Re: When would you first take your NB/infant to places like children's museums, aquariums, Dutch Wonderland, etc?

I would take them. Once the weather is nicer and you will be outside you should be fine. I took my dd who was born last March out and all over due to the nice weather and we had no issues at all...If you are inside and uncomfortable keep her in her baby carrier in the stroller with the double cover on and no one can see in.

Re: When would you first take your NB/infant to places like children's museums, aquariums, Dutch Wonderland, etc?

I laugh when I see the respones that all they do is eat and sleep at that age(actually I don't laugh, I want to cry)
All my DD did at that age was SCREAM. And cry.
And SCREAM
She was born in June so it wasn't even so much germs that I was worried about- it wasn't cold or flu season or anything- just more that I couldn't handle the screaming in public.
I'd get a panic attack just taking her to the grocery store.
It was an extremely overwhelming time for me- and not relaxing at all.
I couldn't picture being out in public places with her screaming her head off.
Not a good time.

But of course, every baby is different and if she was an easier newborn who just "ate and slept" like they are supposed to at that age- I might have felt more adventurous.

Re: When would you first take your NB/infant to places like children's museums, aquariums, Dutch Wonderland, etc?

We took DS#2 away on vacation to Woodloch Pines at 5 weeks old...

I mostly wore him in the sling, or kept him in the carrier in the snap and go with the bug net around it (it was summer)- No one could get close enough to him to touch/breath on him...

DS#1 I kept inside until after he got his shots, but that wasnt an option with #2- he was EBF and I couldnt keep DS#1 inside all summer long!

If it wasnt winter/"flu" season- then yes- I would take my LO with me!

ETA- Your older one will bring back any germs with them anyway- so IMO; if your baby is a "good" baby- go for it!

Message edited 4/8/2011 9:08:51 AM.

Re: When would you first take your NB/infant to places like children's museums, aquariums, Dutch Wonderland, etc?

Sean was an April baby, and this guy will be May - I took (and will take) them out right away ........IMO being outside in the fresh air in the spring/summer is totally different from being in a crowded, hot, mall or store or museum during cold/flu season when it comes to being nervous about the baby catching something ..........

Re: When would you first take your NB/infant to places like children's museums, aquariums, Dutch Wonderland, etc?

I took my DD out after she was about a month old. Not many places because it was February but I didnt want to keep her stuck in doors all the time. I had her in the stroller covered so its not like people were coming up to her and touching her, I was still very protective. She was going to be in daycare at 8 weeks old so she was going to be exposed to kids and germs at that time so I figured i would gradually expose her to things before she was thrown into them all at once. If it was summer time I would probably had had her out right away.