are EBF and too small to leave.

I don’t give a shiny shit if it’s strictly within the rules or not. I can’t see how having a baby on me changes the risk at all

Babes in arms are usually an exception to rules involving kids aren't they? I get that the rule is one person but I would interpret it as a newborn doesn't count. Obviously no idea if a police officer would see it differently and fine me anyway.

This is where we need a bit of common sense. Of course you ca have a newborn and see someone at a social distance.

Can you not conduct your own risk assessment and make your own decision?

If this question sounds derogatory it's not intentional, but it can't have escaped you that people on this site interpret (and frequently make up) THE RULES as they see fit. They then get all hot under the collar when other people break THE RULES (their version) even when they're breaking THE RULES themselves.

You're unlikely to find any validation here.

I'll be honest, I've taken my 5 year old out and "bumped" into my best friend and her 12 week old. We went and got a coffee from the bakery and sat in the park, at a sensible distance away from each other. They have been tested for covid a couple of weeks ago and it was negative. We have only left the house to walk in the woods, or I have been fortnightly to the supermarket.

Did us the world of good tbh.

Yeah I actually with that comment about conducting your own risk assessment. I just wondered if there had been any thoughts on it before it comes in up here.