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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

39+1 Has anyone thought about when to take their newborn out in public?

46 replies

sedgiebaby · 09/09/2010 09:00

I hear the odd comment about not taking newborns out in public for anything between 1 and 3 months.

On another US board I read how a pediatrician was advising that no one (visitors etc) to touch hands or face before baby had had its first lot of jabs.

We will be coming into cold/flu season soon, its my first I don't know how strict I need to be about visitors and taking baby out. I certainly don't want baby to get sick.

My SIL was really strict about this last winter but we were in the throws of swine flu etc.

Is anyone aware of any 'evidence' to help guide mums?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

dinkystinky · 09/09/2010 09:05

That's rubbish - take your baby out in public when you feel ready for it. The first few days after the baby arrives you may want boe cocooned up at home with your baby - but after that you'll go stir crazy afterwards if you dont go out with baby and get on with your day to day life. The US board info sounds ott - are you seriously going to get every single visitor to sterilise their hands before they can touch your baby? And try as hard as you might, you cant avoid your baby getting viruses - but even if they do, it will all be fine.

nymphadora · 09/09/2010 09:06

We will be out as soon as we are home from hospital , can't do the school run from home.

Newborns have wuite a good immune system from Mother & breastfeeding keeps it going. Obviously don't go and visit people with flu etc but you can't stay cooped up in the house for 3 months.

LooL00 · 09/09/2010 09:08

I wouldn't worry about baby getting sick, but you yourself need a rest and you'll know when you feel up to being out and about. I was quite happy at home with dc1 for about 3 weeks and then I got bored and wanted to do more. With dc2 and 3 I had to go out to do things with the other dc, so I got very tired.

Hevster · 09/09/2010 09:13

we took DD out on day 3 and the only precautions we made were not to let people with colds etc pick her up

Original poster

sedgiebaby · 09/09/2010 09:13

Well at the time, I thought SIL was being ridiculous because she didn't have visitors except family for 2 weeks, didn't mix for about 6 wks and would make everyone sanitise their hands as they came in the door! (I think she still does 8 months later lol) And still no one is allowed to kiss baby or put their hands in its mouth.

However...in 8+months baby has had one cold and has otherwise absolutley thrived, so I was thinking perhaps she was doing something right...

OP posts:

Cluds · 09/09/2010 09:17

Hi sedgiebaby I don't know of any evidence, so this is just me talking, but DS1 and DS2 were born around this time of year, and my DC3 is due in just over a week. It is of course a personal decision, but i do think that it is important (for both you and your baby) to get out of the house and get some fresh air every now and then. However, I do remember with my DS1 being quite nervous about our first outing outside! But we were moving when he was 5 days old and so we had to get out of the house to let the removal men in to do their bit. As for the visitors not touching the baby's hands or face, I have never heard of this, and having 2 other children at home I can't see how I can stop them or their friends from holding and cuddling the baby! Having said that, if you are worried you could always ask visitors to wash their hands before touching your baby?

FYI my DS1 got his first cold at 12 weeks, but then wasn't ill again until he was 6 months when he got an ear infection. And that was it - he is now 10 and has never been ill since! Maybe the odd cold, but he hasn't needed antibiotics since when he was 6 months. DS2 got his first cold at 18 months which is pretty good considering he had an older brother who was bringing home lots of germs from nursery etc!
Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy!

Bumperlicious · 09/09/2010 09:19

Go out when you are ready, but don't feel pressured to go out too soon, you will need a bit of recovery time.

The thing about no-one touching the baby is ridiculous, are you going to tell your mother and MIL they can't hold the baby?

Just do what you feel comfortable with, don't be paranoid, but don't push yourself if you don't feel up to it. There are no rules.

Habbibu · 09/09/2010 09:23

IME, and in that of friends, first babies don't get as many colds as subsequent children, anyway, because they're not exposed to nursery germs from older children. It's natural to be cautious about your first baby's health - they seem so tiny and vulnerable and you feel horribly responsible.

Then you have another, and your older child comes back from playgroup, removes finger from their own snotty nose and lovingly places it in the newborn's mouth the second you look away. That's when you learn they're tougher than they look!

Bumperlicious · 09/09/2010 09:27

Well, not putting your hands in someone else's baby's mouth is just good manners , I wouldn't like anyone doing that to my baby.

Habbibu · 09/09/2010 09:29

Well, Bumper, I believe she was doing it out of love, and I weighed up sibling rivalry vs cold, and decided that he'd survive a cold better than a jealous older sister! Besides, he's "her" baby, don't you know?

StewieGriffinsMom · 09/09/2010 09:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

miamix · 09/09/2010 09:38

Haha I read the original post here and thought "omg it's just like with the dogs, I can't take them out until they've had their jabs!"...

