WWYD 3mth Old & family visit via busy motorway service stations

[JustAWalkingTalkingCotBed]

Just interested to hear what approach you would take if you had family visiting you and your new baby from the other side of the country and they inevitably had to use the busiest motorway service stations i.e. M6 & M1 stations. Obviously covid is massively on the rise again, would you go about your normal business as if covid didn't exist or would you take any precautions when they arrived?

Whoever said double jabbed people highly unlikely to pick up Covid and pass it on - I’m still feeling terrible on day 9 after getting Covid from my son. Been double jabbed since April. You should have asked them all to do a lateral flow

It's completely up to you what you feel comfortable with. During first lockdown when visitors weren't allowed I know some parents got masks and gloves and aprons so grandparents could have a quick cuddle just outside their houses. So do whatever you feel comfortable with.

Do these people know they are doing all that traveling to visit you and then won’t even be allowed to touch or hold them baby? I assume the baby is the reason they are coming. If you’re going to be like that perhaps you should let them know and they can save the cost of the petrol.

And then seek help for your anxiety.

Thanks to all those genuinely understanding and s big FO to the CF's who aren't. I. Have. EVERY. RIGHT. To. Be. Anxious so troll someone else with your waste of time.

I wouldn't do anything differently. Why would a motorway service station be any more dangerous than a supermarket, shop or restaurant?

I would just carry on as normal.
In fact, I'd probably shove the baby on them while I danced a dainty jig to the bathroom to run myself a lovely bubbly bath.

I don’t think you understand what “troll” means? It’s not trolling to disagree with you.

@icedcoffees having regularly used them in the past during the summer months I know how crowded they can get, and how they are such a mixing pot for everyone from all corners of the country.

I just want to know what others would do really, either carry on or take precautions.

Absolutely carry on as normal. As many have said, service stations are no more of a transmission risk thank workplaces, schools, supermarkets etc.

To be frank - I would have asked them not to come and to reschedule when it is clearer what is happening. But we have been extremely cautious throughout. If that’s not an option I would ask them to download the app to pay for petrol (seems to be an option now) and take their own food. They really should accommodate you even if they do think it’s a bit over the top. Enjoy the visit and congrats!

I would carry on as normal. If the adults are all double vaxxed then you’re all at low risk from covid, including the baby.

I'd open the windows and otherwise carry on as normal.

Babies develop their immune systems by being part of society.

DS2 had chicken pox via DS1 (nursery) by 9 weeks. Not ideal, but such is life and the normal way of developing healthy immune systems. Babies/ young children who've had reduced immune responses to community infection are now finding themselves more susceptible to normal infections out of season such as RSV which are more risky to this demographic than Covid in otherwise healthy individuals.

When I was visiting this time last year it was expected of me to not stop at service station. This has been forgotten.

But that was last year when everything was fresh and up in the air. We couldn’t live like that forever.

I don’t think you’re being overly anxious. My mum hasn’t been able to come and visit me abroad because my country hasn’t downgraded the UK and you can’t come in unless essential business and you’re classed as a “level 3” country. The Delta variant and others are still unknown about the long lasting affects on children. I wouldn’t have them come and visit. As they are; I’d be outside, masked up and social distanced. If they have a problem with that then tough. 3 months old is tiny and I wouldn’t be risking my child at that age of catching any variant of Covid.

I wouldnt worry. I'm relaxed about it all tbh. It's no different to going to a shopping centre or something.
I would also let family bond with my baby, cuddles etc
I also wouldn't make people wear masks in my house either

I think you may be focusing a bit too much on service stations 1) because you were asked not to use them (presumably by the same visitors?) last year and 2) a service station isn't something that you use every day. But really, it's no different to a supermarket, train station, pub - its no higher risk than anywhere else.

Take the precautions you'd take if your relatives had stopped at the supermarket on the way over.

@Nicknacky so basically when the shoe fits

@JustAWalkingTalkingCotBed What are you talking about? Just because you didn’t stop at a service station last year does not mean that others shouldn’t stop.

@Nicknacky they were anxious then and I am anxious now, of course they should respect that otherwise it's completely whatever suits them!

Anyway thank you everyone my mind is now made up on what approach I will be taking.

In answer to your post, you are being totally unreasonable to be so OTT.

@JustAWalkingTalkingCotBed

Anyway thank you everyone my mind is now made up on what approach I will be taking.

Your baby your choice

Are they staying or just visiting for the day?

[quote JustAWalkingTalkingCotBed]@icedcoffees having regularly used them in the past during the summer months I know how crowded they can get, and how they are such a mixing pot for everyone from all corners of the country.

I just want to know what others would do really, either carry on or take precautions.[/quote]
But all areas of the country will be full of people from other parts of the country at the moment.

It seems a bit odd to put restrictions on people because they've stopped at the motorway services.