Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But in past years (pre-covid) did newborn/young baby parents really not visit other moms? Not go out to eat? Avoid all shopping and only receive deliveries? All to avoid RSV and flu?

I pissed off my SIL because I wouldn't take my 4 week old to Easter dinner. Then her germy daycare kid came down with an ear infection. That kid had a permanent runny nose and cough for two years after she started daycare.

I don't really care what other people do, but having my neonate admitted to the NICU with a virus is an experience I'd rather skip. If a mom feels like she needs the socialization to feel human I'm not going to s**t on her. I do raise an eyebrow at people who have time off but send their kids to daycare, I don't get that, but it is not my problem to deal with.

You don't get socialization for kids, alone time for a parent?

Anonymous wrote:When I had my winter baby prior to Covid the baby was pretty much a hermit till it’s two month shots. I did take the baby out for walks of course.

I had a Dec 2018 baby. We were on walks around the block at a week, farmers market at 2 weeks, and doing mom groups by 3 weeks.
Saved my sanity, gave me the confidence I needed, and I made great friends.

Anonymous wrote:As always, take the advice you get here with a grain of salt. Prior to COVID, winter newborns definitely attended moms groups in person. It hasn’t always been this way.

My pediatrician never suggested keeping our three year old out of preschool last year when her brother was born.

+1. My mom is a pediatric nurse and the old advice was no LARGE groups (Thanksgiving dinner with 40 people, church service, shopping mall) and no actively sick people.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m sorry OP. Take consolation in the fact that you don’t have an exposure vector out of your control! My older child is in K and I’m terrified of what she’ll bring home to her 4wo brother…

Your kid does not need to be in K.

Um yes, she does.

As always, take the advice you get here with a grain of salt. Prior to COVID, winter newborns definitely attended moms groups in person. It hasn’t always been this way.

My pediatrician never suggested keeping our three year old out of preschool last year when her brother was born.

Anonymous wrote:I’m sorry OP. Take consolation in the fact that you don’t have an exposure vector out of your control! My older child is in K and I’m terrified of what she’ll bring home to her 4wo brother…

Your kid does not need to be in K.

Anonymous wrote:But in past years (pre-covid) did newborn/young baby parents really not visit other moms? Not go out to eat? Avoid all shopping and only receive deliveries? All to avoid RSV and flu?

I pissed off my SIL because I wouldn't take my 4 week old to Easter dinner. Then her germy daycare kid came down with an ear infection. That kid had a permanent runny nose and cough for two years after she started daycare.

I don't really care what other people do, but having my neonate admitted to the NICU with a virus is an experience I'd rather skip. If a mom feels like she needs the socialization to feel human I'm not going to s**t on her. I do raise an eyebrow at people who have time off but send their kids to daycare, I don't get that, but it is not my problem to deal with.

Winter babies are always tough, OP. Please hang tough right now and protect your newborn as much as possible.

My second baby was an April baby and that was HEAVEN!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But in past years (pre-covid) did newborn/young baby parents really not visit other moms? Not go out to eat? Avoid all shopping and only receive deliveries? All to avoid RSV and flu?

Yes. I am always shocked when I see fresh babies out and about. It's weird.

Yes and no. I think RSV is contagious in a different way than COVID (not as contagious through breathing), so you wouldn't be passing your baby around to people without clean hands or who were sick. But maybe you'd have a baby tucked up against your chest as you shopped at Target or got a coffee. You could have them out and about in a car seat, but some strangers feel entitled to touch your baby. My baby was a fall baby, and most moms I knew were very aware it was flu season and got annoyed if strangers tried to touch the baby.

I personally struggled with the newborn days, so I think I barely went anywhere with the baby. It just wasn't a net benefit to my life to do so, it was overwhelming, I was incredibly sleep deprived. But I know others feel differently, and there are ways to stay safe and still meet whatever need you are needing to meet.

Suck it up, OP. I was pregnant at the beginning of Covid prevaccine with a high risk pregnancy and an older kid with asthma and have had to be careful the entire pandemic. I haven’t eaten in a restaurant for 2 years, or been on a plane, or socialized indoors with anyone save a handful of vaxxed family and friends. You need to protect your baby and get creative with outdoor events (baby wear for a hike or outdoor coffee) and virtual activities. Some of us have been doing this stuff for a lot longer, you don’t just throw in the towel. You do what you need to to protect your kids cause it’s not about you anymore.

I’m sorry OP. Take consolation in the fact that you don’t have an exposure vector out of your control! My older child is in K and I’m terrified of what she’ll bring home to her 4wo brother…

Anonymous wrote:But in past years (pre-covid) did newborn/young baby parents really not visit other moms? Not go out to eat? Avoid all shopping and only receive deliveries? All to avoid RSV and flu?

Yes. I am always shocked when I see fresh babies out and about. It's weird.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But in past years (pre-covid) did newborn/young baby parents really not visit other moms? Not go out to eat? Avoid all shopping and only receive deliveries? All to avoid RSV and flu?

No, aside from a few hypochondriacs. I think all of them visit this board so you’ll get skewed answers.

When I had my winter baby prior to Covid the baby was pretty much a hermit till it’s two month shots. I did take the baby out for walks of course.

Anonymous wrote:But in past years (pre-covid) did newborn/young baby parents really not visit other moms? Not go out to eat? Avoid all shopping and only receive deliveries? All to avoid RSV and flu?

No, aside from a few hypochondriacs. I think all of them visit this board so you’ll get skewed answers.