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January 2016 Moms
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Newborn questions!

Brianna0915Brianna0915 member
in January 2016 Moms
How long did you wait before taking your newborn outside/in public?

Did you have any restrictions as to how soon people could visit?

How did you introduce your newborn to your fur babies? We have two abnormally large German shepards that I think will do fine but I think our female is going to get protective over her. Just recently she started getting protective over me once in a while. She GROWLED at our male Shepard when he was trying to give me his rope the other day! They always growl at each other while playing, they're both very vocal dogs! But never aggressive (Seriously, I think they have full conversations while laying on the couch!) but she will not leave my side when I'm home. I can't even take a shower anymore by myself because she howls on the otherside of the door if I don't let her in! and my male mostly stays away from me. He used to be my big ol baby and our female was definitely my husbands dog and it's done a complete 180! I'm hoping he comes back around once the baby is here! Although he did lay his head on my belly last night while I was sleeping! It woke me up and gave me a warm fuzzy feeling that maybe he'll like me again!! Lol


Well sheesh... Sorry about the ramble guys...
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Re: Newborn questions!

  • nickilynn0516nickilynn0516 member
    I waited 5 weeks to take our first out (that was all I could last being inside all day) Husband wanted me to stay in for 8 weeks.. haha! while he got to leave for work. PSSH! But i would suggested going out earlier. to at least walk. Its good for you and baby.

    We didn't have any restrictions on visitors. People came over when they wanted to. Asked first of course. It also helped me last 5 weeks being cooped up.

    We did not have fur babies with our first. Now we have 2 cats. So we will see how that goes. they sleep in bed with us right now but that might change once baby gets here. I don't know if i trust them not to jump into the pack and play while we are sleeping.
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  • scornwell717scornwell717 member
    Thanks for asking this, I was wondering all the same things! We have a very affectionate golden retriever and I'm worried about him licking her with his cesspool of a mouth (seriously his breath smells like something died)
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  • Leah6120Leah6120 member
    My husband keeps asking me when he can take our baby out in the jogger for his daily runs.. I said we'd play it by ear but they are only about 3 mile runs and obviously she'd be bundled up. Maybe a month? Any runners done this already?
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  • EvaD84EvaD84 member
    In my culture your under quarrantine for 40 days to basically relax at home with the baby and recouperate etc before taking baby out to shops etc... People can still visit but at your discretion of course...

    Reality is in todays world i feel guilty about that because i love my routine of doing grocery shopping and thinking of all the yummy stuff i can bake but hubby says he will do grocery shoppin the first few weeks as he's become such as expert since being married to me...

    I think for alot of western women, being quarrantined at home is like a death sentence... Haha
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  • ashs88ashs88 member

    We didn't wait any certain amount of time before taking DS out and about. I know we started taking walks around the neighborhood right away. But he was born in September - that probably won't be happening in the middle of January.

    We didn't take him out shopping/in public a lot the first few weeks just because it was way easier to run errands without having to lug him around, but I think we did take him out a few times. He always stayed in his carrier so it's not like anyone was able to touch him or really even get real close to him.

    We also didn't have any restrictions on visitors. This time around we are asking that anyone who is going to be staying with us overnight to have their flu shot first.

    For our dog, DH brought home DS's hat from the hospital the day before we brought him home so that pup could smell it. Then when we got DS home the first time we let her sniff him before we took him out of his carrier. That was really it. She never really had any issues with him at all.

     

     

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  • BBEA2006BBEA2006 member
    We didn't have any time table or restrictions on visitors but we have more of a relaxed parenting style than most modern-day parents.  We do what we need to do, when we need to and take them with us. 

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  • SaguaroBlossmomSaguaroBlossmom member
    Whatever you are comfortable with. I never waited to take my girls out, but that's just my choice. Now especially this being my 3rd I can't put my life on hold, she will go with me where ever I need to go. Grocery store, school, gymnastics, whatever. I will limit people getting all up in her face though.

    Regarding pets they have never been a concern, it's just another human in the house for them. Really helpful.. I know :)
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  • stephanienjerstephanienjer member
    I'm not restricting to any time limit. As soon as I feel well enough, we'll probably go out. I do plan on babywearing, though, which will limit direct contact with most people, and we'll probably just do things like our parents' houses or restaurants. Regrettably, we have to start daycare at 6 weeks, so a little exposure before makes me feel more comfortable about leaving her then.
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  • SummerOHSummerOH member
    edited December 2015
    This will be my third winter baby. I minimize the time out in public due to cold and flu season. I can restrict people who haven't been vaccinated when at home, but I can't in public. Plus its nice to leave the kids with DH and get a bit of quiet time, even if it's just the grocery store! When I do go out, I will wear the baby so strangers aren't tempted to get up in his face. We also limit visitors in the first month or two because it's calmer and more restful that way.

