Should I take my newborn to Thanksgiving gatherings? We are having our baby about an hour away from our friends and family, and I am due about two weeks before thanksgiving. No one will really get to see our baby in the hospital, but we don’t want to expose him to so many germs from so many people at thanksgiving. I do not want to miss the holidays, but we are in the midst of RSV and flu season. I feel if we did take him, I would be a nervous wreck about people touching him and getting in his face. Am I overreacting? Should we consider going for a short time?
I’d go for a short time. But that’s just me
Make.sure to.have people.wash their hands
I had my daughter Five days before Christmas I really had no choice but to have her around a bunch of people just make everybody wash their hands and obviously people should know if they are sick to stay away
Lysol your whole family then go
I had my baby in October last year and our families are 2-3 hours away. Our pediatrician advised against going to visit for thanksgiving and we stayed home. I’d rather be safe than sorry, but that’s just me.
Go for short time make them wash hands tell them no kissing,being around some germs helps build the immune system
I wouldn’t that early
Go for a short time and keep hand sanitizer on you for everyone to use before they touch baby and NO kisses
You are the mom so what you say goes. Personally, I’d go and wear baby in a carrier, that way you avoid people in baby’s face and any sort of anxiety baby might have being around a ton of people. If it gets uncomfortable, then you step in another room with the “baby needs to feed excuse”. If that doesn’t work, then you leave.
If it were me I would take him at least for a little while. Just make sure you bring hand sanitizer and remind people to use it often! And ask that they keep the touching to a minimum😊
I wont be. We aren’t planning on Thanksgiving and my husband might take the older kids to immediate family for Christmas but baby and I will still be staying in.
Wash hands A LOT and I wouldn’t let them kiss the baby at all.
I would go. Just have everyone wash their hands . No kissing.
Buy hospital masks and anyone who feels sick wear one have someone go in and pass them out before you and baby go, bring hand sanitizer for everyone too.
Also don’t feel afraid to tell people not to get in babies face or kiss baby.
Wear your baby, then you have more control over who is able to get too close
Carry hand sanitizer if anyone wants to touch baby use that and request no kissing baby
Thieves. Hand sanitizer.
I had my first daughter on 11/21/17 and that was 2 days before thanksgiving that year. We went to the family gathering (also 1 hr away from our house) and she didn’t get sick BUT there is always the chance it can happen. You can help prevent the spread of germs by carrying a container of hand sanitizer and having people wash their hands and use it before holding baby. Also try to have them not breath directly in baby’s face. I have a one month old girl now and I’m also worried for this time of year again.
Our baby will be 3 weeks old and we are taking him to thanksgiving but no one will be able to hold him or anything
I would set ground rules. Wash your hands well, use hand sanitizer, dont kiss baby, and if they’re sick no holding baby.
Not suppose to go out around people till 6 weeks till immunity is developed. Better to be safe,newborns and elderly are at the highest risk.Not worth it
Wear your baby and make sure everyone washes hands and no kisses… I had my daughter out around ppl when she was only like a week old and she’s fine. Just limit touching for now until she’s a little older
I have my daughter 1 1/2 weeks before Christmas, she sleep most of the day so that help to keep her away from people lol
You just have to use a baby carrier, that help to keep people a little bit away for your newborn.
I wouldn’t myself but it’s your decision
I had my daughter 10 days before Xmas. I didn’t let anyone hold her except my husband and mother. And every one kept some distance from her. But at least go and have some fun.
It’s really up to you and what’s less stressful for you. You could always require everyone to wash their hands and don’t kiss the baby. And warn them the first person that kisses baby will result in you guys leaving early. Newborns being out (around family and close friends) is good for them. At a month old my son was with me at everyone’s house for family gatherings, we took a trip to the desert. Just be really strict with what you want and it’ll be a good day for you guys.
