How Early Do You Take Your Newborn Out of the House?

I would not take the newborn out. My 3rd daughter was born around christmas. She ended up with RSV and was hospitalized. I would stay as far away from germs as i could for now.

I don't know. My first I didn't take him out for the full 6 weeks. Sickest kids ever! My second, I didn't have a choice because Life just couldn't stop because I had a baby. I took him out as soon as I felt well enough. I just didn't let people touch him. That kids is hardly ever sick. Go if you feel well enough and sit in the back.

The most out we did was doctors office and hospital for bilirubin tests and I was too exhausted to do much else.
I was sweating due to hormonal changes after birth, oozing from more orifices than I thought possible, waiting for my milk to come in - I didn't want to go anywhere and no one expected me to.
MIL should be more understanding.
How soon did SHE go out after giving birth?

I would firmly tell your MIL "no." You need the rest and recovery. There are tons of germs...etc. Just let her know that she is welcome to visit.

I guess the answer would depend on where you're taking her. If you were just going to be with family, I would say, "go for it!" But mass is a different story. That's a big crowd. We asked our pediatrician about taking our week-old daughter to church, and she said nothing short of "hell no!" (not in those words). I would probably refrain if I was you. Remember, it's not just flu and cold season (as if that weren't bad enough); it's also whooping cough season - and that is simply not worth the risk.

There is a reason that maturnity leave usually last 6 weeks. Not only does mom need time to recover, but baby also needs time to build up his immunity system. NO, I would not take a one week old to a community event, especially if it was held indoors.

My main issue, is how will YOU be feeling physically and emotionally? I mean I can't imagine sitting on the hard wooden pew for over an hour, youch!

Perhaps #3 will prefer to view her first Christmas from the INSIDE!

I would probably not go, but it would be AWESOME if my husband took the other two and MIL to church, that's for damn sure! Then mom and baby can have a brief rest.

Congrats in advance!!

:)

Well, what do you think YOU would be comfy with? Ultimately what we, or your MIL thinks is irrelevant.

I would be more worried about the fact that it's flu season, and you'd be taking a brand new baby with a not yet developed immune system into a place where there will be a lot of people - people who will be oohing & aahing over the baby, and possibly wanting to hold & touch the baby.

I am not normally a germophobe, but I'd sit it out, personally. If you have a new baby then, enjoy the baby at home. I'd hope that your MIL was a nice enough person to understand that.

I'd be worried for both you AND the baby. Many people aren't good about hand washing, covering mouths when sneezing or doing this properly let alone boundaries. Many people instinctively want to touch a baby. I can only imagine how many sick kids get drug to Mass or people drag themselves there even if they shouldn't be. Recently there was a post about a person considering Holiday shopping with a friend even though she was pretty sure she had pnemonia.

I think it would be too much for both of you. A smaller gathering or people you know and know are respectful of the above, maybe.

I didn't feel like going anywhere that soon. I hardly went anywhere for the first several weeks.

Wouldn't it be a nice substitute if your MIL had an 8X10 photo to show off the new baby and have baby at home safe from all the exposure? I took my daughter to the Hollywood Bowl 6 days old and thought it was safe, much later my doctor said that was way too young and I was lucky she didn't come down with anything; he said 90 days was the time he recommended before exposing newborns to the outside world. Happy Holidays and Congratulations on baby #3

Are YOU going to want to go out of the house after she's only 3-4 days old? MIL is crazy if she thinks you or baby are going to be up physically let alone emotionally for Mass just days...really hours after delivery. Hopefully your delivery will be smooth, but you can never be too sure. There's hormones, milk coming in, if you have stitches or any other uncomfortable post delivery issues, what a nightmare!

Sometimes people get crazy ideas about newborns, young mothers and Christmas...thinking they have their own mini-nativity going on. It's alot to expect from someone who may have a difficult delivery, may not physically feel well, will have to nurse, and try to keep baby warm and calm with all the bells, smells, and germy, coughing, sneezing and wheezing people that are inevitibly part of Christmas Eve Mass.

