WWYD- large gatherings

punnybunny

We're going home for Thanksgiving this year and my ILs want to have an Open House for us to see all our friends and for everyone to meet the LO. I'm leaning toward saying no just because it's a situation where people will want to sit/chat/play pass-the-baby, there could potentially be a lot of people that show up (we both grew up there so we have a lot of friends in the area, plus DH's parents would invite their friends since they'd be hosting the open house), and it's cold/flu season. LO will be 2 months (9.5 weeks to be exact) at that point. Am I being overly cautious to want to turn it down? When would you be ok with a pass-the-baby party? Also, anyone have suggestions on how to politely say thanks but no thanks to an unwanted party? The only pro on my pro/con list to having the open house is that it would make it easy to see a bunch of friends we normally wouldn't have time to see in a very quick and busy trip home.

saraeric

My sister is getting married in 2 weeks and I figure LO will be passed around there quite a bit. I'm kind of nervous about it but since I'm the Matron of Honor, I won't be able to be around him all the time to censor who holds/who doesn't. I'm hoping DH and my in-laws will be the only ones who hold him the majority of the time. 

Could you just wear your LO most of the time? Or you could use an excuse like "LO's been really fussy lately/spitting up a lot/I think he/she is coming down with something" to try to deter people from holding the baby. You could also just be straight forward and say that you're not comfortable with other people holding LO at this time. It's a tough situation to be in...  :-/ I'd like to think that most resonable adults would be understanding. 

mcstrepp

My mom is having an open house for my grandmas birthday thanksgiving weekend. I plan on using my ergo so people won't really be able to hold/touch the baby.

MrsLaLaBug

Another vote for wearing baby! That way people can look and still ooooh and ahhhh but not touch!

SingleMom31

I took DD to a baby shower last weekend and only 3 or 4 people actually asked to hold her, which I was fine with. I say go for it.

Daisy1232

I'd just be honest and decline the party. I'm visiting home for thanksgiving too and opting to just have people come over for a quick visit one on one.

Everyusernameistaken

Go! We were at a giant engagement party last week and really only my close family even asked to hold him. Agree that a carrier is a great deterrent if you're not comfortable with randoms holding LO.

punnybunny

Thanks ladies! I'll be discussing with DH (since it's his parents wanting to do this) and if we decide to go ahead with it, I'll be sure to have my k'tan on hand.

jht14

We went to my cousin's wedding a few weeks ago and only close family held DD. We were stopped a lot for people to see her but no one else asked to hold her. We had a plan ahead of time though that only my parents and grandma would hold her because we weren't going to play pass the baby all evening.

chardonnay24

I declined having a meet the baby party and I'm secretly glad that we also won't be able to make my IL's Thanksgiving this year. I'm not generally super concerned with taking her places but a party where people will be expecting to hold her is too much for me in the middle of flu season.

purplestarz

Im in a similar predicament with Thanksgiving. My MIL is throwing a huge get together. DH works Thanksgiving, and I'm expected to bring LO by myself to meet a bunch of distant relatives in the middle of cold and flu season. I'm leaning toward coming up with an excuse not to go.

amom2four

I would definitely wear the baby if it's something you decide to do. I would require anyone holding him to wash and/or sanitize their hands because of cold/flu season. But in all honesty, if your getting on a plane, he will already be pretty exposed to viruses. When my kids were little (a few months to 3yrs) we flew a lot and they usually ended up with a cold after a flight. There isn't really any good way to
Avoid it on a plane.

sheluvs2travel

OMG - that would be my worst nightmare with this being cold and flu season and that terrible respiratory virus going around.  I would decline.

rlyttle

We had an open house when DS was 5 weeks old. He was actually going through a growth spurt, so I was feeding him most of the party. Most people don't really want to hold babies and/or won't ask to unless you offer the baby. I agree that wearing the baby or just hold the baby and if anyone asks to hold LO, ask them to wash their hands first, then stay close so they don't pass the baby to someone else.