Unwell niece wants to see newborn ?

[CoffeePleaseBlack]

Situation and need some advice. Are we being ott?

our 18 month old niece wants to see our newborn who is only 3 weeks old. She was off nursery on Friday and Thursday with a sickness bug. Sister is convinced(Niece’s mum) that her bug has gone. I thought symptoms could go but you can still ‘hold’ or carry the illness? I’m worried if we say sorry we aren’t comfortable with little one meeting our newborn it’s going to cause an argument …?

sickness bug was sickness and I think Diarea called by nursery!

I would genuinely work on prioritising your new child over worrying about other peoples feelings going forward. Your DH is right that this is a definite no situation and whilst it can be hard to navigate relationships with a new baby, they should be your priority.

The 18mo only wants to see the newborn because her mum has told her she does. At that age, she's only now starting to talk. Sorry to say, but your sister is a selfish idiot.

I highly doubt your 18 month old niece cares that much about seeing your baby. so your sister is being manipulative.

There is no chance I’d have anyone that was recovering from D&V around my 3 week old.

When it comes to situations like this you have to remember that as a parent your job is to protect your child.

Saying yes to your sister is protecting her feelings over your baby’s health

At 3 week postpartum you’ll still be recovering and full of hormones which can make decisions hard.

As you go on though, remember “that having an argument” with someone is a very small price to pay to protect your child.

A few days of waiting to meet baby will be a lot less memorable than you all being dreadfully ill before baby hits a month old.
Postpartum/sleep deprived your immune system is generally a bit lower, baby has zero immune system at the moment too and bugs can take up to 48 hours to spread even without any symptoms hence the rule.
There are 6 of us in our house and we've had bugs that have taken 2 weeks to make it round all of us with 'symptom free' gaps in-between.

I recently picked up Norovirus from a family member even though it had been more than 48 hours since their last symptom, so you are definitely right to say no! How about a video call for now so your sister can say that her daughter has seen the baby?

No! And don’t see your sister yet either! She’s being an inconsiderate knob.

An absolute no! We don’t allow them back into infant school/ nursery until 48 hours after the last episode of sickness/ diahorrea so definite no to seeing a newborn. Suggest next weekend

This.
leave it til Wednesday to be safe to make sure she hasn’t passed it on to anyone else

I can tell you know the 1 year old actually doesn’t give a shit and won’t remember anyway if she doesn’t come.

postpone the visit. No-one needs D&V with a newborn.

An 18th month old ‘wants’ to see a newborn? I’m sure she’d be happy to see her but I doubt she’s asking to see her at that age! This is about the parents.

I would allow it if I was sure there had been no diarrhoea or vomiting for 48 hours, but can you trust their say so?
Id leave it a few days to be absolutely sure.

The parents of your niece should already know this is not a good idea. I'm sure they wouldn't have agreed when theirs was a newborn!

Oh ffs. Of course she shouldn't. Tell your ds to give her a banana instead - I suspect it will be a more than adequate substitute for the experience.

No way … can still pick it up for up to a week after!! Baby could get it … and / or you! Those bugs are awful.

My mum picked it up from my son a week later! They had just come home from a holiday, came to see us and were down with it the following day!!

@CoffeePleaseBlack not a dr so do your own research pretty sure I read that sickness/vomiting type virus can be shed for a couple of weeks. Small kids aren’t the most hygienic and the rest of the family might get it so I’d be holding firm on saying no for the time being @CoffeePleaseBlack

My experience of parents like this (those who are "sure" the bug has gone/it'll be alright) is also that they normally stretch the truth.

They tell you she was only sick Thurs/Friday, you can put money on her also being off/still unwell over the weekend. It's things like that why bugs spread so rapidly in nurseries; kids going back when they're not 100% recovered and the 48hr rule hasn't been followed.

My 2yo has not met his 3 week old cousin yet because he's an absolute germ factory. We took it in turns to visit while other looked after 2yo.

At 18 months she doesnt have a clue. If she has said it shes simply parroting mum who probably wants a "cute photo".

Who is charge of your home and your child’s wellbeing - it isn’t an 18 month old. Say NO. It’s a full sentence.

No.
And your sister is lying as your niece will be more interested in a chocolate button than a baby.
So double no!

You should stay at home for 48hrs after last bout of sickness or diarrhea with bugs. There is also the chance the parents may have it but not come out with symptoms yet too as can take 24-48 hrs to come out. Stomach bugs germs can also live on surfaces for up to 2 weeks. Definitely postpone till next weekend to ensure your niece is better and no one else comes down with it. Stomach bugs in a baby so young could be a really issue as she will get dehydrated easily and something I didn't find out till my kids first bugs but although they only usually last a day or two in older children or adults, babies can have sickness and diarrhea for up to two weeks with bugs. My first got one at around 12 months and it lasted 11 days, my second was about 15 months and again lasted 10/11 days.

And are your sister and her partner 100% sure that they haven't caught it from their daughter at this point? They could still be incubating it, having caught it from her and you could catch it from them, even if niece has now recovered. Put them all off until next weekend to be on the safe side.

Agree with everyone else here. Make sure your niece is better and nobody else in their house has it. My daughter caught a sickness bug from nursery and then a few days later it took down my mum who was unfortunately looking after my older one in the Easter hols at our house. She hadn’t been near any sick and my daughter was well but the virus must still have been lingering. You are also very vulnerable post partum and def don’t want it!

I wouldn't be letting an 18 month old who attends nursery any where near a newborn.

No. Absolutely not. Your sister will have to wait. As will 18month old. Although it really is your sister.