By the way, I hope you don't mean Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve...do you? You're talking up to 2 and half hours at the very cold and dark wee hours of the morning and if you plan on nursing baby, this might be a real challenge, especially with 2 other children (possibly cranky and impatient for presents) in tow. I just wouldn't do it. This year, I'd opt for regular Mass on Christmas day only (the quiet early Mass with little to no music and people). It is only an hour and you and baby will be able to get some sleep and rest without getting your feeding schedule and nights and days mixed up.

omg no not for xmas eve. That place will be packed full of germs.

Well, we do take them to the pediatrician when they are just a few days old. There cannot be a place in the world with more infectious agents that affect kids than the ped's office.

I took my newborns out as soon as I had enough energy. It depended entirely on whether I had it together to have a shower and brush my hair! Good luck with your newChristmas present!

I think the answer totally depends upon how YOU feel and NOT how your MIL thinks you should feel.

Go only if YOU are up to. Otherwise, stay home with your newborn and enjoy the smells and sounds and wonder of Christmas with your newest little blessing.

Crowded indoor places? Best to avoid them, don't you think? Any doctor will tell you the immune system of a baby can be badly impacted by early exposition to viruses. You don't have to hibernate just because you have a newborn, but you could take her outdoors, rather than in a closed setting. Fresh air is great for babies, stale air is not.

this time of year no if my baby was 3 days old i would be home you say its not cold where you are but its still flu season

If you do decide to go, get a sling and wear your baby. I liked a sling much better than a baby bjorn since baby can lay down in it. When baby is in the sling no one can touch baby, and I was able to nurse in the sling without anyone seeing much (maybe bring a receiving blanket to cover your shoulder to baby while nursing). There are some new very pretty tribal looking slings that go by a different name, but basically they are all long cloths that go through a ring and you wear it over one shoulder and baby lays in front of you, or you can tighten the sling so baby is almost against your chest, and later they can sit in the sling on your hip. But personally I would want more time to relax before having to jump back into the social whirlwind.

Ok i took mine out at 6 days. IT was the middle of the summer and it was to thefarmer's market in town. Busy but and not crowded. I would have not taken her out during winter to a closed in church.
But you need to do what works for you.
The risks all seem to be well cited below. Look at it as your year off lol.

If your child is only a few days old and you don't want to take the baby out, you have the right to make that decision. If you feel you must make up and excuse, you can say you are not feeling well.

Blessings....

I went to our first church service when DD was 11 days old. If YOU are not up for it, don't go. Babies sleep through a lot, but I frankly was so sore I didn't want to sit in church. You won't know til you get there what kind of labor you will have. I'd reserve the right to just stay home. I did go out with DD when she was a few days old, but not for long durations, and DH was with me.

As soon as i get home, im usually up for a dinner out right away because ive been stuck in the hospital for days. each one of my kids were 100% healthy and chubby so its never been an issue for me.

I waited about a week and that was only for pictures. 3 days does seem a little too soon. Not because of the baby being too young, but because I would be too tired or sore.

When we left the hospital...across the street was the mall....we went there for lunch. No restrictions about going anywhere at all.

My twins (Oct) were at the grocery store at 5 days old. We had them at church when they were two weeks. My daughter (June) was out and about at 6 days old. However, since Christmas Eve mass is usually busier than most church services, I would stay home. I wouldn't want to risk it with that many people.

I wouldn't go. Cold weather or not, its still flu season. I had a December baby and a January baby and I didn't take them in public until after they were four weeks old. Even then, I was picky about where we went.
My stepson was born at the end of flu season and from the moment he was born, he was passed around from relative to relative, around young cousins, etc. He almost died of RSV and spent 3 weeks in the hospital starting at 3 weeks old.
My niece was born in early November and she too was around tons of people from the time she was born. She ended up in the hospital with RSV at three weeks old. She was released on Christmas Eve.
Chances are everything would be fine, but why risk it?

On the way home from the hospital with number 2 we had lunch at a restaurant. With number 3 I had been in the hospital for 1 and 1/2 months and he was born the 13th and we did the room mom party(I was room mom) December 17th at school as my husband had to work. My first one was taken home and I pretty much stayed there until month 2. If you go to mass, keep the child in the carrier, if anyone around you seems ill, coughing, blowing nose, cover your child carrier with a blanket to prevent direct breathing of alot. If anyone asks to hold the child, politely decline, just say I'm not ready to give her up yet. If you are breastfeeding you will be giving your immunity to the child. I'm not saying go and pass a baby around at holiday functions but attending with some strategies will get you out and about and keep baby somewhat safe. Remember you can go to the grocery store and come home with a cold and give it to the child or a sibling can easily pick something up. So what I say is do what your gut tells you, wash your hands frequently, don't get run down yourself and have your kids wash their hands alot as well. Everyone else...don't touch my child.

