Going out with newborn

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Hello - before covid I know friends would take their newborns out shopping etc before they had any vaccines (the usual baby ones)

Now with everything going on I'm hesitant to go out much with my 6 week old as she's got jabs in a couple of weeks so currently unprotected for anything- then obviously worried about coronavirus and everything going on at the moment

As we are in tier 2 we are allowed out tomorrow- we haven't taken dc out since birth except for doctors appointments- really tempting to head out for a few hours tomorrow, see some Christmas lights and just have a change of scene but also really scared. Feels better as it's legal tomorrow but then again don't know how tomorrow would be any different to today in terms of risk?!

Anyone else feeling like this - mixture of trapped, fed up, worried, unsure and aware of the best thing to do (stay in) but somehow still wanting to go out now lockdown 2 is over.

Is it selfish to go out tomorrow? Happy to hear yes, just want to discuss - DH keen to go and says it will be fine as a one off

Thanks for reading

Have you been out for walks at all? I get it's scary, I had a baby in summer and was scared at first but the benefits of being outside to both you and baby far outweigh the risk of Covid. Your baby needs fresh air and different scenery, especially now for development, its not good for them to be at home all day everyday in the same room. You must also be going crazy and its so isolating at the moment on mat leave. Go to safe places, countryside walks, national trust gardens, town (outside) to see the lights. It would also be good for you to maybe go for a walk with a friend for company.

If you're just going out to look at lights then I'd go. I've got a 10 week old and we're sticking to just going for walks for now.
I can't bring myself to take her in shops or to form a bubble with anyone yet though.

I took an 8 week old out in the pram to the very nearby playground today with her older sister. We have been for walks in previous weeks in carrier or pram.
If you are going for a walk around the local neighbourhood, then I would see that being fine. It's fresh air, well ventilated. Good for your mental wellbeing and you never know your luck your baby might sleep!
Avoid indoor places and places that are busy.

I'm not sure what I'd do, but i think probably would just go out. I didn't think twice about it with a newborn before. Are you breast feeding as that gives a lot of protection? (Not a judgement if not).

For me, I think that if you actually think about it there are probably thousands of things that are more risky than covid about taking a new born out (crossing the road, etc). But its what is right for you- if getting out is what you need to do for your wellbeing then do it. If going out will make you very anxious and you're happier to stay in, then do that.

I’d be happy taking them out for a walk to see the lights at a quiet time. I wouldn’t be visiting anywhere indoors though.

I went out from day 1 with my newborn back in March. The risk of a baby catching anything in a pram / sling outside must be negligible and covid is unlikely to be serious in a 6 week old anyway (the stats suggest it’s less serious than flu in babies). I can only speak for myself but I would have got very depressed if I’d stayed in for months and I think that would have been higher risk to my baby. Your mental health can be fragile post partum even if you’re not someone who has suffered from mental health issues before. Plus babies do need to start getting out and about relatively early from a developmental perspective, in particular to aid the development of their distance vision.

I have one friend who had a baby in March too who got very scared to go out or see anyone and she has now developed serious pnd almost to the extent she can’t care for her baby. She has barely left her house since March and her baby has never met anyone other than a nurse for vaccinations. Not to say you’ll be like that but I think the anxiety can be self-reinforcing if you indulge it.

Hi OP, congratulations on your little one!

My DS was born in the first lockdown. I took him out for a walk every day (and still do) but I try to go either early or late to minimise contact with others.

You do what's right for you, but I'd think a walk to see the Christmas lights would be good for you all.

Walks with the pram are so beneficial for you and baby. Take baby out. Babies aren’t at risk, I’ve known babies test positive and none have had symptoms.

Oh OP you need to get out of the house for you and your baby. Lots of walks through parks, even just around the roads where you live. If you are going somewhere that may be busier then pop baby in a sling so they are nice and close to you.

I had a baby in July and from when she was born we have been going out and about and making the most of what has been open. We have been to baby groups, sat in cafes with some of our mum friends and done lots of walks to parks and local forests where we live and a short self catering trip to Devon at the end of September. For me my mental health post baby is my priority and outweighed the in my opinion negligible risk of covid we follow the rules but I refuse to be a prisoner in my own home or have any more precious moments halted or taken away because of covid. Babies need to experience the outside world and new mums need company and to get out of the house. That’s how I approached it and I’m sure many will disagree but I’m happy and healthy and so is my little girl.

I’ve got a one day old. As soon as we’re out of hospital and had a bit of time at home I’m heading to the supermarket with him and my dd for some baby clothes.

@Katie517
I think you make a really important point that mums and babies are missing out on so much already due to covid and there's no need to make that worse by not doing the things we are allowed to do. I have taken my son everywhere I can this year but still feel bad that his first year has been so restricted and upset for myself too that I haven't been able to do everything I wanted to do. I want to be able to look back on the year and think that we have had some nice experiences even if it wasn't what I had hoped for.

It's so important to get out into the world.

DS2 had chicken pox at 9 weeks, a kind gift from DS1 who broke out when DS2 was 7 weeks. There always have been risks of infection, and nursery for DS1 was a valuable continuity at a point where home life was changed by a new sibling and the impacts of SPD then birth injury upon my mobility. Although DS2 ended up mildly poorly with an infection that can be potentially nasty, it was important to getthe benefits of not avoiding all risk.

Going outdoors is a great place to start and of minimal risk. Babies are not newborn very long and quickly grow and get more hardy.

Groups tend to be from about 4m anyway, and by that point we'll be aiming towards spring and making progress on vaccinations and there should be a lot more opportunities to live more normally.

I had my baby in August and I've taken her shopping ever since.

She's had to come on the school run twice a day anyway.

I had a baby in May. We have been careful with reducing where we go and who we meet, but haven’t lived in a bubble.

Dh is still working full time, and so yes I take ds in supermarkets/ pharmacy/ to doctors appointments. In the summer we had meals out in outdoor locations. And we have had people hold him as and when allowed over the last few months ( only a select few).

You need to decide yourself, but I couldn’t spend a whole year indoors as I would have gone crazy. By the time restrictions have lifted he will probably be a year old.

I've seen new mums here putting the rain cover on the pram when they go in the supermarket.

As a pp just said raincovers are handy if nipping into the shops. I've found people get excited seeing babies and want to touch them and look up close, the raincover makes a handy barrier.

I'd never have done anything like that with her big sister. Strange times to be living in!

I carry my baby in a sling when out to be honest. It feels safer. Especially as she was only a week old when dd went back to school in September and all her classmates wanted to look at (touch and splutter over) a tiny baby.

I had a baby in march. I would go mad without going out most days, and I go to most places I am allowed.