If you baby is younger than 1

[Anonymous]

Baby just turned one and has been a lot of places - daycare during the week, regular trips to stores, church, restaurants. When reasonably possible, we make an effort to stay outside (e.g. opting for an outdoor table at a restaurant or DH holding the baby if one of us runs into a store) but we don't go crazy in trying to avoid people. I just regret that we haven't been on an airplane yet.

Babies learn so much being out in the world, even in these daily tasks. I just cant imagine keeping her holed up within the confines of our property.

[Anonymous]

Full disclaimer; I don't reside in the DC area. Discovered this site about 10 years ago and enjoy it. Completely understand there are differences in local laws, COL, etc so I respect that.

That being said, I'm a Texan (in Houston area; by the way, despite the governor opening everything and dropping the mask mandate, most people - at least where I go- as well as businesses still wear and enforce masks, so it didn't turn into a free for all as I sort of expected.) Have three kids ages 10/5/2 years old. We we have local grandparents and siblings on both sides that we've seen throughout this time. The older two kids attend a fairy small private school and wear masks everyday, as well as in their TKD class. I don't and will absolutely not make the 2 year old wear a mask. That's pretty unusual here and unnecessary to me. She stays home with me. I take all three to the park often and no masks. Other public areas like zoo where it's enforced or that are indoors, like the grocery store, retail stores, restaurants, etc absolutely, I, dh and older two wear masks, even in the very few places we've gone where not enforced. Stopped ordering curbside or delivery 6+ months ago and do take 2 year old with me when grocery shopping and running other errands, probably 2-4 indoor public spots a week.
I've been fully vaccinated since February and dh is getting his second dose next week. I know we're in a Pandemic and we're more lax than many on this forum understandably, due to location being a huge factor, but it's been almost 14 months and unless one or all of us got COVID and were completely asymptomatic, we've been fine this whole time. I doubt taking your little ones to a few public places is really going to be huge in getting infected. I was very stressed out and anxious those first few months about our family being safe and we heavily debated about whether older two should go back to in person classes in August, but I'm glad we made the choices we did - that have been available to us; I know in DC and other areas, in person isn't an option depending on location - or I could see myself in a deep depression with this Pandemic.

[Anonymous]

Yes all the time. He’s a little older, 18 months, but that meant he was only 6 months when Covid started. I kept him out of indoor places for like 3 months or so? But when things started to open back up there he was again. I’m a SAHM and my husband is an essential worker in national security, in person a lot, and it’s literally impossible for me to arrange child care for my 2 kids (also have a 5 year old who of course wears a mask) for, like, a trip to Target or the post office.

[Anonymous]

My soon to be 2 year old was home with me for the first year of her life, then Covid hit and we were quarrantined.

My mom just got vaccinated and wanted to go to the mall so we let her take the toddler. We put her in the stroller with a plastic cover and my mom took her in. She kept saying hi to everyone, clapping loudly, waving at people. Apparently she caused quite a stir with the 70-year old mall walkers.

I'm sharing this because I think it's important for them to see other people. How you do it is up to your comfort level but allowing your children to physically see other human beings does wonders.

[Anonymous]

Yikes. Just over the year mark. 13 months

In the beginning no no place but we travel for work (LO has been to 5 states so far) so around the 10 months mark we ventured out a lot more. - we’ve been to stores, target, outdoor play grounds, children’s museums, Barnes and noble outdoor restaurants, Starbucks, parks, zoos, gardens, etc

[Anonymous]

Yes. Twins are almost 2 and they have been inside many stores. No symptoms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Aside from our backyard my 13 month old has never left our property. In fact, she only has been in the car once - on the way home from the hospital. We really didn’t need that infant carrier.

This is abuse. Why can’t your child go for a stroller walk...somewhere?

We sit in the backyard and play. We live in a high density area. I don’t feel comfortable with the number of people out. And really, abuse? That’s a stretch.

Abuse is a stretch, but you aren't being fair to your child. There is plenty you could do while still being safe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Aside from our backyard my 13 month old has never left our property. In fact, she only has been in the car once - on the way home from the hospital. We really didn’t need that infant carrier.

This is abuse. Why can’t your child go for a stroller walk...somewhere?

The English language is really getting watered down these days. Everything is abusive or violent. It’s disrespectful to victims of actual abuse or violence. Ibmean PP is a bit much but she’s not abusive.

