Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To worry about winter baby and germs?

79 replies

rhu22 · 13/08/2023 18:42

Ive mentioned a couple things to my husband and he's given me the 'that's a bit over the top they need to be exposed to germs'.

All I've mentioned is that we should get back into the habit of washing our hands when we come in from being out be it shopping or whatever and when stepdaughter comes in from secondary school. Also that I don't want anyone coming over if they have a cough or sniffle let alone a full blown cold.

Depending on when he arrives baby will be having first vaccines just before or after Xmas

OP posts:
TregunaMekoides · 13/08/2023 18:43

Both mine were winter babes.
I don't recall them being any more prone to sickness.
I think you are being a bit OTT to be honest. No one wants someone with a full blown cold cuddling a new born, but that applies year round. Just apply some common sense.

wizzler · 13/08/2023 18:44

I had a winter baby and a summer baby... no difference imo.

WhateverMate · 13/08/2023 18:45

I have 2 Winter and 1 Summer.

We were all in the habit of washing our hands when they were babies, regardless of the season.

Holding young babies when you have a cough or a full blown cold is irresponsible anyway, if it can be avoided.

letsdonextweek · 13/08/2023 18:51

I've had three winter and one summer. No difference at all. Your baby will catch a cold at some point either way.

Original poster
rhu22 · 13/08/2023 18:55

Just to clarify I'm only talking about the first 8 weeks. Which brings us to the festive period when people tend to visit. I'm just trying to gauge whether it's acceptable to be telling others to wash their hands/not come over if feeling a bit crap.

I understand you can get ill in summer too but I don't personally know many people who get coughs, colds and flu in summer, they tend to be winter illnesses.

OP posts:
BreadInCaptivity · 13/08/2023 19:02

WhateverMate · 13/08/2023 18:45

I have 2 Winter and 1 Summer.

We were all in the habit of washing our hands when they were babies, regardless of the season.

Holding young babies when you have a cough or a full blown cold is irresponsible anyway, if it can be avoided.

This.

Summer baby and hand washing was the norm plus stay away from a newborn if you are unwell.

WeWereInParis · 13/08/2023 19:05

Maybe I've always misunderstood it but I've never understood the significance of the 8 week jabs when it comes to general illnesses. I've seen other posts where people have talked about being more careful before the baby has had their 8 week jabs.

Unless you think someone might spread polio or diphtheria, I don't know why that makes a difference. They're not being vaccinated against a cold.

Anyway, no I don't think it's unreasonable to not want someone around a tiny baby with a bad cold. Although when you say you don't want them in the house, I'm assuming you aren't including your stepdaughter?

letsdonextweek · 13/08/2023 19:06

rhu22 · 13/08/2023 18:55

Just to clarify I'm only talking about the first 8 weeks. Which brings us to the festive period when people tend to visit. I'm just trying to gauge whether it's acceptable to be telling others to wash their hands/not come over if feeling a bit crap.

I understand you can get ill in summer too but I don't personally know many people who get coughs, colds and flu in summer, they tend to be winter illnesses.

I think most people know this already?

Gro · 13/08/2023 19:06

My winter baby was born jan 2020 just before covid. Everything was cleaned and sterilised constantly (as most people did during covid). Now he gets every illness going, I know if we go to soft play he will pick something up. He starts nursery in September and I am expecting him to come home with a new bug every week.

I am sure it is due to him having no exposure to germs or even other people during his early life. Obviously a certain amount of cleanliness is sensible but I wouldn't be too OTT about it. I agree with husband I'm afraid.

Feetupteashot · 13/08/2023 19:08

It's worth being extra careful in the first month.but lots of babies get covered in germs from their toddler sibs!!

Original poster
rhu22 · 13/08/2023 19:10

@WeWereInParis oh I thought the flu and whooping cough were in the jabs but perhaps wrong!

Not everyone I know would stay away or wash hands. No of course not, my stepdaughter lives with us. Which is why I mentioned the handwashing after school as both her and my husband never really wash hands so I just mentioned it would be a good habit to get into

OP posts:
Inmybirthdaysuit · 13/08/2023 19:11

Personally I think it is over the top that your child isn't even born yet and you are worrying about hand washing and germs. If someone I cared about was worrying about this I would be concerned that perhaps they weren't feeling the best? It's such a small thing that I don't think it warrants discussion and planning 3 or 4 months before they are even born.

cadburyegg · 13/08/2023 19:11

I think it's OTT to ask people to wash their hands but staying away when they have a cold is sensible.

My DC are both winter babies, never had this issue tbh. They never got ill when they were tiny.

