August 2015 Moms

Anyone else already worrying about baby health during the holidays?

so last night my MIL texts me and says "oh I just realized we will have a baby for thanksgiving and Christmas!" At first I was like yay it's going to be so fun and cute and then the worry set in. Everyone and their mom, dad, brother, sister, cousin, girlfriend, etc is going to want to touch, kiss, and get germs all over my newborn baby! I told her "if I even hear a sniffle or a cough I will have masks and gloves in my diaper bag to hand out. Also for those who don't pass my questionnaire regarding whether or not they have been around anyone sick, or have been sick in the last 7 days!!" ️Lol!! I don't want to be a germ nazi but seriously 4 months old at the height of cold and flu season?? That's too much for me to be comfortable with. I guess my response made MiL mad too because she never responded. Any moms out there with advice on getting a newborn through their first holiday season without a severe illness?? (I am planning on BF so I know that will help)
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Re: Anyone else already worrying about baby health during the holidays?

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  • Lol @Starynightsky24 you may be on to something :D, comes with the territory I suppose (FTM) as do my irrational fears of deathly illness, SIDS, and the baby being dropped-no idea where this came from, but I dreamed it and ever since has been a real fear. Anywho thank you both, I'll just plead the blood over his health and pray everyone has the common sense to not touch or get near if sick. It's not the adults really it's the well meaning but completely oblivious cousins of ours who are all ranging in age from elementary school to college aged, bleh.
  • I think I will be a germ nazi lol
    My immune system is already compromised and I'm pregnant, so I been trying my best to stay away from anyone who is sick. My mil niece came over yesterday and had a fever for few days but the mother said there is no more fever today. Let's say I'm pretty pissed!!!! You risk my unborn child to get your hair done!!! Selfish
  • No baby will not be put in daycare I work from home so he will be with me. I just hate feeling like there will be nothing I can do and I'm just submerging my brand new baby boy into a sea of people with God only knows what or how many germs they will have on them :/ I realize babies get sick but that won't make me feel less guilty for surrounding him with germs and not being vigilant about family (esp the younger ones who are in school) not getting close if they are sick. I'll just have the Germ-x out and offer masks to anyone who feels like they are coming down with something (only if they want it of course but a single sneeze can travel through the entire room in a matter of minutes) I better get used to worry and will try not to freak on anyone (unless they deserve it of course lol ;) thank you everyone I'm coming back down to earth a little I appreciate the words of wisdom!
  • By the time the holidays come around, your LO won't be a brand new baby. It is ok if you ask others to not hold your baby if they are sick or getting over an illness. But try not to go overboard. Your family will be excited to see your child and you may realize you like the short break while someone else holds your baby.

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  • I'm a STM and realize how frequently babies and kids can get sick. So no, I'm not worried and you shouldn't be either. Be excited that your new baby will be here for the holidays! It's so exciting to have kids for the holidays!
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  • Yeah I agree with the others. Welcome to motherhood. Lol
    Kids that are exposed, in my opinion, are healthier anyway. Plus if you ask people to wear masks and sanitize their hands it won't make them feel very comfortable around you or your child. Just enjoy the holidays!
  • I disagree with others a bit. You definitely don't have to feel obligated to let lots of people (especially kids!) hold your baby! He/she will be napping a lot then and breast feeding too so there won't be a ton of time where it will be easy to pass baby around anyway. A good excuse to let family look but not touch (oh she's sleeping now but maybe later!) or just show her to people and if they ask to hold her say no. It's not their right by any means!


  • kat+1kat+1 member
    My rule is no one is allowed to kiss my children on the face or hands PERIOD. Just me and daddy. This prevents the spread of cold sores and other yucky things from being passes. My family know this well and is happy to abide. And I always tell new people.
    My son didn't get his first cold until he was 6 months old. And I am almost 100 % sure it was because we put him in a shopping cart for the first time.
    At thanksgiving I just refused to pass my son around to anyone who didn't wash first. They got the point real quick
  • My first DS was born in August and we took him all the way to the UK at 4 months old for Christmas, his first cold was a full year later at 16 months old. I say the germs are good for baby's immune system!
  • If you are afraid of a single sneeze in a room traveling across to your baby , better think twice about going out anywhere in public


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  • kat+1 said:

    My rule is no one is allowed to kiss my children on the face or hands PERIOD. Just me and daddy. This prevents the spread of cold sores and other yucky things from being passes. My family know this well and is happy to abide. And I always tell new people.
    My son didn't get his first cold until he was 6 months old. And I am almost 100 % sure it was because we put him in a shopping cart for the first time.
    At thanksgiving I just refused to pass my son around to anyone who didn't wash first. They got the point real quick

