Newborn First Outing

First off, congratulations!
I took my first born out at 3 days. My husband's idea and I was a nervous wreck. With my second and third they were out and about soon after they were born too. As long as you have common sense about it... don't take her to the mall play area, keep her covered, she should be fine. It's actually healthy for them to get a cold now and then to build up their immune system. It's healthy for you to get out of the house too!

THREE months?!?! Oh, man - I should be flogged! My first baby didn't even make it home from the hospital before a stop at my husband's and my work to show him off! I didn't keep any of my three babies home for fear of germs and they're all healthy kiddos. :)

I have 9 grandchildren and all of them have been taken shopping as early as 4 days old. I did the same thing with my kids. It seems they get used to noise and people around them all the time. They aren't allow to be touch by too many people but they were out.

I wondered about this with my son. I went with the less careful/more exposure advice, thinking I was being paranoid. My son ended up getting sick at only a week and a half, we were in the hospital for one week with him (at a cost of $3K, after insurance), and then he was sick for a total of three months. It was very emotionally trying! We were surprised at how bad it was, but the doctors said that newborns are fragile, and ordinary bugs can affect them differently.

If I could do it again, I'd limit his exposure to public places, keep him covered when necessary, and not hand him off to people to hold, especially children, or mothers with young children. I think three months is a reasonable time period.

I started taking both of my babies out in public, like the grocery store, around 2 weeks old, and they are both healthy children.

I started taking my little guy out almost right away. Carefully, of course. We didn't let everybody get close or touch him, but we went for little walks and to visit my family. For the first 3 months or so, the baby has a lot of your immunities anyway, and if you're breastfeeding, you pass along immunities that way too. I wouldn't worry too much about it. Get out and get some fresh air. It'll be good for both of you.

With my firstborn, she was very tiny when born and I had to be induced with her at 36 1/2 weeks. The Dr said to keep her in or away from direct contact with crowds until she was 8 weeks. I was a tad paranoid but quickly learned I cannot isolate a baby and you can just tell strangers not to get in their face or touch them. I mean a baby isn't going to just get sick just being outside or in the store. I know it is hard and I have honestly never heard of waiting until 3 mos unless there was some health issues with your baby. Kids after 6 mos being exposed to stuff is a positive. Nobody likes their baby to be sick but if you isolate them too long as I learned the hard way with my firstborn daughter is that then they spend their toddler years so sick all the time! I was a lot more lax with my second as I knew what I did with his sister and wanted him to be stronger when he was finally able to play with other kids. It is best to let them boost their immunity when they are strong enough and older. The best you can do is make sure their hands are clean, wipe down strollers and carts and just let them be in the world like the rest of us. Seriously, if she is in a carrier, not in physical contact or direct face to face contact with anyone then I see no need to be ultra worried about it. You have so much more control when they are that young to keep people at a distance. Most viruses and illness are due to being personal contact.

My son, now 10 1/2 months, was born in February. We took him out almost immediately - my sanity required it! We were careful to cover his car seat with a blanket (not sure if it really helps but it made us feel better!) when we were dining out or when in the grocery store. I wouldn't say that I took him out alot but we did venture out at least once a day. As an aside, my son never even had so much as a sniffle until this December when he had a cold for a week. At age 10 weeks he traveled up to Breckenridge with us and the weather wasn't great. At 4 months, he was hanging out on top of Loveland Pass in shorts and a t-shirt. First plane trip, which is a hotbed of germs, at 14 weeks. Try not to be paranoid but do be careful.

My son is now a happy, healthy 7 year old & I feel very strongly on this subject. 3 months seems like an awfully looooong time to keep your newborn under "wraps". Due to my circumstances when he was born, I had to return to work after 6 weeks and he has been in daycare for a vast majority of that time. Because he was not coddled & hidden from everyday life, he now rarely gets sick & when he does, it doesn't last very long at all. I have a friend that has a 4 year old that stayed at home almost ALL THE TIME & barely just started pre-school & being social at this stage of her life. That child is constantly sick & catches everything that anybody has! Uggghhh! I am a true believer that if you don't shelter your child from everything all the time, it gives them a chance later on in life. Hope this helps!