When I had my daughter the day we got out of the hospital was mothers day and the family was going out for lunch. We took her to meet the family at the restaurant. She didnt get sick or anything. It’s all up to you but I have always been the mom who exposes there kid to jerms and let’s there kid eat dirt so it can build there immune system. My daughter is now 4 and has been sick maybe 2-3 times. I’m now 8.5 months pregnant and due right b4 x-mas and I will be taking my daughter to x-mas. It’s all up to u mama and what you feel comfortable with. I’m also the oldest of 4 kids me being 30 and the youngest is 13 so I’m kinda old school raising my kids.
I have always brought my babies everywhere right away. I refuse to keep them in a bubble.
With all the colds and rsv going around I would not take the baby better to be safe than sorry people should understand your decision
It’s completely your decision, but in my opinion, that is way too early. If your family is anything like mine, it will be loud, crowded and just so much going on. I had a severe play of emotions after birth, and i surely hope you don’t, but just try to keep that in mind when making plans so close to delivery. Not only for baby but for you as everyone handles post partum differently. Best of luck
Babies need germs to build up immunity. Just wash hands and no kisses.
Its up to you entirely, but for me, I would try to stay cloe to home
I would go. just make sure everyone washes their hands before they hold your baby and make sure no one kisses him or her!
Do what your mama instincts tell you.
I had my kids at walmart like 2 days after birth…My son is an early October bday and I took him to thanksgiving dinners. Sanitizer and no kissing the baby and its all good.
I took my 1wk old to Thanksgiving and then at 6wks to Christmas just make sure everyone washs hands and this will be the hardest NO Kissing on near mouth.
Also in between Thanksgiving and Christmas we took him to the mall shopping.
I have a sister in law that had her little one a few days before Christmas a few years back. She wore her the entire time besides feeding and changing. I feel like if you’re uncomfortable and worried about germs, wear that baby and no one can touch. your baby, your rules.
You’re not supposed to take your baby to gatherings for the 1st 6 weeks.
Take him, just make sure to tell people not to touch him, without washing their hands first. And absolutely no kissing him.
To ease your mind, you can always wear him. Ring slings are great for newborns.
My first was born 5 days after Christmas, our only rule was if you’ve been sick within 2 weeks of his birth, please wait one more week to come see him.
No. Not overreacting at all. Too many people take careless risks and regret it. No, definitely skip it. You may feel left out but it’s better than your baby catching something at such a vulnerable stage and having to deal with and regretting that.
We had family over to our house for Thanksgiving and our son was about a month old. We are hosting Thanksgiving again and our new baby will be less than a month old.
Just make sure they are not sick, wash their hands and NO kissing!!
Personally I’d go for a short time if your even feeling okay enough to go… But I purchased a sign for our carseat that said “stop your germs are too big for me I know I’m hard to resist but please don’t kiss”. But even with that I honestly wouldn’t let anyone hold your newborn I’d just say they can look but no touching or kissing, too many germs too early on for me 🤷 But it is your baby your choice, don’t let anyone make you feel bad about any decision you make regarding the holiday gatherings!
You can always say don’t kiss my baby and wash your hands, I have recently told propone if your sick to please don’t come close to my daughter
Mmm that’s a hard call. It really just depends on the baby at the time. I mean it’s really your call. Depends on what sicknesses has been going around the family and such. I would speak to your doc or a ped you have picked out and get their advice. There isn’t a whole lot they can do for a sick infant. Thanksgiving is a lil close maybe Christmas tho?!
I wouldn’t it’s not worth it .
Just have a rule that no one holds the baby due to flu season.
You can show up early to let grandparents hold the baby then have your LO in a pack n play and/or baby wear
Best way to build a good immune system is to take them out. This is a family gathering. You can still be cautious while letting them see him. Bring hand sanitizer with you.
My daughter ended up going to NICU so we were at the hospital for a week so I had to get groceries on the way home. Shes now almost 6, super healthy, competition dancer etc. He will be fine.
