Would you still go out

We never go anywhere, and I've just gotten used to it. I really don't care too much. A couple weeks ago we were invited to a dinner for Sat night. My mom agreed to babysit for us. I think this will be our 3rd time out since the babies, so I was looking forward to it. On Wednesday my mom told me she was getting a cold and wondered if I would still be ok with her babysitting. I'm still the germaphobe who freaks when sick kids are around (or just kids in general, not even sick), and I cringe when adults pick them up and play with them without washing their hands when they come in. So this is a situation I would normally say no to. But then I feel like I'm being overprotective and I need to take my kids out of the bubble sometimes too. Plus, I know if I explained why I can't go to everyone, they'd probably think I was being a little weird too. I know, it shouldn't matter what anyone else thinks when it comes to my kids' health.

She said she is feeling a little better today, but is congested because it's in her head. I doubt she'd be miraculously better by tomorrow. But wasn't sure if she's past the point of super-contagiousness if she washes her hands and doesn't kiss them. Anyway, I just wondered what others would do.

 

Well, I'm a germaphobe, too, so my instincts say CANCEL YOUR PLANS!!! I would avoid a cold at all costs. At the very least it sucks for everyone in the family b/c it makes the rounds to everyone eventually - at worst it could be RSV or something evil like that. (I have a friend whose two year old full-termer landed in the hospital with RSV.)

It's hard to be steadfast in the face of outside pressure and judgment, but I've always taken the attitude that most people are probably going to think I'm crazy for some of my parenting choices anyway. And I'm at peace with that.

 

Honestly, if it were ME, I'd still go out. Some germs are good for babies, and I know that my mother would not purposely make her grandchildren sick, and so if she knew she has somewhat of a cold, she'd be careful to wash hands and all those precautions.

I don't know, I tend not to be a super fanatic and a laid back mom, it seems...but I would still go. *shrugs*

 

I would go. I've never really been much of a germophope and I tend to shrug off things like colds. A stomach bug, OTOH, would be a different story.

 

Dh had a really bad cold this week... and I had one three weeks ago... the babies never showed any sign of a cold except a bit of coughing. IMO it's not a bad thing for them to be exposed to germs anyway... so I'd go. I'd just ask her not to kiss them and to wash her hands before holding them.

 

Well, if it's on the tail end of the cold, or past the first couple of days, people tend to be less contagious. I think it boils down to your comfort level. I don't think anyone would think you were weird at all for wanting to cancel out :hug:. Some of my friends are very protective about their kids. GL deciding.

 

QUOTE(Schmoopy @ Jan 9 2009, 12:03 PM) [snapback]1139807[/snapback]
Well, I'm a germaphobe, too, so my instincts say CANCEL YOUR PLANS!!! I would avoid a cold at all costs. At the very least it sucks for everyone in the family b/c it makes the rounds to everyone eventually - at worst it could be RSV or something evil like that. (I have a friend whose two year old full-termer landed in the hospital with RSV.)

It's hard to be steadfast in the face of outside pressure and judgment, but I've always taken the attitude that most people are probably going to think I'm crazy for some of my parenting choices anyway. And I'm at peace with that.


I know what you mean. Mine have had two back to back colds a month ago and it turned into an ear infection requiring 2 rounds of antibiotics for my son. maybe it IS because i'm a germaphobe though and they're not getting exposed to enough things? I think my husband must have brought it home because he pretty much has a constant cold all winter, being a teacher. I wondered about the RSV too, though. But thought if it was more of a chest cold then it might be RSV, but since it's a head cold it's probably not? I know, not worth the risk though. So my instinct was no, stay home. But then I thought about others with kids in childcare and they can't/don't control everyone they're exposed to, so maybe I was being too overprotective. So I wondered what others think in a situation like this.

And then we are supposed to celebrate my birthday on Sunday with family, so my mom would be there too. So do I cancel that too? No big deal to me, but I feel like it would be letting everyone else down. Sometimes I think I worry too much about thing others probably don't give thought to at all.

 

I would go. I'm sure she's past the contagious phase and if she washes her hands, all should be fine. :unknw:

 

I would go - you can't keep them in a bubble - kids are going to colds - you can not shelter them from this. It is not healthy for them or you. Go enjoy yourself and don't cancel your bday on Sunday -

 

I used to be a crazy woman about protecting my kids from illness. But after MONTHS of isolation, I'm not that picky anymore. Kids get colds - now or later. Eventually they're going to catch them. I'd go out and let your mom watch the kids if she's feeling up to it.

