Newborns and immune systems

[BarrelOfMonkeys]

I'm a clueless new mum with a vague idea that it's not necessarily a bad thing for (otherwise healthy) babies to get bugs in order to help their immune systems develop, but also aware that it takes a while for them to start making antibodies of their own... I was wondering at what age it's actually 'desirable' for the little ones to catch lovely bugs and lurgies in order to develop immunities etc? Anyone know?

(DD is 4 months and I have no intention of deliberately exposing her to evil germs at this point but wondering when would be a good point to chill out re visitors with mild viruses and whatnot. I'm guessing 'pox parties' are more for around nursery age?)

Thanks as always...

Hi, BarrelofMonkeys, Congratulations on your newly acquired clueless Mum status. I can only advise from the perspective of no qualified expertise whatsoever. I took my ds out on public transport from 5 days old and therefore had little control over who was breathing over him. I avoided obviously diseased people, e.g. if someone said my child's been vomiting all night but I don't think it's anythiong serious, I asked them to keep away, and still do. But otherwise, no special precautions.

He went to a childminder from 10 months and then got lots of lurgies, temperatures, colds etc. but by his 2nd winter was shaking them off with ease and now rarely catches anything. I am sure vulnerability varies dramatically from child to child but generally speaking I think it's fine to live as normally as possible and trust them to fight things off.

Thanks eclipse! I think we've been lucky so far with no real bugs to speak of - Tescos etc obviously full of healthy people round here... Just about to switch from mixed feed to FF so clearly a whole stack of guilt coming my way when she does get her first 'proper' bug! I guess I am trying to do my usual control freak thing and if I can convince myself it's good for her immune system to get a bit poorly, I'll feel less bad - bonkers logic, I know!

Ah, the guilt. I was a girlie swot and did the exclusive b/f thing for 6 months and then carried on once he was on solids to b/f for another 12 months. He definitely was most ill during his first year and most well once I'd stop breastfeeding him. It was more to do with maturity of his immune system than the feeding. I expect that whatever you feed her at this stage will probably make little difference. So basically, she'll get ill sometimes and for no good reason you will feel guilty from here on in - if you check the small print, it's on the job description.