After how many weeks/months can you take the baby out with you?

Hi ladies
I am due mid august and was wondering when is it ok to leave the house for regular walks with the baby? do you have to wait 2 months or until our baby gets all his/her vaccinations?

Re: After how many weeks/months can you take the baby out with you?

I was taking my baby for walks at 1 week - we didn't bring him anywhere besiides the walks for awhile though.

Re: After how many weeks/months can you take the baby out with you?

We took the baby out for walks right away. He was at an outdoor BBQ at a little over a week old.

The only places my ped told me to steer clear of is malls. You are going to get 100 different responses to this. You have to do what you are comfortable with.

My DS was around other children when he was only days old. I have a ton in my family and there was no way around it - they just knew not to touch him!

August it's still so nice out, I would get out right away!

Re: After how many weeks/months can you take the baby out with you?

This is really a personal decision.

No one ever told us to stay home and DS was born at the very end of April. He was out at 3 days old and in restaurants by 3 weeks.

Re: After how many weeks/months can you take the baby out with you?

We were taking DD out starting the day after we got home from the hospital, but we had no choice as we had to take her for daily blood tests at the hospital. However, if we didn't have to do that, I wasn't comfortable taking her out at all only because she was born in February and it's been so cold! We did venture out shopping this past Weds and Thurs (she'll be 4 weeks tomorrow).

If she had been born in the sping or summer, I wouldn't hesitate to take her out for walks. Trust me when I say if you don't you will start to go stir crazy! Along with my hormones and being so completely overwhelmed as a first time mommy, being stuck in the house definately added to my stress!

Re: After how many weeks/months can you take the baby out with you?

HI Gabbie, no you definitely don't have to wait 2 months; DS was born mid September and we were out walking every day from 2 weeks onward (but he was in the stroller and I made sure no one touched him - I had that brand new mommy CRAZY eye - like touch my kid I'll kill you. Start practicing now!).
The weather will be beautiful that time of year and fresh air is great for them, just try to stay away from large groups of people (I would walk to a small park nearby and sit for an hour or so). My ped was aok with that, he just didn't want the whole world touching the baby- but talk to your pediatrician when you bring baby to his first appointment, he'll guide you!!!

Re: After how many weeks/months can you take the baby out with you?

I had Sydnie Aug 29th. I had a c-section so it was over a week before I felt like walking so I would say we starting walking around 2 weeks old. I did bring her to BRU once around 6 weeks but everywhere else (supermarket, relatives' houses) I avoided it until 10 weeks or so.

Re: After how many weeks/months can you take the baby out with you?

Re: After how many weeks/months can you take the baby out with you?

My older DD was born during a very hot early September. I got home on 9/11/05 and she was in the park...hmmm...9/13?

As for "out," I know for sure my younger DD--also born during warm weather--was at Ground Round at 10 days old (and a Communion party at 12 days)--the same was probably true of her older sister. I just used common sense.

Re: After how many weeks/months can you take the baby out with you?

I started going on walks with DS when he was a week old. I even asked the ped about this and he said the fresh air is good for him and not to worry about taking him out. He said to be careful when taking him out to public places though. I took DS out when he was about 2.5 weeks old and I made sure nobody touched him or got too close.

Message edited 3/1/2009 8:50:10 AM.

Re: After how many weeks/months can you take the baby out with you?

DS was born the beginning of july. we went for a walk with him every day starting the day he came home from the hospital. we just waited until it was cooler in the evening or early morning so it wasn't that hot.

personally, i don't see why you can't take a baby for a walk. people won't be all over him, which is the main worry.

i also had him at restaurants and stores from the first week.

Re: After how many weeks/months can you take the baby out with you?

I was out for walks with the baby within a week of coming home - I would have gone out sooner with her b.c I was too uncomfortable from my section to walk more than a few blocks. I didn't bring her to stores for a few weeks per my ped - but walks are just fine from the beginning - as long as people on the street won't be touching the baby. I had a June baby - and will have an early June/late May one this time.

Re: After how many weeks/months can you take the baby out with you?

DD was born in the end of sept...we didn't take her too many places but would go to bj's with her (we think thats why she still loves it there and asks to go ), my birthday was tyen days after her and dh and i wound up taking her to tanger in riverhead so i could get some nursing bras and feel human....i think the concern is them getting sick, esp. with rsv....but my theory is that if you have other kids its still the same thing...we all have germs....

Re: After how many weeks/months can you take the baby out with you?

I waited 6 weeks until DS had his first round of shots.

Re: After how many weeks/months can you take the baby out with you?

I agree, it is a personal decision.

DS was born in December, and his pediatrician told us to avoid really crowded places with him until he got his shots at 8 weeks. It actually wasn't hard IMO, I had a slow recovery from delivering and was pretty tired the first 4 weeks or so, and after that I just went to quieter stores or went on off hours. Since it was the height of cold/flu season, I decided to listen, but I think you can do a bit more in August.

I did take him for walks pretty quikcly though, I think after a week. Just bundled him up and covered his stroller, and he was fine. The summer might be hard if it's really hot, but you can go out early in the day.

Re: After how many weeks/months can you take the baby out with you?

My first one was out at 5 days and my 2nd one we took out to dinner at 2 weeks.

Re: After how many weeks/months can you take the baby out with you?

I took her for walks the day after I got home from the hospital...she was in her first store at 4 days old