Have any of you limited outings due to the flu?

marleysimon

Since the flu outbreak is so bad, have you limited outings for your infants in any way?  I had been taking DD to Target and grocery shopping, but now I think that was pretty stupid of me.  At the same time, I don't want to be a shut in. 

forestdancer

I just make sure random people are not touching my LO. I make sure to clean her hands alot more when out since they are always in her mouth. Ohh and if anyone seems sick I keep them away from her.

cmurphy09

marleysimon:

Since the flu outbreak is so bad, have you limited outings for your infants in any way?nbsp; I had been taking DD to Target and grocery shopping, but now I think that was pretty stupid of me.nbsp; At the same time, I don't want to be a shut in.nbsp;

When I do I usually go for carry out items. To avoid abundant contact with germs I put her in our stroller, have a reusable bag or basket... occasionally I'll put her in the cart but I use a cart wipe on the handle and my seat cover. I'm now adamantly washing hands and hand sani for myself... as DH and I already had the flu while he had to travel and alone with DD...that was rough lol... Motherhood has kinda turned me germaphobic.

alizabethanne

Yes. We try not to take LO out somewhere if its just a quick trip and one of us can stay home. And no visits by anyone who is sick! We are just getting over her first throat and ear infection so I am now hyper germ conscious. Its been a rough week!

We do go outside and get fresh air each day, just avoiding large crowds with DD. 

marleysimon

What about socializing, like family gatherings or going to a friend's with kids?  Obviously you can ask if anyone's sick, but they say you can be carrying the flu and not feel sick for 24 hours or so, and it's not always possible to ascertain if anyone's sick if it's a bigger gathering.  For instance, I was supposed to stop by a friend's party Sat night with the baby, but then didn't for fear someone might be sick.

khagan9368

Nope, both my kids got the flu (thank you daycare) we had a rough couple of weeks

angelfire02

Yes.  My kids (and I) are so sick of being cooped up but there are too many people who are sick I'm not going to risk it.  I feel like next year I won't be as worried about it but mine were preemies and I don't want to have two sick kiddos.  We have all already had the pukey flu once.  

mamayo26

DS just got over his first cold and just got his second dose of the flu shot. We ask if anyone is sick and try not to put him in situations where he could come in contact with someone who is sick, but at the same time I want him to build up a natural immunity to germs.

Like my SIL is babysitting him on Saturday and she emailed me and said she got sick last Friday, well obviously her incubation period to be contagious is over, and I said she just needs to wash her hands a lot and cover her mouth (normal stuff to stop the spread of germs), but as she probably has the same thing DS had I'm trying to not be neurotic about it, but still be smart. Keeping him away from strangers touching him and people who appear sick that we don't know, etc. 

jennyelf

marleysimon:

Since the flu outbreak is so bad, have you limited outings for your infants in any way?  I had been taking DD to Target and grocery shopping, but now I think that was pretty stupid of me.  At the same time, I don't want to be a shut in. 

No, but LO is in daycare, so pretty much any measures I take would be useless. In any case, LO had the flu shot and still got the flu!

Idahomama

Probably a stupid question but...how do you if they have the vs a cold?

kdjudd

I don't limit our outings at all. I just do my best to make sure that my daughter doesn't put her mouth on anything that might have germs and I never let strangers touch her. We also don't see family that much. Maybe once a week so I don't worry about that being an issue either.