Seclusion: how long?

KTZ17

DD is almost 3 months, one month adjusted and we've kept her pretty secluded thus far. Only close friends and family have met her. The neonatologist in the NICU said not to have her around school-age children. Did you follow this rule? If so, for how long? We have friends with kids who want to meet her and also the family I babysat for in college invited us for dinner, and they have 4 kids. If we had ground rules like hand washing and no touching her hands or face, would it be safe for her to be around kids?

meldoo2002

Nope no kids.. especially if that was the recommendation.  This is going to be a tough time of year because we're going in to RSV season.  My boys did not leave the house except to go to doctors appointments from 8 months - 15 months during RSV season and previous to that they were not around other children unless outside during the summer once they had a number of their shots.  I would rather be cautious than have sick kiddos.  

Brummy14

Like PPs, I'd listen to what they've said. We've not let the girls come near any kids in daycare and/or school at this point -- only adults, and a handful of other newborns this summer. While respiratory stuff isn't really out there a bunch right now, there's plenty of strep and stomach bugs, for sure, which could be equally nasty for these little guys. Come October or so, we'll be going back into isolation, and only leaving the house for doctor appointments, and limiting visitors to our three caretakers (my parents and our nanny) and our PT visits for Claire. I cannot tell you how excited we are for next Spring/Summer -- we'll be able to go out into public regularly (what?!) and not have to completely shut down the following flu season. It will have been a LONG 18 months, but we'll get there. It's for all the right reasons!

KTZ17

Wow, I thought you all would have responded that keeping her away from all kids is overkill. What if she had an older sibling? I feel isolated as it is...she really can't be around a couple kids if they don't touch her?

KTZ17

I certainly don't want her to get sick, I just thought that since it isn't RSV or flu season yet, we might be safe having a couple visits around children before the summer is over. DH and I are both teachers, so I'm worried that no matter how isolated we keep her, we're still going to bring germs into the house.

KTZ17

BostonKisses2 said:

KTZ17 said:

Wow, I thought you all would have responded that keeping her away from all kids is overkill. What if she had an older sibling? I feel isolated as it is...she really can't be around a couple kids if they don't touch her?

You do what you can if there's an older sibling in the picture, but honestly if she doesn't have an older sibling that argument is moot in your case.  I know it's rough being so isolated.  BTDT... for 3 RSV seasons, and as much as it sucks with a newborn it's even worse with an active toddler.  I say that without snark and not to get pain olympic-y, either, but more for a different perspective.  Like PP said, ultimately the decision is yours, but the neos know what they're talking about and if they're recommending isolation I would seriously consider taking that advice until you talk to your primary pedi at the very least.

I will definitely ask my pediatrician what her stance is on it. You're right, the sibling thing is moot. I guess I was hoping everyone would say go for it and I was being overly cautious, but I guess I've been isolating her appropriately thus far.

KTZ17

BostonKisses2 said:

KTZ17 said:

I certainly don't want her to get sick, I just thought that since it isn't RSV or flu season yet, we might be safe having a couple visits around children before the summer is over. DH and I are both teachers, so I'm worried that no matter how isolated we keep her, we're still going to bring germs into the house.

Even though it's not active RSV season, kids and babies can still pick up an RSV infection.  Last season was really bad, and I know that in a lot of areas, infections were still being reported after the season ended.  There are a lot of summer colds going around, among other things, and sometimes even a cold is enough to compromise a preemie's lungs.

I understand your concerns being teachers.  I'm a teacher myself, and was worried about bringing stuff home when I started subbing again after she was born.  Yes, there is always a risk, but you can do some things to help minimize that.  Make sure you wash your hands and use sanitizer religiously, particularly during cold/flu/RSV season.  If you can avoid it, don't handle LO until you at least wash your hands when you come home, and also hit the shower right away to help wash potential germs away.  I still do that because of her other health concerns, and it does help with infection control.

That's good advice. DH goes back to work next month and I don't go back till January. I'll suggest he shower before he handles her!

thishappyhouse

She is still quite young and fragile.  We did allow our 25 weeker to be around kids last summer under strict rules but she was nearly 6 months adjusted by that point.  We made sure they were not sick ahead of time, everyone used hand sanitizer and the kids could look but not touch.  

Perhaps you could meet them at a park or playground and wear your baby so that these people special to you could "visit" with you and your baby but at a safe distance for her?  People love to see their little faces when they are snuggled into a moby wrap (or something like it) but it generally they know to not get too close.  I still would ensure that they are not sick.  

meldoo2002

KTZ17 said:

I certainly don't want her to get sick, I just thought that since it isn't RSV or flu season yet, we might be safe having a couple visits around children before the summer is over. DH and I are both teachers, so I'm worried that no matter how isolated we keep her, we're still going to bring germs into the house.

I know what you mean.  We knew we'd be bringing germs home so we didn't want to add any more to it.  I work in EI and DH manages a pharmacy... both are breeding grounds.  For the first 18 months of the boys life, we walked in the door and showered, changed our clothes, before we interacted with them.   DH often had to leave his off in the basement laundry room and then come up to shower.  We just tried to do the best we could... and even with them staying home they got RSV twice ... at 9 months and the following winter also.  I can't imagine if we had been exposing them more.  

MinaE01

My H and I have been very relaxed about exposure to kids/adults/possible germs. Of course, we want to protect him, and we would hate for him to get sick, but we feel that some exposure to other kids is, in general, a good thing. We let DS start meeting people around his due date back in December, and by February, I was back at work and he was at a babysitter with other kids. I didn't take him out a lot, and when my nieces and nephews held him, they would wash their hands first, not touch his face, etc. I wasn't reckless, by any means!

I would probably have been more cautious if he got sick a lot or seemed weak, but he's always been pretty healthy. I don't plan on taking any extraordinary precautions this RSV season. I'll be on alert, but we aren't going to deliberately stay in or keep him away from people for fear of RSV.

It's your decision. I think there's a happy medium that will work for you!