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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not self isolate with baby?

149 replies

auferste · 03/08/2021 16:25

My son is 7 months old, he went to his dads on Saturday overnight and his dad brought him back Sunday afternoon. Today, he messaged saying he can't see DS as he has to self isolate as his younger brother has tested positive for covid. DS would've been in contact with the brother.

WIBU to not isolate with him? I live alone so I'd have to Isolate as well and DS is fine.

OP posts:
GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 03/08/2021 16:29

Test baby, take a test yourself and follow government advice, instead of posting on here.

Sorry, just had it with selfish people claiming they don't need to isolate. YES YOU DO. This is why half of my friends are now testing positive. And I haven't seen them for 14 months.

Living alone means you're isolated already, you just might need to order in some shopping.

EasterIssland · 03/08/2021 16:29

If t&t doesn’t contact you then you don’t have to by law. However , if they do then the baby has to self isolate.

MiddleParking · 03/08/2021 16:32

Living alone means you're isolated already

Er, nope Confused

I wouldn’t personally OP, this close to the rules on close contact self isolation changing. Especially not with a baby.

careerchangeperhaps · 03/08/2021 16:32

Was you son in direct contact with the brother when he was there? If so, his details should have been provided by the brother to Test and Trace. If they contact you then yes, you should isolate your DS (which in practice probably means you'll be isolating too unless there's another adult in your household to stay home with him if you go out).
Even if they don't contact you, it would be wise to be mindful of the fact he's been in contact with Covid and keep him away from others as much as possible, especially anyone who's not been vaccinated or is more vulnerable etc.
He may seem fine but remember that it can take up to 14 days after exposure for him to start showing signs of it (5-10 days is more typical) and he may be asymptomatic and get it but with no symptoms. Probably wise to do regular LFTs on yourself too for the next few weeks if you don't do them already.

hibbledibble · 03/08/2021 16:33

This sounds like a close contact with a known positive, so most likely test and trace will contact you soon, and you will be legally required to isolate.

Yes, yabu. The delta (now dominant) strain is highly contagious, and your child is a contact.

Tambourinetunes · 03/08/2021 16:33

Does the baby actually need to isolate if they haven’t been in contact with the person who has tested positive???

RunningFromInsanity · 03/08/2021 16:33

Well you don’t have to isolate but baby does so just leave the baby at home whilst you go out? Simple.

sparepantsandtoothbrush · 03/08/2021 16:35

@Tambourinetunes

Does the baby actually need to isolate if they haven’t been in contact with the person who has tested positive???
The baby HAS been in contact. It literally says that in the OP
hibbledibble · 03/08/2021 16:35

Does the baby actually need to isolate if they haven’t been in contact with the person who has tested positive???

Yes he does, it says in the op that the baby was in contact with the brother, who tested positive.

Which is why I'm wondering why on earth the op thinks she is special and doesn't have to isolate.

PurpleDaisies · 03/08/2021 16:36

Until you get contacted by test and trace, legally you don’t need to but you should be super careful with social distancing etc. I’d expect them to be in contact soon though at which point legally you won’t have much choice.

Sirzy · 03/08/2021 16:36

So your son has been a close contact of someone you know has coronavirus. Of course he has to isolate just like other close contacts have to.

CoralFish · 03/08/2021 16:37

If you (or baby's dad) are contacted by Test and Trace and told baby needs to isolate, then baby needs to isolate (and you could be fined for not doing this). There is no legal need to isolate if not officially told to, but you may wish to, especially if you know baby had contact with a positive case and I would certainly be doing lateral flow tests at the very least.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 03/08/2021 16:40

Either your Ds isn’t part of the self isolation or else he can go to his Dad’s as he’s already a contact. I’d clarify with exh what contact baby Ds had with his brother, as it sounds like your exh isn’t considering him a part of it.

gardeninggirl68 · 03/08/2021 16:42

why do you think you are a special case op?

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 03/08/2021 16:44

legally you don’t need to

Legally you don't have to have a vaccine.

Stupid bloody argument. Of course she should self isolate.

Fiddliestofsticks · 03/08/2021 16:45

I'm a single parent too. I'm not a special case. I still needed to isolate with my kids whenever they were a close contact with someone. Couldn't leave them home alone so it did effectively mean we were all isolating. Yes. You have to.

ifonly4 · 03/08/2021 16:48

If your DS has had contact, for me it would be a case of doing the right thing by other people.

Original poster
auferste · 03/08/2021 16:50

I wasnt in contact with his brother, DS is a baby and would hate staying inside as we don't have a garden or anything. I'm also not going to do a test on him as he doesn't have symptoms!

OP posts:
Fiddliestofsticks · 03/08/2021 16:52

It's only for what, 10 days? You can manage 10 days inside.

Anonymous48 · 03/08/2021 16:53

@auferste

I wasnt in contact with his brother, DS is a baby and would hate staying inside as we don't have a garden or anything. I'm also not going to do a test on him as he doesn't have symptoms!
But your baby was in contact with the brother, so could have contracted it, and you (I assume) are in close contact with your baby so baby could pass it to you. Of course you should isolate! Yes, it sucks, but everything in the past 18 months has sucked.
Sirzy · 03/08/2021 16:54

@auferste

I wasnt in contact with his brother, DS is a baby and would hate staying inside as we don't have a garden or anything. I'm also not going to do a test on him as he doesn't have symptoms!
In the nicest possible way tough. You know he has been a close contact so not wanting to stay inside makes no difference.

It’s rubbish as it is for everyone who has had to do it but it’s what needs doing at the moment

SealingRose · 03/08/2021 16:56

@auferste

I wasnt in contact with his brother, DS is a baby and would hate staying inside as we don't have a garden or anything. I'm also not going to do a test on him as he doesn't have symptoms!
How, after 18 months of this, have you not heard of ASYMPTOMATIC CASES?

Do you know what that means?

PurpleDaisies · 03/08/2021 16:56

@GreenFingersWouldBeHandy

legally you don’t need to

Legally you don't have to have a vaccine.

Stupid bloody argument. Of course she should self isolate.

So the op shouldn’t be in possession of the facts in order to make a decision about what to do now?

It is clear on the NHS site that contacts can choose not to self isolate until they’re contacted by test and trace. It would obviously be better if they did but it isn’t compulsory.

To not self isolate with baby?
GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 03/08/2021 16:58

I'm also not going to do a test on him as he doesn't have symptoms!

Oh dear.

You have heard of asymptomatic COVID? And people transmitting it without having any symptoms? Or even people who don't have any symptoms, then a couple of days later, shock horror; they do!

Have you been living under a rock for the past year and a half?

You need to test and self isolate or you are putting other people at risk and prolonging this blooming nightmare.

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 03/08/2021 17:00

@PurpleDaisies

It would obviously be better if they did but it isn’t compulsory

That is entirely my point.

It would be better if they did