    I'm sorry but this sounds crazy to me- how much work and thought did it take for you to think about every person/place you encountered- if you had told them already about kisses/holding/washing? if there would be germs where you were going- not being able to put them down, etc. sure he may have been lucky not to have become sick the first 6 months but is that any better? kids that become sick at an earlier age can build up a tolerance (at least that's how it was in my case)

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  • You sound VERY over the top about this. Kids catch colds. It happens. If you try to keep them in a perfectly sanitized bubble all the time, they will have a very hard time later in life because they'll ALWAYS be getting sick. You're better off to just ask people to wash their hands and let them get to know your baby. What you are considering (masks? Really??) is going to make you look like a crazy person. And sure, maybe your baby won't catch a cold. But are you going to pass out masks to his/her kindergarten class everyday? Are you going to show up at preschool the night before and sterilize everything? Pass out masks and sanitizer to everyone everywhere you go? You've got to be reasonable.
  • Germs build immune systems. I'm all for reasonable risk.
  • I get being worried about baby getting sick, but you're going to have to relax or you will drive yourself nuts. I have 2 other little boys that will be bringing home all kinds of germs from preschool and kindergarten.... And there's nothing I can do about it. We will wash hands frequently and cover our sneezes/coughs. If you're afraid of a sneeze traveling through a room, you might as well plan to kiss away ever leaving your house.
    And I would never ask anyone to wear a mask. If I found out someone at Christmas had the flu, I would leave before asking them to wear a mask. Most people (family especially) have enough common sense to wash hands before holding baby or staying away if they are sick.
  • Germs are how they develop an immune system.....
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  • I'm another ftm and of course I worry about my babe getting sick.

    However, on a practical note... a 3 plus month old with a fever is a million times less scary than if it happens sooner. A baby with a fever in the first 3 months often requires an ER visit, full lab work up (I'll spare the details) and likely hospital stay until fever gone. Because of this.. I am THRILLED that by the time the holidays and the bulk of cold and flu season come around our kiddos will be older.
  • Ok, first off I would like to thank everyone for your advice and input. My takeaway is- 1. I'm being crazy with the mask thing lol! 2. I need to relax and enjoy the holiday season with my beautiful baby. 3. There are steps I can take (reasonable ones!) to help keep my baby healthy but I can't prevent him from getting sick 100%. A few things I will add because I am not a crazy person in real life, nor am I an idiot: I am fully aware of the effect germs have in building ones immune system, I was uncomfortable with exposing him prematurely to a host of very serious possibly fatal infant conditions (RSV, influenza, pneumonia, etc) I feel that at 4 months old he is still very susceptible and will not have had many vaccines or a mature immune system (6 months) I personally, would not be offended if I walked into a Christmas party and I said "I've been nursing my husband back to health all week he's had (pneumonia, RSV, flu, norovirus, etc)" and a mom of a 4 month old said to me "I would rather you didn't hold the baby since you have been very exposed to some serious illness that could easily pass to my child with close contact, if you insist on holding him I would ask that you wear a mask whilst doing so" I wasn't under the assumption one would wear the mask throughout the entire party only while in close contact with my child and only if they had been exposed to illnesses and/or getting over an illness themselves and insisted on holding the baby. (Although I can see by me saying "a sneeze can travel across the room" would make it seem like it was something to be worn the entire time) again I will say I appreciate the yank back down to reality, I will truly try not be a complete freaking irrational crazy germ nazi and relax a little ;)
  • You would be surprised how resilient they are. My early four and a half pound kiddo has rarely been sick and I never did out of the ordinary precautions
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  • Babies will get sick. You can never prevent that. Germs are just hanging around all the time. Being in contact with germs is not bad that is how babies build their immunity. It's the same when kids go to daycare and it's far from bad. Don't worry :)
  • I'm already worried about the same thing! My big concern is pertussis. I'm making anyone who will be around the baby during the holidays get the Tdap shot. Is anyone else concerned?
  • lap018 said:

    Ok, first off I would like to thank everyone for your advice and input. My takeaway is- 1. I'm being crazy with the mask thing lol! 2. I need to relax and enjoy the holiday season with my beautiful baby. 3. There are steps I can take (reasonable ones!) to help keep my baby healthy but I can't prevent him from getting sick 100%. A few things I will add because I am not a crazy person in real life, nor am I an idiot: I am fully aware of the effect germs have in building ones immune system, I was uncomfortable with exposing him prematurely to a host of very serious possibly fatal infant conditions (RSV, influenza, pneumonia, etc) I feel that at 4 months old he is still very susceptible and will not have had many vaccines or a mature immune system (6 months) I personally, would not be offended if I walked into a Christmas party and I said "I've been nursing my husband back to health all week he's had (pneumonia, RSV, flu, norovirus, etc)" and a mom of a 4 month old said to me "I would rather you didn't hold the baby since you have been very exposed to some serious illness that could easily pass to my child with close contact, if you insist on holding him I would ask that you wear a mask whilst doing so" I wasn't under the assumption one would wear the mask throughout the entire party only while in close contact with my child and only if they had been exposed to illnesses and/or getting over an illness themselves and insisted on holding the baby. (Although I can see by me saying "a sneeze can travel across the room" would make it seem like it was something to be worn the entire time) again I will say I appreciate the yank back down to reality, I will truly try not be a complete freaking irrational crazy germ nazi and relax a little ;)

