Contact with newborn

intdesigner925

I know as a FTM we tend to be overly cautious with our babies. What id like to know is how did you deal with vistors and children who came to visit once the baby arrived? Naturally because its a cute baby ppl are going to want to kiss them, and touch their hands and face etc. I have a 5 year old neice and I know she is waiting for that, but im wondering if I should place restrictions and ask family etc to refrain from doing so especially because she will born during the of peak flu season.

 

So 2nd time moms are you placing restrictions this time around or is it really not a big deal like we first time moms think it is?

Ftm what are your plans?

MrsKujawski

We are allowing contact as long as you have had your flu shot and are not sick/fighting something.

If you have not had your shot, we are asking they wait to see/hold baby until after he's received all his vaccinations (8 weeks oldish), and if they have a cold or are fighting something, we are asking they use common sense and wait until they are better. 

rebelina1

I always ask visitors to wash their hands before holding or touching the baby.  Since this baby will be born in cold/flu season I will ask anyone who may come visit to hold off if they are sick or have the sniffles.  

My DD is 5 and I have no problem with her touching or kissing the baby (on his head) as long as she washes her hands first. 

intdesigner925

rebelina1:

I always ask visitors to wash their hands before holding or touching the baby.  Since this baby will be born in cold/flu season I will ask anyone who may come visit to hold off if they are sick or have the sniffles.  

My DD is 5 and I have no problem with her touching or kissing the baby (on his head) as long as she washes her hands first. 

 See I only brought up my neice because she is school aged and I know kids easily pick up things from other children so that was my worry.

lamphele

I don't see anything wrong with people having contact with the baby as long as they wash their hands and aren't sick.

bleu928

We have hand sanitizer all over the place and were probably more prudent than necessary with DS.  I think we'll loosen up about it a bit with this LO except that it's cold/flu season this time (DS was born in July).  Probably just common sense in general...if you aren't feeling well, pass on visiting or on holding the baby (none of us, including the baby, need to get sick!!)

intdesigner925

bleu928:

We have hand sanitizer all over the place and were probably more prudent than necessary with DS.  I think we'll loosen up about it a bit with this LO except that it's cold/flu season this time (DS was born in July).  Probably just common sense in general...if you aren't feeling well, pass on visiting or on holding the baby (none of us, including the baby, need to get sick!!)

Yeah that is true but unforutnately I know alot of ppl who are often in denial that they are sick. My exes mom is one of those types. Its always allergies never a cold and im like yeah right!  But either way I will have sanitizer on hand and be on the lookout for sickies.

theladyjess

Im a FTM and sooo not a germaphobe.  As long as people (children included) aren't sick and they wash their hands I won't have a problem with them visiting. 

MrsLeanna

I agree with the others. As long as everyone washes their hands first then I'm ok with it. I have a daughter who is in school and I will insist that she washes her hands. But, I have a big family who will come by frequently. 

lp0

I am kind of a germaphob so people will definitely hace to wash their hands or use hand sanitizer before holding the baby. Also with the excuse of "he may spit up on you" i will probably have them lay a receiving blanket across their chest. If you think about it, thats the spot that gets hit when you cough or sneeze. When I met with the pediatrician she said not to allow children to kiss the baby's face or hands. She said they can touch his feet and kiss toes but that's it. Luckily we only one child who is going to be around occasionally but unfortunately she's always sick.

AfterAll

I will have people use hand sanitizer, and keep toddlers away from him.  Short of that, there is not much I can do.  My son goes to daycare so he will surely bring home germs, all of our friends have kids, and my MIL categorically refuses to get a flu shot.  Like PP said, common sense.  I would never go to someone's house to meet their newborn if I, or my kid were under the weather and I would hope someone would extend the same courtesy to me.

DEBBIE33CASEY

We will just do the same- ask sick people to postpone the visit and have everyone else wash their hands.  I like pp's idea of laying a receiving blanket across people but I'd rather lay it across their mouths   I am a real germaphobe but am trying to be realistic to balance it all out.  We will see how things go and see if any adjustments to these rules need to be made.

Unfortunately the biggest germ scare we're going to experience is DD and her daycare.  There is not a lot I can do about that.  Just lots of hand washing/sanitizing.

Sascha3

MrsKujawski:

We are allowing contact as long as you have had your flu shot and are not sick/fighting something.

If you have not had your shot, we are asking they wait to see/hold baby until after he's received all his vaccinations (8 weeks oldish), and if they have a cold or are fighting something, we are asking they use common sense and wait until they are better. 

Did you get your flu shot?  My doctor told me that part of the importance of getting my flu shot was that it will also give the baby some immunity against the flu, so I am not too worried about it.  Are you going to ask everyone if they had the shot?

