Newborns not in public for 2 months?

Temp534591562502098 · August 2009

The pediatrician mentioned keeping LO away from "where sick people might be" like the malls and grocery store and whatnot which I totally get. Then he said to keep that up for the first 2 months. Where any of you told that timeframe or able to make it that long? DH is good right now at going and getting us stuff that we need but I'm guessing that there will be a time when both of us will really need/want to be able to enter a store at the same time to look at and go buy something within the next 2 months.

If you didn't wait that long, what precautions did you take??

TIA!

DNK777 · August 2009

I didn't wait at all. I put a light blanket over the carseat when out and people didn't mess with her.

*blondie* · August 2009

dd was 10 days old when we first went out (church, joanns, and target). i've taken her to the mall, grocery store, costco...where ever i have to go. never told not to. And there is no way you'll last more a month tops!

kklickka · August 2009

That's ridiculous! Our pedi said that after 2 weeks we could go wherever we wanted as long as lots of people didn't touch/hold DS. I don't really take any precautions, other than to politely ask people not to touch him.

MommaMar · August 2009

hmm definitely didnt wait that long lol..I brought her out pretty early on. I dont bring her out all the time or for really long periods of time. Also, I dont let many people hold her, at this point. You would go crazy being cooped up for 2 months!

mommy411 · August 2009

I didn't take DD out for well over a month..1. because she was premature and 2. I didnt want to chance it. But when I did take her out I kept a blanket over the carseat

caraf-w · August 2009

we had ds out with us everywhere as soon as he came home at 1 week and have never had any problems. people here thought we were trying to kill him- i am not kidding.( its a cultural thing most girls actually stay in bed for the first month and dont shower either. nice....) anyways we always have alcohol and water in a spray bottle with us and spray ourselves and anyone who wants to touch or pick up ds. good luck

DTNZ4Ever · August 2009

DS was at BRU & Target at 4 days old & Costco a 8 days old. Nobody touched him.

MKDee · August 2009

Was your LO a preemie? The only time I've heard of keeping babies away from public for that length of time is for preemies.

We took DS out in public from his first few weeks of life. I worried much more about germs from family visiting and wanting to cuddle and kiss him than from going to grocery stores/malls, where I could keep DS in his carseat/stroller and away from strangers. I had a few strangers ask how old he was, but no one attempted to touch him when he was that young. If they had, I would have asked them to stop.

Unless your LO was a preemie or has a medical condition, I suspect your pedi is being a little overly cautious, but you have to do what makes you most comfortable. If you feel best staying inside for two months, there is nothing wrong with that. If you want to go out, it's not hard to keep people from handling your child. I'm sure he's using two months as the "deadline" because that's when babies get their first set of shots and are protected against some major illnesses.

MattysGirl81 · August 2009

We went to the grocery store at 5 days old. No one gave us a timetable and I can't imagine sitting in the house for 2 months. I wouldn't have let strangers touch him, and no one tried.

Califragilistic · August 2009

i took her out to a restauran & grocery store in first few weeks and to the mall at 5 weeks. just keep her away from people and their dirty hands--no need to be on house arrest...esp if you are BFING. lo gets tons of antibodies.

katiekate1974 · August 2009

I'm sorry, but that's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. What if your LO is in daycare? Trust me, they pick up a lot MORE at daycare than the ever will in a mall. Also, if either of you go to work, you'll bring those germs back with you and they'll just sit in the house. And seriously, it's not like you're planning to hand the baby off to some stranger who is going to lick him. And what about babies who have older siblings in school??

For real. Sorry, in this case, I say ignore your pedi. You will go out of your ever loving mind if you can't take your baby out for 2 months. Ey yi yi.