[Anonymous]

What in the hell? Yes I’m taking my baby to the grocery store.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m shocked that you’re all bringing babies indoors right now.

I mean I wouldn’t bring a tiny newborn inside but I just took my ten month old on vacation to Florida. The plane, the airport, the rental car place, the grocery store while there. She was amazed. Made me realize how little we had taken her out. She actually got covid from daycare a couple of months ago so I wasn’t worried at all about the travel. She had no symptoms by the way and was only tested because another parent fell slightly ill. My brain knows 500,000 people have died but where are they? The dozens of people I know who got it had no symptoms or were like not that sick at all. Weird.

[Anonymous]

Risk tolerance is a spectrum. My 8 month old has been in daycare since October. His class shut down once due to a COVID case discovered at school through routine testing but there was no further spread. He has occasionally been to the grocery store and hardware store for quick in and out trips, where everyone is masked. I’ve been doing a lot more grocery store delivery. I get irritated at crowded grocery stores in general so the good part of covid is that grocery store delivery doesn’t feel so overindulgent.

He loves going to the playground in our neighborhood where the kids and adults are all masked.

I’m vaccinated so if I’m going to invest a babysitter, it’s to get a haircut or to have lunch with a friend and not talk about kids, not to go to a grocery store.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m shocked that you’re all bringing babies indoors right now.

I mean I wouldn’t bring a tiny newborn inside but I just took my ten month old on vacation to Florida. The plane, the airport, the rental car place, the grocery store while there. She was amazed. Made me realize how little we had taken her out. She actually got covid from daycare a couple of months ago so I wasn’t worried at all about the travel. She had no symptoms by the way and was only tested because another parent fell slightly ill. My brain knows 500,000 people have died but where are they? The dozens of people I know who got it had no symptoms or were like not that sick at all. Weird.

Just because you don't know anyone doesn't mean it's not real. My MIL was asymptomatic, my FIL was hospitalized for a month and has permanent lung and kidney damage. My friend's dad died.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m shocked that you’re all bringing babies indoors right now.

I mean I wouldn’t bring a tiny newborn inside but I just took my ten month old on vacation to Florida. The plane, the airport, the rental car place, the grocery store while there. She was amazed. Made me realize how little we had taken her out. She actually got covid from daycare a couple of months ago so I wasn’t worried at all about the travel. She had no symptoms by the way and was only tested because another parent fell slightly ill. My brain knows 500,000 people have died but where are they? The dozens of people I know who got it had no symptoms or were like not that sick at all. Weird.

Just because you don't know anyone doesn't mean it's not real. My MIL was asymptomatic, my FIL was hospitalized for a month and has permanent lung and kidney damage. My friend's dad died.

Yes, my brain knows it’s real but if I’m being honest my hearts not in it anymore. I’m ready to just get back to normal kids included and whatever happens happens. I’m not alone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m shocked that you’re all bringing babies indoors right now.

I mean I wouldn’t bring a tiny newborn inside but I just took my ten month old on vacation to Florida. The plane, the airport, the rental car place, the grocery store while there. She was amazed. Made me realize how little we had taken her out. She actually got covid from daycare a couple of months ago so I wasn’t worried at all about the travel. She had no symptoms by the way and was only tested because another parent fell slightly ill. My brain knows 500,000 people have died but where are they? The dozens of people I know who got it had no symptoms or were like not that sick at all. Weird.

Just because you don't know anyone doesn't mean it's not real. My MIL was asymptomatic, my FIL was hospitalized for a month and has permanent lung and kidney damage. My friend's dad died.

Yes, my brain knows it’s real but if I’m being honest my hearts not in it anymore. I’m ready to just get back to normal kids included and whatever happens happens. I’m not alone.

I get that but we're so close with vaccinations but cases are spiking in Florida and Michigan because people aren't hanging on. We're basically those videos of bicyclists celebrating before thr finish line and then wiping out. The reality is, yeah, if I get it I'll probably fine but I'd become a vector that could pass it on to someone who wouldn't be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Aside from our backyard my 13 month old has never left our property. In fact, she only has been in the car once - on the way home from the hospital. We really didn’t need that infant carrier.

This is stupid. What is wrong with you???

Terrible, terrible, terrible parenting.


Your poor kid, being born into a prison.