How Long Should I Wait??

You can take him out, just try to avoid large crowds and public places for a little while. Babies get sick really easily at such a young age.

People always make the false assumption that little = weak. Well it does not. Tell people that he is small but mighty & to mind there own bloody business. My duaghter was 4 weeks early & I took her places when she was that age.

My first son was 8 weeks early and i was told to keep him away from stores, work, anywhere where there are a lot of people for a month or 2. I would not risk him getting sick, especially a premie and with the swine flu going around. They cannot fight germs yet. Its up to you, but i would definitely NOT take him anywhere except for a walk outside in the fresh air.

This happened to me all the time and I had 9lb. 10oz. kids. You are the mother and ur husband the father. Sometimes it gets real annoying when others have such wonderful advice and it used to make me feel like I had no idea what I was doing. Follow ur heart and common sense. I was a mother of a sick child w/cancer. After his kemo we would go out for lunch and play video games and I would bring my own silverware. People looked at me like I was crazy but that was my thing. I always followed my doctors advice because I believed in him and he made me believe in myself. Enjoy your child and the time you all have together. Dare to dream and enjoy your journey together. Good Luck. God Bless

By all means take your son out with you. I started taking my sons out with me as early as two years old. By the time they were four years of age they already leant to behave and stopped having tantrums and adjusted to being in public. I don't feel that keeping them home will prevent then from getting sick as they can contract viruses that parents pick up.

You are talking to the Mom who on her way home from the hospital went and dined at a restaurant with a 2 day old infant and her older sibling. As long as you use good sense...good handwashing, don't play pass around the baby, if someone seems to not be feeling well remove the baby from the area. Enjoy your life, make sure to shade the skin with the warmer weather and tell others that while you appreciate their concern, the doctor is okay with it and your baby is happier when their environment changes occasionally.

that's silly as long as he's covered up (clothes and blankets if it's cold, something to shade him with in the sun, etc) he should be fine.

Yeah don't worry what noesy people say - you will get tons of unwanted "advice" you are his mother you know best Good luck

Get our there and enjoy life. Especially if you have another little one at home who needs to get out. I think I was told to stay away from crowded places until 4 weeks. Especially if you are outdoors. Enjoy this lovely weather. I waited until 4 weeks to go to my older daughter's classes. I know someone posted about antibodies. Your baby is getting antibodies from you as you nurse. If you are not nursing, your baby has your antibodies from being inutero.

Mine were both born in the winter and the pediatrician did say to give them 6 weeks before going to parties, shops, restaurants, etc. Their immune system is not quite ready for all our world has to offer. I think walks and the occasional outing to see Papa at work is fine, but I would limit the handling and passing around to others in the workplace. And, of course, any one who touches the baby needs to wash their hands first!

Congratulations!

Ironically, I just asked our pediatrician this question this afternoon regarding our son who will be three weeks old on Monday. She said that outdoor activities are fine, she's more concerned with germs in enclosed spaces and to avoid indoor parties for the first month. My son was full term though, I don't know if that would affect her advice.

You are just fine! NO reason to be over paranoid with infants honestly. Your casualness will serve him and you both good, so keep it up! As long as he doesn't have a compromised immune system there is no reason to limit his exposure to the world.

Both my kids were small as infants, not newborns but more like from 6 mos on, and we got those comments all the time cause they thought they were younger. Take it as a compliment!

I think I'd wait a bit longer to take him out. The premature birth is a big thing. It sounds like you've already had him out quite a bit with no issues - but keep in mind there are still folks out there with the swine flu (we just had a case reported on our street this week!). If your baby were to get something like that (from someone sneezine near him, etc...) he would have a really hard time recovering from it. He is still so young with NO immunity to anything. If you "HAVE TO" go out - keep him covered up. No one should even be able to comment on how tiny he is because they won't have seen him. Why risk anything??? You have the rest of your life to be out & about... a few weeks of keeping him under cover shouldn't slow you down to much. Better safe than sorry so the old saying goes.

I don't think it's so much a matter of waiting until he's older than the kind of places you're taking him. It might be better to wait until he's just a little older and has a stronger immune system. I don't believe the weather is a danger so long as he's dress properly, but being exposed to many different people and their germs might be. I'm sure he'll be fine enjoy your son and be careful, you're going to be a great mother. May God bless you and you're family.

Good Luck
C. Henderson

Marie, don't have reservations... MAKE RESERVATIONS!! You need to enjoy. I'm a firm believer that it is good to get your baby out as well as good for your own mental health. Just don't let strangers get too close.