I started taking my children out and about at three weeks old. I feel that it is also not very healthy to have an infant indoors all the time. They need fresh air and so do you. Neither one of my children are ever really sick and I feel that it is because I actually exposed them to illnesses rather than always trying to keep them away from it.

Just make sure to keep your daughter in her carseat and if she is sleeping cover it with a blanket, so those passing by aren't touching her or getting in her face. We flew with my daughter at 3 weeks old and I just kept her in a snugli the whole time, so her face was facing my chest and she wasn't being exposed to everyone.

9 days. the nice things about newborns are they don't touch anything or stick things in their mouth. My first son had a few normal colds and fevers here and there. . . my second son was out and about at day one, and he just got his first fever at 18 months old. ...but none of this is scientific or really matters, my only advice would be to trust what you feel is right, and then don't blame youself if your child does get sick. all kids get sick, it is what makes them (and us) stronger.

Good mummy for putting baby's needs ahead of convenience!
i was taught no less than 40 days, but even after that i only went to "special outings" that i had to go to, and i still kept any runny noses or coughing people far far away from my children and they never got sick until older than a a year old. (when they started walking and touching surfaces i had no control over or were too old to keep all covered up with warm blankies) ;)

We took our daughter out with us everywhere starting at days old. At 25 days she ended up with RSV and in the hospital for 4 days. If it is a nice day i think its ok to take her out if you won't be in really crowded places.

Hi M.

Well first off I have questions for you seeing as you have twin boys older than mine! I just wanted to encourage you not to let fear drive you as a parent. It is important to be cautious of course and to take into consideration all the lists and lists of information and opinions out there about raising children. But, I would certainly caution against Worry, we get enough of it as mothers.

I would say in my own opinion that 2 months is fine to take your daughter on an outing or two throughout the week. I actually think that no exposure hurst their immunities and some exposure strengthens it! I would avoid daycares, church nurseries, etc of course. But, she will be just fine out and about with mom! Maybe it is just me, but Dr.s seem to instill fear or not be cautious enough. Especially if you are nursing she will be just fine!

C.

My first was at church on day 4 and the second on day 6. We just kept up with a normal life. Both my boys are very healthy, except for ear infections due to allergies. I know parents who did go the 3 months, but I was too stir crazy for that!

I was never told by my doctor to keep them home till they were 3 mos. I know they told my SIL not to take her son out till he had his first shots. I had to take both kids out when they are under a month since their daddy works long hours so if we need something I had to pack my kids up and go. I just of course did not let anyone really near them in public but never had issues with anyonme trying to touch them. I am pregnat with baby 3 and I will have to take this one out early too because both my toddlers are in preschool and I have to transport them. My older two kids both hardly get sick so I don't really stress about taking them out personally.

Well my little boy is 2 1/2 months and I have been taking him to the store with me since he was about 1m old. I just made sure to keep his carseat or stroller covered with a light blanket so that no one tries to touch him or get to close. Also just make sure that u ALWAYS have sanitizer with u. U never know. I just try not to take him out with us to many times. It's hard when u need to go somewhere and have nobady that can take care of the little one. I did the same thing with my first son and everything turned out okay.

well i would say its better to be safe than be sorry , 6 weeks is the most crucial time when thier immune sysytem is still very weak, so babies should be protected from too much exposure as much as possible than afterwards its fine to take them out gradually keeping in mind that crowded spaces etc could always be contigeous .... remember you cacnnot give a newborn medicines like older babies can take for flu and other diseases so b careful

I think it is okay to take babies into public before they are three months old. I took both my children to the grocery store and various other places before they were three months. I did make sure that I kept them in the car seat or stroller - that gave them a little protection from strangers who wanted to get to close or touch them. You can also put a light blanket over the top of the car seat or stroller to shield the baby. Just make sure it is not directly on the baby's face and she is getting air circulated under the blanket.
You should definitely get out with your baby. Its no fun to stay cooped up at home all the time!

