Take a Newborn to Xmas Eve?

I took my two month old twins to Christmas Eve with over 50 people. Bring lots of hand sanitizer and enjoy having free hands for a bit.

My daughter was a month on Christmas last year and we went to both Christmas Eve with my in-laws and Christmas Day with my family. It was a great time. No one was sick. If anyone is sick, I would just ask them to steer clear of the baby. Most people will respect that!

I took my girl to a huge friends & family party for Christmas and she was only 2 weeks old! I kept her "on" me almost the whole time (dad & grandma/pa held her some, too). She didn't get sick--I assume because she was still "buzzing" off my antibiodies! I say take her--let people "ooh" and "ahh" over her, but hands off! :)

I would say take the baby!! Why not, and if your parents are going to be there you could always leave if she gets too fussy or its time to feed and your five year old could stay and they could take him home.

why would you sit it out? Christmas is a time for family, and I'm sure the fam would be really disappointed not to see you and the new baby! If you dont want others holding her, put her in a moby wrap or something and wear her the whole time, so others can just look.

I would still take the baby , your house or a family members house makes no difference , your still indoors. If you were talking about something outdoors then I would say sit it out.

I took my 4 day old baby to a Halloween party so my older son didn't miss it. I kept him in a sling so people couldn't baby-handle him. And, I am currently taking my one-month old to work with me because I figure it's better than daycare. I usually just take my babies everywhere I would normally go.

Take the baby. Find a quiet corner when you and the baby need a time out. Most of the time your baby will be fast asleep or held by a very happy relative. Lucky you!

My daughter was 10 days old on the 4th of July and her cousin was just two weeks older, we had a houseful of adults and kids and got great pictures of the new babies together and their older brothers. It was a fun day of celebration and everyone in attendance was very understanding about letting the babies sleep and letting the mommies retreat to the bedrooms when we needed to. I say take the baby, and maybe you'll get a nap while grandma holds her :)

Our daughter is 8 weeks old... We also have a 4yo. I couldn't put everything on hold and cancel all my 4 year old's gymnastics classes, birthdays, playdates, parties at school when the baby came--so, starting at 2 weeks old, I took her to various group settings. She is being breast feed (so she's getting an immunity boost) and she stayed in her stroller/infant carrier (limited touching of the baby); and luckily, she hasn't been sick.

I would advise you to take the baby, take your nursing pillow, limit touching/holding--However, if you see guests with runny noses, coughing, comments about not feeling well, etc., then you should be prepared to leave early. Maybe plan for your son to come home with grandma if you do have to leave early.

Congrats on your new baby girl :) My daughter will be 5 weeks at Christmas and we're planning on taking her to our regular family functions (dinners on x-mas eve and day). We might sit out some of the work-related functions of my husband's though.

I would go and enjoy my family as usual with baby in tow.

i don't see a problem with it. and your family would be so disappointed if you don't go.

My second was born 4 days before Xmas. We had family here. They all cooked food at their house and brought it over so I had no cooking to do at all. Ours wasn't such a large group though but still.
My third...my gosh! Where didn't we take her from the get go! At 17 days she did her first trip to Disneyland for a few hours. She was 24 days old on July 4th. Friends of ours through a HUGE party. We went. I sat outside on a patio couch under the shade. Everyone was respectful to not get up in her face but still came over to coo and ah. At exactly 6 weeks old we took her to the San Diego Comic Book Convention. I had my 6wks apt the day before the con and my midwife said we were fine to go. We also took her to a Wiggles concert that was that same week. We went to con in the morning and the concert that evening. We kept going from there. We don't sit at home very well! ;)
Each time we went out I kept her in my arms, the sling or stroller (not an infant car seat..we never had one of those, just a stroller that laid flat so she could stretch out and move around. All of my kids are/were breastfed. My third's first cold wasn't until she was 3 months old, we all got sick in Sept. She barely had a runny nose for a day and a half.
Go, enjoy yourself, don't pass the baby around if your're not comfortable.

I would probably leave baby home with your parents. She's still just so young and has such a weak immune system, with it being cold and flu season and so many people there, it just feels like too much risk.

Or do the baby sling, leave her in a covered carrier the whole time and not let anyone hold the baby. But if so, there's nothing wrong with handing them a bottle of hand sanitizer first!

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This world is full of germs baby pops out of our bellys & they are exposed to germs all I can say is wash hands cover coughs/sneezes & if someone is obviously sick then don't let them hold baby.Everyone who comes & goes in your own home are bringing in germs.

I would go - it will be easier now than next year when she has a schedule, bedtime, etc. Just warn everyone in advance that, because of potential germs, you're not going to play "pass the new baby." People will be disappointed, but at least they'll get to see you and her.

If it were me, I would go and let people hold her. She's a baby but she's not delicate. When both my kids were born I would let people hold them and did not freak out about germs. My four yo just got his first cold last week. I think most people have the common sense to know, that if they are sick they should stay away from a baby. There are healthy germs and they help to build up your immune system. Plus, I'm sure all the family would love to see the little bundle.

Hi Robin :-0

You've been receiving good responses, so you have a lot to look at to make your final decision. When I had my child 23 years ago, I was WAY over the top and didn't even let her dad hold her unless he was wearing a mask! LOL.. so this is coming from someone who was a bit over board... The old saying.. "If I could do it over again..."

I think the advice you have gotten is sound with regard to keeping your newborn safe with the cold and flu season, keep her warm, wash hands before handling her etc.. so I want to address more the "energetics" of you and your new daughter and your five year old being able to ENJOY Christmas as a family with ALL of the family :-)

The natural consciousness of the heart is JOY.. and where more joyful a place to be than with 30 family members during this joyous season! Even if she is only four weeks old, she has a level of awareness energetically that will always remember this experience.. and the happier you are as a family and mom, the happier she will be!

So I think taking her is fine as long as you maintain rules for her safety.. keep her quiet, fed well so she sleeps most of the time and when she is not sleeping, ONLY in your arms and of course, not near anyone who may be sick. Indeed germs ARE coming into and out of your home on a daily basis.. just open the window and a few will buzz on in.. LOL.. so be aware and maintain good practical standards for her health care and have fun on Christmas Eve!

hugs,
A. R.N., Energy Medicine Practitioner

I had a baby born in the middle of flu season 3 years ago and we basically hybernated till spring. Why risk it. Even if no one there shows symptoms, you never can tell what tomorrow may bring. I'd skip it this year, make up for it next year when baby is a little older, immune system is a little more developed.

I would say to just be careful with people touching her. My third daughter was born dec 7th. I started taking her out a little bit at christmastime. She ended up with RSV at six weeks. She had to be hospitalized. It was sad. I also had my 1st in kindergarten and 2nd in preschool. They could have brought something home too. This time of year is so hard with the cold and flu :(

Don't forget to factor in how tired you will be still. I took my newborn out and did not enjoy myself because I was beat! Everyone will understand if you want to sit it out. If you don't want to dit it out, go!

My opinion is that it is Christmas and it is family - don't let a bunch people touch her, and make sure everyone who might be sick keeps their distance.

I've spent plenty of nights in the E.R. with newborn with fever. Its no fun. But its family, and if your 5 year old gets something and brings it home, baby will get it anyhow (trust me, my 4 month old has gotten 5 out of 6 of her sister's colds). I lean on going, but warn everyone in advance that you're not risking a sick baby so hand off.

no do not take him. it's cold season.
If you do you'll either miss the party because you have to keep him away from everyone, or he might end up sick.