Scared to take baby out in public :(

[IrisRoon]

Hi everyone, I'm a very anxious FTM. I don't know if I'm being irrational here or not. I'm taking my 6 week old baby out to be registered tomorrow and wanted to go into the city centre afterwards for a bit of shopping. I haven't taken baby to many public places since she's been born, I'm too afraid of her picking up an illness and getting sick. I wanted to wait until her first jabs to go adventuring with her.

Can anyone give me some advice on having a newborn in busy public spaces? Or is it better to wait until her jabs for things like that? I'm thinking of putting the sun shade cover on the pram to give her another layer of protection against germs, but I'll have to take her out to feed at some point. She's breastfed and I know she gets antibodies, but isn't that only if I have an illness that she's protected against illnesses? Or does she have some protection even if I haven't been sick? Sorry for the reassurance seeking I'm looking into getting help for my anxiety, I just want to shield her from the world but I know that's not healthy.

Your baby will be fine, plenty of babies have older siblings in nursery or school that bring home all kinds of germs.

Think about all the people who have babies with older children. They cannot keep them indoors. Ur baby will be fine. I promise.

Apart from the antibodies you are giving her with your breast milk, she already has some acquired from you whilst in the womb. Of course you want to protect her, but try not to worry so. She will be fine.

We all have our worries when they are tiny. My obsession was/is making sure she is the right temperature, and constantly checking her hands when outside.

They are more resilient than we give them credit for. My little girl had her first cold at 8 weeks by going to a stay and play session in my village and (stupidly) letting her chew on a couple of toys. She had a blocked nose for a week, but passed on a plague to the rest of the family and 5 out of 6 of us were ill with temperatures and flu.

Maybe carry an extra hand sanitiser / antiseptic wipe just in case.

Good luck.

It's good that you are going to get help for your anxiety. It's completely normal to feel anxious about going out for the first time but not to this extent. She will be absolutely fine on a trip to the shops, and please don't worry about using the sun shade that won't do anything. Enjoy your first day out together and treat yourself to something nice!

Thank you all so much for your help! I'm worrying less about it now, once it's over with I'm hoping I'll feel silly for worrying over nothing! I've been referred to a mental health clinic for my anxiety, that appointment can't come quick enough. I want to enjoy outings with baby especially before it gets too cold. Thank you all again!

It’s so natural to worry at the start. Your baby is precious and your maternal instincts are telling you to to protect them. You’ll start enjoying it once you get past the scary part and it’ll be so good for both of you.

Your baby will be fine. I felt a bit like this with dc1 - I’d almost forgotten but your post reminded me of the feeling of exposing my baby to the world. Your breastmilk will protect your baby from all sorts of things, so don’t worry about infection.

You’re so much better to get out and about in the light both for baby and you. And nothing wrong with going out in the cold either, it’s again good for you and you just need to wrap baby and yourself up.

oh man, I remember taking my first one out and thinking the lights of Bluewater shopping centre would damage her eyes so covering the pram with a towel!

I would advise carrying her in a sling ideally a stretchy wrap so she's held close against your body. She'll feel settled so won't cry which is often stressful in public. Most importantly, she'll be harder for anyone else to touch as she'll be tucked inside your coat. It's other people touching that is the main risk I think, in terms of catching something infectious.
When you need to feed her, plan in good time where you'll do it so you can pick a quiet corner. Might sound mad but I've found upstairs in my local library is frequently deserted and there are seats around plus a baby change toilet. If you can get baby feeding quickly before she's screaming hungry, a moment of noise will be fine.
However, I will add, whilst of course nobody wants their baby to be properly ill, catching germs is a normal part of childhood and actually important in terms of developing immunity. It's completely normal for babies to get colds.
Maybe stock up on illness remedies so that you feel more prepared if she does become ill. Eg Calpol, saline nasal spray, Snufflebabe rub and/or oil for diffuser.
You'll be fine. Soon you'll be wondering what you were worried about and happily booking baby classes to start in January!

I presume you have seen babies put and about yourself do they look like they are doing anything different it's normal

It is normal to worry. On your point about your milk and antibodies, breastmilk is amazing. If someone coughs near you your body will start reacting immediately and produce antibodies to protect you and your baby. Think of it as your baby is sharing your immune system.

I think the advice to use a sling is a good one. Or if you use a pram ask anyone coming close to admire the baby not to touch them.

my (third) baby is 5 months old and we both just had a cold and he has been fine just snuffly and coughing a bit but not too bothered by it.

OP, I was just like you with my first DS. I distinctly remember crying at Westfield shopping centre when he was 5 weeks old because it was so busy and I thought I'd made a huge mistake taking him out... Cringe.

DS2 is 4 weeks old and has his first cold. DS1 brought it back from nursery. I can't wrap DS2 in cotton wool and that's ok. Many babies are exposed to more germs than we'd like - particularly those with older siblings!

That being said, do whatever you feel comfortable with. There's no rush. If you'd rather keep baby away from crowded places, then please do that. Don't feel any pressure. There's plenty of time to be out and about with baby as they get older, if that's what you'd prefer.

@IrisRoon for goodness sake, she isnt a puppy! she will be in a pram, not crawling on the ground!! and if she isnt in a pram, she will be in a baby sling, next to you!

Also just to add, PP makes a great point about stocking up on medication for baby - but just remember you can't use Calpol until baby is 8 weeks, and some of the other products mentioned can't be used before 3 months.

Just to echo PPs that it’s completely normal to be anxious but it’s also absolutely fine to take baby out in public and actually probably good for them!
Baby will get all the antibodies they need from you and if baby does get ill at any point when you’re breastfeeding your milk will pump them into baby.
Babies are more resilient than we think. Recently my 3m old baby girl and I both caught a bad cold and, whilst I had a fever and everything that came with that, baby just had a runny nose and slight cough. I have a sneaky suspicion my body gave all my antibodies to baby so had none left over for me!
Have a nice day out with your baby. It always feels good to get out into the real world again postpartum.

I had a blood transfusion with mine and they said it could have unidentified antibodies in it, so I imagine your breastmilk has loads of different ones in all the time.