ETA she is a January baby
I kept my son home till his first shots but he was also a preemie
You could ask people to look and not touch. You may get some dirty looks. But the baby health is way more important
You’re still going to be healing. It might be hard, but if you do decide to go, you can not let anybody touch the baby. You don’t have to be rude, especially if the baby is just a couple weeks old. It will actually be normal for you to want to not share him/her with anybody
Nope keep to yourself
We took our baby to Disneyland at 2 weeks old, and even before that she was meeting friends and family. It is more in cold and flu season now so its hard to say.
But our baby goes everywhere, been to couple amusement park, family gatherings, ect that way she has a chance to build immunities up
Make ground rules, when someone holds the baby. Like, no kissing the baby, no holding the baby if you have a cold, stuff like that! If it bothers you that much you can always stay at home and go and visit people one family at a time and just set the same rules
Too many germs going around and a lot of people are carriers. Unfortunately. It’s best to stay home.
Am I the only one that didn’t wait until 6 weeks to bring my kids around people lol heck I went to Walmart right after I came out the hospital lol
My oldest was born November 12th and thanksgiving was 2 weeks later I wore him there. People understand if you don’t want them passed around
Baby will be fine I had a c section last year 2 weeks before Thanksgiving and went to 3 places. We were fine.
My son was born December 13. He attended Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with my family. I just made sure no one touched him. Only me, his father, and my mother were allowed to
Hold
Him. He was fine!!! As long as your not going out like to a restaurant
Last year my daughter was 15 days old on Christmas. I took her to all the family gatherings. My family knew not to touch her hands, face or mouth.
Their immune system isn’t strong yet, I’d stay away until they’re older.
It’s totally up to you. Both of my kids I didnt really take them out till they were 3 months old if they went any where they stayed in the car with me or there dad when we went to the store. Besides doctor appointment
Put baby in the playpen and tell people look but don’t touch
I had my son on the 8th of November. We went to all the family gatherings. We just made sure to ask that if they had been sick to not get close.
If it was you’re 2nd kid you would be out all the time taking the older one to school and other events. Take hand sanitizer and wash hands often.
Personally, I probably wouldn’t. Thankfully my kids were born after flu and RSV season but I was still a little paranoid about it. This is your baby so it’s your choice. Just be cautious.
My 4th was a week old for his 1st Thanksgiving and I took him. He was fine
I had my daughter 4 days before Thanksgiving and i hosted. Then we went black Friday shopping.
My family is usually understanding. Don’t let any kids hold them, bring hand sanatizer with you and face masks incase anybody happens to be sick there. You could ask them nicely to please use one just for a short while until you leave. Announce that no kids are allowed to hold or kiss the baby, tell all the adults you do not want them kissing your child anywhere at all, especially bc some people can have herpes and not know and then ur baby now has face herpes n could die. It’s happened.
But yeah, my cousin had twins and then the next year my sister had twins and everybody was super understanding about keeping their distance since they were so young still. My cousin actually didn’t bring them around for a full 6 months. Maybe skip Thanksgiving and go to Xmas if ur super worried? My family is the way they are about tht stuff bc my cousin has had cancer since she was 6 so there were a few times where we didn’t see her for a couple years cuz her immune system. Just do what u think is best and if anybody gets upset tell them to take a hike cuz it’s your child and you’re the one who has to take care of them when they are sick.
My son was only 10 days old on Christmas and we took him to all the get togethers
My son was due a little over a week before thanksgiving and we were not going to attend due to germs and a lot of people being there.
If you do go, set your boundaries. If they want to hold, go wash up. You can always look! And maybe check with family whos got a cold? Whos feeling under the weather just a bit? Then make ur judgment call.
I had all my kids out the day after they were born one was an October baby one a july baby and the last was a September baby. No one held them or touched them. They atayed in the carseat or I baby wore. They were all fine.
I wouldn’t. It’s not worth the risk
Babies need to be exposed to germs so there ammune system can get strong to fight off germs. If you keep them coped up n the house there ammune system wont get strong. Of course take hand sanitizer for anyone who wants to hold him but nobody should be getting n his face.