Hi Maria,
Congratulations on your new little one. As long as he is healthy I think your fine taking him out. I'm a first time Mom (my daughter is now almost 2) but when she was first born we took her to Target, Costco, Church within her first 2 weeks of life.
My daughter was born in July so it was warm out. She is a breastfed baby so she had the extra antibodies. Also when they are this little they sleep most of the time.

When you do take him out you could use a sling either a mei-tai or hotsling. This way your baby is close to you and others can't see how small he is.
Also if you have a travel system you can close both canopies then he is covered more and protected if this is your concern.

I do agree with your doctor, take him out and enjoy life.

If this makes you feel better I see babies less than a month old out all the time. I hope this is helpful.

Take care and enjoy this time with your baby.
C.

I think this is more of a cultural issue. In some cultures they don't believe in taking a baby out of the home for 2-3 months because since they can't see well it could be stressful for them as well as unfamiliar sounds that could startle them. Also of course as their immune systems are building at home with contact of the home environment as well as any siblings and parents bringing in germs, there is plenty to adjust to at home, let alone out of the home. I personally wouldn't hide them away, from neighbors, friends, or family, but I like to give them time to adjust to their immediate home and family life. Of course you have to make the decision. I don't think risks are any more than what you probably are already aware of in regards to some of what I mentioned and more. Congratulations to you and your family for the new baby!

My suggestion is to not over due it. Its one thing to go for walks but its another to be in enclosed areas. Remember there is still swine flu going around and its especially dangerous for young children. Infant boys dont develop as quickly as infant girls, in fact there lungs still are developing after they are born & your little guy was 5 weeks early which is quite a lot of important devloping he lost in the womb. If you have to go out in crowds i suggest not letting people get to close. Congrats on your new baby.

There is nothing wrong with taking your baby out, especially in this gorgeous weather we have been having! My first was born 2 days before Thanksgiving and we went to my mother's with the whole family for Thanksgiving dinner.

It's fine to have him out after a couple of weeks if he's healthy. Don't feel guilty-you want to show him off. I know I did. I wanted to take mine everywhere and show her off plus, get out of the house AND show everybody what my husband and I produced-a beautiful, healthy baby and new member of our family. The doctor just told me, after she was born, that it was advisable to try to keep the visitors to a minimum, if at all possible, the first 2 weeks of her life-to give her time to build up her immune system. Congratulations and good luck with everything!

When my daughter was born her pediatrician warned us to avoid taking her to places with a lot of crowds/germs such as my office or on a plane until she had her first round of shots -- I think that's at about six or 8 weeks. But I don't think taking the baby for a walk or out for dinner is a problem. I think before the baby is 6 or 8 weeks old it's much more serious if they come down with a fever -- they need to be hospitalized and a spinal tap is routine to rule out meningitis -- a friend of mine went through that with her son and it was a nightmare. So there is reason to be cautious, but that doesn't mean you should stay inside for two months either!

Hi Maria,

I've not been in your situation, but if your little guy is healthy and your doctor has no problem or reservations about taking him out of the house, then by all means, do it! Don't feel guilty though, you'll go crazy staying inside with such a cute little baby you should be showing off! And besides, the weather has been too beautiful to not be enjoying it!! And if you meet anyone who says he's "too little" and shouldn't be out, just say "thank you and he enjoys it". :) Have fun in the sun!!

I'm with your Dr, you can and should be taking him out as much as you want. Especially in this weather, another thing if we were in the dead of winter. Congrats on your new baby and enjoy!

Take him out and continue to enjoy yourselves! you are doing nothing wrong. I felt the same way as I had my second in January. At that point though I had more to worry about because of flu season...you delivered in a safer season and beyond taking the normal precautions(washing hands, not exposing to an obviously sick person) don't stress. Enjoy your new little healthy man! they are more resillent than we think!

Bring the baby outside! That is so old fashioned. It also ensures that babies get a good healthy dose of Vitamin D. I know it's hard, but try not to listen to what other people say about your parenting choices. Most of their opinions are steeped in myth. BTW, congrats on being ready to go outside after only two weeks. You must be doing great!

I think you know best, people are just sometimes weird about little babies. My girl is 2 weeks also, but she is huge (nearly 10 pounds and 22 inches long) so we don't get those comments. You know best. The health risks are the same, exposure to germs and the like, but I am sure you are being conscientious and careful about your little one. Enjoy life!

KEEP TAKING HIM OUT! I think that thinking is old school. My first was born in May and we were out within a week. I hated that I couldn't do the same with my second (too cold in December). Don't listen to people. As long as he is bundled up and warm, I think its good for them. Enjoy.

I was always cautious about this in a sensible way. The worst place you can go is church. People are all sitting together coughing and sneezing and everyone wants to touch the baby.

