xp. Taking baby out.

ta78 · January 2013

How soon would you take your baby out in public? Like to Target or a restaurant. Are you worried about the flu?

DD is 5 days old today and I need to go out and get some pump parts.. And am just tired of being in the house.

LadyTyler · January 2013

Starbucks on the way home from the hospital. Four days Target, five days sandwich shop, six days hike and restaurant, two weeks party.

I recovered practically instantly, Nate was healthy but he stayed in the car seat or sling and I was semiaggressive in people not touching him without freshly washed hands until 3 months. We went out nearly every day from the start and he is great out doing errands now.
Edit about flu season: I would still take him out if he was born now but also be more vigilant about washing my own hands a lot.

Arnegard · January 2013

I was induced with Taylor Dec. 16th. I didn't have Christmas gifts for her, so we were shopping at the mall the next day.
ETA: Well, the day after we got out of the hospital.

I would put baby in the carseat and go if I were you. It is not like baby will be rolling around licking the cart.... yet!

hjk5000 · January 2013

Well, DS got pneumonia at birth and was a NICU baby so I was paranoid about taking him out in public for at least a month. He was also born in January and the flu scared me to death. That said, don't be me. I think a short trip to BRU or where ever would be no big deal.

Did you have a flu shot when you were PG? The baby should still have the benefits of that for a few months, if I remember correctly.

BTW, Congrats!!

pumpkinwife07 · January 2013

I wouldn't do it. My LO is five months old and pediatricans office has suggested we not take him around people who haven't been vaccinated. I'm not sure where you live, but the flu is horrible here.

Wait until your DH gets home. Grab yourself a coffee and hit target yourself. Better safe than sorry.

id012 · January 2013

DS was born in march so the very tail end of the flu season. I didnt really ever think about the flu. I think i would judge how bad is the flu in your area? I know some parts of the country are way worse then others.

But all in all if you need to go out and get some stuff then you need to go out and get some stuff. I would just keep her in her carseat, in the cart, all bundled up with a blanket over them. And make sure not to let anyone touch her. I mean if someone is asking just kindly explain that she is only a couple days old and with the flu going on you would rather keep her covered in in the car seat.

Now i wouldnt take her to like a play group where its a germ fest, but to target or out to eat why not

kcisthebombdotcom · January 2013

I would go. My son was born the week of christmas and he was at a christmas eve party then out visiting on christmas day. He was 4-5 days old.

In a place like target, if you're wearing LO in a carrier no one is going to touch her so I can't imagine there's a high risk of exposure to illness. In a restaurant, let her sit in the carrier and get a table away from others and you're fine.

jenniann87 · January 2013

DS was born the end of August and we were out and about the day after we came home from the hospital. Grocery shopping and labor day parties. The following week we took him out to eat and on a few errands. I tried to get him out of the house everyday whether it was a walk or quick trip to the store.

+ASH+ · January 2013

Mine weren't born during flu season, so we went out to lunch with oldest DS when he was less than a week old (and had some old man tell us he was too small to be out - nothing like getting unsolicited advice from a meddler).

I have no idea when we got out with younger DS - but I had a longer c-section recovery with him and didn't feel like being out anywhere, so it was a few weeks.

I've heard (and it could be an old wives tale) that the baby has the mother's immunity for 10 days post-birth.

joyfullyfound · January 2013

If you have a carrier, I'd say your pretty safe to go out... I'd pop her in there when you get out of the car, keep her safe and snug while you shop, stop on the way back to the car to wash your hands before handling her again, and head home victorious!

P.s.... I'm not sure if I missed your post, but congrats on your little girl!! So exciting Hope all is going well for you guys as everyone gets to know one another!

Notwifezilla7 · January 2013

I had Margo 12/15. I stayed in with her the first two weeks- mainly because of c-section recovery. We've been out and about quite a lot recently, even w/flu season. I'd avoid places w/lots of kids in close quarters (play areas, kids' museums, etc..) and keep your LO covered either in a wrap or in the infant car seat. We've been to the grocery store (all 3kids) a few times, the local library a few times, swim lessons at the Y, and Target twice.

caybeh · January 2013

Eli was born in March, so the tail end of flu season. We went to Target the day we got home from the hospital, so he was two days old or so. I wasn't really worried about the flu.