Both my babies were out and about early. Immediately, basically. My daughter was born at the end of October and my son at the end of June.
They were both incredibly healthy and still are.
I think it might be more a matter of whether YOU feel up to it or not.
I felt great after my babies were born and we just went on with life as usual.

Congratulations on your new baby, whatever you decide.
What a special time for you!

I had my son in church when he was 5 days old and he is a November baby, so similar temperatures to what we have now. He was fine.

I think newborns have pretty good immune defenses, right? It would be OK. Play it by ear!
Speedy delivery!

Both my kids were out and about from the word "go." I can't stand to be cooped up, so we got out of the house whenever I felt like it. For me, it would really depend on if I didn't feel like going, but I have no reservations about going somewhere with a newborn. When my younger son was born he didn't have any options. Big brother had things going on and I was a SAHM and I wasn't going to keep big brother from enjoying life just because there was a little brother in his life. Not sure that would have helped him adjust any faster.

Just my opinion, but I say live your life!

The earliest would be a month, unless we're going to a doctor's appointment.
Having the baby this time of year isn't good, because flu season is going on.

We took our son to target for diapers (hubby got the wrong size) when he was 22 hrs old. Just make sure to be very mean and say NO you cannot touch or smell, or kiss etc

C.:

My daughter was out in public the day she was released from the hospital. Same with both my boys. When we got Greg out of the hospital - the first place we went was the Outback - no kidding - didn't even go home - went straight there!!

Nicky was in my mom and dad's motor home headed for Maine when he was 3 weeks old.

I didn't let a baby stop me from doing things, living my life, etc. To some that may sound cold and mean - but it's a fact of life. I refused to hibernate because I had a baby. Go to church...bring a cover so you can nurse if you need to and be prepared...

Truthfully it really depends on how you are feeling more than how old the baby is. I can tell you that at 10 days with my first I still felt like a truck had hit me and didn't want to go out yet. It wasn't until some time near 3 weeks that I felt like going anywhere at all. With my second, he was born a few days before Xmas. We ended up having family over for both Xmas Eve and Xmas day dinners. I did not cook mind you, we made that clear to everyone and assigned food items for them to bring but still. It wasn't that long after that I was out of the house running errands or whatever. With my third..at 17 days we went to Disneyland and at 6 weeks we went to the San Diego Comic Book Convention and on one of those days also went to see The Wiggles in concert. We went to Legoland in those early days too as well as any errands and whatever.
If you are breastfeeding you are passing on your immunities. Don't pass the baby. Keep them in a sling. When we went to Disneyland I did not use the changing tables, I put a mat in the stroller and changed her there so she would not come in contact with everything.
If you are feeling up to it then by all means go! Don't let a new baby stop you :)
Congratulations on your new baby! May you have a quick and easy labor and delivery!!

I would take my newborn out on a walk so i could get out and get some fresh air, but I don't think I would be in any mood for going to Mass with a newborn.

I went out with baby #2 when she was 3 days old (I had just had a c-section but I needed to be moving around some anyway). I wore her in a Baby Bjorn the entire time so that no one would touch her or breath on her. hahaha! No one could get a good look but that was just too bad.

Way too young to be in church during the winter. I know it may not necessarily be cold, but it is the season for viral illnesses. Keep in mind
any newborn 6 wks and under who becomes ill is hospitalized.

With my oldest he was 3 days and we went for brunch for fathers day.....my middle was 2 days and we went to a buffet in a casino. My youngest wast 5 days, but only because i had a c-section and was in the hospital that long.

I would personally never take my newbie out where so many people are gathered, I'd be so nervous with every cough or sneeze!

I would go and keep a blanket over the carrier.

With both of my children, we were out of the house within days of them being born. The day after my daughter (my oldest) was born, my grandmother died. So that week, we went to a funeral, a rosary service, and made a trip out of state for the second funeral and the burial. Lots of people were around that week, though I held her the entire time we were out and about.