I took my babies out within the first week! I used hand wipes and sanitiziers on shopping carts, cleaned my hands after touching things before touching them and covered the car seat with a blanket so no one would touch them. I had to get out of the house! Besides that, newborns are generally born with six weeks of immunity.

put your baby in a bjorn or sling. people are less likely to try to touch a baby you are carrying like that. politley step back or turn away if they reach for her. if that doesn't work, just tell them please don't touch because you're trying to keep her healthy. it's hard if you have older children. remind them not to touch her hands because she puts them in her mouth and keep baby specific toys and pacifiers clean. ask people if their children are sick before having play dates for your older childern and bringing baby along. it's hard to stay in when you have older kids. carry my baby on me really helps the most. don't stay in too long, you'll go crazy

Well I don't ever remembering my Dr. telling me not to take my son out when he was born. I remember that he was 3 days old when we took him out. It was to the doctors and then we went shopping for a little bit. Nothing too major for him. I would take him out with me every chance I had. I would take him to my mom's house, to the store and food shopping. It will help in the long run if you take her out say for like a walk or to a store for a little bit with her immune system. She will be fine and she will be healthy. My son is 20 months old now and he loves to go out even if it is just for a walk. Also he hasn't been really all that sick. He had one small cold when he was younger but that didn't for more than a few days. Don't be scared.

This seems very unusual to me--does your daughter have special health problem? Our pediatrician said we could take our daughter out and about as soon as we felt comfortable. We went out to lunch when she was about three weeks old, but walks around the neighborhood right away (it was September). We even flew with her when she was 5 weeks old. She's 4 months old this week and has never been sick. We take her to the grocery store and target and up skiing and on hikes and to other peoples houses. And she loves it. We do use hand sanitizer a lot, don't let strangers touch her, ask others to "scrub in" with the hand sanitzer, but, so far, so good. good luck!

With my first I did not take her out much until she was about 2 months old. We went on walks around our neighborhood and that was about it. With my second though I realized that staying at home for the first three months was unrealistic and unfair to my first. I talked to our Pediatrician and she said the same. I started taking him to public places almost immediately (gymnastics, music class, errands) and he did not get sick but he did start becoming aware and curious faster than my daughter did. I am not sure if it was because I exposed him to new things sooner than my daughter or if it is just his personality. I would feel comfortable by two months to take her on quick trips, like to get groceries, just to begin building her immunity. Kids are a lot more resilient that doctors give them credit for! :)

My best advice ever is to put them in a wrap or carrier, to help ward of other people's hands, etc... Here are some I LOVE!!

http://www.babyhawk.com/
http://www.ergobabycarrier.com/
Gypsymomma... a great wrap brand you can buy at BESTfed, which is across from ASU West on Thunderbird (behind the Arby's)

You can also buy a WAHM made one:
www.mommytrends.etsy.com... a local mom
www.diapertraders.com... a forum with LOTS of work at home moms (I'm jveprek on there, if you join!)

Feel free to e-mail me with ?? ?? s. Not only will it keep people back, it also gives the added bonus of getting time to bond with your child, while having your hands free!

Good Morning M. -

I took my daughter out for the first time at 2 weeks. Believe it or not, most homes store more germs than being out in the public. Children are born with a wonderful immune system to protect them from illness, however, if they are never exposed, they can not develop the immunities they need as they get older. Each child is different. If your daughter is otherwise healthy and happy, I see absolutely not problem with taking her out. If it is cool or the air is damp, I would suggest you cover her head and face when she is in direct contact outside, other than that, trust your instincts. You know your child better than anyone.

We started taking our son out when he was only one week old. He has only had 2 colds since he was born, and is always really healthy. Even when he is around colds/illnesses he does not seem to catch them! My son was born in the summer though, and I have heard that you should wait longer if it is winter time. I would imagine that after 2 months you should be ok though. Good luck! :)

You don't need to wait 3-months - just be careful where you bring her. I think 4 weeks is fine, but limit exposure by only taking her to small public places (e.g., small restaurant vs. the mall food court). Keep her coverd as much as you can and don't let people touch her. If the weather is warm enough, outdoor strolls are great for both of you too.

I hope you have at least gotten out by yourself if not with the baby!

