Our child was born a few days ago and he just came home yesterday. Now, my girlfriend wants to take him out with us to go shop for furnite. My mom told me that she should not have the baby out in the public yet because the baby can be exposed to alot of things. Is this true? Is it ok for the baby to go with us shopping? Please someone give me the right answer
2006-09-11 10:11:24 · 28 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
The right answer? Not sure there is one. There is nothing wrong with bringing the baby out this soon but why would she want to?
It isn't about exposure to germs - it's about rest. Both of their bodies need to recover from childbirth even if she just gives it a few days.
Encourage her to rest a bit. Show her the benefits of that by cooking the meals for a few days and rubbing her feet. Take care of the baby while she sleeps or showers.
2006-09-11 10:37:07 · answer #1 · answered by AlongthePemi 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You can take the baby anywhere you would like. My husband and I took the baby out to the park to get fresh air and see what the outdoors is like, she was so alert for a while then would go right back to sleep. Then we went shopping for about 2 hours at wal-mart just buying baby stuff we had a great time! This was when she was 1 day old I mind you. Bring one diaper for every hour you are gone, if you formula feed, prepare a bottle of warm water but dont mix the formula in yet, wait til the baby is ready to be fed. Congrats on new baby and have fun with him! It's so warm and beautiful!
As far as germs go, they are everywhere, just dress him warm and make sure when you do take him out, don't put him in the breeze, other than that you don't have much to worry. My son is now 6 and I have a 3 month old and if they think I'm gonna be indoors in the summertime, they are smokin something funny.
2006-09-11 17:28:56 · answer #2 · answered by Tammy 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Right now, he *should* be safe to go to the mall or grocery store or what have you. Just make sure he's covered completely (either use the sun shade on the stroller or drape a light blanket over the handle of the stroller [this is assuming he has the infant car seat that clips into the stroller and the carseat base. If that's what you have, leave the carrying handle of the seat up and drape a lightweight blanket over the handle...sort of like a tent.]). Do NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT let ANYONE peek at him, or touch him in any way. Don't even let them get close to his face to look at him. You never know what germs anyone is carrying around with them or where their hands have been. Try to keep him from loud or bright places because the noise and brightness may startle him, then you'll have a very unhappy baby on your hands. Everything is so new to him now--for the last nine months he's been somewhere warm and damp and quiet, and all of a sudden everything is very bright and loud, and it's a shock to the system.
My older son was born in March (end of flu season) and his pediatrician said don't take him anywhere public for six weeks. If a newborn gets something as simple as a cold, it can turn to RSV and potentially kill him. My younger son was born in July, and his pediatrician said we could take him out as soon as we wanted to. We actually stopped at Target on the way home from the hospital for formula. We kept him covered thoroughly and he was fine.
If your girlfriend is getting antsy and wants to get out of the house, tell him to take him for a nice walk in the park. Fresh air never hurt anyone. :) Plus, it's great exercise for her (just tell her not to overdo it). Many women are on a hormonal high right after birth and think they can rule the world, but labor (even if it was an "easy" one) takes a HUGE toll on a woman's body, and if she overdoes it, she'll regret it later.
Good luck, and congrats on your baby!
2006-09-11 22:34:13 · answer #3 · answered by brevejunkie 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There's an old saying "You'll eat a peck of dirt before you'll die".
Children are at no risk from mixing with other people. That is how immunity is built up. Of course, the little one may get a cold, but that is all part of life. It will be the first of maybe 80 it will catch in it's lifetime. Too much cleanliness and sterility can be as bad for you as too little.
Obviously, if your town is in the middle of some raging epidemic, then stay at home, but otherwise, get out there.
When I was younger, I was trailed around various cousin's and friend's houses, and used to stay overnight, just so I could have the pleasure of catching things like measles, mumps and chicken pox. What fun.
2006-09-11 17:50:26 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Do not jeopardize your babie's health, many people will tell you it is ok but IT IS NOT, your baby needs his shots first, and believe babies do go through a tough fight when they are born, they have to get used to the outside world. Now a days there are all kinds of things out there that makes us sick all the allergies we get, if you give your baby sometime to adjust to the every day germs then they can start building up their immune system but do not take the baby out right now and expose them to the Monster!! the germs in your house will start the process.
Stay inside there will be more time for shopping, wait at least a month.
2006-09-11 17:56:14 · answer #5 · answered by Lilly 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Congratulations on your new baby!
One of the reason why post-partum depression is so high in our society is that we coop up new mothers to make them "rest" and to protect new babies from germs.
If your girlfriend feels up to getting out of the house it will not hurt your baby. Keep the baby close like in a front baby carrier or a sling and don't let strangers touch her. She'll be fine. Have fun shopping.
2006-09-11 19:04:30 · answer #6 · answered by herdoula 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's ok to take the abby out shopping as long as you dress them appropriately. Face it, germs are everywhere; and you can't keep the baby locked up in the house. It's good for both the baby and your sanity to get out and do something. Dree the baby warm, make sure he/she is wearing a hat and don't let a bunch of strangers up in the baby's face and you'll be fine.
Go out and have fun.
2006-09-11 17:20:51 · answer #7 · answered by makeitclap23 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is best for the baby and the mother to stay home and rest!
Even though the mother may be feeling great, if she tries to do a big shopping trip she will soon tire and regret trying to do too much so soon! Her body is still healing from a major event! She is more vulnerable to infection and illness at this time.
The new baby is very vulnerable, the immune system is still developing. The body is still adjusting to life outside the womb. Strangers always seem drawn to new babies, and want to get right in their faces and touch. You don't know what kind of germs they might be carrying.
There will be plenty of time for shopping trips later, when the momma's body is fully recovered, and the baby is older and stronger. The furniture stores are not going anywhere.
2006-09-11 17:18:14 · answer #8 · answered by Kathryn A 3 · 1⤊ 3⤋
When i delivered my now 14mth old the pediatrician at the hospital told us to keep at home as much as possible.He said not to take the baby to the mall,church or other public places for a few months.There immune system is not built up enough to be around all of the germs.They can get very sick.It is highly recommende to keep babies away from other people & public places for a while.Listen to your mom.Most of the time she is probably right.
2006-09-11 17:21:54 · answer #9 · answered by hotmama 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I would wait a week or so, but I am sure there are plenty of people who need to leave the house with the baby, that's life. What are supposed to do go stir crazy in the house with a newborn for a month, no way!
2006-09-11 17:45:41 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