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?

sassafras007

DD was in the NICU after she was born so I am not sure abour right away.

I would just make sure people washed their hands before they touched her...

Jessimurph

I tell my daughter that as long as it's ok with the parents she can touch a babies feet, but nothing else.  This usually works for most parents, even of newborns.  Newborns don't put their feet in their mouths like an older baby.  We see a lot of newborns since I am a newborn photographer and have a newborn studio in my home.

My daughter starts preschool part time in January.  I expect the whole house will be sick for at least a few months until she builds up an immunity.  I'd like to have a "wash your hands before touching the baby" rule, but I won't be able to be as diligent with this one as I was with her.  I honestly think I will be so happy to have help/visitors I'll be much more willing to hand this one off and shower, run errands or take a nap.  I swear I didn't leave her side for a LONG time.  I was a nutjob.

Jessimurph

Also- I think part of the reason they recommend you get a flu shot during pregnancy is that the newborn gets your antibodies.  When you breastfeed you are also sharing your antibodies which is why breastfed babies are much less likely to get sick even if you do.

intdesigner925

Jessimurph:

Also- I think part of the reason they recommend you get a flu shot during pregnancy is that the newborn gets your antibodies.  When you breastfeed you are also sharing your antibodies which is why breastfed babies are much less likely to get sick even if you do.

 Yeah I got my flu shot already so im covered for that and I PLAN to breastfeed lol hopefully that wont go awry!

pregnantchica

I made sure that before anyone touched dd, everyone washed their hands and/or used some antibacterial creme.  At this time of the year, you've got to be careful because the risk of RSV is there.  Dd had this at 6 weeks old and we had to stay in the hospital for a couple of nights.  It was a nightmare because I thought she just had a cold, but it was worse than that.  She actually ended up gettting it from my step daughter who had a cough at the time.

Usually, people are understanding about not allowing them to touch the baby too much.

kris_kelsey

if people have an active infection, then they won't be holding the baby.  And for everyone else I just point them in the direction of the hand sanitizer.  most people don't start kissing your baby all over.

EllasMommy2010

When we had DD #1, we kept hand sanitzer in plain sight.  We asked everyone to either wash their hands or put on sanitizer before holding the baby.  Our Dr. even suggested the hand sanitizer idea.  I felt weird about it at first, but everyone seemed to understand and most offered to wash up before I even asked them.

Joie80

EllasMommy2010:

When we had DD #1, we kept hand sanitzer in plain sight.  We asked everyone to either wash their hands or put on sanitizer before holding the baby.  Our Dr. even suggested the hand sanitizer idea.  I felt weird about it at first, but everyone seemed to understand and most offered to wash up before I even asked them.

This. It was suggested the sanitzier be kept in plan view for all visitors.

sunnyday016

I would just ask sick people not to come into contact with us (most people are good about this anyway) and for everyone else to wash hands before holding the baby. 

 If the 5 year old is holding the baby on the couch, I don't see anything wrong with her touching his head if she's washed her hands and keeping her fingers out of his face.  

mom2b_09

I will just ask that everyone washes their hands before holding the baby.  I had my DS around flu season and that worked just fine.  I do not think that it is necessary to have any more restrictions then that.

Cece0601

I'll just have others wash their hands or use hand sanitizer. In my experience, most visitors tend to do so before holding the baby, anyway.

boydstm

I will be a hand sanitizer nazi!!! There will be bottles of it on the baby's dresser, on the coffee table in the living room, in the diaper bag, in my purse and as soon as anyone stretches out to touch her, they are getting squirted!!! Even DH because he is such a guy and doesn't see much point in hand washing.

diana.filipi

DD was in NICU at first.  We came home when she was 5 days old.  We went out to dinner that night, all of her family visited her and us on day 4 and 5.  On her 6th day we went to a coffee house to visit with a friend of mine who was pregnant and she held DD.  Her 7th evening I took her to a group meeting of new and expectant moms to tell our birth story.

As you can see I didn't restrict access to DD.  I won't restrict access with this little fella either.  I just used common sense to know when to know what to do.

karleegirl

With my last child I just asked everyone to wash their hands or use sanitizer. We had a big stink b/c I found out dh grandfather was going to come by and he was sick. I told mil he needed to wait and it pissed off the whole family. It didn't bother me. My rule with kids is that they can touch baby's feet and that's it. I have my ds do that as well with friends kids.

JustSomeChick

I plan to have everyone wash their hands and then use hand sanitizer. and anyone who shows any sign of being sick will not be allowed near the baby.

Rosebud2587

sassafras007:

I would just make sure people washed their hands before they touched her...

This. 

CrystalJB2003

I think since it's flu season, if anyone is sick they will NOT come around the baby for a while. As far as people coming in contact w/the baby, everyone will be asked to wash their hands everytime they come around, or else they aren't allowed to hold her. lol very overprotective first time mama here.

KRISTA555

I didn't worry about it at all, honestly. People were welcome to hold and love on my DD, and she didn't get sick at all, until recently... and she's 17 months old.  I really believe she has a strong immune system because of the fact that I'm not a germaphobe.

That's not to say I'm stupid.  It's not like I don't keep her clean or try to avoid sick people. But, I also refuse to put her into a little germ-free bubble.  Yes, I'm aware the newborns don't have immunity like older kids do. I am referring to when my DD was a bit older and now.

ETA: I should mention that my DD was born in the middle of summer, so not a high flu season. Plus, we were 1100 miles from friends and family at the time, so we didn't have a lot of visitors.   WIth this baby, seeing as he will be born in February, I will be a little more strict... just not overly so.

Becky&Barrett

I am not going to let obviously sick people hold the baby, but at the same time, I already have two kids (5 & almost2 2). One of them is sick right now and I am being induced Friday. I am not going to ban my son from being around my newborn child since we are a family. All of us have had the flu shot and the baby is protected because I got the flu shot. It is inevitable that the baby will attsome point get a cold, etc... until then we will do our best to wash hands regularly

led2009

No restrictions, just lots of hand washing.