Out and About with Baby

The old "custom" was not to take the baby out until the baptism.(6 weeks) With that said. once I was able to get out and about I was with my kids. On the way home from the hospital, we went to Target to get a few needed things with my son. With my daughter the day after I got out we were at my husbands work. I am not a germaphobe and my kids are not sick all the time. Life is good.

you are doing nothing wrong.

how weird! i was right there with you. after a few days for ME to recover, we did everything we usually did. with my first, i was back to work when he was 5 weeks old.
but i don't recall anyone commenting on it. i think the next generation of moms has become a lot more worried about germs and things.
khairete
S.

We've been to Disney World a few times and I've seen babies there so little that I could have sworn the mom gave birth waiting in line for Space Mountain.

Honestly, it's whatever feels ok to you. When DD was only 10 days old, I ended up back in the hospital with complications and it was on my husband to do everything at home without my help. He had no choice but to take DD everywhere with him - grocery store, bank, visiting at the hospital, etc. She was fine. Fortunately, it was late summer, so it wasn't the height of cold-and-flu season. That would make me hesitate a little, but sometimes, you just don't have any other options.

The first day after I came home. I went to IKEA with the baby. I was a nut.

Well the well baby check up was at 3 days so we were out then.
My pediatrician never told me NOT to go out, and since I gave birth in the 1990's (pre-internet) I pretty much followed my gut and went where ever I wanted!
My kids have always been super healthy so I guess it wasn't a bad call :-)

We were out and about immediately. Well, as out and about as you can be in January when your baby is born in a blizzard. But it never occurred to me we needed to stay in. I would have gone crazy cooped up all the time in any case.

My sister took her 1 month child on a road trip, 3 month old camping. Seriously, what do you think people used to do with children? Don't worry about timing, you take care of baby while you are out so you are fine. In our culture we are supposed to wait 2 months. Yeah... I got out with baby as soon as I could just to get out of the house!

I always wait 6 weeks. I enjoy the time relaxing and snuggling my new baby and taking plenty of time to recover. We go on walks outside, but avoid crowds - especially during rsv/flu season. But I have a mother who comes to help, a great supportive husband who runs errands for me, and we homeschool, so we have no real need to "have" to be out and about amongst crowds. That being said, everyone has different comfort levels and no one has the right to criticize you for being out sooner or later than they think is appropriate.

Pretty much from the moment I am released from the hospital. My 5th son was 1 day old when we did the 4th of July celebrations and fireworks.

We left the hospital and stopped in somewhere to get something to eat. I never kept my baby secluded. (If I knew someone was ill, obviously I would not purposefully take my son to their house or something.) I was out from the beginning.

My son is just about 4, and he's been sick once in his entire life, and that was more recently.

My third went to Disneyland at the age of 17 days, the San Diego Comic Book convention and a Wiggles concert at 6 weeks old, we went to Legoland before 6 weeks and maybe even Sea World but I'm not sure on that one. We went to the store at only a couple days old. We went to a friends' 4th of July party when she was only 20ish days old.
My second went to the store at a day or so old as well, he was born in the rainy winter so we didn't go out as much just because of that, would have been the same without him. We had Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (was only supposed to be Day and not Eve too but that's a long story) at our house when he was only a few days old. His due date was Christmas Day so it was already planned that way if he wasn't being born that day.
My first was the only one that didn't go out a lot when he was little. It wasn't because of him but because *I* felt like a truck ran me over. His was the hardest physically as far as recovery went. I didn't feel like going anywhere for several weeks.
We weren't stupid, they either went in the sling or the stroller or our arms. We didn't pass them around. We all kept our hands washed and all of that.
The way I see it is the entire house isn't in quarantine. Very often the dad has to go back to work right away. If you have older children they are going to school or daycare or playdates. Everyone else is going to the store. You have visitors that have been places. You are coming and going to so many doctors appointments. Even if mama and baby aren't going in and out, everyone else is. The baby can and will be exposed to anything that is out and about even if they never leave the house. It was more fun to go out and enjoy the sunshine and exercise.

A couple days after we got out of the hospital.

i took my then 6 week old to disney world. you would be surprised how many people bring newborns, and very small babies there! she even got to enjoy a few rides:)

We left the hospital and went to my husband's office and then to Target. The minute I was able to drive myself, I think 2 weeks later, I resumed normal behavior. When my daughter was 6 weeks we were on a flight to Hawaii. I know people are worried about germs and stuff, but she just turned 4 2 weeks ago and just took an antibiotic for the first time. Besides minor colds, she's never been sick.