With my son, I knew in advance that my best friend (from when we were 4 years old) was getting married on Dec. 22nd - my son was due Christmas Day. He was born on Dec. 20th (a Thursday), we were discharged Saturday morning (the 22nd) and went to the wedding that evening. My daughter was also in that wedding and it was a special night out - again, he stayed with me or my husband the entire time (no passing him around). We also went to Midnight Mass that year (as we do every year, even with my young children).

It was cold for both of those times (my daughter is a February baby). I think if you have a good reason for going out, then just be smart about it and limit the direct exposure to other people (i.e., passing baby around) and bundle up according to the weather. I don't think it's necessary to stay in your own house for a certain period of time - though of course everyone's situation is different and if your newborn has any health issues, I would consult your doctor first.

I totally agree that if you do go out, it should be with the baby in a sling or they sell these car seat covers at Walmart. People can still see the baby but cant get near them.

My babies were May babies and yes they went out at 4 days old to a store! Gasp! However, had they been born in December A)I would still be in the hospital on Day 4 and b) RSV. Even the most well intentioned person can pass something to your baby.

I would pass and have your MIL take the other kiddos. And, who knows you may not feel up to going out at all.

Stay home, too many things floating around in the air this time of year. Everyone is going to want to touch the baby. I would definately wait at least a week or two. If you must get out use one of the baby bjorn carriers so the baby is close to you and you can keep the baby covered and close to you.

I don't believe that infants this young should be out and about if they don’t need to be. They are so tiny and new to the world around them. I also notice how many strangers will want to hold or touch a baby. ALL viruses are around us all the time and your infant can be exposed to anything with just a sneeze, cough or touch. The weather really has nothing to do with your baby catching something and your new baby's immune system will not be strong enough to fight off something like the flu.
If you do decide to go, don’t let the baby be passed around from person to person.

I took my son to London when he was 10 days old. We walked all over, and got the cutest picture ever with the Santa at the Hamleys toy store. He was just fine being out, and we made some great family memories.

I took my son out fairly early-- but he was in a sling so his head was on my shoulder where people couldn't breathe germs in his face or get their grubby hands on him AND he was breastfed so he had all those good antibodies....

Child #1 we took out on day 3. Child #2 we took out onday 2. We aren't germaphobes at all.

It all depends on how you feel. Yes, the germs are worrying and I'm sure the doctor would tell you not to go out, but it is up to you.

We took our daughter to her first college basketball game at 3 days old. YIKES!! I remember that it was really hard! Who wants to breastfeed surrounded by yelling basketball fans? What were we thinking? Well, 14 years later there seems to be no adverse effects and we get a kick out of telling people that, but it was hard on me!

No way.

I took both of my children into a public place after they had their shots at 6 weeks.

You will never forgive yourself if your new little angel catches something from someone.

I took both my kids out at 3 or 4 days

It's not about the cold. It is about all those germy people oohing and aahing over your newborn. I would say "No" if it were me.

If you decide to go--if you are truly up to going and not feeling pressured--I think that you should keep baby covered and on you AT ALL TIMES. No one holds the baby but you. Not even MIL, until you get home. People are gonna want to get close. If they see baby being touched or held by someone other than you, they'll come arunning.

Child #1 was about 5 days old. We stopped at Target on the way home from the hospital with child #2, so 2 days old.

Doctors do not recommend to take newborn babies to places where there are a lot of people. There may be people around sick and babies are too vulnerable, plus little newborns are irresistable, everybody wants to see them and a lot are not considerate enough and may try to touch the little one.... not very safe.

I only took my babies out when they were amost one month old and avoided crowded places until they had their first shots.

Everybodys opinion may be different, you need to do what feels right for YOU.

My advice is make no commitment....I think it all depends on how you feel. You may be exhausted and may need to just stay home.

Good luck,
DH

We are in the same boat. Our baby is 1 week old today. Took her to the pediatrician yesterday who advised staying away from any kind of family gatherings altogether. What you have to worry about this time ohf year is RSV and he said when a newborn contracts RSV you are looking at a weeks stay minimum in ICU. It can be fatal for a newborn. That was enough to convince me. He said to just notice all the coughing that people are doing this time of year and almost everyone says its just "allergies"