Am I being unreasonable - MIL has pink eye

Caz1221 · November 2013

So my MIL arrived from out if town to late last night (visit has been planned for weeks). She's staying with us until Monday evening. LO and I were already asleep when she and DH got back from the airport, so they didn't have any interaction last night. This morning, MIL says she woke up with pink eye (conjunctivitis). She got her doc to call a prescription into the local pharmacy and picked it up this morning. I know pink eye is highly contagious and that only after you've been using the ointment for 24 hours does the risk of transmitting it go down. I made it clear that she cannot touch/hold LO because she is contagious. She seems to think this is unreasonable because she's washing her hands a lot. DH thinks that after 24 hours (tomorrow morning/afternoon), it should be fine. I'm not comfortable with having her hold LO even once the 24 hours are up - why risk it? I will be the one caring for LO if she gets sick, and knowing it was preventable would kill me.

Am I being unreasonable? WWA13D? I have no problem putting my foot down but don't want to cause trouble if I'm being ridiculous and overprotective.

CaliforniaDream87 · November 2013

No, you're not being unreasonable. I would be reacting the same way.

kwrecks · November 2013

Nope, I would do the same thing.

LJUTCMommy · November 2013

You're not overreacting at all. As a person with 5 siblings, I agree pink eye is super contagious. If one got it, we all did.

I quarantined DH when he had a cold though, so I might be a little extreme. He stayed in the opposite end of the house and slept in the nursery.

It's your baby, you decide. Like you said, you'll be dealing with the consequences if LO gets sick.

LiylaRae · November 2013

No way. There's no way in hell I would let her touch the baby with pink eye. Definitely stick your ground. Your not being unteasonable at all.

TurtleMomma · November 2013

Yeah, you're not being unreasonable at all. Pink eye is no joke. Maybe wait more towards 36-48 hours if you are willing to let her hold LO at all?

PB102012 · November 2013

I would be against her having contact with LO as well.... I have had pink eye before and it was super gross and not fun at all. Work wouldn't let me come in at all..... They don't mess around.

melosch · November 2013

I've never had pink eye, but def know it's super contagious. I'd call my pedi and ask how long we should avoid contact and go by what she says. Last think you need is a baby with pink eye

tdmklm · November 2013

Baby came out of your uterus. You decide.

FWIW, I would not let her touch LO.

zora51 · November 2013

I agree with others. ..you're not being ridiculous at all. I wouldn't let her hold or touch LO at all! What if it ends up still being contagious? Prevent what you can!

NikkiD522 · November 2013

I feel like that's a gift from the MIL gods.. ;-) .. No seriously- I wouldn't let her hold him

WildRumpus · November 2013

I'm with you. Not unreasonable at all.

BlueJewelM · November 2013

After 24 hours on meds and vigilant hand washing I would let her hold LO.

But it's totally up to you. I don't think you are being unreasonable by keeping LO away.

Revez · November 2013

I wouldn't want my MIL holding LO anyways, pink eye or not!

You're definitely not being unreasonable.

Caz1221 · November 2013

Thanks, everyone! Sometimes I feel like I just need a reality check to make sure I'm not being a crazy FTM. MIL has already visited twice since LO was born, and we'll be going to the ILs for Christmas, so I don't feel too bad limiting her contact this time.

Ffrey1119 · November 2013

CaliforniaDream87 said:
No, you're not being unreasonable. I would be reacting the same way.

This I would hate to see lo get sick and be uncomfortable and know I could of prevented it

BabyE143 · November 2013

You know what cures pink eye? Breastmilk. Maybe you could offer some to mil?

JUST KIDDING.

And no your not being unreasonable... Too bad mil couldn't look past her own selfish desires and understand that it's what's best for the baby... smh.

MommyBolty · November 2013

Totally to not unreasonable at all. What is up with MILs that think it's ok to hold babies when they are sick or contagious!?

coraggiosa · November 2013

Absolutely not unreasonable. Pink eye is highly contagious, and there is no reason to risk exposing your LO like that. I get that she wants to hold your baby, but she needs to be an adult and realize that she would be putting her at risk.

tdmklm · November 2013

BabyE143 said:
You know what cures pink eye? Breastmilk. Maybe you could offer some to mil?

JUST KIDDING.

I heart you, BabyE. I just do.

Caz1221 · November 2013

MommyBolty said:
Totally to not unreasonable at all. What is up with MILs that think it's ok to hold babies when they are sick or contagious!?

I know! At one point, my mom thought it was possible she was coming down with a cold, so she decided to stay away as a precaution. She did end up coming down with one and didn't visit until she was better. My sister has done the same. I really appreciated that they put LO's health first and didn't make me play the bad guy! Now if only MIL would do the same.

WheeLinTheSky3 · November 2013

I wouldn't let her hold my LO. When you start to feel bad about having to say no to MIL, think about how much worse you would feel if your LO gets it and you could have prevented it. Your baby, your rules - period.

PTmama199 · November 2013

I would definitely keep her away from LO for 24 hours from the time she starts prescription however I've worked at 3 children's hospitals and all of them require us to go back to working with sick kids 24 hours after prescription is started. You have every right to do what you feel comfortable screw infectious disease guidelines, I'm being serious not trying to be snarky in the least.

natsko · November 2013

Not to worry you more but if it's viral the ointment isn't going to do anything at all, only if it's bacterial and without her being seen by an eye doctor not general doctor it really could be anything, viral, bacterial, allergy, dry eye etc. I'm surprised she would even want to go near lo and risk it

TeacherMom210 · November 2013

Nope. Not being unreasonable at all.

Caz1221 · November 2013

natsko said:
Not to worry you more but if it's viral the ointment isn't going to do anything at all, only if it's bacterial and without her being seen by an eye doctor not general doctor it really could be anything, viral, bacterial, allergy, dry eye etc. I'm surprised she would even want to go near lo and risk it

Yikes! This is good to know - I had only heard of the bacterial type that is treated with ointment/drops and has the 24 hour rule, but it looks like the viral type just has to run it's course like a common cold. Definitely not allowing contact with LO now since there's no guarantee that what MIL has is the bacterial type.

FeetFirst · November 2013

DD had it and it honestly was no big deal and besides the goopy eye, DD acted like nothing was even wrong with her.

Now of course i would go with 24 hours and hand washing etc but she had it and none of the rest of the family got it and that was with me touching her eye 4 times a day to put the ointment in.

Good hand washing and no touching eyes and I would say don't put her face near LOs face. (No kissing on her).

I am also a BTDT mom though who has had to be a Mom with a lot worse illnesses. You don't get to just stop mothering when you have the flu etc. So yeah...I might be a bit less dramatic about this type of thing...

ErinM112312 · November 2013

Not unreasonable at all. Pink eye is crazy contagious. I wouldn't risk it either.

Want a personalized experience?

Am I being unreasonable - MIL has pink eye

Re: Am I being unreasonable - MIL has pink eye

Choose Another Board

Search Boards