MrsKujawski

Sascha3:

MrsKujawski:

We are allowing contact as long as you have had your flu shot and are not sick/fighting something.

If you have not had your shot, we are asking they wait to see/hold baby until after he's received all his vaccinations (8 weeks oldish), and if they have a cold or are fighting something, we are asking they use common sense and wait until they are better. 

Did you get your flu shot?  My doctor told me that part of the importance of getting my flu shot was that it will also give the baby some immunity against the flu, so I am not too worried about it.  Are you going to ask everyone if they had the shot?

 

I did get the flu shot as did DH.  We asked both of my parents (which they did get it before I had even asked because they work at schools... Same reason I had gotten mine... ) and we asked his parents.  We also asked the woman who will be our nanny when we need her, and that's it.  

I have a very invasive family so the flu shot came up immediately with them, but almost everyone in my family works with children (as their profession) so they had gotten it or were going to get it anyway lol.

Our friends we're not as strict with... we will just tell them to use their common sense and if they're sick or whatever to postpone coming (the majority of our friends lack common sense... badly... yay). 

MrsMeMo

I'm a FTM, but beyond asking people to wash their hands/sanitize we won't be restricting contact. Adults should know not to visit babies if they've been sick within the past week or so, but if you know someone has and that they plan on visiting, just mention that to them.

Sascha3

MrsKujawski:

Sascha3:

MrsKujawski:

We are allowing contact as long as you have had your flu shot and are not sick/fighting something.

If you have not had your shot, we are asking they wait to see/hold baby until after he's received all his vaccinations (8 weeks oldish), and if they have a cold or are fighting something, we are asking they use common sense and wait until they are better. 

Did you get your flu shot?  My doctor told me that part of the importance of getting my flu shot was that it will also give the baby some immunity against the flu, so I am not too worried about it.  Are you going to ask everyone if they had the shot?

 

I did get the flu shot as did DH.  We asked both of my parents (which they did get it before I had even asked because they work at schools... Same reason I had gotten mine... ) and we asked his parents.  We also asked the woman who will be our nanny when we need her, and that's it.  

I have a very invasive family so the flu shot came up immediately with them, but almost everyone in my family works with children (as their profession) so they had gotten it or were going to get it anyway lol.

Our friends we're not as strict with... we will just tell them to use their common sense and if they're sick or whatever to postpone coming (the majority of our friends lack common sense... badly... yay). 

I am just going to hope people use common sense and if they do not, I will have to tell them to leave my house!  lol

One of my best friends babysits her FI's sister's kids full time and refuses to get the flu shot because she is convinced that cancer is given out in the shots.  She is an annoying conspiracy theorist.  Normally it would not be a big deal to me, but one of the siblings she babysits was born at 24 weeks.  Her twin brother was born at 23 weeks and did not make it:(  That little baby was in the hospital for months and obviously has a very low immune system.  She has been out for about 2 months now but is still on oxygen.  And my friend lives in Michigan, where the flu season hits strongly.  I just find it incredibly selfish of her, and I think the mother needs to be more concerned about it, rather than having my friend as a free nanny.  If I had a baby with a comprimised immune system I would be extremely cautious.

miababy

MrsKujawski:

We are allowing contact as long as you have had your flu shot and are not sick/fighting something.

If you have not had your shot, we are asking they wait to see/hold baby until after he's received all his vaccinations (8 weeks oldish), and if they have a cold or are fighting something, we are asking they use common sense and wait until they are better. 

Babies can't get a flu shot until they are at least 6 months old, although our pedi says having limited contact for the first two months is a good thing.  Breastfeeding will help pass your immunity (if you've had a shot) down to the baby.

That being said, we were always just careful with DD that people washed their hands before holding or touching her.  Also, if anyone was sick they had to wait until they were better to visit.  Now that I have a toddler, I will not be able to keep her cooped up inside for months so LO will be exposed to more people than she was as a newborn.  My plan is to wear him most of the time.  People tend to respect you and babies space much more if baby is being worn in a wrap or a sling. 

trackchik6

After my niece held DS at 11 weeks old and the next day was diagnosed with swine flu, we are asking our parents, siblings (and their kids) to get the flu shot if they want to be around this winter baby as a newborn.  With DS and this baby too, I will ask everyone to wash their hands before holding the baby.

PsyDr04

I plan on asking everyone who visits the baby to put on a haz-mat suit. Hee hee...I'm just kidding. But I will expect people to wash their hands or use hand sanitizer and I will have no qualms telling people to stay away if they are sick or have been around a sick family member until everyone is well.

SoonToBeMsP

I really haven't thought about this. Our families and friends understand the risks associated with babies and would probably take the necessary precautions- flu shot, wash hands, don't come around if sick, etc. I hadn't thought about putting restrictions out there...