I had to take my last son out a lot since he had 3 siblings, but I still didn't go to church and I tried to limit other optional outings like restaurants. He was born in February, so the weather was different and I think people are not as sick now as they are in the middle of winter.

Bottom line is you have to do what you think is best. Keep in mind that they can get sick very easily.

M.

I think it depends on where you are taking him. It's a matter of safety and irritability. We were watching a baseball game on tv the other night and saw what looked like a newborn in the stands with dad. That's kind of crazy. If you're paying attention to the baby, you can't be watching out for foul balls, etc.

If it's a family get together, walk to the park, doctor, etc. THat makes sense. But don't take the baby to a restaurant yet. You won't be able to enjoy yourself until he's at least able to sit up in a high-chair and others will get aggravated if and when he begins to wail. There's also the issue of changing the diaper, nursing, etc. Not all public rest-rooms are outfitted properly. There's also the issue of the swine flu going around. You'll have plenty of time to get him acclimated to crowds in a few months.

it's really your choice and nobody should really be commenting on it one way or another--especially to you! we took our daughter to restaurants at 4 days old and kept on taking her out till it got super cold (she was born in a very mild december and had to endure a crazy cold february!).

here's my favorite little tale for you: my friend had her first son. he was very small (5lbs and change), but she had places to go, errands to run and lived in california and the weather was pretty mild. she had him at target and in the parking lot someone commented about how she shouldn't have him out because it was so sunny. another day she had him at the grocery store and another person commented on how she shouldn't have him out because of the rain!

so, in the end, it's up to you! the weather is beautiful so personally, i'd say get out and enjoy it unless YOUR DOCTOR says otherwise. ignore the random strangers' advice--it'll drive you nuts!

good luck, and you're doing fine!

This is a topic that my hubby battles with me all the time, he (and) my mother in law thinks I should be in the house for 6 weeks, I am out the door the next day. I would just say, be smart about it. I have 4 kiddos (11-20 months). Every single time, it's an issue with us. I hear it all the time. I personally, when I bring my babies out, I don't let others hold the baby unless, they've washed thei hands. I will literally say that to them. If we are not near a bathroom, I pull out the hand sanitizer & give it to them & I tell them. I don't apologize for it either. Or if you don't want them to hold your baby, just don't. I don't put them around sick people. Like I mentioned, use your best judgement on that. I'm sure you'll get varying opinions about this. I can't imagine staying in for 6 weeks. If your child is critically sick & can't be around peeps, then that's different, in my opinion. Enjoy!

My son was born the beginning of February, and the doctor said that as long as he was dressed warmly, he should get out in the fresh air. Since I'm a single mom, live in a condo and have 2 dogs, that meant we went out at least 3 times a day, every day. that was a year and a half ago, and he's doing just fine. For reasons that completely elude me, random strangers always feel the need to comment. The other day, when it was 75 degrees, several of the "commenting ladies" in my building fretted about how he didn't have on any mittens. I've learned to nod and smile, and roll my eyes once they leave. It's good for both of you to get out - physically and psychologically.
Have lots of fun with your kids this summer. :)

Sickness is harder on a newborn than it is on a healthy adult. If your baby gets sick, it's worse and it can have lasting effects. RSV is the scarriest, but the season is mostly over. Here's the issue: people go out sick, so your baby could get it.

Check with your doctor. I had 36 week twins and we stayed in for 1 1/2 months in winter, started going everywhere at 3 months (help left) and are still cautious if we think someone's sick.

It's a lot easier for something small to send you back to the hospital with a baby.

It's hard to wait, but invite friends over, use the phone and check with the doctor before you expose him to lots of germs.

Dear Maria,

I say only you know the best for your child. I had my son out an about by day four and never regretted it. I had many people make comments also, but I didn't let it get to me. You will find people make unsolicted comments about you or your children all the time. If your children are healthy I think you should not be afraid to show them the world. It has so much to offer and they will thank you for it in the end.

YOu do not say how much your son weighed at birth or now but...RELAX better to treat him normally than to go around calling him a "PREEMIE" for his whole life as my friend did!
The only concern is the new flu goping around so try to keep some distance and hopefully be in a healthy environments rather than any place that he could be exposed to illness...If you are nursing him then he will have your immunity but if not then better to be cautious...I was raised during the polio outbreak and our mom never took us to carnivals etc. since she felt they had strange germs...I am grateful n0ow but was upset then...

I think that you should take him out whenever. It would be kind of hard to do otherwise. Especially for the doctor's appointments! If he's healthy and doing well, I see no problem. If he was sick, that would be another thing entirely. Enjoy your babies!

