Letting other kids around a newborn

With Jack I was super lenient. He was born at the end of June, so any kids that came over really just played outside and had no interest in him.

Now, this baby is going to be born mid October....all of the kids are in school, and I'm not going to lie - all of this media hype about Swine and the regular Flu is starting to get to me.

We have about 16 kids in our family. I think I am going to ask that none of them come around the baby for at least the first month. I don't know if I'm letting the media get the best of me, but I am really very paranoid about all this (which is shocking since I wasn't like this with my first)

Is this totally rude? Will people understand? I feel like alot of the kids in our family always have runny noses and coughs anyway - so I'd rather just wait until the baby is a bit bigger before they come around.

I have been up since 3:37 am thinking about this!

Message edited 10/3/2009 7:48:37 AM.

Re: Letting other kids around a newborn

For me, I wouldn't be able to tell my nieces and nephews that they can't see the baby. I know my SIL's and the kids would get offended and I really don't think it is fair, that is just my opinion.
I also hate to say this, but if anyone is going to bring anything home it is going to be Jack from his class. My nephew is #3 for my SIL and is a Dec. baby. By the time January had hit he had already had his first cold because of what the girls brought home.
Even for us last year, DS didn't get one cold barely a sniffle and it was his first year at school (he was Jack's age). I ended up getting sick sick 3 or 4 times and Danijela was the one that always seemed to have a runny nose or was congested.
Just have everyone wash their hands or use purell. I did ask if the kids were sick and if they were I didn't want them over or we didn't go over there.

Re: Letting other kids around a newborn

I really wasn't as paranoid this time around because I knew that Yael's exposure to Alex was probably the worst. Of course, for the first month, we had a LOT of visitors and I went out a LOT, but I didn't let children touch Yael, though I still let them come visit. After about a month or so, I loosened up.

Yael did get her first cold at 8 weeks - brought home by her big 'sis - and she was just fine

Re: Letting other kids around a newborn

I couldn't do it. DS is a Jan baby and my niece and nephew were there from day1. I have zero problem (even now) telling people "if you're sick, stay home" but I couldn't say don't come at all. Not in my family, they would be highly offended. But it doesn't take much to offend them.

Re: Letting other kids around a newborn

I totally see your point...

But, at the same time, Jack is in nursery now, so he is going to be around other kids and around other kids germs, so you really have exposure right there.

Chris' siblings were 16, 13 and 11 when C3 was born and they came over the morning we got home from the hospital, they all washed hands before they held him and everything was fine (and he was April, so similar weather, etc)

Re: Letting other kids around a newborn

Posted by KateDevine

I totally see your point...

But, at the same time, Jack is in nursery now, so he is going to be around other kids and around other kids germs, so you really have exposure right there.

Chris' siblings were 16, 13 and 11 when C3 was born and they came over the morning we got home from the hospital, they all washed hands before they held him and everything was fine (and he was April, so similar weather, etc)

Message edited 10/3/2009 8:23:16 AM.

Re: Letting other kids around a newborn

Given the season that your DS#2 is being born, I don't think you're wrong *at all* in asking the kids to stay away.

This is THE worst time for getting sick with kids just returning to school and the change of season. I also think there's a BIG difference between your own child being around his little brother, and a slew of other kids. The first is unavoidable, the second is not.

Protect that little baby as much as you can in the first few months!!!

Re: Letting other kids around a newborn

Re: Letting other kids around a newborn

You know that T was born in the winter and we had her around her cousins often. They were all really excited and their parents were so good about having them wash their hands as soon as they came in.
I was always so worried she would get sick, but she was ok. Maybe you can limit them from actually holding the baby. I dont think your request to have the kids stay away for a bit of time in the beginning is all that bad. They would understand and if they dont, he is your kid and your peace of mind is more important.
GL!

Re: Letting other kids around a newborn

Sarah was born in February. I told people before she was born that based on our pediatrician's advice we weren't allowing children around her for 8 weeks. Everyone understood, except for 1 of my aunts. She talked to her son's doctor and when he explained to her that now when an newborn gets a fever they immediately go to the hospital for a spinal tap she was fine with it.

Re: Letting other kids around a newborn

Re: Letting other kids around a newborn

With Lucas I wouldn't let the kids coem too close too often but still after 6 weeks they had the opportunity to hold him and we let them kis him on the head.

I think that with this baby I will do the same BUT I know full well that excludes Lucas...he will have full access to his sibling and I'll just have to try my best to be careful with handwashing and not letting him get too close to the baby's face or hands.


What scared me with Lucas...and will with any other child I have...is that whole spinal tap and hospital stay for high fevers when they are newborns.

Re: Letting other kids around a newborn

I think limiting a newborn's exposure to other children during the first 6 weeks is smart during cold and flu season.

I had DS in December and had two young nephews at the time. THe ped told us to have them come over when it was nap time so they could peek in at the baby in his crib and not get too close. We ended up waiting about 8 weeks for them to meet anyway due to them having colds and stuff.

