I am expecting my 2nd child in late June, early July. I am so excited and will have the summer off to enjoy the new addition. My 9 year old son wants to join the summer baseball league. He will have 3 games a week, all in the evening. My husband can take him for the 1st couple weeks while he's on leave, but then it's up to me. Should I think twice about taking a newborn who is only a couple weeks old out to the park for a few hours. My son was born in the winter, so we didn't go anywhere much because of the cold. When did you all start taking your newborn out and about?
DS = 8 days (really just because I needed that time to heal)
DD = 4 days (I was in the hospital up until that point)
As my ped said: get that kid out! Fresh air and sunlight work wonders for even the tiniest of babies.
I took my girls out right away. In fact, with my oldest we stopped by the store on the way home from the hospital. With my youngest, we had a houseful of people the afternoon I came home from the hospital.
If you're outside, I would think, there would be less germs because of the openness of the area. I would suggest you get a sling or a wrap so you can wear the baby. It cuts down on people wanting to hold the baby. They'll just ask for a peek. Less hands=less germs. Plus, it will keep him/her from being directly opposed to the sun.
Day 6 as that was when we were allowed home and boy did I need some fresh air. :-) As long as you are not taking baby to the noisiest, dirtiest place ever, they should be fine.
We were out to dinner and drinks day 4!! We have been on the run ever since. Our kids are 6 and 3 and we never kept them in.
At about a week old, as soon as I was feeling up to it. That's one of the things about being a younger sibling- there's no luxury of just sitting at home with the baby for long!
The day after we left the hospital we were at the park
Almost right away.......I just didn't let people touch him
We went out immediately (August baby). I plan on doing the same with number 2 also due in August.
I had a June baby and that day we got home I took him for a walk in the stroller. I just needed to SO bad after being stuck in the hospital for 4 days. I never considered if that was to soon. I like what Momof2grlz said about getting a wrap of a sling to wear the baby. I think that's a great idea to keep others hands off and the baby will probably like the comfort of mommy. I also agree that obviously be sure you have what you need to protect baby from the heat, but it should help that the games are in the evening. I always check weather.com to see what the UV index is. It gives a rating so I can be sure that we wear sunblock/protective covering when needed.
There's really no reason not to get out immediately! As long as baby is comfortable and dressed for the weather, get out and enjoy!
My son was born in mid-November, and I remember taking him to the mall when he was 5 days old. I needed a few things, and my husband was back to school already.
I wouldn't hesitate taking a baby who is a few weeks old out to the park. I would take a blanket, a play tent (if I had one), a well-stocked diaper bag, and a book. Enjoy!
my sons' were all out and about very early in life...my oldest son, I had out at 3 days old right after we got out of the hospital. my middle son, I had out also pretty early. my youngest son was out and about at 5 days old because my parents' had a major party.
In this weather, right away. I had 2 born in Spring, and they were out within 7 days.
As long as you are feeling up to going out, no problem for your baby. Keep your baby close to you, protected and wear your baby. Or you could put baby in carseat with it covered with a netting for any bugs etc. GL!
M
I have been told by my family for years and years the baby can't go out until the first round of shots. Personally, I don't see anything wrong with taking the baby out but I never did. Didn't want to risk them getting sick.
DS was born in late December and we started taking him out in the stroller for walks around the neighborhood immediately (Ok, maybe by 7 or 8 days old, but if I hadn't his mother would have been institutionalized). We did not take him to crowded indoor places (like a mall) for probably 4 weeks (whatever our pediatrician said). I think you will probably be fine since it is outdoors and you can limit direct contact with coughing/sniffling/clearly ill people.
My second was out and about at around 3-4 weeks because that was when I was ready to be out and about :) We went to the playground in the summer with my 4 year old, to Grandma's house, etc. We didn't go to crowded malls or restaurants, etc. I didn't let people hold/touch/kiss her. I was very concerned about her immunity to illness at that age. I had whooping cough as an adult because my immunity wore off and I became very sensitive to having her around sick adults or unvaccinated kids.
I think if you keep people away from him, you can take him out during week 1 if you are up to it. The bigger issue I see for you is the HEAT. I think I probably let my second baby get way too hot on our playground trips in the summer. She slept like a rock, and it took me a few times to realize I was letting her get overheadted - very scary. I started making sure I took her out of her car seat, kept her in the shade, stayed close to the car and the AC, and always brought emergency cold formula in case I couldn't nurse (water is dangerous to give infants).
I waited a month, but thats because my baby was born during RSV season. You should be able to go out and about right away. Its a good time to get out because the baby will still be in the phase where he will sleep anywhere!
I took my baby out at 10 days old. My husband and I had cabin fever and depression was starting to set in, we HAD to get out of the house. We mostly just drove around, and the started taking him places like the grocery store - we would cover his car seat completely with a blanket. And when people asked how old he was, we always lied :) There are always people out there who think it's their place to tell you what a bad parent you are.
I was concerned about taking my infant in public (the mall, I did go for walks and to visit family/friends) out before about two weeks for two reasons:
1) I had a friend who was actually accosted by a stranger in a store for bringing her young baby out in public and risking illness (the sad thing was the baby was actually 2 mo old! He was a premee and still looked newborn).
2) I didn't want to risk my baby getting sick after all the warnings at the hospital about a fever above a 101 requiring a trip to the emergency room for a full work up. Seemed like something I really didn't not want to happen to my baby.
I haven't read the other answers, but I will tell you that with my second, I was out sooner....mostly because you just have to with another kid in the house. Since you will be outside (and not in a confined space), I personally think it will be okay. Just be sure the baby is covered so that the sun doesn't get too intense for the baby (maybe in the stroller or car seat with the hood over?) and try to keep people out of the poor little thing's face (easier said than done since EVERYONE loves a baby!). Reality with two kids is that you just don't have the luxury of hanging around staring into little one's face for two months. My second was born at the end of May (just had his 3rd birthday....my how time flies!) and we were out within a couple of weeks. Just tried to limit it as much as possible. Good luck and I hope you have a safe and healthy delivery.
I would bring the baby with lots of hand sanitizer. I brought my newborn twins out at five days old.
Hi! My first went to Opening Day when he was 13 days old and my daughter was six days old when she went to her first volunteer meeting. Neither suffered any consequences from being out in the real world.
They made me take mine out to get home from the hospital. ;-)
I did mostly stay cocooned with my most recent baby, as he was my first winter baby, and he wound up getting very sick anyway. @@ (That's the danger of having other kids first, lol.)
Keep the baby shaded. Sunblocks aren't good for brand new babies. Wear the baby in a sling/wrap if you want to keep strangers' hands off of him.
I remember taking my first to the store because I had tons of baby shower stuff to return and other things I needed - she was just one week then. With my second, she was born on Saturday, and I took my oldest to pre-school the following Tuesday with the baby in the car. Granted, she never came out of the car seat, but she ventured out. :)
I was grocery shopping four days later...then some old lady told me off for being out to soon. :)
Right away. There is no reason to shelter the baby. I knew someone who wouldn't take their newborn out for weeks. I have no idea why.
Right away...both my spring born baby and winter baby! Both healthy kids now! Our doctor said, don't hold yourself or them up in the house...
In fact on the way home from the hospital (with my first) we stopped off at CVS and went out for lunch at Red Robin...
Is the next day too soon? We adopted both of our kids so they each drove 400+ miles in theri first weeks of life. Lots of stops, outings etc/. It is up to you and your stamina. Getting outside, seeing adults, sociallizing is all good for you and therefore your little one. Babies are very hardy, dress appropriately, and get outside :) Unless it is frigid out!!Hopefully not in July!!