You should do whatever makes YOU feel comfortable. I didn't wait to take my twin girls out. It was when I was ready and as long as they are dressed for the weather and healthy. I personally wouldn't worry. The only thing I waited for was to take them to the church nursery. I waited until they had their 2 month shots.

Have you asked your doctor what they think? I'm inclimed to say you're fine taking him out, but I don't have experience with preemies. What I will tell you, though, is we had the same reaction from people when we started taking our daughter out pretty much as soon as we got out of the hospital and she was full term. I do think some people have an "old school" way of thinking about this.
Congratulations on your new baby boy and I hope you find a way to feel reassured that you are a good M. who is doing the right thing, whatever that ends up being.

Hi! I really do think that is old school. I know alot of that was because you were supposed to wait until baby got baptized as well. Funny - it is baby #2! When I had baby #1, I very rarely took her out because I didn't really want anyone to touch her or breathe on her or anything - I was so ridiculously overprotective. I was so much better with baby #2!!! Although I still didn't want anyone to touch him or breathe on him! ha! And both my kids are healthy and happy - so you do what YOU want - YOU are the M. and you know best!!!!!

Take care, and all the best to you.

I guess I don't get why people would say you should not have him out. Our son was born at 1:36 AM and we went home 10:30 that night. We were out and about within 4 or 5 days. I put him in a Snuggy and my husband son and I went on our way to do the things we needed to do. The minute you leave the hospital your baby is exposed to germs. Don't listen to everybody else, you are the mom and you know what is best for your baby.

God Bless,
S.

take him out! as long as he is dressed properly and not in direct sun or too much heat he is fine! any "germs" he could be exposed to he will be by you and your partner and family that come visit. It is better to be out in fresh air than sitting in a stagnant house with germ filled people coming by and leaving at your home!

As I repeatedly told everyone around me when my darling was tiny - going outside does not make babies sick. Germs make babies sick. Use your common sense - dress for the weather, block the sun, wash your hands frequently, and keep other people from touching him unnecessarily or breathing too closely (why everyone think it's ok to touch other people's babies I'll never know - it's kind of along the same line as touching a stranger's pregnant belly. I just don't get it! :-) and he'll be fine. If you're up to it, enjoy life! Life doesn't end just because you had a baby! :-)

I don't think it's a big deal and I admire anyone who feels they can handle having a newborn out and about. We kept ours in for most of 6 weeks, but I doubt the second one will have the same luxury. The only thing that I do worry about it if you're in the heat of cold and flu season. Congrats on your little one!

Unless your pediatrician says otherwise, take him out and enjoy him. You don't have to live in a bubble.

My MD always says that if you have the baby out in public in the car set, he's not touching anything, he should be fine. In the first 6 weeks, avoid handling by school aged children as they come clse to the most germs. I was a freak about germs and insisted anyoone that handle the baby wash their hands first. My oldest is almost 3 and never any fevers or colds. Just remember, the kid is yours to "show off" but be smart about it. Otherwise you are the one suffering the days off work taking the child to the MD becasue he/she got exposed to unnecessary germs.

Personally, I wouldln't take an infant that young out into public places. I would wait a minimum of a month to 6 weeks. Just my thoughts!!!

congrats on your new born! My second son was also born just over 2 weeks ago. He is also perfectly healthy - was full term. We wanted to go to a pool party this past weekend for the holiday and our pediatrician advised against taking him out until his 2 month check up. We take him out in the stroller for walks in the neighborhood and to the park with my 2 year old - but I won't take him into grocery stores, restaurants, etc. Why take the risk? The fact is his immune system isn't strong enough to fight off regular colds & even a slight fever is a danger in a newborn - so why risk taking him to enclosed places with people sneezing, or going to the bathroom and not washing their hands - and then touching your baby to tell you how adorable he is! I would wait to take him out to germy, heavily-populated places.

We took our little guy everywhere we needed to go also. If I had to go to the grocery store or something he came with. My husband or I wore him in a fabric sling (hotslings is one brand)or front carrier every time we went out though. This way he was so close to us, people were less apt to want to touch him. Also, I think it warded off some of the naysayers because they were so busy commenting on the carrier. Like some of the other mamas said, go with your gut and do what you think is best.

Times use to be that baby wasn't taken out until after baptism...today moms drag the baby everywhere. Dr. appts are important so baby can't miss those. Other than that, I wouldn't take him out around public spaces until 3 months or healthy enough to fight off the germs that he could easily pick up from the human sneeze of others or children pawing him at the park. This virus thing has been running and now the allergy season. He's susceptable to ALL germs at this young age and hasn't built up antibodies to fight any of them yet. Your yard or mom and dads place is about it. I wouldn't have him around cats at this age either. Cats like to pounce on babies because the baby twitches and moves quickly like a toy). Good luck mom and have a great holiday weekend.

