Lateral flow testing before visiting my new baby

[Neleh91]

Hello, I’m thinking ahead I know but lots of people I know just seen to be getting covid recently.
My partner and I have decided that once baby is here ( due dec ) that if anyone wants to visit, we would ask them to do a home test first just to protect baby. My family and his would have NO issues with this but some of my friends are a bit strange about the vaccine.. testing etc.. I mentioned to one of them and she thinks it’s not fair to ask people to do that. Just wonders what everyone thinks? Is it too much.. I just feel like it’s safer for baby.

I would be happy to and would have done it without you asking. We are used to testing as DS in secondary and me and DP sporadically go to work and always test in advance.

Sounds fine to me, OP. Most people are used to doing tests at home now. I wish they’d been available when I had DS during first lockdown as would have felt much more confident about people visiting and holding him etc.

Your baby your choice

YANBU. IME the people who are declining the vaccine are also refusing to wear face masks even when required to on public transport and generally acting as if covid doesn’t exist.

Yes, SIL, I do mean you.

I think it’s a bit odd, personally. I suspect people just won’t visit.

I’m exactly the same - baby due December and I’m already asking family to do this before I meet with them. I’m vaccinated, but the huge list of birth complications you can get from catching it just isn’t worth it.

I explained it to someone the other day - it’s their personal choice whether or not to it, which I respect, so long as they respect my choice to not see someone I deem as a potential risk to my baby’s health.

I’m having a baby in January and plan to do this. My family do regular tests anyway and I know they won’t want to put the baby at any risk. Not sure about my FIL who thinks we should just all get over covid and get on with it like nothings wrong.

They just won't come visit.

I've not asked this of anyone and most people have stayed away rather than meet our now 11wk old. People have dropped gifts at my parents house instead which I find odd.

@daisypond

I think it’s a bit odd, personally. I suspect people just won’t visit.

How's it odd protecting your newborn baby?

I think it's fine and wouldn't think it odd if asked. I voluntarily did one before visiting a friend's newborn as I felt it was the responsible thing to do anyway.

I would visit and would happily do one! I have to do one daily for work so why wouldn’t I to see a friend and their baby?

I always take a LFT before any kind of socialising at the moment so it wouldn't bother me in the slightest. To the friend/family member who thinks it's not fair - do they think it's fair to risk infecting your household?

Do people regularly do lateral flow tests? I’ve never done one. I’m double jabbed and had the booster jab, though. I’ve had a few PCR tests, though.

YANBU - we had a new baby in the family recently and I always do a test before visiting, without being asked, just as I do for elderly relatives too. - I am fully vaccinated and had my booster , but I still think it’s worth doing.
Don’t get why you anyone wouldn’t.

I think as long as you request it from every visitor regardless of injection status then it’s fine. Totally up to you.

Not sure you will get many visitors though.

I do a LFT if I'm going to be seeing someone particularly vulnerable, such as a newborn baby, my elderly grandmother, etc.

I’d do one before meeting a newborn anyway - the kind of people who would refuse are not the kind of people you’d want your child to have a relationship with.

How's it odd protecting your newborn baby?

It’s not odd to protect your baby. It’s odd to suggest that other people do a test. It’s surely better that they don’t visit at all. But up to you, I guess. I’m clinically vulnerable and don’t suggest other people take a test before visiting me. They do wear masks, though.

I always do a lateral flow test before going to visit anyone or any sort of event. I would especially do one if going to visit anyone vulnerable and i wouldn’t even have to be asked in this case so YANBU

@daisypond

I used to do one before visiting elderly vulnerable people as I work in a busy secondary. Now we’re being told to do them daily by public health

@daisypond

I think it’s a bit odd, personally. I suspect people just won’t visit.

Agreed.

And I say this as a new mum to a 5 week old baby, wouldn’t even enter my head to ask someone to do a test before visiting.

I’m literally just back from seeing my friends new baby and I did a LFT (as requested) before I left this morning. Not a problem at all.

@daisypond

Do people regularly do lateral flow tests? I’ve never done one. I’m double jabbed and had the booster jab, though. I’ve had a few PCR tests, though.

Yes. My husband and I both have to do them twice per week.

Make it clear OP, no test = no visiting baby. It’s a very small ask so if they aren’t willing to do it then that shows how much they really care so they won’t mind missing out.

Where do you get these tests from? How much are they? I’m very vulnerable with chronic, life-shortening conditions, and work full time in an office, travel by public transport daily etc, am in and out of hospital, and no-one has suggested that people need LFTs while visiting me on my sickbed, where I currently am. It’s never occurred to me. I didn’t think they were for things like that. I’ve had two PCR tests - for hospital admission - and that’s it.