How old was your baby when you took him out in public?

Question

My dr. Recrommended when he is 6-8 weeks old only because he will have his vaccines by 8 weeks, but did you take your newborn baby out in public sooner then that?
I know its flu season and its only 3 more weeks until my baby is 2 months to get his shots...but sometimes i want to go to the store with my husband and babay, and not leave them here and visa versa...

its never cold here i live in AZ, and no one would come up to our baby and try to touch it becasue me and my boyfriend are tattooed head to toe, so people get intimidated by us... plus im 6ft, and my bf is 6'5...so everyone thinks were scary and were not..but if thats the reason we shouldnt take him out because people try to touch him, i think were safe!

Answer 1

Lol, I think you're fine. Just keep him clothed and wearing a lightweight hat if it's warm enough. I live in PA and my daughter was born Dec. 14th last year and we took her to her paternal grandmothers for a week for christmas. And because I let my boyfriend navigate, the three hour car ride became 7 1/2. Lol, she was only 10 days old and she was fine. She didn't get sick until her first ear infection at 4 months old. And she hasn't been sick since, cept she's got croup at the moment and she's 10 mo. old now, so she's doing just fine. And as for strangers not approaching, good luck. My boyfriend is 7 ft and 450+ lbs with tatoos and piercings and I'm almost 6 ft myself, and all sorts of people stop to talk to my daughter. People can't resist, lol. Good luck!

Answer 2

We were told 6 weeks by our pediatrician as well. It's not just the touching, there are also many germs in the air from people coughing and breathing everywhere. Especially church, the grocery store (or any public shopping areas) as the poster above said.

We did keep our older child, our daughter, home for the first 6 weeks. She's extemely healthy.

When we had our son, we lived 40 miles away from even the grocery store, so we did take him out early, even his first week. He's been stuffy already, but not extremely sick.

If you can at all handle staying home, for example if one parent can stay home with your baby, I'd definitely recommend it. I don't think it has anything to do with vaccines, either. I'm not worried about someone with polio being around my baby, I'm worried about someone with the flu, a cold, etc.

But if you really have to go out with your baby, then you'll "probably" be fine. You yourself mentioned it's flu season. Why expose your baby to that, if you don't HAVE to? You'll have plenty of chances to go out as a family in the future.

Answer 3

Church and the grocery store are the most germ infested places. If you do take your baby to the store, bring some disinfecting wipe and wipe down the cart anywhere you will touch, anywhere the car seat will touch. Use your own car seat to hold your baby and keep baby covered with a blanket. You will be fine. Many people take their babies out at just a couple days old.

Answer 4

The problem with taking a baby to a store is that everyone wants to touch the baby. This is not good for a young infant because of their immature immune system. If you have waited this long, it couldn't hurt to wait another 3 weeks just to be safe.
I have twins, and I waited until they were about a month old before I took them out. And everything I feared came true. Everyone wanted to touch them, and people will actually let their little kids try to put their dirty fingers in a babies mouth! Beware if you take your baby out.... people are crazy.

Answer 5

I'd think you'll be safe, just be aware of letting people touch him, and wash your hands a lot, maybe take along hand sanitizer if you are gonna be touching carts. However there are a few places I would avoid, like the Zoo, schools, hospitals if you can, and anywhere near people who may not have been immunized (like Amish) they can carry diseases or germs that could be harmful to your little one, but the majority of the public is immunized, so you are pretty safe :)

Answer 6

That's crazy! All three of my baby girls were about 2-3 days old when I took the out for the first time. Just about all my friends did the same thing...a few days or a week at the most. Unless it's real cold were you leave? I cant imagine why else your doc would say that...

Answer 7

I took my baby out at 3 weeks. After i was fine and got use to being a new mom. Just when you go out think of everything and make sure you have extra of everything, you never know what may happen. Don't let stranger handle him. People love to touch a newborn but just tell them he has not had his shots. And don't let children around. I had one little girl come up to him and try to play i just told her he is to little to play and caint be touched right now and her mom made her stand back. You can say stuff nicely and people should respect it. Don't take him out at night uless you got to cuz thats when its cooler. at least were i live (mississippi). Its not as bad as it may seem i was nervous the first couple times and even got rude comments about having him out being so little but you got to ignore those people. Just try going to places you know is clean, has a bathroom with a changing table (but make sure you bring a lil mat and wipes to put on it) And if you bottle feed at room temp then its easy specially if you use powder just make it when you need it. If its cold and you need to heat it a lil go to a rest or subway and ask for a 1/2 cup of hot water so you can heat your babys bottle. I learned quick cuz the first time i went out i was so nervous and not organized and didn't know how to heat a bottle on the go cuz my bottle warmer didnt work. and my baby is almost 2months and is healthy. You caint protect them always and there goin to get sick eventually. Cuz i know how you feel i cried when my hubby was going to grocery shoppin and i thought i couldn't go cuz the baby and all but he said he wanted me to come and that he didn't see a problem in it which made me feel better. got any questions email me and always follow your gut instinct.

Answer 8

I live in AZ too! I actually took mine out sooner. If I had to go to the store we went. They were like a week but my pediatrician never told me to keep them in. My kids are both really halthy and rarely got sick and were like 4 mos before they got sick the first time with like a little cold.

Answer 9

Your doctor actually expects you to stay at home for two months! If there is something wrong with your baby, such as a weakened immune system, I can understand that. Otherwise, that's just plain crazy! I took each of my children out within days of their births and they are all just fine. Go ahead and live your life. It's perfectly safe for baby.

Answer 10

Wow that's along time to keep your baby inside for.. My son was 3 days old and so was my daughter, who the hell is your Dr as that's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard, take him out it will do him good and you.