Do you take your LOs out much?

Hi All,
Do you take your babies out much? I have had lot of help from family so I have not had to take the twins out much since they were born in June. When the weather was nice I would walk the babies in their stroller regularly but have not gone to many public places with them for fear of them getting sick (especially now with the flu and colds that are going around). I would like to start getting out with them more but have to be honest and say that I am nervous about germs. I am planning on bringing them to an indoor type of play area this week with a friend, but am feeling concerned about it since they are putting everything in their mouths. I realize it is good for the LOs to get them out and I want to start doing things with them...

Does anyone out there feel similar to me? Are there things I can do when I go to the indoor play area to keep things as sanitized as possible? Other thoughts on this?

 

First I must say that I am NOT a germaphobe, never have been. I'm always the one who says we NEED some germs to build natural immunities (and I stand by that). BUT...my peeps are a month older than you and I feel the same way. I'm pretty leery about taking them into all-out germfests like public playzones right now. They're under 1yr old and it's prime flu season. ugh. Colds, ok. But flu worries me some. After we get out of the flu season and they are a little older, then I say bring on the germs (well, not really), but I won't be quite so paranoid. For now, though, I choose to err on the side of caution.

In fact, I pulled my oldest son out of his PT daycare in the fall when I found out they had kids with H1N1 and pinkeye (among other things, I'm sure) and the parents were insistent on bringing their sick kids anyway. I'm waiting for a couple more months until I enroll him in preschool. I don't "need" him to be in daycare or preschool - it's just for the socialization - so I figure why push our luck? Once we get thru the 1st year I'll breathe a little easier.

Anyway, aside from hosing them down w/ sanitizer after the playzone, I'm not sure what else you can do. It's not like you can keep them from putting stuff in their mouths at this age. :unknw:

Good luck!!!

Eve

 

We take the kids out to public places (malls, restaurants,..) ever since they were 3 months old. However, I keep anti-bacterial wet wipes to wipe them the face or hand if any stranger cuddle them.

I wouldn't take them to any indoor play area or public playzone though for fear of germs and viruses.

Good luck.

 

personallly, i think they need to be exposed to the germs...it's the oversanitizing everything that has made the bugs as powerful as they are now...small amounts of germs really help your body do what it needs to in order to stay healthy..that said, no i don't take the babies out a lot...that's because 1) i don't go out a lot and 2) when i do go out, it's with the older kids or i go alone and leave everyone home with my hubby...honestly, if my almost 4 year old were better about being out and about i'd probably take them all with me more often...he's more of a hassle than all the others together

 

when thy were younger i took them out a lot, i had more flexibility in their schedule. now, especially when we re-start the solids, it's soooo hard because the window of opportunity is small. if i take them out right after a feed and the miss a nap they get very cranky and if they get off schedule they get very cranky...it's frustrating b/c the baby group that i wanted to go to for 6-12 months at the local hospital meets at 12:30pm - their feeding time. i would just feed them at group but they are difficult feeders that take an hour to feed.

 

We are out and about every moment possible and have been since 5 months old. We do it ALL. I'm not afraid of ANYTHING! I'm not afraid of germs cuz I know they're good for my kids. I know that they are what make you healthy and they are NOT bad for you.. They cannot be avoided forever. It's not like if you don't go to the playland today you won't get it. You know what i mean? You'll just catch it tomorrow from the neighbor.. It's just such a futile battle. It's just SOOO much easier to accept and embrace it that it is what it is and go with the flo.

Kids get sick, it's what they do.. It's a pay now or pay later deal.

Anyway, YES. We are not afraid. We do play areas everywhere. We live in MN so 8 mos out of the year we are INDOORS. We do indoor parks, mall play areas, all the gross stuff!

We get colds often, very often but you know what? We're just knocking them off- one by one- cuz they have to get them sometime and they will- it's now or in 2 mos, but they will eventually catch them all.

Germs are good for you and I agree with what someone said above. We have created "superbugs" by oversanitizing and panicking about this stuff!!

Relax and enjoy playing. You might get sick but it's okay! It's a natural part of life.

 

I never used to be a germaphobe, but now definitely am ever since my two arrived in June. It's drives my husband crazy!! :crazy:

When we do leave the house we use lots of hand sanitizer for us, and wipe down the babies' faces and hands with wipes often.

Mine aren't mobile or really interested in play areas, so I don't have much advice there...

I have found travel size Target brand Lysol spray that I use for changing tables when we're out. It's the perfect size to keep in the diaper bag and makes me at least feel a little safer when putting the babies on surfaces such as those... You can just spray it and let it dry or wipe dry with a paper towel! Works great and doesn't smell.

 

I'm probably not a good one to answer since I've been taking my girls out since they were two weeks old I have a degree in Microbiology and honestly, it makes me less worried about germs. Kids need to be exposed to build up their immune system. If your girls don't have any underlying medical conditions- it's okay to take them places that can be a little "germy" and it's probably good for them. I did the same with my two year old and she's a happy, healthy little girl.

 

We have taken ours out quite a bit. If they are in germy areas or touching something that probably isn't the cleanest we will wipe there hands down afterwards so that if they do put thier hands on their mouth it isn't bad. The only place we have not taken them with us and it was on the advice of the Rn was the ER to check on my father in law while he was being admitted to the hospital. I try to keep a balance. I don't let them purposely put stuff in their mouths that would be nasty or germy but on the other hand i am not being overly protective either.

 

I've never been one to keep my kids home because of germs. We have always just gone & done what we wanted and just made sure to wash hands after. Exposure to germs is necessary to build a strong immune system. Now, that doesn't mean I would purposely expose my kids to illnesses, I take normal precautions, but I try not to stress about it & I don't keep them in the house.

 

Ditto this, minus the degree in microbiology!

My oldest ds was born at 36 wks, came home from the NICU at 37 wks, and we went to mcd's for lunch on the way home from the hospital. Went for groceries and church the next week.

My oldest dd was born at 39 wks, came home 2 days later, went to walmart the next day because she was so big she didn't fit any of the newborn sleepers I had, I had to go buy bigger clothes/diapers for her.

Twins were born at 36 wks, came home 2 days later, had them in the dr office, and the hospital for lab work that same week, and out for groceries the following week.

I don't push my children into hugging someone with a cold, or kissing someone who's sneezing, but I don't worry too much about germs either. All my kids were born fairly big, and very healthy, and haven't had any major illnesses for me to be concerned about!