is it ok to bring along my 3-month old baby to a shopping mall?

Question

If yes, what are some safety precautions? Tips from other moms, please. Thank you.

Answer 1

I think It is great to get baby out asap. Unless its just not safe (weather etc..) I was always told that you need to expose baby asap to everday things--(air,people, stores etc..) so that their immune system builds up--I knew a few people whos parents kept them inside for their first 6 months and now they are allergic to everything under the sun! It may be a myth but I think we went to walmart on way home from hospital w/ our kids, and I know we took son to zoo when he wasnt even a week old--and my kids have been extremely healthy(except from common colds)--one of the people I know who keeps her boy inside he is allergic to everything and is ALWAYS sick (ear infections etc..) HOPE THIS HELPED

Answer 2

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Answer 3

If you have a combo car seat/stroller it is much easier to take baby where ever you are going. Babies need to be exposed to germs. Kids that are allowed to play in the dirt are actually healthier than kids that are kept too clean. Do NOT turn your back on the stroller for a minute. If you need to use the bathroom take the stroller with you into the handicap stall. Actually the person above is misinformed. Yes, it is RSV season, but babies that are already immune repressed are at a greater risk for RSV. With a healthy baby they will just get a normal cold. They do have vaccines for RSV. My son was almost 3 months early and got the vaccine for RSV as he came home from the hospital a month before RSV season and he only got 1 small cold and he was exposed to a lot of people.

Answer 4

Of course it is!!!! The more enviroments, people, germs you exspose your baby to the better. Pack a diaper bag, take a stroller along, and have some fun.I have a 4 month old, @ 10 days she went camping(in a trailer), @ 2 weeks she had a three hour road trip, @ 3 months she went to lake louise and watched mom snowboard, and @ 4 months she saw her first hockey game. Dont get trapped in your own house get out there and get your sanity back!!

Answer 5

Yes, just don't over do it. Keep baby in the stroller or snuggli/babybjorn thing. It's actually kind of nice to go out with a new one because the sleep mostly and don't ask for things.
For hygiene's sake don't let people touch your little one. Babies are giant people magnets and just like a pregnant belly, some people think they have some weird right to touch. I'd often put my little girls in the bjorn and drape a receiving blanket over the top of their head (they'd be facing in) and tuck it into the sides. Keeps the light out of their eyes as well.
I had cabin fever and wanted to get out too, just keep it short. All the sound and lights are a lot for a little one.
Have fun!

Answer 6

Since the baby should have the vaccines by now I think there is no problem in taking him/her to the mall. ... unless of course the baby is a premie and then you should be extra careful.

Here are some tips:

1. Depending on your baby's weight, decide if you will shop mere comfortably carrying the baby in a snuggli/baby bjorn or in the stroller. Keep in mind if the stores that you plan to visit have enough space for the stroller. Remember also that by taking the stroller with you, you wont have to carry your baby bag, since it will fit under it. I personally prefer to carry my son in the stroller... He can sit up or I can put him down to sleep if he wants to and I dont have to carry my bag.

2. Take food enough... Calculate how many hours you plan to be out, and take MORE milk/food than what you need. You never know if he gets hungry more than you expect or if you are out more than what you thought you would be. This will assure you peace of mind to shop calmly.

3. Prepare a good diaper bag and dress him/her comfortably for the weather. If you think it will be cold, always put socks on him/her and take a blanket with you. If it will be hot, dress him on light clothes and take socks and blaky in your bag just in case. Take extra shirts for him/her in case of a spit up. Also remember to take with you bibs and burping cloths, enough diapers and wipes, diaper cream, pacifier, toy, teething tablets if he is teething and baby tylenol just in case. If he is taking any medicine, take it with you.

3. VERY IMPORTANT : keep the baby at your sight at ALL times. Even if it sounds rude, if a stranger asks if he can carry the baby say "No, you can look at him from the stroller" Never turn your back from the baby. Also find a good parking spot, and it doesnt necesarily have to be close to the entrance. I mean one with enough space to open the car door to put back the car seat and where is not too isolated. Believe me, you'll know when you've found one.

4. Feed the baby when is time to to avoid "crankyness"

Well, I hope this helps... and belive me, as you continue to go out with your baby, you'll know exactly what to do ... ;-)

Enjoy your shopping with your baby! !

Answer 7

Absolutely. Just remember you will have to take breaks now and then to feed etc. There are usually nice changing areas and some malls have nursing mother areas, which is a nice convenience. Take your own stroller, don't rent one. It's hard to say how often the rentals are cleaned or how well. You may want to also take a back pack or front baby carrier. Have fun.

Answer 8

You haven't gone to the mall with your baby yet? Why are you locking yourself in the house?

Safety precautions? Umm none!

Just take some diapers, wipes, a blanket (or two) and a carrier or stroller and go already! (Oh and food I guess if you are formula feeding) Though if you forget something you can always buy more ;-)

Answer 9

I'm a grandma, does that count? My 15-month old granddaughter and her parents live with us and we care for her quite a bit. I choose not to take her shopping in malls. The reasons:

1. Crowds=germs, both in the window-less washrooms and in the mall itself. Sneezing and hacking coughs and heaven knows what else airborne bacteria is flying all over the place. Some of it might be eliminated by the vast miasma of chemicals that the mall management uses (something like the chlorine used in a public pool-- you probably don't want to know what the downside to these chemicals is-- if the bugs don't get your baby, the chemicals might).

2. No fresh air and sunshine in our local mall.

3. Mall food court food is junk and I don't need to take a break and eat it, let alone the baby with her delicate and wonderful little breast-fed digestive system.

4. I'm not keen on starting the whole consumer rat race while she is still a little mousie-- she'll get sucked in by all the marketing soon enough!

5. I'm into Peace in 2007 and I frankly don't find our local Mall to be a very peaceful or uplifting place. Adding an overstimulated, maybe tired and hungry baby to the mix is just not my idea of spending a quiet afternoon with the child.

I can think of other reasons NOT TO take her to the Mall, but am hard-pressed to think of why I would. In our community we have a really pretty little downtown where you can just stroll and windowshop if that is what you were planning to do at the Mall. I doubt that I would even do that with the baby.

I suggest you hire a sitter and go by yourself. Just my opinion.

All the best!

Answer 10

you can take your baby pretty much anywhere you go . its easy if you have a car seat to transport the baby in and one that snaps to a stroller so all you do is snap it from car to stroller and off you go . always keep the baby in your eyes sight when shopping and try to have the feeding out of the Way bring a change of clothes and a bottle and a pacifier and your good to go .good luck and dont worry the baby will be fine i have six kids and i took them all shopping with me when they were little