Maybe you can invite the family over when the baby would be napping and this way they could see the baby but for the most part will be in another room.

Re: Letting other kids around a newborn

DD was born in February and I WAS that nervous/paranoid mommy. My sister was here for a couple of days with my 2 year old nephew, he just didn't come near the baby (he could have cared less about her). My aunt and uncle came over with their 3 kids (age 9 and twins age 7), they were allowed to see the baby, but not touch her. I was okay with that.

Re: Letting other kids around a newborn

My son was born in Oct. I let my nieces and nephews around him, but I was careful about bringing him to places where tons of people would be. In the end he caught a couple of colds from his older brother. It's tough bc they are newborns in the winter.

Re: Letting other kids around a newborn

Just make them wash their hands when they come over. If they have obvious signs of illness then I would think their parents wouldn't bring them around anyway.

Re: Letting other kids around a newborn

My DD was was a November baby and my ped did not want he around any children or in public places until she was 9 weeks....He was def strict but I think it was great and everyone knew teh deal. I plan to do teh same with my next baby who is due in January, esp in light of all the flu/illness going around.

Re: Letting other kids around a newborn

Had you asked me this before I had Caden I would have told you to have them just wash their hands and you'd be fine....

But honestly....

Caden was sick 4 times from 2 months to 6 months b/c of direct contact with the younger of my 2 stepdaughters. She was in school, constantly sick with one ailment or another, and wouldnt listen to me when we told her not to go near the baby....

She would cough into her hand and then pick up his binky and put it back in his mouth...She would sneeze while playing with him and wouldnt cover her mouth...she would do nosey nosey nosey with him while still getting over a cold.

What was a simple cold for her was a lot more serious for Caden.

I know I sound like an orge. But the older the kids are the more aware they are about getting other people sick. Younger children just dont grasp the concept of how close is too close....Also what is sick to some people isnt sick to others. I cant tell you how many times my DH would ask her mother if she had been sick and the mother would say NO. But she'd be at my house coughing that productive cough....It just wouldnt make sense. True she wasnt feverish and she was maybe otherwise fine...but coughing over a baby isnt acceptable in any way shape or form..

I would maybe allow an initial "unveiling" of the new baby. Allow the quick first welcome home visits where the kids arent really holding the baby or anything...and then just explain the situation and why you feel the way that you do.

Re: Letting other kids around a newborn

it is a hard decision to make... to be honest, the odds of another child that young being near #2 will prob be limited.... more because there is no one who comes around who has little ones except me and one friend....


i am actually just as worried about the adults who are either teachers or on the older side... they are just as at risk of carrying these viruses and they tend notto listen at all

Re: Letting other kids around a newborn

Victoria is a July baby and Julianne a June baby. I did not hold back any kids from having contact with either one of them when they came to visit. Different season though altogether so I didn't have the same concerns.

In regards to the swine flu, I too would be very concerned about anyone coming in contact with our family - adult or child. I haven't heard any reports yet of any cases in the area (not to say there aren't yet) but that might be my deciding factorn. When do you plan on taking the baby out of the house for socializing/shopping? If you plan to do that right away - I wouldn't worry about family bringing something in - all it takes is one cough in the supermarket or daycare

Re: Letting other kids around a newborn

Re: Letting other kids around a newborn

when DS was born I let kids come near him but they were not allowed to touch him. I had to be a beotch a couple of times but I don't feel bad about it. I don't let him touch new babies either. now I have anotherone on the way so DS will be all over Him/ her , not much I can do about that! but same rule applies for other kids, no touching!

Re: Letting other kids around a newborn

I let my 13 year old cousin see the baby in the hospital. I have not let any younger kids near DD, though. DH's step-sister has 2 young daughters, 5 and 9 yrs old. I wouldn't go to their house with DD because they've started school. I was right to say no. The next day the younger one got sick.

Re: Letting other kids around a newborn

Hmm I look at it this way with mine - Kaitlyn would probably bring something home from when she goes out. That I can't really control but I CAN control who comes in and out and who else touches the baby. In fact Kaitlyn had a little virus the day that the baby was born - so she stayed at my parents home while I was in the hospital and a day or two after we came home until the ped said she was okay to be around the baby.

My ped reminded me under 8 weeks they get an automatic spinal tap for any fever even a for a cold.

Older kids are easier b.c they won't cough on the baby and will wash their hands - but I wouldn't let young children the first month - esp with the swine flu going around.

Re: Letting other kids around a newborn

Posted by KateDevine

I totally see your point...

But, at the same time, Jack is in nursery now, so he is going to be around other kids and around other kids germs, so you really have exposure right there.

Chris' siblings were 16, 13 and 11 when C3 was born and they came over the morning we got home from the hospital, they all washed hands before they held him and everything was fine (and he was April, so similar weather, etc)

Message edited 10/3/2009 1:40:23 PM.