What can you take a baby to?

[tinyracoon]

Ok, genuinely can't believe I'm asking this but.. I'm 36 weeks pregnant and I've just realised I have no idea what you can / can't take a baby to! Don't know many people who've had babies so don't have any second hand experience...

Big caveat, obviously I know it depends on the baby and if they cry all the time, I wouldn't take them places where they would disturb others...

Im thinking like general life places... Hairdresser? Dentist appointment? Pub? Just realised I never seem to see new babies in the supermarket?

@flowerchild2000 do you not recognise that you are a lone voice spouting your views?

The supermarket is a great 'starter' outing for when you're new and nervous, because they have parent parking, trolleys that work with car seat or those little blue seats, and changing loos.

This! We popped into asda on the way home the day after my c section as we had nothing in!!

Hairdresser /salons and dentist - no supermarkets, cafes, child friendly pubs - yes.

And? Are you proud of your behavior, piling on? Hijacking a thread? It's very unwanted and I haven't done or said anything wrong. What is wrong is trying to force someone to share your views. Next time you don't agree with someone just keep scrolling.

Entertaining though 😂😂😂

@flowerchild2000 I think you're missing my point. I have read a lot of research about passive immunity, vaccines (especially when pregnant) etc. I am always willing to learn so if there is any further research I'd be interested in reading it but I can't find it. That link from The bump didn't indicate any research that indicates you need to stay in, especially as pregnant women in the UK are offered vaccines to protect against whooping cough and flu in those early months.

If it's there and would be useful to new mums I don't know why you wouldn't share it.

DD was born a year ago. High risk pregnancy with lots of medical involvement. Nobody mentioned a 6 week rule - not my obstetrician, multiple midwives, pediatrician, my GP, or the health visitor.

DD went shopping and to a (casual) restaurant at about 2 weeks. Could have been earlier as I reckon she was up for it but I wasn’t.

My hairdresser is ok with babies (I checked) but because I don’t want to inflict a restless and potentially crying baby on her other clients, DD usually stays with DH for my hair appointments. Same for my medical appointments.

Otherwise, where I go, she goes.*

*I haven’t been to an adult session at the cinema, or a music concert since she was born.

Yes to this.

It is more about getting yourself comfortable taking the baby out than the baby being comfortable going out. Your baby really doesn’t care as long as you are there.

Most things, they are pretty portable. Try and keep to your normals, maintain your routines. Baby doesn't have to turn your life upside down.

Congratulations

We had to stop off in Sainsbury's on the way home from the hospital when DS was a day old. He turned out to be quite little and all the 0-3 month sleepsuits we had were massive, had to stop and buy some newborn size ones.

Like a PP he slept throughout. Absolute bollocks about it being traumatising.

DC2 was 2 weeks old when we moved house. I travelled with her on the train while DH drove DC1. Staying in for 6 weeks is very bizarre.

Not when newborn obviously, but my baby loved to sit in the trolley and wave at everyone round the supermarket.

Ah I'm not sure why but this really made me happy. Like you have no idea what a lovely thing is about to happen to you.

Might be feeling overly sentimental 🙈.
When they are tiny they can go pretty much anywhere although you may not find it very relaxing taking the baby to the hairdressers. I remember having a mobile hairdresser to the house when my youngest was born and he sat on my knee while she did my hair.

Pub yes to eat a meal but I'd probably not take one on a night out to a pub if that makes sense.

Dentist yes I've taken mine there as babies but again a little stressful.

Supermarkets yes, they even have the trolleys that the baby can lie down in the little seat or you can stick the baby in the car seat in a big trolley (maybe not advised but that's what I did) .

Pretty much anywhere really. It's when they start to walk around and won't just sit in pushchair that life becomes more interesting.

Best of luck with your new baby.

Good advice here!
Small babies under 4 months can pretty much go anywhere in their sling or pram they sleep a lot... when they start rolling and crawling it's a bit harder as you don't want them on dirty floors. There are lots of fun mum and baby things like special cinema screenings and comedy and even wine tasting - I've only been to the first but wish I went on more! But after 6months they can sit in a high chair in the eating area.

@Unexpectedlysinglemum you think the first sentence of that is good advice?

You might be back and forth to appointments for the first few weeks too- I was back into hospital, off to see a lactation supporter at a children centre, to the doctor myself for mastisis etc etc - so you might not want to do much 'fun' stuff then. But if you're a ok then no reason not to go to the pub! BUT be careful of winter viruses including Covid- for the first few weeks they are extremely vulnerable so could get very ill

Our child was out daily from the time they were born, I would have taken them to where I don't want babies ie a concert or a posh resturant type thing but everywhere else they went where we did

there is no way we could have not left the house for 6 weeks

Well that's great. Again, seems pretty obvious that it's not going to be a positive experience for most newborns a few days old. Even an adult would struggle of they had been in a dark, warm place for 9 months then suddenly out at the supermarket. I also had advice from the midwife that due to their immune system you should be staying at home away from people for the first 2-3 weeks. It's a no brainer, but you do you 🙂

Oh please, it's a supermarket not a rave. Are the supermarkets you go to using strobe lighting and laser shows or something?

@Justfinking

I also had advice from the midwife that due to their immune system you should be staying at home away from people for the first 2-3 weeks.

Not in the UK you didn't. Either that or you monumentally misunderstood what was being said to you.

I took both mine to the pub within a week of giving birth. DC2 was 3 days old and I had complications that meant I was still wearing a catheter and leg bag. It’s toddlers that need more consideration.

I didn’t go out loads with DC1 when she was tiny because I was a bit overwhelmed with it all and couldn’t often get my shit together. Whole hours would pass and I didn’t seem to have really done anything but feed and pace up and down. She was a fractious baby who cried a lot in a very screeching tone and it was hard to placate her so I didn’t feel confident about going out. I was scared she’d kick off and people would think I didn’t know what I was doing (I didn’t 😂) I did meet up with my NCT group at each others’ homes though, which was an absolute lifeline. And I gradually joined other groups and went out more. We did go to a few of the baby cinema screenings which were great. They show films you actually want to see, and my local one was in a beautiful old art house cinema. The tickets were inexpensive, and they sold lovely cakes you could eat while you watched the film. DD always slept well there! They’re some of my favourite memories of her early infancy.

DC2 had to slot in to the rest of the family’s routines so he was out and about from early on doing school runs etc.

As others have said, make the most of it when they’re portable because it’s harder work when they’re older. We went through a phase where I wouldn’t take them into shops or cafes because they could get a bit silly and loud and it was just hard work and stressful. It was short-lived though and they calmed down and became good companions for going out and about with.

All the best for the rest of your pregnancy and enjoy your baby!

Ha at the person suggesting not taking a baby out for 6 weeks...in some countries it's the norm to go back to work at that point 😂

We went out for a walk every day from when she was one day old. Went to first cafe etc when she was 3 days old. Not saying you have to do that, but do go out whenever you feel ready to. Staying inside for 6 weeks with a newborn would be enough to make anyone depressed frankly. There is no evidence to suggest it is unsafe to take them out and about.

The supermarket shops are fluoro lights where I am