    This is great!

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  • I'm already worried about the same thing! My big concern is pertussis. I'm making anyone who will be around the baby during the holidays get the Tdap shot. Is anyone else concerned?

    Concerned? Of course! But I am also not going to be asking people for their vaccination records. I know most people in my family are up to date on Tdap more because of the tetanus part but the pertussis is a fringe benefit. My family goes one of three ways they are either medical professionals, farmers, or they hunt and fish all the time.

    Fwiw if I know someone is anti vac or know they have not vaccinated their children my baby will not be around them.
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  • I'm a FTM due 8/21. I haven't been concerned about the holidays BUT I am concerned about a family wedding that we'll be attending on 9/12. If I go on time, baby will be only a day over three weeks old. It is my brother-in-law's wedding and hubby is in it, so really no choice in going. My plan is to have my parents come along (out of town wedding, on top of it all) and to have them watch baby during the ceremony and only bring him down to the reception during dinner. Hoping that at that point people are seated and otherwise occupied and won't be too 'all over' baby. As soon as dinner wraps, back upstairs we go!
  • lap018 said:

    Ok, first off I would like to thank everyone for your advice and input. My takeaway is- 1. I'm being crazy with the mask thing lol! 2. I need to relax and enjoy the holiday season with my beautiful baby. 3. There are steps I can take (reasonable ones!) to help keep my baby healthy but I can't prevent him from getting sick 100%. A few things I will add because I am not a crazy person in real life, nor am I an idiot: I am fully aware of the effect germs have in building ones immune system, I was uncomfortable with exposing him prematurely to a host of very serious possibly fatal infant conditions (RSV, influenza, pneumonia, etc) I feel that at 4 months old he is still very susceptible and will not have had many vaccines or a mature immune system (6 months) I personally, would not be offended if I walked into a Christmas party and I said "I've been nursing my husband back to health all week he's had (pneumonia, RSV, flu, norovirus, etc)" and a mom of a 4 month old said to me "I would rather you didn't hold the baby since you have been very exposed to some serious illness that could easily pass to my child with close contact, if you insist on holding him I would ask that you wear a mask whilst doing so" I wasn't under the assumption one would wear the mask throughout the entire party only while in close contact with my child and only if they had been exposed to illnesses and/or getting over an illness themselves and insisted on holding the baby. (Although I can see by me saying "a sneeze can travel across the room" would make it seem like it was something to be worn the entire time) again I will say I appreciate the yank back down to reality, I will truly try not be a complete freaking irrational crazy germ nazi and relax a little ;)

    I feel the need to say that I still think your reasoning is off base a bit. If I went to a party and mentioned my husband was sick back home, I more than likely just wouldn't hold your baby. But if something insisted to hold your baby and you asked them to wear a mask, why not just stay home with your baby? If you're this nervous about germs, rather than offend your family, perhaps just stay home. Perhaps it's just me, but I could never ask a
    family member during the holidays to wear a mask no matter what the circumstance may be. Just stay home.
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  • When DS2 was born, he attended our family Easters (2 of them) at just 8 days old. No one got him sick and it was a nicer way for everyone to get to meet him instead of at the hospital as We were there for 4 days with my c-section.

    DS1 -6/25/11

    DS2 -3/23/13

    Missed MC D&C 8/26/14

    DD - 8/26/15

    LO#4 due 5/30/17


  • e1223e1223 member
    This makes me glad I'm basically an anti germophobe... I can't even imagine the stress and guilt brought on by thinking you can control your surroundings enough to prevent illness in a baby! You really just can't control everything, even if someone comes over and is completely healthy, they could get sick the next day - it's not like they knew it was coming, or MEANT to infect your kid. It just happens. Ultimately, sickness will happen, it just will - and yes it is scary, but almost always it is treatable. My nephew was in the hospital at 4 months for a week with RSV last Thanksgiving - it was really frightening, but he was very well taken care of and recovered fine. Still no one knows where he got it - it just started with a cold (probably from daycare? or my sister who works in a hospital), and progressed into bronchiolitis, which progressed into RSV.

