Faraway ILs, newborn, and germs

[Anonymous]

We are expecting and MIL hopes to meet the baby soon after birth (she would NOT stay at our house). She unfortunately lives a 5-hour flight away, and I'm very concerned about her unknowingly catching something on the long travel day over and baby catching it. For anyone with parents similar distance, how did/would you handle? Is saying she can come but only see baby after a 5-day quarantine reasonable?

[Anonymous]

Not even close to reasonable. However it is a great way to ruin your relationship with your MIL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not even close to reasonable. However it is a great way to ruin your relationship with your MIL.

Super helpful to provide zero alternative suggestion.

[Anonymous]

A mask, updated vaccines, and washing her hands and changing her shirt when she came in would be the outer limits of what I think you can ask.

[Anonymous]

My parents live in Europe and came to visit a couple of weeks after the birth of our kids. They were diligent about washing their hands, and gargling (they're smokers, and agreed to not smoke inside). In this day and age, I'd also ask your parents to wear a mask on the plane and in the airport, and to be up to date on Covid and flu shots.

[Anonymous]

Mask, N95 would be even better, good hand hygiene, and a shower and changing clothes before holding baby.

[Anonymous]

Honestly after staying in the hospital, you’ll be the most likely transmitter of sickness. Get your baby Betfortus for RSV and get your vaccinations and call it a day. There are far too many other things you’ll be stressed and worried about. (If your baby has any issues that would be different.)

[Anonymous]

Yes, all guests arriving by plane we required a 5 day quarantine. We did pay for their accommodations during that time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, all guests arriving by plane we required a 5 day quarantine. We did pay for their accommodations during that time.

And what year was this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are expecting and MIL hopes to meet the baby soon after birth (she would NOT stay at our house). She unfortunately lives a 5-hour flight away, and I'm very concerned about her unknowingly catching something on the long travel day over and baby catching it. For anyone with parents similar distance, how did/would you handle? Is saying she can come but only see baby after a 5-day quarantine reasonable?

What’s with the parenthetical? Is it something you are proud of? Seems bizarre to me.

[Anonymous]

Oh good lord…unless your baby is a micro preemie, please remember that second and third and fourth children exist, with germs older siblings in school. Quarantine in 2024 is ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Before covid, all we asked was that people were not sick and washed their hands before touching the baby, and not to kiss the baby's face. This was all reasonable and normal. During the height of covid, in 2020-2021, of course things were different. But now, things are back to how they were. You could ask your MIL to take a covid test prior to coming over if you are worried about covid. But the other stuff- colds/ flu/ rsv- they are the same now as they were in 2019, and the same general precautions as listed above are fine. No sick visitors. Everyone washes their hands. No one kisses the baby's face.

[Anonymous]

Up on vaccines, and washing her hands are what you can ask. Maybe mask while holding the baby if baby is a premie or there’s a massive RSV spike or something. planes are actually less risky than other indoor crowded spaces.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Before covid, all we asked was that people were not sick and washed their hands before touching the baby, and not to kiss the baby's face. This was all reasonable and normal. During the height of covid, in 2020-2021, of course things were different. But now, things are back to how they were. You could ask your MIL to take a covid test prior to coming over if you are worried about covid. But the other stuff- colds/ flu/ rsv- they are the same now as they were in 2019, and the same general precautions as listed above are fine. No sick visitors. Everyone washes their hands. No one kisses the baby's face.

From what I’ve seen, people behave much more differently post covid and not in a good way. More people than ever get on flights visibly very sick and proceed to cough all over their seat mates because “freedom”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Before covid, all we asked was that people were not sick and washed their hands before touching the baby, and not to kiss the baby's face. This was all reasonable and normal. During the height of covid, in 2020-2021, of course things were different. But now, things are back to how they were. You could ask your MIL to take a covid test prior to coming over if you are worried about covid. But the other stuff- colds/ flu/ rsv- they are the same now as they were in 2019, and the same general precautions as listed above are fine. No sick visitors. Everyone washes their hands. No one kisses the baby's face.

This.