Letting family hold baby during covid?

[Mummyofmay2020]

What are people's thoughts on this? Would you let your families from another household hold or cuddle baby? For a while during lockdown i was so anxious about protecting baby and minimising risk as much as possible, we didn't see anyone at all, but now I dont know how to feel. We've started seeing family in ourdoor space but no holding of baby allowed. Aunts uncles and grandparents are dying to have a cuddle and I know covid isnt going anywhere any time soon, but some are key workers and technically the disease hasn't become any less dangerous right? DH's parents and mine said we cant stop them from holding baby forever. I am aware symptoms in children are milder and that information on kawasaki is still emerging, but how are you all feeling about this?

Im letting people have hugs. Its probably safer now than in a few weeks when everyone has started to mix again.

Also, this disease isnt going away any time soon. It'll be endemic in this country (assuming you're in the UK) until theres a vaccine. It'll be up to you how you deal with that, but im not going to stop people hugging my boy until they've had the vaccine. There will always be a risk until enough people have been vaccinated.

The rules are still that you should be 2m apart or if that is not possible one meter apart with another form of barrier eg face mask.

Im letting grandparents have cuddles, and her only aunt. Everyone else still 2m distance, but we've weighed the risks (v low rates round us, none of us seeing anyone else) vs the benefits (my MIL has become deeply depressed and has had a really rough time, baby = mood boost) and decided actually that if I'm letting my mum hug the baby i can also let her hug me, and i am desperate for a hug from my mum.

A few of my friends have had babies recently and none are allowing cuddles. I totally respect their stance. Decide this based on what you want to do not pressure from relatives.

My family stayed at home for 2 weeks, they had shopping delivered by friends and took annual leave from work. At the end of the 2 weeks I was content with them holding baby. That has been their only cuddle though and they've all gone back to their 'normal' lives. I'm im the UK and aware that it's technically not allowed, but since no one had been out, the risk was very minimal so I was content that my actions wouldn't cause any strain on the NHS. Unfortunately DH's family didn't take time off work and therefore haven't had cuddles yet. DH and I discussed this in detail, I offered to say no to my family to keep things 'even', but he was content with my family making that sacrifice and his family not and therefore my family getting a hold. DH isn't back at work until baby is 2 months old, so we won't be reassessing the situation until then. Who knows what the rules will be by then, but even if it will be allowed, we'll decide between us what feels right at the time. I imagine if contact is allowed that we'll end up letting grandparents and aunts and uncles, but I might insist on face masks and gloves. So far everyone I've spoken to have been understanding but tbh, even if they weren't I don't care because I'm doing what I think is best for my baby. As time goes on, we'll probably assed each person individually (where they and their household works etc)

It's some comfort that they believe children are affected less, but it's no guarantee and as you mentioned there is the possibility of kawasaki.

@MrsSc92 that sounds very sensible and similar to my thinking... I think I have been worrying about offending family or them thinking I'm being OTT but you're right, baby comes first and some family members will pose less risk depending on their work or routine etc.