Day after I was born my mom took me to walmart and stators when I had my son he was premature I kept him home about a week after he left the hospital then we would go exploring in December he’s perfectly fine
Not thanksgiving but I had my daughter right before Easter. I brought her but I wore her and made it clear I wasn’t handing her over to anyone
Ask your pediatrician - every baby is different - just to be sure… If you are breastfeeding, the colostrum he gets the first day will provide the antibodies he needs to jumpstart his immune system. He should be fine at Thanksgiving. Show him off and be proud.
I took both my daughters to the store 2 days after birth. Eldest was a January baby and youngest a March baby. Their dr even told me it’s good to take baby out and strengthen their immune system, just keep them in the carseat and dont let anyone touch and they’d be fine and they were! Honestly I’d go.
Don’t go , I have put my foot down on family holidays before and just stood in my sweats and bonded with our baby we made our own thanksgiving dinner
Do what makes you comfortable. If you still want to go, just let everyone know you’re not comfortable letting people hold your baby just yet until they have more of an immune system built up. If people are offended, that’s their problem. Always trust your mom instincts and don’t worry about hurting feelings. Your baby is your priority now.
Take germx with you and make everyone use some before they touch the baby. Who cares if someone gets mad its your baby lol
I wouldn’t. Idk how your family is but they’ll prob try to guilt trip you into letting them touch or hold the baby or try to make it seem personal.
There are just as many germs if not more in the Doctors office. I wouldn’t say your over reacting just aks people to wash thier hands if they want to hold him/her. They will understand.
I had my baby on a Monday, left the hospital on Wednesday night, by Saturday morning I was returning newborn diapers I bought on Amazon at Kohl’s with her. She was fine
I wouldn’t go. We spent a week in the hospital with RSV at 2 months old, almost had to be intubated. He was born in September. Ask someone close to bring you leftovers or have a tiny intimate gathering at your house.
If you go, don’t play pass the baby. Wait until he’s 2 months old to expose him to a multitude of people and their germs.
I had my daughter 3 days before thanksgiving and I took her.
If all have been vaccinated and no one is sick… make them scrub and never let them touch babies hands or kiss them…
just watch and make sure anyone near the baby is washing g their hands and stay away from anyone who has a runny nose or coughing
This is a must. Other people to judge you when it is other people that spread the germs touching your baby. #thanksgivinghasfood #go
Lord… I took my daughter to the store the day we were released from the hospital. And I plan on taking my newborn out this year for Thanksgiving. Just make sure people wash their hands and if someone’s coughing or sick fight them off with a can of lysol. It’s not the worst to take them out they need to be out and about to build up immunity.
Also you can keep the baby in the carseat and cover it with a blanket.
The carseat not thw baby lol
If a child is going to get one of the virus going around that’s airborn, pathagin, then he’s going too. It’s in the air, it will ride on clothes all it needs is a sneeze some place and it’s air born
Set the limits .on touching .( Hand washing ) No kissing. No holding. No kids under 12…near the baby. Be clear on why u feel this way. It is flu season.
No. Stay home. There will be other holidays.
Girl, I had my baby November 6th, and literally my husband and I’s whole family was there to see him the first 2 of 3 days I was in the hospital. I just always made sure to tell everyone not to kiss him and to wash their hands! If they do that, your baby will be fine! I also had to go to Walmart the day I got out of the hospital for a few things for the house that we didn’t get from the baby shower. I didn’t have my baby shower til Nov 1st cause of Harvey.
We went to the family reunion on the way home from the hospital Soooo just tell them not to kiss all over the baby.
I would opt out of the first holiday for Christmas yes but only 2 weeks is not enough time. Your child comes first and with flu season and the uncertainties of other Family members health it is not worth the stress. You can always schedule a video chat with family that day but stay home heal and celebrate your healthy baby. Do not feel guilty.
Just follow your gut. You may not even feel up to it yourself. You may feel like staying home and bonding too. CONGRATULATIONS momma! But trust your gut