Reminds me actually I need to book the dogs' booster jabs. More money

My baby is due in January, we'll be putting him/her in a snowsuit and braving it from week 1 I think. Although whether I will want to leave the house is another matter, it will be COLD.

Bumperlicious · 09/09/2010 09:44

Habbibu that wasn't aimed at you - sorry it was sedgie's last post! I'm fully expecting DD to have her hands all over DC2 but I wouldn't expect an adult to!

Habbibu · 09/09/2010 09:49

I did wonder... Is dd excited?

ProfessorLaytonIsMyLoveSlave · 09/09/2010 09:50

DD was born at 07.27 and we took her out into town that afternoon, I think. If not then it was certainly the next afternoon, but I'm pretty sure it was the same day.

RememberToPlaywiththeKids · 09/09/2010 10:01

Your baby is in public as soon as it pops out, so there's no need to hide it again - just keep it in public!

buttonmoon78 · 09/09/2010 10:18

DD1 was taken out about day 3. DD2 was in Tesco on the way home from hospital about 12 hours after birth - she was early and I had no milk or bread! We lived in the sticks so it wasn't easy for DH to take me home then go back to pick up stuff. DS was out in public from about day 2. I would've gone absolutely mental if I had to stay inside.

I also believe that a few sniffles etc are good for the immune system (providing no immunosuppressed condition obv). I also detest this craze for sanitising gel. I understand that superbugs in hospitals etc can't be allowed to thrive and I fully agree that in some circumstances certain groups of people need protecting. I also in no way think that cleanliness is bad. BUT, hello? Overcleaning and overuse of antibiotic/antibacterial products is what got us into this mess in the first place!

When I had my first we were absolutely skint. We lived in a single glazed flat with no central heating. I was so scared my baby would get cold, be disadvantaged in some way etc. I told my hv this in a flurry of tears and she laughed (in a nice way) and said she'd probably be one of the healthiest babies she cared for! Oh, and I absolutely refuse to use antibacterial stuff and my 3 have had less bugs (put together) than I have fingers. DD1 is 12 so I reckon that's not bad going. Not scientific research or anything but it works for me...

buttonmoon78 · 09/09/2010 10:20

Admittedly, I do count my thumbs as fingers...

NewbeeMummy · 09/09/2010 10:29

I was in hospital for 6 days, so DD's first day out was when she was 7 days old.

I asked that anyone with colds/flu didn't visit, and when we were out I just made sure that anyone that had a cold didn't pick her up.

Personally I found that the fresh air made her sleep better, and she settled into sleeping longer at nights very easily (it's apprently something to do with sunlight exposure, helps set the body clock)

But as said already, just take basic precautions (wrap up warm), and you'll be fine, you'll go mad if you spend all that time in doors just the two of you.

Ineedsomesleep · 09/09/2010 10:32

Don't worry about taking your baby out or people touching the baby and don't forget that if you bf you will be giving your LO lots and lots of antibodies every day anyway.

Just enjoy your baby.

Pioneer · 09/09/2010 10:36

WTF? Not take them out for 1-3 months???

How on earth are you supposed to go to the clinic/supermarket/get any fresh air?

Sorry OP - this isn't directed at you, just these silly ideas that have been put in your head.

FWIW we had our baby at Bluewater 8 days after he was born.

Also had loads of visitors round.

DH caught a cold and passed it on to me and DS when he was 3 weeks old - it wasn't very nice but completely unavoidable unless DH was to stay off work for 3 months....

Being able to go out and do things is what retained my sanity at a time when I was at rock bottom.

Pioneer · 09/09/2010 10:40

"However...in 8+months baby has had one cold and has otherwise absolutley thrived, so I was thinking perhaps she was doing something right..."

I'm sure this would be the case whether they sterilised or not - asking people to sterilise hands before touching an 8 month old baby is ridiculous IMO.

Ineedsomesleep · 09/09/2010 10:43

DC2 has been going to the local NCT group from about 2 days. The group is full of babies and toddlers and she has been fine.

We have both got lots of frimds from it and it helped my sanity to go somewhere friendly where I knew I could bf if she wanted it.

Original poster

sedgiebaby · 09/09/2010 10:45

OK thanks, I follow what you are all saying...

My gut instinct is not to be so worried about going for walks/fresh air or supermarket but enclosed spaces/gatherings etc I'm wondering about. People don't always seem to exercise good judgement and stay away if they are sick, but happily spread their bugs...I have a friends baby shower just about 3 wks after my baby is due, there will be lots there, not sure if I should take baby...too early? any thoughts?

OP posts:

Ineedsomesleep · 09/09/2010 10:47

No, its not too early. Like I said, if you are bfing your baby will get lots of antibodies from you anyway.

Just go and don't worry.

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