Kadyra · August 2009

This is what our pedi told us. No public outings for 2 months. He was 4 weeks early, had more than the usual weight loss (12% in the first 36 hours of life... went from 5lb0oz to 4lb6oz), and jaundice. He had to stay an extra day in the hospital and we have to go to extra pedi appt's for bili blood draws. I feel like this is why there's such a long recommended period to keep him out of the public. I have to go back to work at 6wk, but the IL's will be here. So I'm not sure when daycare will start. Or if we'll make it to the 2 months-- they do that because up until 2-3 months of age, for fevers they have to be admitted to the hospital and get blood cultures and spinal taps. I'd rather try my best to keep DS at home. Even if I go crazy!

busybea · August 2009

I was told 2 months also, but by the 3rd week I was going nuts so DH and I took DS out to Target and then out to lunch. We covered up his carseat with a light blanket and only 1 person was stupid enough to try to touch him and I snarled at her! LOL

katiekate1974 · August 2009

hutchison.andrea@gmail.com:
This is what our pedi told us. No public outings for 2 months. He was 4 weeks early, had more than the usual weight loss (12% in the first 36 hours of life... went from 5lb0oz to 4lb6oz), and jaundice. He had to stay an extra day in the hospital and we have to go to extra pedi appt's for bili blood draws. I feel like this is why there's such a long recommended period to keep him out of the public. I have to go back to work at 6wk, but the IL's will be here. So I'm not sure when daycare will start. Or if we'll make it to the 2 months-- they do that because up until 2-3 months of age, for fevers they have to be admitted to the hospital and get blood cultures and spinal taps. I'd rather try my best to keep DS at home. Even if I go crazy!

Not always so. DS was in the ER 2x for fever when he was 2mo 1week old. No spinal tap. However, he was admitted. Of course, he got sick at the pedi's office, not the mall.....just sayin. You are more likely to get sick at a doctor's office or hosptial than you are at the mall or a grocery store.

erbear · August 2009

I took her out within a week to Target and places like that. No one tried to touch her. I kept her in her carseat or in the Bjorn. You'll go crazy if you don't leave your house for 2 months!!!

PS Congrats on the baby!!!

cedens · August 2009

i was told 2 months as well- i was just talking to my friend about this (she has a 5 month old) - i am going stir crazy- its almost 3 weeks! i took her out today to the bank, post office and i stopped at mcd's- all drive thrus! but it felt great just to do that! dd had jaundice as well and i have been to doc every week of her life so far for weight and jaundice checks- she continually looses weight and is no where near birth weight- she was born 8lbs,7oz and is now 7lb,3oz! but i doubt that they said to wait 2 months bc of this bc it was on our discharge paperwork that looked like generic paperwork!

so for now, i am tryin to wait bc she is feeding so often anyways that it makes it hard to go out- but now that i have started supplementing with formula, i can see going out quickly in our future! haha

kaylenpar1 · August 2009

Criminey, we had to take her out at a week old. DH didn't know what to get from the store and I couldn't drive so she went with us. We just kept a blanket on her and as close to us as possible and people didn't touch her. In fact, we've never really had anyone try to touch her... we've just gotten compliments.

Kadyra · August 2009

katiekate1974:

hutchison.andrea@gmail.com:
This is what our pedi told us. No public outings for 2 months. He was 4 weeks early, had more than the usual weight loss (12% in the first 36 hours of life... went from 5lb0oz to 4lb6oz), and jaundice. He had to stay an extra day in the hospital and we have to go to extra pedi appt's for bili blood draws. I feel like this is why there's such a long recommended period to keep him out of the public. I have to go back to work at 6wk, but the IL's will be here. So I'm not sure when daycare will start. Or if we'll make it to the 2 months-- they do that because up until 2-3 months of age, for fevers they have to be admitted to the hospital and get blood cultures and spinal taps. I'd rather try my best to keep DS at home. Even if I go crazy!

Not always so. DS was in the ER 2x for fever when he was 2mo 1week old. No spinal tap. However, he was admitted. Of course, he got sick at the pedi's office, not the mall.....just sayin. You are more likely to get sick at a doctor's office or hosptial than you are at the mall or a grocery store.

I like how you left out of your bolding of my post the "2-3 months," which is correct. I also note that you're not a physician, which I am. True that you're more likely to get sick at a doctor's office, but this is the protocol.

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