    DD 12/20/99, DS 12/14/12, M/C 9/2014, M/C 1/2015


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  • fishsticks-n-custardfishsticks-n-custard member
    Leah6120 said:
    My husband keeps asking me when he can take our baby out in the jogger for his daily runs.. I said we'd play it by ear but they are only about 3 mile runs and obviously she'd be bundled up. Maybe a month? Any runners done this already?
    I heard 6 months but I don't know what that's based on. I figured I would ask the pediatrician at our first visit. We have our jogging stroller (We got a BOB) already set up just in case.

    Me: 35, Hubbie: 33
    Married DH: 2013
    DD: Dec 2015
    BFP 8/14/17 --> Due 4/27/2018

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  • Knottie1452445632Knottie1452445632 member
    Gosh a month really? Obviously it's up to you but I was going crazy after a couple of days so that's my limit. A few days old and baby goes out - I just make sure baby is well covered up and I keep baby in the pushchair with a raincover on all the time (even did this in summer with the fly net). This was to stop all the poking and prodding (it worked). I plan to do the same this time or baby wear :)
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  • BarrettJ89BarrettJ89 member
    My son was born a year ago. So we went to a family Christmas party, but seeing as he was only 2 weeks old, nobody was allowed to hold him. You'll be surprised at how fast you feel the need to get out and resume some normalcy to your life. A quick trip to the grocery store here or there, even within the first month are totally worth your sanity.

    Visitors could come and go, but they had to let me know first and get my permission, otherwise they could stare through the window because they weren't getting in.

    I also have two abnormally large dogs (pit mixes) who are extremely clingy. We sat on the floor next to the baby in the car seat and had lots of treats for the dogs. Love and pet them like crazy. Let them sniff, but calmly tell them to be gentle. Also, if you live close to the hospital, you can have someone bring home a onesie or blanket that has been worn by the baby (before you bring baby home) so they get used to the scent. Slowly move to holding the baby on the floor while petting the dogs. It will take time, and obviously wait before ever leaving the baby alone with the dogs, but you should be fine!
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  • OrangeFoxOrangeFox member
    I had my first baby in springtime and the weather was gorgeous that year. It was really hard for me to want to stay in at all. I put him in a baby carrier and went to the grocery store when he was a week old. I think I was only buying one or two things but I just needed to get out of the house. And we went on (short) walks in the stroller or carrier every day after that. We met my brother-in-law and his wife for dinner out when baby was two weeks old. But the weather was also really nice and we sat outside at a casual restaurant. 

    We had close family and friends visiting from the second day we were home. It was actually a bit much with the number of people that wanted to come over. People without kids tended to overstay their welcome. But I had no problem telling people that I was tired or that we needed to get some food made/chores done.

    I think this time will be a bit different as going out means encountering sick people everywhere. We also have a toddler and going out is a very different scenario this time around anyway. I doubt we'll be going to a restaurant anytime soon as the idea of a newborn and a toddler while enjoying dinner sounds pretty impossible. We'll probably limit guests differently this time too. Family and our few best friends can come over a few days after, everyone else can wait a week or two. 

    No pets here.
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  • PedsIsHardcorePedsIsHardcore member
    We didn't wait because I had doctors appointments since I'm a type 1 diabetic. Other than going to appointments, that's it.
    I don't generally let people visit just because I am not cleaning for people to come over at all. I also don't want to be stressed out over any of that. I just had a baby. C-section or not, I need to just go with the flow so unless you are a super close friend or family member, you get to wait,
    We got things ready for this baby and we let the cat sleep where she wants to as well as smell what she wants to. She enjoys sleeping in DD's Batman carseat right now next to the stroller. Well will have SO bring home something that has the baby's scent on it for her to smell and then go from there. She tends to be around kiddos more at nap time. That's when she will come lay on my lap while the baby naps or whatever. My cat gets kicked by the baby when she tries to cuddle under the covers with me, so she will be fine.
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  • CejimlCejiml member
    We waited 4-5 weeks for DD first outing and even then it was just to target and then I waited another week. I don't think I'll be able to do the same with this one because we are busy with our first but we will see. And we still had visitors.
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  • ShannyFannShannyFann member
    Other than doctor appointments I think I kept him home with me until I was recovered enough to go out. I feel it took an unusually long time for me to feel well enough to go anywhere. I think his first official outing was a walk to the ice cream shop that was two blocks from our house. I think that was somewhere around 3 weeks after he was born.
    We had a Rhodesian Ridgeback (very large dog) when our son was born and we introduced baby things to him before hand and only allowed him in baby's room when one if us was in there with him. After son was born my husband took one if the swaddling blankets he was wrapped in home to introduce the smell, when we came him we let him sniff baby while holding the carrier and then put baby in crib and allowed the dog to sniff and smell through the bars. He really didn't seem to care after that. Only one time he got excited/protective of the baby and that was when I was passing him to my sister to hold. He really didn't seem to like that idea but he settled down, just watched my sister very closely until she handed the baby back.
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  • Ljohn43Ljohn43 member
    @SummerOH how did you restrict visitors? I am really worried about non vaccinated (flu / tdap) people coming in to my house before baby receives his shots, but can't figure out a couth way to tell people. I have asked all family to get vaccinated, but it's harder to ask friends, neighbors, coworkers etc.
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  • SummerOHSummerOH member
    @Ljohn43 Depended on the person. If they are rational and not easily offended , I'd just tell them the truth (cold/flu season and vaxes). If they were the other type, I just used the excuse of needing rest from being up all night. A lot of people say they will be over but fail to materialize when the baby is born, to be honest. So they can claim they'll come and see you now but odds are they probably won't, so you won't have to worry!

