How to Manage Visits with Newborn During Cold and Flu Season?

[Anonymous]

Probably some new mom paranoia here, but I'm wondering how long (if at all) people waited before having friends come on over to meet their newborn. I'm especially concerned about friends with children who are in day care and exposed to a whole lot of cold/flu germs this time of year. (By the way, this is not a slam on day care -- we're planning to go that route with our little one when he's a bit older.)

Bottom line: Should we wait a few more weeks? Should we ask people to use hand sanitizer before holding the baby or letting their children touch the baby? Or should we just relax and trust our friends' judgment that they would not come over or bring their children if anyone is coming down with something? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

You're not kooky at all. We bought pumps of hand sanitizer and placed them on the tables and told people to use it before touching the baby. Don't ask them, tell them to use it. We also asked that people not bring sick children or come over if they weren't feeling well. You'd be amazed how understanding people are with a newborn. No one wants to be the one to get the tiny new baby sick.

[Anonymous]

It's very much a personal call. We had people over right away (our daughter was born last flu season), and just trusted that they wouldn't come/bring their kids if they had even the slightest sign of the sniffles. We kept (still do) a big bottle of Purell by our front door and my husband was the enforcer (because he's so nice)--everyone purelled (it will soon be a verb to you) upon entry. We didn't have any problems. As a side note...my husband got a bad case of flu when our daughter was 5 weeks and neither I nor she caught it. So, if it eases your mind at all, know that just because they have been exposed to something doesn't mean they will necessarily get sick. Congratulations!

[Anonymous]

We ask everyone to use hand sanitizer or wash hands before holding the baby. Actually the moms with kids have asked whether it was okay to bring them. Some pediatricians actually advise keeping newborns away from other children for the first two months. We invite the kids too with the caveats that they are feeling well and that the kids don't touch the baby (the other mom's ideas).

[Anonymous]

I think it's absolutely valid. My DD was born last December. I would have had friends and their kids over, but it was the holiday season so most people weren't around (or just ran in on their own to meet her without their kids). However, if it makes you feel any better, my older child was in day care part time--and remained in day care on his normal schedule--while I was home on maternity leave. He brought home every germ in the book, and there really is no way to keep those germs out of the house/away from the baby. In fact, he had a stomach bug the first night I was home from the hospital. That was the only time I was completely ridiculous with the purell (I always USE it, but for that first week or so, I was using it nonstop). After that, I was more relaxed, DD didn't get her first cold until she was 3 months old, despite exposure to all those germs.

[Anonymous]

Completely ok to be paranoid- my full term baby son got RSV from his sister- even though we isolated them- he was hospitalized for 7 days at FFX. He's now 2 months old and fortunately got at least one dose of the rotavirus- but we take precautions! and yes- everyone washes their hands before holding the baby!

[Anonymous]

My 2 week old daughter got a virus, fever and ended up hospitalized and having a spinal tap to rule out menengitis. . . all because some visitor brought a virus in. One friend (the dad) handled this by saying "would you like to wash your hands and hold the baby?" I thought this was a great way of dealing with it.

[Anonymous]

I would provide nice hand soap and lotion and paper towel near by...either kitchen or bathroom area.

And say "do you mind? sorry blah blah..."...and no body in their right mind would...and usually very happy to

[Anonymous]

I agree that you should ask people nicely to wash their hands/use purell. No one who wants to hold the baby is going to refuse. Its not neccessary to TELL them. When I visit someone with a new baby, I usually nip it in the bud by making a point to immediately wash my hands when I arrive. I don't want my friend to feel uncomfortable having to ask me!

[Anonymous]

My son was born in Jan. I told everyone they could come over after he was 6 weeks old. I did not feel I needed to explain. Only one "friend" did not grant my wish and showed up with her very snotty little boy. I did not let them in. After 6 weeks, I let healthy people come over and they had to wash their hands or use hand gel. I still keep hand gel near my door. I may sound over the top, but I did not want my little one getting sick at such a young age. It sucks when your little ones get sick and if you can prevent it, do it. Congrats on your baby.

[Anonymous]

Protect your child- my daughter also got a virus (RSV)- a cold for adults- very serious for infants. It's so hard to keep a virus like RSV out of the house but you can minimize the amount of contact by requiring people to wash their hands- don't let sick /sneezy people etc. get near the area of your child. When you have a child that had oxygen, IVs for fluids due to dehydration- you stop thinking you're paranoid. You are the mother and in charge of your child's health- you can put your foot down. I remember one friend laughing when I said can you wash your hands- and 1/2 an hour later when her husband came to see our daughter he went directly to the sink to wash his hands before holding her. So- someone who has no clue will eventually get a clue- if not through your teachings.

best

[Anonymous]

Our pediatrician also recommended that we not permit visiting children to hold the baby, just in case. After washing hands, they can touch the baby's feet or legs. My three-month old wound up in the hospital for four days with a cold due to dehydration from having difficulty feeding with congestion. So even if it isn't RSV, you really want to avoid your baby getting a cold as best you can. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Just so you're not scared, our 3-month-old DS is getting over his second cold (the first was at 8 weeks). Luckily, he didn't get a fever with either cold, so he didn't have to be hospitalized. (I believe the American Academy of Pediatrics says that children under a certain age (3-4 mos?) with a fever over a certain level (101.4?) may have to be hospitalized to be on the safe side.)

As for treating DS's congestion, saline nose drops have worked wonders (but of course, check with your doc first before trying anything).

As an aside, it wasn't outsiders who got him sick both times -- it was DH who works too much and is overtired from having a newborn. The second time around, we were super diligent about DH washing his hands all the time and staying away from the baby, but no luck. The good news is that everyone is doing better.

Good luck to you, and congrats on your impending bundle of joy!