Newborn Immune System - how careful should I be?

[Kif]

Master Kif is 6 days old. We're both feeling well. Wondering how careful I need to be with taking him out. In particular wondering about toddler playgroups with Dd1. I'm a little scared of all those nasty November 'flu germs - and toddlers in my experience tend to be very sharing with regards to spreading bugs.

Is there a set number of days that it's a good idea to avoid too many strangers?

Any other suggestions for staving off cabin fever with newborn and 2.5 yr old? Newborn good at sleeping while driving. However, I'm not up to much walking yet (weather - awful; legs - wobbly after a while; feeding - frequent and unpredictable).

I asked my Mum about the norm when she gave birth to me (my family are from abroad). Apparently you'd avoid anyone outside the family for the first six months.

I don't know the answer. But think my Indian friend said they are not allowed out of the house for a month - which sounds like a good idea to me!

6 day old ds was at his sister's 2nd birthday party - the day after we were out from hospital AND he spent the first 3 days in SCBU (he was early) - 2 days later we were in Mothercare buying him a winter snowsuit. .

TBH he was absolutely fine. Newborns have your immunities for the first few months anyway so can fight things off normally.

AFAIK they are protected by your antibodies if they are breastfeeding
I'd get out and about if I were you

Oh and congratulations by the way

no way for not going out!!

babies will get some basic immunity rom you, and as long as a snotty, sneezing coughing-up-phlem and spotty child isnt leaning over your baby and touching him/her, then just go about your daily business.

with dd1 i was ou and about the same day we left the hospital (1day old)as we had to go shopping.

with dd2(day she was born), the same again.

with dd3 it was about a week after she was born we went out properly as she had spent a few days longer in hospital/scbu.

Depends on your situation. Ds is coming on Dec 4th and I plan to be a bit of a hermit for at least 2 or 3 weeks. But, a lot of that is just for me, as it will be a c-section.

we had a 2 day old baby turn up at our local baby music class.... in November last year (sibling of a 2 year old regular!)

i wouldnt worry to much to be honest!

also i dont think its very fair on your other child to keep him inside all day, or away from socialsing with friends at toddler groups etc!

I was out and about with ds from the first possible day. Round the shops with everyone peering in and poking. He got his first cold when about 10 months old. I think their inital immunity is pretty good. As you have another child, Master Kif is going to be exposed to anything your other child is anyway. And many, many congratulations.

Thanks guys!

I would stay away from people with colds. Even with breastfeeding babies can still get sick, my sister in law's bf baby aged two weeks ended up in hospital having caught a cold from the grandmother (my mil).

DS2 has had 2 colds (he's 6 weeks), also BF. With another toddler, plus other kids in the social scene this time, I knew it would be fairly inevetible he would get something. However, both pretty mild versions of whatever DS1 has had.

I took DD to a children's birthday party aged 1 day! And then to Mums and Toddlers at 2 days old.