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3rd Trimester
Opinions on when to take baby out after birth
Hey ladies---so I have an opinion question. We just had the last of our childbirth classes tonight, and they had a pediatrician there talking about caring for a new baby. He was saying that you shouldn't take the baby into a public place for 6, preferably 8 weeks, after birth---not to the grocery store, church, wherever. I am due July 25th, and were planning on going on vacation to the beach (where I obviously know I would be spending most of the time inside in the A/C with baby) at the end of August, but now we are not sure.
When do you plan on taking baby out in public? And would you go on vacation a month or so after your baby's birth? I just can't imagine staying in the house for 8 weeks! But of course I would if that is best for the baby.
Looking forward to the opinions 
.
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Re: Opinions on when to take baby out after birth
I took my little ones out I think within the 1st week or 2 if not on the 1st day depending on weather. just keep in mind that they will be exposed to germs.
good luck
House / Baby blog
My mom took me to Longhorn Steakhouse three days after DD was born. DD chilled in her carrier on the table while we ate. She slept like a champ the whole time, too, lol. I took her places pretty regularly after that as well. And she's still alive, and healthy! I mean, really. It's absurd to think you should have to be holed up with your baby for that long, and you certainly shouldn't have to make arrangements to have someone watch him/her every time you need to shake off your cabin fever.
// I love you too. //
We took DS #1 for a walk at the beach at 7 days old. We took DS #2 for a walk to the park at 4 days old. I would just be careful and use common sense.
We took DS #1 to a big family reunion at 5 weeks old. DH just made anyone who wanted to hold the baby use hand sanitizer that he stuck in his pocket
This is soooo true!
On another note if you are planning to breastfeed baby will get antibodies through milk anyway.
my opinion - be smart about what you choose.
don't take LO to crowded areas and keep strangers from sneezing on, licking (joking), or otherwise touching him/her. At church, don't let him/her get passed around and keep with you (not in nursery). All the PP's ideas re: keeping in carrier/wrap are right on the money.
Folks can "see", but please don't touch baby. The people who matter will respect your wishes.
There's no way I'd wait till 6-8 weeks to take LO out. Baby is already being exposed to all sorts of things that we bring in on our skin and clothes, plus we have animals (cats, dogs, chickens, cows, etc) around the property and a toddler in the house. I have always felt that our hypersensitivity to dirt and overeager use of hand sanitizer actually jeopardizes our children's immune systems by limiting their exposure and opportunities to create antibodies.
I was taking DD to the grocery store when she was 2 or 3 weeks old, maybe less (I get stir crazy). Out for walks around the neighborhood as soon as I felt up to walking.
The guy doesn't want you to take your baby to the grocery store for the first 6-8 weeks? Um, yeah... no problem. I'll just send my full time maid instead...
That may be the dumbest advice I've ever heard. I can't believe it came out of the mouth of a doctor.
Personally, I'd go on the vacation and not worry about it.
Hahaha maid... I know! Seemed crazy to me too...
that's insane.
the only times our pedi recommends staying in for a few weeks is if the baby is a preemie or has some sort of immunity problem from something else going on, or in the middle of flu and RSV season. Even then, she wouldn't say 6-8 weeks though.
DD was born smack in the middle of the H1N1 season, as well as regular flu and RSV. Our pedi advised keeping her away from crowds and limiting who held her. So, we took her out (Target at 4 days old, out of necessity, and to church, etc), but we kept her in her infant seat or I wore her in a sling, and we were very selective about who held her. People still tried to touch her (even complete strangers!) and I did not hesitate to stop them. I relaxed about who held her once she had her first round of immunizations and her immune system had matured a little more (around 2 months).
This time, one of my siblings is getting married when this LO is 4-6 weeks old. I don't really have a choice but to bring her around crowds in that circumstance, so I will just bring the mei tai and wear her as much as possible, or be the crazy mama who makes everyone wash their hands before getting within 3 feet of my newborn :P
DD1 Feb 2010
DD2 Sept 2011
I disagree with this. I mean sure, we rely on them to guide us about our children but the sheer fact that not every doctor is aligned to his way of thinking shows us that there's not a right answer and a wrong answer. People who already have other children can attest to the fact that their older child is probably bringing home more germs from daycare than a baby is going to get sitting in their carrier walking around Target, kwim? People don't stop going out alone and people don't stop coming over so it's not like you can truly avoid all the germs. Like someone else said, be smart about it OP. Don't pass the baby around or stand next to someone hacking at the bank
I've heard many contradicting opinions on this (and I mean coming from Drs).
My take is: Use your common sense and do what you feel comfortable doing.
As far as going on vacation, I think the 6-8 weeks thing is overkill, so I wouldn't cancel it but that's just me.
I just asked my pediatrician this and he said baby is fine to go out in public at 2 weeks. Specifically I asked about bringing him to a family cookout and bringing him on a plane to visit family out of state. He said both would be fine at 2 weeks, and I trust his opinion.
ETA - He also said to avoid passing LO around to everyone, have everyone besides DH and I wash their hands or use anti bac before touching, and try to not let people kiss him, since the face is actually the most germy place on a person's body. Honestly though I don't know how I still stop our family from kissing baby.
I fully intend on getting out of the house asap - anything outside I'm not concerned about. And like everyone says, just use common sense for public places. The thing to think about in crowded places (Target, the mall, Church, etc) is think of all the surfaces there YOU are touching. Door handles, sale racks, Starbucks counter, etc...
So in addition to making other people wash their hands, I'd be careful about washing your hands a lot too.
there go my eyes rolling right out of my head.
Ummm...why? I was just relaying what my care provider told me when I asked her the same question.
Yes, we went for walks, to the pedi office and LC office, and to visit family within the first few weeks. I didn't bring him to the store or restaurants till he was a month old.
I don't think I would have wanted to go on a beach vacation with a 4 week old. I just needed too much stuff and was comfortable being in my own home. I would rather wait a few months till I am settled in a routine with the baby to go away.
We took DD out pretty quick, but were just carful about who put there hands on her, She went on vacation at 3 weeks old to the beach. We had already booked and paid when I found out I was pregnant.
This baby will also be going to the beach at 3 weeks old, we are going for a long weekend because my sister is getting married and I will get to see some family I hardly ever see like my grandparents...I know everyone will want to hold her nad that is fine with me as long as everyone washes and noone is sick!!!
Good Luck with what you decide but I do think 6-8 weeks is overkill unless there is some underlying problem!