UncleJack · 13/08/2023 19:12

I remember my winter baby catching a cold at 9 weeks, it was hard work as she couldn’t breathe to feed. Good hand hygiene and not having anyone hold her with a cold makes sense to me.

Seryse · 13/08/2023 19:13

As someone who spent 6 days and nights in hospital with a 12 week old with RSV, everyone washes their hands before touching baby - it's just common sense. And NO ONE outside your household kisses baby, I get it they are are adorable, but watching your baby get an NG tube sited as well as IV lines, OptiFlow oxygen mask, tell them to keep their mouths off. My mil kissed our 11 week old when I was out the room despite saying she'd felt rubbish all morning (you can imagine the screaming match after her saying that while still holding him, with 7 of her own youd think she know better). He was in hospital a day later. That's obviously an extreme case but yeah, no kissing baby.

Mine were March, May and June so never had a winter baby to compare really, though it is still quite cold here in Edinburgh in March. Never really noticed much difference though in my 3.

WeWereInParis · 13/08/2023 19:17

rhu22 · 13/08/2023 19:10

@WeWereInParis oh I thought the flu and whooping cough were in the jabs but perhaps wrong!

Not everyone I know would stay away or wash hands. No of course not, my stepdaughter lives with us. Which is why I mentioned the handwashing after school as both her and my husband never really wash hands so I just mentioned it would be a good habit to get into

Whooping cough yes (although if you got the vaccine in pregnancy they should be protected before that a bit anyway). Flu they don't get until they're over 2, then they get it yearly.

I don't think you're unreasonable on the hand washing. I'm pretty lax when it comes to things like that now mine are older (4, and 15 months) but with small babies I think it's fine. A friend of mine nearly lost her 2.5 month old to bronchiolitis.

letsdonextweek · 13/08/2023 19:24

I think my friends and family would be slightly offended if I suggested they weren't clean. I think it's a real non issue.

You will catch a cold yourself and the baby will catch it off you at some point.

brillop · 13/08/2023 19:26

Mine is a summer baby but I've always been pretty relaxed about germs and mild illnesses like colds. I've always liked to get the dc out to baby groups as early as possible so they'd be chewing on toys shared amongst all the other kids. When she started nursery at 2.5 she never went through the list of illnesses that people say nursery kids always get, because she'd been exposed to so many germs before. She had 2 years in nursery and only missed 3 days for illness in all that time. So I'd agree with your dh, exposure to germs is important.

PinkPlantCase · 13/08/2023 19:28

I’m due my next DC in November. Peak DS bringing home bugs from nursery time 🙈 it worries me too.

Tbh OP the best thing you can do to help protect baby from winter bugs is to breastfeed. That way your body will be supporting baby’s immune system.

calmcoco · 13/08/2023 19:29

Washing hands when you come in is normal, everyday hygiene IMO.

People with obvious colds avoiding very young babies is also normal IMO.

Having said that, babies are always exposed to germs and that's just life.

PipinwasAuntieMabelsdog · 13/08/2023 19:32

Kindly, @rhu22 it sounds like you have prenatal anxiety. I would speak to your GP. I am an IVF mum and was very anxious, but not before they arrived.

Original poster
rhu22 · 13/08/2023 19:33

@Inmybirthdaysuit now I think you're the one being OTT, I'm perfectly fine thanks! There's been no big discussions or planning, I just mentioned about the hand washing when he passed me something with his black fingerprints all over! At ours hand hygiene is quite poor in general, I'm no saint either!

We had a difference in opinion discussed over the space of a minute - and as it's my first baby and I'd heard the 8 week thing, I thought I would ask the question here to see what others think but most are quite snippy about it which I'm finding amusing tbh!

OP posts:
PipinwasAuntieMabelsdog · 13/08/2023 19:34

You could also damage your relationship with SD, if you suggest she's too 'dirty' to touch her sibling without washing her hands all the time. You need to be extremely careful, she will find it a difficult time, a sibling after such a gap and DF starting a new family.

Original poster
rhu22 · 13/08/2023 19:35

PinkPlantCase · 13/08/2023 19:28

I’m due my next DC in November. Peak DS bringing home bugs from nursery time 🙈 it worries me too.

Tbh OP the best thing you can do to help protect baby from winter bugs is to breastfeed. That way your body will be supporting baby’s immune system.

Thank you, I plan to breastfeed all being well - good luck with your November baby too :)

OP posts:
letsdonextweek · 13/08/2023 19:35

At 8 weeks a baby isn't fully vaccinated anyway.