I wouldn't worry too much. I am one of those who believes in exposing your kids to illness because it builds up their immune system (within reason of course). When my oldest was born, he was born with birth defects, such as immune deficiency and many other problems. It didn't seem to hurt him to go to doctor's offices all the time from 1 week old to see this specialist or that one. Doctor's offices are supposed to be the worst place for germs but he was fine even with an immune system that worked at 50% capacity. We had our share of colds and sinus infections but he's now 13 years old (is on medication for his immune system) and is the healthiest he's ever been. So, if your baby is healthy I would go do what you need to do outside the home. She should be fine and may even be healthier when she gets bigger. That is what I did with my other two kids and they are extremely healthy.

I also exposed my kids to allergens, such as cats in the home. None of my three kids have allergies at all, but friends of mine who kept their newborns away from cats and dogs and everything that could cause allergies are now, as their kids are older, dealing with allergies. I don't know if that had anything to do with it or not, but it something to think about. My mother did the same thing when I was growing up and had cats in the home and I don't have one allergy but my brother does (to grasses and olive trees). He isn't allergic to animals though.

Good luck. Have fun. A newborn is the best time with a baby. It goes by so fast.

I have never heard of a doctor advising a mother not to take her baby out in public until a certain age, let alone 3 months of age! If you had a "normal delivery" and the baby is healthy and doing fine, take her out whenever you are comfortable with it! I am sure you are going to get all sorts of different advice from all ends of the spectrum on this one ;) BUT in my opinion, I think the more a baby or child is out doing normal things, being exposed to the everyday germs and what nots out there, the healthier they will be :)

I took all of my babies out right after they were born. This is the time to do it escpesially if you are breast feeding. If you are breast feeding they will never again have so many antibodies as what is in your milk, so you let them get exposed to stuff and their body builds ammunity, what a better time to do it then when they are being pumped full of antibodies.

With our first, who is now 7, we had to pick up my parents at the San Francisco Intl. Airport when they came to visit. He was only 5 days old. He has a great immune system and rarely ever gets sick. With our 2nd and 3rd, who are now 5 and 3, I had a c-section with both and had a longer stay in the hospital, but had them out and about by two weeks old and they are both healthy as well. Like some of the other posts have said, use your mommy instinct. The fresh air will do you both good!

M.,
I flew on a plan in the winter from Italy to the US when my daughter was only 2 weeks old. The more exposure you get your daughter the better her immune system will be when she is older and you will have to deal with less illnesses. I know its hard, trust me. I am a germaphobe. I walked around with hand santizer in Italy and freaked when ppl would touch my daughter's hands. My mom is a dr in the Springs and she told me to expose my dtr more to the public. She needs to build her immune system. I hope that is a little helpful to you.
E.

Hi M.,

Although I am not opposed to taking little ones out, I wanted to tell you--my second daughter was born in January, 2006. We took our kids out grocery shopping when she was a week old. She ended up getting RSV and was in the hospital for 4 days. Now she struggles with asthema because of that RSV. I think with this yucky weather and all the colds that are out there, I would sit tight for a while longer. Or take her some place where not a lot of people are. Just from experience, I wouldn't want to risk it.

I saw the coolest thing in the store a few weeks ago. A mom had a little sign hanging from the carseat which read: "Please wash your hands before touching mine" I thought it was the best idea ever! It can be purchased at www.mytinyhands.com They come in pink, blue and red. It would keep people from touching her (which I always found to be rather rude) and it would keep you from having to say, "Please don't touch her."

We went to the Renaissance Festival last year when my youngest was 6 weeks. I really can't worry about germs from other kids as we have 4 older, school age in the house. I'm sure you take your older boys out, so they will be bringing home the "bugs" anyway. So long as she is getting enough sleep and food, I'm sure she'll be fine. All kids get the sniffles, sometimes I think it's from being cooped up with the dust, etc. Brooke loves outside. Since she started crawling, we almost can't keep her in the house. She is always sneaking out the patio door.

When my oldest son was born we went out at 4 days for fathers day. My daughter went to a casino for all you can eat crab legs at 2 days. My youngest was out and about at 5 days. I had a C-section so I was in the hospital longer. I met a woman once who had her 16 hour old baby at a restaurant with her.