Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Original poster

Holding baby - pandemic

22 replies

Amber2802 · 24/08/2020 10:31

Hi guys, just after your opinions here!
I have a baby boy, who will be six months this week. About two months ago we started to allow close family members to hold him again, but only wearing a mask. I just wondered how everyone is handling this? Is it time to take away the masks but ask for not too close near the face? What are you doing? Thanks in advance x

OP posts:
Letsallscreamatthesistene · 24/08/2020 10:41

Honestly? Ive resumed as normal a life as I can. If im letting them in my house, or im going to their house im happy with no face masks.

00100001 · 24/08/2020 10:44

Well, there's literally no point asking them to wear masks whilst they hold baby, if they're not wearing them at other times whilst in your house.... Confused

NameChange564738 · 24/08/2020 10:46

I haven’t at any point stopped close family from cuddling DC, there is almost no risk whatsoever ever to a baby. There is no way on earth my baby is seeing family with face coverings at such an enormously important time for speech/language/development.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Families General parenting
Christmastree43 · 24/08/2020 10:50

My baby was born at the end of June, I have let close family hold her (grandparents, siblings and two close aunties). I couldn't bear the thought of them not holding her but knew it would make me anxious to let them too. But the risks are so small to babies (the hospital even told me this, said 'we can't tell you to let people hold her but...' basically) and we only get these moments once.

Original poster
Amber2802 · 24/08/2020 11:14

Thank you for your message and for putting it nicely!

OP posts:
Original poster
Amber2802 · 24/08/2020 11:15

@Christmastree43

My baby was born at the end of June, I have let close family hold her (grandparents, siblings and two close aunties). I couldn't bear the thought of them not holding her but knew it would make me anxious to let them too. But the risks are so small to babies (the hospital even told me this, said 'we can't tell you to let people hold her but...' basically) and we only get these moments once.
Thank you for your answer and for putting it nicely! X
OP posts:
KitKatastrophe · 24/08/2020 11:23

My baby was born at the very start of lockdown so for the first 3 months nobody saw her. Now we let family members hold her if they are happy with the risks (most are). I haven't insisted on masks or anything like that as I dont think it would make any difference to be honest and I would rather my baby was able to see their faces as its important for forming relationships

Debradoyourecall · 24/08/2020 14:05

My baby hasn’t been held by anyone else but me and my partner since lockdown. Not so much because of the risk to her as the potential risk to the family members holding her. All our close family are vulnerable for different reasons. If they weren’t, I would let them hold her without a mask.

Original poster
Amber2802 · 24/08/2020 15:27

Thank you for your input x

OP posts:
NelliePig · 28/08/2020 08:47

My 7 week old has met and been held by all my family and friends, shes fine 🤷‍♀️ x

rorosemary · 28/08/2020 09:04

Ours isn't born yet but nobody is entering our house till there is a vaccine. They can see her through the window. Most infections around here are at home by family and friends and both DH and I are vulnerable. The baby might survive, but we might not. We've also had a previous earlyborn stillborn so told family sorry, we already lost one, not taking any chances this time. They are very understanding fortunately. I did promiss to send lots of pictures and film her. It's not what I visioned for our future and as soon as we're all properly vaccinated we'll go see them for a long cuddle. It's just not normal times right now.

Original poster
Amber2802 · 28/08/2020 10:25

@rorosemary

Ours isn't born yet but nobody is entering our house till there is a vaccine. They can see her through the window. Most infections around here are at home by family and friends and both DH and I are vulnerable. The baby might survive, but we might not. We've also had a previous earlyborn stillborn so told family sorry, we already lost one, not taking any chances this time. They are very understanding fortunately. I did promiss to send lots of pictures and film her. It's not what I visioned for our future and as soon as we're all properly vaccinated we'll go see them for a long cuddle. It's just not normal times right now.
Thank you. I’m sorry for your previous loss and sending you lots of luck and congratulations for your new arrival x
OP posts:
seayork2020 · 28/08/2020 10:54

If you are allowing people in i don't get the benefit of them wearing a mask to hold your baby?

DancingCatGif · 28/08/2020 10:56

Not in the UK but we have always allowed close family to hold the baby. My PILs tried to wear a mask in the beginning when he was very small but honestly, it's just not practical.

Gettingonabitnow · 28/08/2020 18:42

My 8 month old is held by family and close friends without masks. If they had been to a high risk area, or felt unwell, I’d say don’t come round for a few weeks rather than wear a mask. Personally, I don’t want my children to think it’s normal for people to wear masks, as it isn’t. It’s alien. Hope helpful! Xx

firstimemamma · 28/08/2020 18:47

If I had a baby now I'd just honestly carry on as normal. No masks, no hand sanitising, nothing. Each to their own however.

JKDcot · 29/08/2020 05:59

I’ve felt very compromised with this decision. Our boy is 3 months now and we only started letting family hold him a few weeks ago. Initially with a mask but now it feels a bit silly as they do take it off other tones in the house...

DancingCatGif · 29/08/2020 06:10

@firstimemamma you can't possibly say because when you first have a baby, you feel totally overprotective. A few years or months down the line, your feelings change.

Hand sanitizing makes no sense when you can wash your hands instead and washing your hands often is just good basic hygiene, pandemic or no.

Flumo · 29/08/2020 06:17

My 8 week old has been held by most of our family.

saywhatwhatnow · 29/08/2020 06:19

I've got a 7 month old. He was born just before COVID kicked off here so everyone held him when he was a newborn, and although we didn't see anyone through the strict lockdown now we are out of that i let most people hold him without a mask. Only exception would be a few of DHs friends who have been on big nights out in London, but we don't see them much anyway and not sure they are bothered about holding the baby anyway. My elderly grandparents have also not held him since

saywhatwhatnow · 29/08/2020 06:20

Posted too soon.

But this is to protect them as DH is a key worker. We have seen them in person outside maintaining social distancing (so they are seeing him grow), just no cuddles. It's heartbreaking!

Amsylou · 29/08/2020 14:15

I had my DS two weeks before lockdown so immediate family saw him.

My DH and I agreed once we could meet in people's homes that we would consider case by case who could hold him. We offered each time and said to the person(s) that there was no pressure to hold our DS. We found the majority wanted to and that our DS enjoyed it.

I'm starting to wonder if there will be a developmental impact on those born during or just before lockdown. My DS finds new situations challenging, but we are trying to go out and do as many normal things as possible.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page