    Honestly, though, it's perfectly OK to use not having vaccinations as a reason. It's not rude in the least. In my area, there are PSA commercials talking about the dangers of flu and whooping cough with infants, so that helps.

    DD 12/20/99, DS 12/14/12, M/C 9/2014, M/C 1/2015


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  • Ljohn43Ljohn43 member
    @SummerOH thanks! Good point about the PSAs. I think I am also going to link some vaccination articles on my Facebook and write stuff like "Scary stuff - this is why we are restricting visitors to vax'd people only until baby gets his shots". Hopefully they will get the point. I'm most worried about my neighbors because I know they are so excited and they have young kids who are dying to meet the baby. She looks at Facebook a lot though so hopefully she will pick up the hints there!
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  • mg137mg137 member
    Sorry if I'm repeating. Have a quick minute but not enough to read all replies.

    There was a good post on dogs introductions a while back. See if you can find it through search.

    We had grandparents bring each dog a blanket that had been wrapped around the babies while we were still in the hospital and give them to the dogs with treats and cuddles. The dogs loved on the blankets for the couple days until we all got home, when they were immediately smitten with the babies.
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  • blessed2bemommyblessed2bemommy member
    We didn't really stay cooped up in the house with ds (he was also born in July so it may be different this time). And he came early so we needed to grab a few things soon after coming home. But I did limit my trips out with him for the first few weeks.

    We didn't need to limit visitors really. People mostly came by while in the hospital and then gave us space once we got home to get settled. The in laws and a few close friends stopped by but with checking in first.

    We had my in laws bring home ds' onsie and blanket from the hospital since they stayed here (the live 2 hrs away) while we were still there. And they let our dog (a yellow lab) smell it and left it out for her to get used to. When we got home we left ds in the carrier and let her smell him for a minute before we took him out. She did great with him! Anytime we did leave the house working the first few months she would have to check on him in his carrier as soon as we walked in the door and wanted to see him enough out of his carrier too :)
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  • elisachonelisachon member
    Doctors recommend not using joggers until the baby has good head stability. Check with the pediatrician first!
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  • juju0592juju0592 member
    I waited about 5 weeks to take my girls out as well. If people wanted to visit and hold them they needed to have a whooping cough vac. If they didn't, they could still visit, but I asked that they don't hold or get in baby's face. Also, if they smoked they needed to wash hands.
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  • HipshakerHipshaker member
    I did the 40 days. 45 if you count the hospital after my c section. The only exception for me was doctors appointments. I had the
    Usual visitors and what not. But, it wasn't a daily thing by any means. I got a little stir crazy towards the end. It helped that dd was born late December, it was so cold. But this year it's nicer, and I'm not sure if I can swing quarantine with a four year old having cabin fever too. We kept our dogs way from the baby with gates. I didn't trust them for a second and lost a lot of love for them. They were gentle and quite animals nothing that would warrant my hyper sensitivity. When dd got older I let them spend more time around her. It was just my instinct, and it surprised me! I'm not going to be so harsh this time dd sleeps with her puppy every night. I know he's a good dog. I can't take that way from her.
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  • Leah6120Leah6120 member
    @elisachon do you think that includes joggers that her carseat clicks into? We have a graco click connect jogger so her carseat will snap into it until she can sit up. I'll def ask the pediatrician though. I'm sure that will be DH's first question lol.
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  • kmo8986kmo8986 member
    Leah6120 said:

    @elisachon do you think that includes joggers that her carseat clicks into? We have a graco click connect jogger so her carseat will snap into it until she can sit up. I'll def ask the pediatrician though. I'm sure that will be DH's first question lol.

    I believe so. You can walk with them in the jogger, but you aren't supposed to jog/run. I did before 6 months but it was probably like 4, with the baby in the car seat, definitely closer to 6 of not more with out the car seat clicked in.
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  • mamakculbmamakculb member
    My son was born on a Thursday and we went to church that Sunday when he was 3 days old. We pretty much went to just the doctor, church and my in-laws for the first couple weeks. He was born in July so I started going for walks with him pretty much from the start. We had visitors from day one. When we were at church the first couple weeks I kept him in the carrier but when visitors came over I just asked that they washed their hands and that kids didn't really touch his face and hands when holding him.

    I probably won't go for walks until it warms up since due date is during our coldest part of the year. I plan to take baby girl to church and in-laws like I did DS, and I know we'll have visitors again so I'll just request clean hands and ask if people are sick to please not hold her.



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  • sallyjackson1981sallyjackson1981 member
    I read you are not supposed to jog/run with baby until they are 12 months old as they are not able to support themselves effectively, but hubby could take baby for a walk in the jogger...
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