    For what it's worth, my first kid was born in January and didn't get sick at all until her first cold the following Christmas. She was in daycare and I used carts (!!!) and I'm pretty sure she even licked several restaurant high chairs that I never wiped off. My second kid had colds a lot his first year but nothing worse. Both were breastfed for a year.

    I'm also super glad this baby will at least be 4 months old at Christmas and past the extreme danger zone. It does seem like some kids get sick more than others, but I don't think you can control that, it's just the way they are made. I seem to never get sick, but my husband gets sick all the time. Who knows why?!
  • TAKE YOUR BABY OUTSIDE!!! Our first baby was born in December. That's right - BORN in the height of flu season. The first stop we made out of the hospital? WalMart. Yes, complete with the "people of WalMart" who might have given my daughter germs. Ten days later, we took her to a family Christmas party, during which I probably held her for all of 5 minutes (when she wasn't nursing) as she was passed around 40 relatives. If you're SUPER concerned about it, see if a flu shot is available before you deliver (not sure when they are officially delivered) and get your flu shot beforehand. It'll protect the baby up to 6 months. If you get your Tdap prior to delivery, that will protect the baby as well. 

    Your baby will encounter germs. What are you going to do when you pick up an illness from grocery shopping and then have to hold baby? Don't worry about it. Babies are really resilient.
  • I never worried about too many people
    Asked them to wash their hands but that is it
    Basic germs build immunity in my mind
  • I'm already worried about the same thing! My big concern is pertussis. I'm making anyone who will be around the baby during the holidays get the Tdap shot. Is anyone else concerned?

    I'm by no means anti-vac but you do realize you can't make people get vacs, right?

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  • I'm another ftm and of course I worry about my babe getting sick.

    However, on a practical note... a 3 plus month old with a fever is a million times less scary than if it happens sooner. A baby with a fever in the first 3 months often requires an ER visit, full lab work up (I'll spare the details) and likely hospital stay until fever gone. Because of this.. I am THRILLED that by the time the holidays and the bulk of cold and flu season come around our kiddos will be older.




    Actually most fevers do not require an ER visit, lab work, or a hospital stay, This is a good thing as a FTM to talk to your pedi about (when should you be concerned and take them to the ER and when should you just monitor the fever and/or give them a cool bath to bring it down). It can be insanely scary though as a FTM because newborns spike much higher fevers that will scare the crap out of you. I remember DS spiking over 105 once and I freaked, threw him in the car and rushed him to our Dr (which is only about a mile away). They checked him out and gave me a llist of, "as long as he doesn't start showing signs of xy or z...and the fever doesn't get above 106..." and they sent us home. You don't want to be needlessly taking a newborn into a germ infested ER unless absolutely necessary. Talking to your Dr will help though so you know what to look for (rashes, etc.) that are more of a cause for concern, and of course a call to the Pedi when they do spike a fever is always a good idea so they can make sure to ask any important questions on signs/symptoms baby may be exhibiting.
  • Miz_Liz said:

    I'm another ftm and of course I worry about my babe getting sick.

    However, on a practical note... a 3 plus month old with a fever is a million times less scary than if it happens sooner. A baby with a fever in the first 3 months often requires an ER visit, full lab work up (I'll spare the details) and likely hospital stay until fever gone. Because of this.. I am THRILLED that by the time the holidays and the bulk of cold and flu season come around our kiddos will be older.




    Actually most fevers do not require an ER visit, lab work, or a hospital stay, This is a good thing as a FTM to talk to your pedi about (when should you be concerned and take them to the ER and when should you just monitor the fever and/or give them a cool bath to bring it down). It can be insanely scary though as a FTM because newborns spike much higher fevers that will scare the crap out of you. I remember DS spiking over 105 once and I freaked, threw him in the car and rushed him to our Dr (which is only about a mile away). They checked him out and gave me a llist of, "as long as he doesn't start showing signs of xy or z...and the fever doesn't get above 106..." and they sent us home. You don't want to be needlessly taking a newborn into a germ infested ER unless absolutely necessary. Talking to your Dr will help though so you know what to look for (rashes, etc.) that are more of a cause for concern, and of course a call to the Pedi when they do spike a fever is always a good idea so they can make sure to ask any important questions on signs/symptoms baby may be exhibiting.
    - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
    Do you a source for this and are you referring to newborns 90 days old or younger? I am a nurse and it is widely accepted in the medical community that those under 90 days with fevers 100.5 or above should be ruled out for sepsis. Since infants have their mother's antibodies it should be more difficult for them to get sick, so if they do get sick it should be taken seriously
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