taking babies out

Our babies will not be getting their shots until Jan. How concerned/"psychotic" should we be about taking them out? We were invited to a neighbors house for dinner..should we avoid taking them? They have not left this house except for a doctor's appt so far and was wondering if we are being too cautious? I don't want to risk their health but also don't want to be the crazy mother either.

 

Our babies will not be getting their shots until Jan. How concerned/"psychotic" should we be about taking them out? We were invited to a neighbors house for dinner..should we avoid taking them? They have not left this house except for a doctor's appt so far and was wondering if we are being too cautious? I don't want to risk their health but also don't want to be the crazy mother either.

 

I think there are alot of factors that dictate where you should take them at this age. We were told to avoid crowded places and places with children before 8 weeks. We've limited exposure to too many people and haven't really gone out except to our parent's houses and only if nobody there has been sick.
Will there be a lot of people at your neighbors house? Do they have children? Has anyone in the house been sick recently?
In any case, don't worry about being a crazy mother. Your babies are very young, there will be lots of time for them to socialize with people when they're bigger. Not everyone will tell you up front if the have a cold or a virus, they may not even know it. Also, don't feel funny about asking if anyone has been sick before they come to visit you either. I would be cautious at this point, especially if there will be a lot of people there or other people with small children.

 

Like previous poster we were told to avoid large crowds of people until 8 weeks. We did however take them to the mall ocassionally and to visit my parents. We were going stir crazy. The doctor said as long as people didn't weren't touching them, we always covered their carriers with a blanket and didn't let anyone see them.

We did avoid children and letting children touch them even when we went to visit with our parents.

 

We took our babies places and they were fine, but I understand that this isn't for everyone. I would talk to your pedi and make the decision you are most comfortable with.

 

I take my girls every where. The day we came home from the hospital we went for a walk and went shopping. My girls are almost 7 months old and love to go out. I felt the more I went places with them the more easy it would be and that rings true in my life. You should do what ever you are more comfortable with. Good luck

 

we took ours everywhere also from the time they were born but they were born in May - low risk of RSV or colds...

also too - they do have some of your antibodies from birth that will help protect them...

 

Even now at 6 months old we dont take the girls out to crowded places or expose them to sick people or children, other than our own. I would feel TERRIBLE if they caught something and ended up in the hospital (i know way too many TRUE horror stories of babies getting sick). Now that it is flu and RSV season you need to be extra cautious. Since your babies are not old enough for immunizations or the flu shot you and dh should probably get your booster shots as well as flu shots. SOme think this is overboard but if you were to end up to be one of teh unfortunate families to have really sick babies or a loss you would be the same way.

Its up to you though, they are your children so you should do what you feel is best. HTH

 

Our girls never left the house until they were 6 months old, they were born in January & RSV season was long gone. I am in no way "psychotic" as a parent, but someones house is better than the grocery or a shopping mall. Of course if there are sick people, don't go. Enjoy yourselves!

 

I have been taking mine out since their first week home. My DS has speech 3x per week in the SLP's office so we certainly couldn't miss 8 weeks of therapy b/c I had new babies. We also went to playgroup, the park, shopping, etc. I don't think it's a big deal if you use common sense. I just didn't let a whole bunch of strangers touch all over them. I think it just depends on your comfort level. Personally, I would go to dinner even if there are other kids at your neighbors house. Just be cautious that they don't get in your babies faces and handle them a lot. Babies are born with some antibodies to help protect them.

 

We took our babies everywhere when they were little. They went to their first outdoor baseball game at 10 days old. They love going places and it keeps us sane. I think you should make sure there is noone sick and if there isn't --- go. You need a life and you need things to look forward to, like going to eat dinenr at a friend's house.

 

We stayed home a lot the first coupl months mostly because we were just so busy tking care of the babies and neither one of them did well in the car. Screamfest would start less than 10 minutes in to any trip we tried to take. Annie is still like this at 6 months.

Anyway, I think common sense should prevail and if you are uncomfortable taking them out then by all means stay home. What sealed it for me was our ped telling us that the protocol for nay baby under 4 months with a fever would be admission ott he hospital, bloodwork and a spinal tap. No way was I willing to risk that so we stayed home. When we did venture out it was during times when I knew stores would be pretty much empty and we always kept strangers and anyone with any symptoms of an illness (even just a cold) from touching them. All relatives were advised to wash their hands first.