Those of you who are waiting 1 month+ to take baby out...

notkateanymore

Where do you live? Does that play into your decision? Did your doctor recommend waiting that long or what it just something you decided?

TXmamatobe

I'm interested to see the answers as well.

74dragonfly

We waited one month. We live in Northern California. We waited because our baby wasin the NICU and they recommended we avoid the public for one month.

swirl25

We are in NY, where it's been literally below freezing one week and 50 degrees the next (today). My ped suggested waiting at least 3 weeks to begin with. But, now with her being sick I'm in no rush to expose her to any more germs than she already is by DD1.

notkateanymore

I get the NICU thing and if DS had RSV I might get a bubble for him to live in...though I would still have to take him places bc DD has places to go.

Red_Dahlia

I live in Houston. Flu and RSV are really bad here this year, and its just not worth it to me to take LO out and expose him. Pedi said this was the worst he's seen in 10 years. I don't mind being home, and am not stir crazy at all. I take LO on walks around the neighborhood, and have gone to Starbucks (drive-through). I'm actually not sure when I'll be ready to take him out.

tyedyeme12

I put 1 month because I'm paranoid. Also, it got cold and icy last week (in Oklahoma) and dh has been running all the errands just fine. I'm a homebody and haven't really cared to put on a bra or load up the car for a quick outing.

But mostly it's the paranoia. I wanted to go to church yesterday, but every time I am about to, someone posts a Facebook status about a cold or "I hope I don't have that stomach virus going around the office". And I know they'll be at church anyway. And trying to touch Jude.

Eta: I just saw the discussions about SO's running the errands and such - dh works 3 12 hour shifts so he is able to run the errands on his days off while I'm on mat leave. After I go back to work next week, he will take LO with him, but LO will be a month old at that point.

Danicali

It's been -40C here (finally warming up to -20C this week!) and H1n1 has been going around our area so we are trying to avoid those people!!

insertclevername

We live in NY. Weather is a factor. Temps and snow/ice. He just turned a month old. I have taken DS2 out a few times since he was born and starting this week will be bringing DS2 to pick up DS1 a few times a week at his daycare.

cammyisagirlsname

I live in New England and it's been wicked cold with a huge flu outbreak. Pedi says to use caution & dress baby appropriately, but H and I just prefer to keep him inside. However, we're having a little "heat wave" and it's been in the mid to upper 40s. We took him out to look at a couple of houses today.

lilypienmessimy

I waited until today, she's a month old and my DH had 3 weeks off with me so we were able to take turns running any errands we needed. I'm also a FTM, I'm sure this will change with the next baby because I could imagine being stir crazy with a toddler running around. Big reason why I waited is because I'm in Chicago where temps were below zero and wind chills were -45. Not gonna take a baby out in that if I don't have to and I have 3 sisters and my mom who have been around wanting to help out too so why take her out if I don't need to?

lp0

I'm in CT and it's been freezing here and there is a terrible stomach bug (and flu) going around. I'm terrified DS will pick something up since he puts everything in his mouth and give it to DD. We've been staying in but I feel bad for DS (he's going stir crazy). We're going to venture out on Wednesday for a play date :-SS

lollipoppoop

I live in north alabama, our pediatrician recommended not taking her out for 6-8 weeks. It's not a big deal to us. My husband watches her while I get out. I honestly haven't felt like really going anywhere anyways. Weather doesn't play too much of a factor one day it's 6 degrees the next it's 60 degrees lol

MommyEllenSue

The pediatrician in the well baby nursery at the hospital told us not to take LO out until April. The pediatrician in the NICU said she's healthy now ( she was failure to thrive) said don't lock yourself away just don't let sick people around or people in public touch her. I've never asked her regular pediatrician. I take her out running errands but keep her away from people.

Chichigo

I live in suburban Chicago. There were 4 mainfactors in our decision to stay home: i grew tired very quickly because of extended bed rest for the last month of pregnancy, living in a popular shopping area during the chaos of Christmas shopping and returns, extreme cold and snowy weather (plows couldn't keep up with it, and even though it snows often, few people know how to drive in it), and the concern over germs.

We did take a few walks near the house on "warm" days, visited family, and ate at a restaurant on the way home from a doctor appointment. Now that the shopping season is over, we will probably visit the mall just to walk around. This means I have to figure out how to fold the stroller.

Lyzza350

NY. The cold does play into my decision. Doc strongly recommended waiting two months, so that's what were doing

hjweber

MBMO2 said:

I waited until today, she's a month old and my DH had 3 weeks off with me so we were able to take turns running any errands we needed. I'm also a FTM, I'm sure this will change with the next baby because I could imagine being stir crazy with a toddler running around. Big reason why I waited is because I'm in Chicago where temps were below zero and wind chills were -45. Not gonna take a baby out in that if I don't have to and I have 3 sisters and my mom who have been around wanting to help out too so why take her out if I don't need to?

I've actually found it harder to get out of the house with a toddler and baby.  Most days, I prefer to just stay at home because it's so much work getting both LO's ready and out the door and then loaded into the car, etc.  It exhausts me just thinking about it.  

I've take DD2 out one time other than pedi appts and Christmas, mostly due to factors unrelated to paranoia regarding germs.  

Aycul18

@chichigo if you don't mind me asking, what suburb or area of suburbs are you in?

I would take the baby out if I could, but DH is totally against it. I think he'd rather keep the poor girl in a bubble. The pedi said 1-2 months and he won't take her anywhere other than my parents or his parents or the pedi for 2 months. It's been an ongoing argument.

ScarlettV

We waited a month as well. We are on the east coast and it has been stormy and cold. Plus our pedi told us to be careful as they have seen a lot of newborns coming in with chest colds.

sportsmomma

We have taken her out for errands starting around 1 week, but wanted to chime in to say the hospital pedi did say illnesses were bad this winter and suggested keeping her away from crowds (his examples were church and large family gatherings) until at least late January (6 weeks). The part I find interesting is that even if we totally kept her in a house bubble we're not safe bc my crazy MIL came over the other day and after holding her for 30 minutes says, "I feel like I'm coming down with that flu that's been going around!" And DS is at daycare 3 days/week so he's bringing germs home as much as we wash his hands and whatnot, so short story is, we have tried to avoid situations where she'll be exposed to multiple people who will want to just pass her around but I feel like, in our situation anyway, it's impossible to shield her from all germs.

*Mrs*Rohrbaugh*

We live in southern PA and waited a month to take DD out (to a store). We just didn't want to risk her catching something somewhere so soon. We did take her to ILs and my parents houses around 3 weeks old though.

linzy2202

I live in Houston and my pedi recommended the same thing bc of flu and RSV. We've had some crazy weather as well. It flip flops between below freezing to 70 in a day and back. So many people are sick and there's nothing I need to get dine that bad to risk her being sick. I'm a FTM and maybe I'm being super overprotective, but between the dr and my paranoia I'm totally fine keeping her at home.

Edit: sent before ready

Schreckswife09

We have mostly kept our little one at home other than our parents house and doctors appointments. We are doing it though bc there has been a huge outbreak of the flu and a horrible stomach virus around where we live.