Take him out with you - just not in crowded places - don't let strangers touch him - enjoy this nice weather while you can - it's good for you too!!!! 45 minutes day in the stroller will do both of you good. Winter you can stay in the house.

Enjoy your little one!!!

Maria-

You're his mom. Only you (and possibly dad) know what is best for him. If you really think about it, where in the city will the most "germs" be? At the hospital, (and the doctors office, where they go to get their first shots when they are tiny) where all of the sick people are, right? :)
There will ALWAYS be someone who thinks that they know your child better than you.
My advice is ignore them.

Of course, I am of the opinion that "antibacterial everything" is also part of why kids are sick more often. We aren't giving our kids a chance to build immunity to anything anymore. For the record, I'm a mom of 3-- 22, 12, and 10 years old. All of them were out and about at early ages (2-4 weeks) and all are healthy and growing. My nephew contracted menengitis (sp?) in the hospital as a newborn, 18 years ago... Basing my thoughts on my own experiences.

Hey Maria!

COngrats on the new baby!

I am a nurse and a mom of a preemie too, so I must warn you not to over do it. There is a virus called RSV that can be lethal to preemies. While it is late in the season, RSV and flu viruses are lingering. Even though your son wasn't "too" preemie, a 35 weeker's lungs can still be on the immature side- RSV loves immature lungs!

And, of course, when you do take him out, just make sure that no one with a cold symptom touches him and all others wash their hands.

If it was July, I'd say- go have fun, but watch out for next flu season!

I apologize if I go against the grain, but I can say this as a mom who has seen her child on a ventilator- and if I can stop another child from getting sick then I know my words won't be too harsh!

Congrats again!

I don't usually go out for fun with a baby, just a run to the doctor or hospital. Not until the baby about 6 weeks old. I just don't want the baby catch a cold, it will be extremely hard to see a tiny baby try to catch his breath because having a stuffy nose or congestion. Maybe a stroll around the neighborhood just to get some fresh air and sunshine, but not an enclosed public space.
Well, whatever works for you and the baby actually, regardless what people say ;) congrats !

Take him out and ignore those people. I'd maybe steer clear of chuck e cheese, but other than that take him wherever you go and don't feel guilty about it!

Congrats on your new baby!!!

I agree with most about taking him out and enjoying yourselves, I know how exciting it is to have a new baby and want to show him off. I've seen some of the advice from others as to keep him out of schools, play places, etc. I realize that these areas are big germ spots but so are malls, restaurants, etc. The only concern I have for you is that your baby was born premature and that means his lungs were not fully developed. Be careful, he is still trying to catch up to the average full term baby and his immune system is weaker than most. I personally would wait about 6 weeks before I'd take him to too many places but thats me. Sounds like Mom needs to get out more than anything, ask a family member to watch him for you most love a new baby. Enjoy!!

Our pediatrician told us in the hospital that our son would be safer (from germs) in the car seat in a restaurant than at a family gathering where everyone is going to want to hold him and you can't control who's sick, hasn't washed their hands, etc. Enjoy the time out with him now while he's still sleeping through everything and not clamoring to get out of the car seat.

Hi Maria!

Congrats on your new baby boy! How exciting!

My daughter was a 6 week preemie and we took her out the day she was released from the hospital(7 days later). Not even a week later my son was in ICU from an accident and we spent over a week in the hospital with all kinds of Ewwwws!

The only thing I would suggest is if you are at the store or wherever make sure you wash your hands before touching the baby. If you go shopping there is all kinds of nasty things on the carts and you might transfer who knows what from the cart to him if your hands are not clean! This may just be a personal phobia of mine though :)

Her ped did warn me about being too obsessive about germs though. She said that the only way an infant is going to build up an immunity is to be gradually exposed to these things. So of course you would not go to sit in the ER waiting room with a ton of sick people coughing and sneezing all over him but to take him to the store or to visit people etc would be good for him!

My daughter is almost 3 years old and has never had a cold or the flu yet! We are very conscious of washing hands and not touching faces etc. She is a thumb sucker and we have even taught her to not suck her thumb while we are shopping and to wait until we get to the car and use a natural hand sanitizer.

I honestly think it is very old school to say an infant should be home! You know what is best for him AND YOU! Remember you will go nuts if you lock yourself in the house to make others happy! Just ignore other peoples comments- you will get LOTS of unsolicited advice in the months to come- shoot even years! lol

Good luck and many blessings to you and your family!