 

I don't know about Sunday - I'd wait and see if your mom feels any better. Maybe you could just ask her not to hold the babies and to wash/Purell her hands often during her visit.

By the way, I totally relate to the part where you said:
QUOTE(DeniseT @ Jan 9 2009, 11:12 AM) [snapback]1139821[/snapback]
Sometimes I think I worry too much about thing others probably don't give thought to at all.


I feel exactly the same way! That's why I said others probably think I'm crazy in some ways, but that's ok with me. I'd rather be crazy than sorry, ya know?

 

ok i shudder when people tell me they have a cold just because i shrugged if off and my Ds got it and past it to the girls who didnt eat/sleep for weeks! that said ill tell you what my ped told me : colds are good for babies to get it strengthens thier immune system and are training thier bodies to fight them--if they are getting alot of colds it means thier bodies are working just the way it suppose too

 

Two weeks ago I would have said go ahead and go, but now I am taking care of my babies who have contracted RSV and hoping and praying they don't have to be admitted to the hospital, so now I say, if you question it, you should probably stay home.

Good luck with your decision, I understand your situation. It's so hard when you want a break so bad!

 

I'd still go.

 

Personally I wouldn't do it. My mother came here during the holidays and gave my daughter and I a bad cold. My daughter is 11 months old and this was her first cold. It was nasty. She had a high fever at first which was scary and then for days she suffered with a stuffy nose and very noisy breathing when she slept. I had to suck the mucous out of her nose with a nasal aspirator about 3 times a day. I knew exactly how she felt because I had the same cold.
I don't know if it's worth the risk.

 

I don't think I would go. I have cancelled several events because I didn't want the babies to get sick. It is awful for them to be all stuffed up and sick. I think anyone would understand that and not think you were crazy. My mil came over once when she had a cold and brought those masks that they make you wear in the hospital if you have a cough and she washed her hands constantly. There is no way your mother wouldn't be holding on to the babies and playing with them. I think when someone who lives in the same house has a cold the babies still get sick, but you are kind of used to eachothers germs. Mine get sick if their other brothers brings something home from school but not usually if it is something DH or I get. Maybe you could go out next weekend, it is just not worth making the babies (and you) miserable for a couple of weeks to have a night out jmo. GL with your decision. Whatever you do will be the right choice for your family.

Jen

 

as long as your mom is feeling up to it I would still go - my mom's been watching mine since they were 3 mos old when I went back to work - she's more apt to get sick from them (and they tend to get sick from the environment) then they from her...right now we're ALL passing around a cold - my Christmas party for work is tomorrow night and its the one night a year I can get dressed up and look like a real adult - and I'm going - come hell or high snow...

I find that the kids shake off colds easier than I do as an adult...

 

I would cancel without a second thought. First, I wouldn't want my babies exposed to the bug - they get enough on their own they really don't need any help. I also wouldn't want to put my mom in the position of taking care of and chasing my children around when she didn't feel good just so I could go out. And dinners come and go all the time. Why not see if you can't get people together another time in a couple of weeks when everyone is healthy and up to the task? Or is there someone else who could baby sit? I was shocked to at how many people volunteered to baby sit (for free!) when we had a sitter back out at the last minute and were going to cancel some plans. And while I wasn't sure about leaving just anyone alone with both babies at the same time we found two people who were willing to both come over so no one would be outnumbered and they wouldn't have to figure out how to feed both babies at the same time. It worked out great.

 

Given that your babysitter is your mother, I would absolutely go if shes feeling up to watching them.
If it had been a non-family member babysitter I wouldnt but ITS YOUR MOTHER!!! She did her best to take care of you and Im sure she'll take care of the grandkids even more now that she has experience

GL in whatever you decide!

 

No Way, i would rather stay home that have to suffer two sick babies......

 

Because she's toward the end of the cold, she's probably feeling better than she did a few days ago and the odds of her passing it to your babies isn't that great. If she's feeling up to it, let her watch them. And I certainly wouldn't cancel plans for your birthday! If your babies were 2mos old, I might say otherwise but they are older now and more able to fight things off. Just ask your mom to wash her hands often while she's at your house (when she first gets there and anytime she touches her face!), to wipe the babies hands with a wipe or wash them in the sink if they touch her mouth/nose/eyes and to lay a blanket or burp cloth between the babies head and her clothes when she's holding them. That should keep them very well protected while you get to go out and have fun and grandma gets to spend time with her grandbabies.

 

After I talked to my mom this morning and heard how congested she still sounded, I decided I would stay home and have my husband make an appearance for us (and of course bring me back some dinner!). But the weather is so bad here, they've decided to reschedule anyway.

Thanks for your advice!