Taking baby out.

=sedge= · October 2013

I've heard to wait a month before taking a newborn out. My babies are 2 weeks old, I mentioned going to the mall, just to walk around. I was immediately scolded for this by family members. I get the whole germ concern... but I hate being cooped up in my house! When we need to get groceries or run errands one of us stays home with the babies. We have taken them on short walks for about a week or so. I just want to get out more.

When did you start taking baby out in public?

ilovetolaugh · October 2013

Unless they were preemies or had something else to be cautious about, go.

kmmrmm08 · October 2013

My daughter is almost 6 weeks, and I take her for frequent walks outside. I feel like that is almost more dangerous as far as germs go, since my neighbors' kids always get a little too close for comfort... ;-) At least most strangers do not try to come close to the baby, and it is easier to be rude to them if they do ;-) My husband and I take our daughter out to eat with us at least once a week...we just request to eat outside, or inside far away from other people, and we keep her covered in her carseat/stroller the whole time. We took her out to eat with us the first time when she was just about 2 weeks old, and I was a little nervous...but I thought about it logically and realized she was safer in that setting than she was in the germy doctor's office for the visits she had at 1 and 2 weeks old!

pantsarella · October 2013

DD was out 2 or 3 days after we brought her home. She had to go to the pedi, which probably had more sick germs than taking her to the grocery store. She's not touching anything and I wouldn't let strangers touch her anyway, so it was never a concern. If you want to go out, go out.

ASmallWonder · October 2013

That's old school advice. Unless no one is entering your house from the outside, they're being exposed to things anyway you just obviously don't let people get in their faces/touch them. Truly no snark but this is a FTM problem because once you have the second kid you realize that not leaving the house is honestly not even an option. Nevermind that if that older kid is in daycare, your baby would be exposed to less germs if you laid them on the floor of a public bathroom :-p

jmo866 · October 2013

Alicia0817 said:

Go out. Don't let anyone touch them, that's all.

This. I can't recall with both of my boys, but it was within days. They both made a visit to the grocery store within the first week. People need to mind their own business.

headgear03 · October 2013

Three out of four of my kids were born during fly season and I still got out. With my first I was out at a week pp . She stayed in her carrier car seat with a blanket over her. With my second I went out with her in the moby wrap at four days pp to the park so my oldest could get out . With my third I went out at 2 days pp because he needed clothes since he came early ( he was not a premie ) and with my fourth I was out at three days pp to the store in the moby. I would go nuts if I was shut inside I have to get out .

JCWhitey · October 2013

If you or your SO goes out and interacts with other people then your babies have already been exposed to anything they are going to be exposed to by going out. They are more likely to get sick from interacting with you then walking around a mall! So go! We took DS to Walmart the day after he was born (we needed diapers). Then we lived at a summer camp and he started interacting with the teen campers at 3 days old. And I think he'd been to three or four restaurants by the time he was 5 days old and attended his first concert at a week old. He's now 12 weeks old and has never once been sick. *knock on wood*!

Slpafford · October 2013

I started taking DS out when he was 3 days old (he is now 9 weeks). Running errands, grocery store, out to eat etc. I kept him in the carseat and usually put a blanket over it. Its not like he is crawling around on dirty floors or something. Also, I would use hand sanitzer or wash before I handled him if we were out (made me feel better if nothing else!! ). Honestly I never understood why people are so crazy about this "don't take your baby out rule" unless there are medical reasons. Its not like I am letting strangers get close to him or touch him.

CaliforniaDream87 · October 2013

Baby and I went out after 3 days. You do what you think is right for your LO.

Houseplant · October 2013

I was just about to ask this same question! My baby is 3 weeks old today, and when I asked my pediatrician about taking him out in public he said ideally you would limit his exposure until he is two months old and can get his vaccines. That just seems like a really long time when I'm already kind of going stir crazy!

kelseyjohnston · October 2013

My baby is 3 weeks old, and I've taken him to the mall, I was only there for about 15 min because he got fussy and I began panicking, haha. I've also taken him to the grocery store. I haven't had anyone try to touch him or anything, but we usually keep him in his carseat and utilize the carseat canopy for privacy.

Jess63085 · October 2013

My twins were preemies (born at 35 weeks), so we waited until they were 4 weeks old to take them to Target. And it's really hard to go out with twins lol! Before that, we just went to the pediatrician and my mom's house. But my sister took my niece out when she was 3 days old, and she was fine. If you want to go out, I would go and just keep baby covered or don't let anyone touch them.

BelhurstBride · October 2013

Both of my girls were out within their first week.

LittleNugget93 · October 2013

We were in the ER for a few hours at 4 days and we go out to Target a couple times a week just to get out of the house. I wear her because she hates her carseat if she isn't in the car. I have become very friendly with the fitting room staff as I always need to nurse DD while we are there.

We are also going to a cook off this Sunday. I need to get outside. I would be a very unhappy mama if I stayed home all day, every day.

mamato3girls · October 2013

We went out a lot, it was definitely more with each kid but I know with my first we were going to the mall and put to eat by a week old. My 3rd we went to a bouncy house birthday party for my oldest daughters friend when she was 4 days old.

ccababy · October 2013

My mother told me that when they left the hospital with me, the first place they went to (before even going home) was a department store. And I turned out just fine!

However, with my little one, they told me no crowds for 2 months! I was so nervous... but so stir crazy. Around 3 weeks I laxed up. I took her out shopping with me on weekdays when I knew crowds would be low. It was summer, so we sat outside at restaurants. And we didn't stay out very long. And by 1 month, she was at her 1st gallery opening. The only thing I was/am diligent about is strangers touching her: not allowed. And if anyone does, I make them use hand sanitizer, first.

pmarie33 · October 2013

I took him to BRU a few days ago. We just got back from a birthday party that I didn't want to go to, but it ended up being outside and it's a beautiful day. We are about to go pick some pumpkins at a farm.

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