Re: When did you take your newborn out

DS#1- Born in January during a really bad flu season. For the first 8 weeks, I didn't take him to many places. The ped advised me no malls or crowded shopping areas. We did have some people come visit.

It was hard, but if I wanted to get out, DH would he home with him, or my parents. I was paranoid about him getting sick and going through scary tests. AT 8 weeks- he went to my parent's house for Easter, his first party and there were tons of people.

DS #2- Born at the end of April. He was out a lot earlier, since I didn't want to keep his 2 year old brother confined at home all the time. Also, we did lots of outdoor stuff (parks, etc) so the exposure to germs was greatly reduced. Also, he was luckily born at the time of year when sickness was pretty low.

You do what you are comfortable with. Some people called me paranoid about not bringing my first DS a lot of places but I didn't care. He also didn't get his first cold until he was 8 months old

When did you take your newborn out

I took DS outside for walks and stuff at 2 weeks old (he was born in April). But I waited until after he had his 2 month shots before I took him out in public.

Re: When did you take your newborn out

Four months? Find a new pediatrician. Thats beyond absurd. Go out. Get air, its good for you both. I had ds out at a week for a dr appt, then really out and shopping at 2 weeks. GO OUTSIDE!!

When did you take your newborn out

Imo 4 months is a lot. They don't have all their shots then anyway so idk what they're talking about there. DS was 7 weeks early, stayed in NICU for 10 days and we went to BRU and stop & shop when he was about 3-4 weeks old. I kept a receiving blanket over the carrier the whole time.

You have to at least get some fresh air!! It's not only good for you, but its good for the baby too.

When did you take your newborn out

Dd is 6 weeks old and I just got back from quick trip to grocery store.... I've taken her to quick grocery store outings, her dr, my hematologist, Starbucks, walks, since she was probably 2 weeks old. I need to Goto my dr apps and need to buy food. No way could I stay coopEd up in the house and I needed to get items from store. That being said I didn't go to malls or anything

When did you take your newborn out

DS is 5 weeks and I have taken him only to the pediatrician and my inlaws house. Everyone else has come to our house. Our peditrician said it was okay to take him out for fresh air on nice days but to avoid public places like malls, restaurants etc.until he was at least two months old.

When did you take your newborn out

I'm gonna ask the Ped tomorrow. She will be 3 weeks old around Christmas, so we plan to take her out to family 's house. There's no little kids there though. I'd like. To take her out fairly soon if I can, I'm going nuts here in the house...

When did you take your newborn out

I went to my parents probably after two weeks when I could drive again. I would go for long drives and sit at the beach in my car with coffee and a magazine since I was nervous to take her into public places. At 6-8 weeks I brought her to stores but I usually did my shopping on the weekends when my husband was home.

Re: When did you take your newborn out

I distinctly remember taking dd out at 5 days old to the supermarket... You just have to make sure no one touches them... She was wrapped up in her stroller safe from harm... I think your ped is a bit over the top regarding the 4 months

Re: When did you take your newborn out

As soon as I felt up to going out.

Re: When did you take your newborn out

I think four months is really excessive. My ped never said anything like that. I took my boys out in public after two or three weeks. Just keep a blanket over the carrier to avoid germs and people touching. avoid anyone who is sick or may have been exposed to an illness.

Re: When did you take your newborn out

With my kids, we took them out for walks right away. At 8 weeks after the first round of shots, we took them out to public places like restaurants.

Re: When did you take your newborn out

I had both boys out right away.. I just made sure they were covered in their carrier/stroller and went wherever I had to go. I can't imagine having waited 4 months. Talk about contributing to some PP baby blues!!

Re: When did you take your newborn out

We've been at the store and at day care within a week to 2 weeks. Every time in the infant carrier, covered by a blanket so no germs and I wash the blanket as soon as we get home!

When did you take your newborn out

Thank you all for your responses. I initially posted because I thought the 4 month suggestion was excessive, like most of you also think. That would bring us to March! I can't stay prisoner in my home until then! I will take some of your suggestions to keep the germs away from LO. But, I need to get out of the house more often!! I've been home for about a month and haven't really taken her out except for walks. I will stay away from very public places like malls and such. Also, I decided we are going to go to the holiday g2g at my relatives. On that note, I'm going out for a walk with LO now. THANKS AGAIN for all the input.

Re: When did you take your newborn out

DS is a December baby -- we had him out at 2 weeks old for Christmas, but just kept him away from mostly everyone... We had a really mild winter, though, so every nice day we had, I bundled him up and we went for walks

When did you take your newborn out

I ask the Ped today. She said take her anywhere, no need to stay cooped up inside and they have plenty of antibodies from being in our bodies. Just make sure anyone who touches her uses hand sanitizer. We went to the store right after. I still can't drive but as soon as I can I'll start taking her some places...

Re: When did you take your newborn out

We went to BRU after her 1st Dr's appt at 5 days old and never looked back.

Re: When did you take your newborn out

I have never heard of waiting 4 months to take a baby out....Some parents have to go back to work when the baby is only 6 weeks! What do those people do then????
I took my boys out when they were 1 month.

Re: When did you take your newborn out

Re: When did you take your newborn out

We took DD out at around 3 weeks. Mostly just to MIL's house. We were very careful who she was around, but I had to get out of the house.

Re: When did you take your newborn out

We started taking them out at 7 .5 weeks. We dont go out much. They stay in their stroller an I dont let people get too close. Luckliy, no one has needed to be slapped yet for getting to close. At home, I dont offer them up for people to hold either. If they do, they cant kiss or talk close to the babies. People have tried and have been told to stop.

We limited exposure up til now (2 mo tomorrow). With the holidays we will tell people not to come or we wont go there if anyone has a cold, no kids around them, no passing them around like hot potatos, etc. We have some family who have been trying to come visit but we said we were busy with the holidays and will try to push them off til Jan.

It still isn't fool proof. My mil wanted to come one weekend and I was busy so she didnt. Well she came down with a cold a few days later.

My ped says there isnt any specific time to take them out. When I wanted to take mine to see santa, another poster pointed out that shots dont matter for cold and flu.

When did you take your newborn out

As a FTM 2mos. Next time around, I wont be waiting!

When did you take your newborn out

DD was just born this past Sat, we took her to my folks on Wed. I figured they had been in the hospital with us the entire weekend, so what difference was it going to their house? We're going there tomorrow as well. I won't be bringing her to malls or stores or anything, but I'm not going to stay away from my parents.

Re: When did you take your newborn out

I think 4 months is overly cautious. DS1 was born less than 2 weeks before Christmas. We had family come over on Christmas Eve and then took him to DH's family the next day to celebrate Christmas. We didn't go to too many public places before 7 weeks. DS2 was born in July. We were out and about shortly after he was born and even attended an OOS wedding when he was 5 weeks old.