Are grandparents visiting newborns (or babies due soon)?

[Joelle345]

If you are due early July, or maybe you've just had your baby, what are you planning regarding family visitors, and grandparents holding the baby?

I'm due next two weeks and trying to work out what to do. I've had comments from my parents (quite passive aggressive) saying they don't suppose they'll ever get to meet the baby, and I also have some rather overwhelming PIL who are both very emotional and ready about not seeing us during the last few months, and the prospect of not meeting the baby straight away. Midwife suggests sticking to Zoom and looking through the windows until the first vaccinations at least. I don't know if grandparents will tolerate it or if we should be worried about it anyway. My gut says I don't want people breathing on my baby just yet.

Just wondering, what with today's new government guidance, what other new families are doing about grandparents and visits.

Do exactly what YOU are comfortable with doing, you're the one responsible for the baby. Ask them how awful they'd feel if they came for a cuddle and were unknowingly asymptomatic? Don't let them pressure you into something you're not happy with x

I would do what the midwife says.

Disclaimer: my dad has actually been staying with me throughout lockdown - we effectively combined households, so he has been able to spend time with my baby, now 11 weeks. So, I'm not entirely practising what I preach. But I certainly haven't allowed other people (relatives or otherwise) to hold the baby or come round, for example. One line for me was that I wanted the baby to at least be old enough for Calpol before potentially being exposed to anything - I know newborns are not at high risk for significant illness from coronavirus but I'd at least like him to be able to have basic everyday medicine to relieve it if he were to catch it.

Moving forward, I still intend to be cautious to begin with, at least. I'm up for meeting up with people for a walk or picnic with a bit of distance between us, but not keen on passing him around just yet.

Ultimately, it's up to you. Grandparents don't get to not 'tolerate' your decisions about your child. It sounds as though you know what you want to do; it's absolutely right (and great parenting!) for you to advocate for yourself and your child as you see fit. Best of luck with everything!

Thank you. I am wanting to follow my gut. It's difficult because they are watching the news and seeing the restrictions being lifted so asking when it's going to happen. There is no really clear advice in the public domain. I don't know anyone else with a newborn so I can't use other people as an example and say "here's what so-and-so are doing". It's helpful to get an idea by posting on here, as to what most people are doing.