Well, when my oldest was born, my milk came in when she was not quite 3 days old. My boobs were HUGE. Like 40H. Gigantic. I had to go buy a nursing bra because nothing I had fit comfortably! So I packed my 3 day old baby into her baby seat, and off we went to the mall. I still vividly remember having to try and figure out breastfeeding with my newly huge boobs in the Sears dressing room. Ugh. And then of course, with my youngest, we were out and about pretty quickly because I had to take my oldest to preschool, swimming lessons, etc. They both lived through these early outings. :)

I was at chipotle the day I got released from the hospital. We were all worn out and didn't want to cook and it was fine. If the people are older than 50, that's why. It could also be cultural. Don't worry about it. Keeping them in the house doesn't do anything for them. Unless you're taking them to a place where they'll get sneezed on all day, you're good. I wasn't running around every day, but there's no reason to hole up unless you WANT to rest and be "nesty" with your new baby :)

When my twins were 4 weeks old we went on a trip to visit relatives for the holidays. It was a 6 hour drive each way. But aside from that and well baby doctor appointments, we mostly stuck around the house for the winter. We had people over during that time and may have gone on a twin play group play date once, but I was a bit overwhelmed and tired so the thought of going out wasn't high on my list of things to do.

I was afraid to go anywhere with my first born. She was probably just a few days old when my mom suggested we go out shopping with the baby. I was horrified. My mom, who had 6 children just looked at me sideways and said, "What else do you have to do today? Let's get out and go someplace."

We had fun and all survived.

As soon as the soreness from my C-section had abated enough that I could walk comfortably.

First child I didn't venture out until his 2 week appointment...second child we were at another kids birthday at mc donalds when she was three days old.

so to each their own...

I agree with everyone else. If you feel ready to be out and about with your newborn, then good for you. However, other mothers can be so mean and judgmental about this!! When my first was 7 weeks old, we took her to the mall with her older brother (this was by no means our first trip out either). She always stayed in the stroller or my arms whenever we were out. however I had to take her into a department store bathroom to change her. A group of 3 or 4 young moms, all in their late 20s or early 30s, were in there with a group of older children. The whole group came over to look at my baby, then ALL OF THEM started telling my that my baby was way too young to be shopping, that she was just out of the womb, what was I thinking, etc. I was furious!! I had even chosen an out of the way bathroom so it wouldn't be as crowded or dirty. Granted she was a small baby and looked younger than she was, but still! I didn't let it stop me from taking her out with me, but I'll never forget how awful that group of total strangers was to me for, what I thought, was a very reasonable choice with my own child.

Just do what you feel is best.
Bottom-line is: it is up to you and between you and your Pediatrician.

No one is better just because they took their baby out at 1 day old, and nobody is worse just because they took their baby out at 8 weeks old.

With my 1st child, I didn't take her out to crowded public spaces/events until much later. This was during the fall/winter season of the flu season and everything else, seasonally.
With my 2nd child, I did likewise.
Fine. I don't care what others tell me.
So what.
I am the Mom.
And I also had had c-sections with both my kids. One was an emergency.
6 weeks was recovery time.

Then, here locally, a couple had their 6 month old baby die. Why? Because, they went on a trip, the baby got Pertussis, they didn't know and thought it was just a regular cold, which the baby got from an Aunty who was sick... and by the time they took baby to the Hospital it was too late. The baby had also not been vaccinated.

With my first I don't think we really went out (aside from walks in the stroller) for the first couple of weeks. I was so tired and unsure of myself. With the second we were at play group when he was three days old. I know plenty of moms who start bringing baby to babysitting at the gym as early as three weeks old. I sure wasn't that ambitious!

I resumed normal activities usually by 3-5 days old.

You're fine! People will ALWAYS find a way to criticize you for something, but don't worry. There is absolutely nothing wrong with taking a 5 week old out.

When they are super little, just keep them close to you in a baby carrier or safely in their stroller/car seat so they aren't getting too many germs and there's no problem at all. Being out on a walk in the fresh air is great. It is unrealistic to keep a newborn at home when you have older kids.

My second was out pretty early too. Don't remember exactly, but my son was in school so it couldn't have been too long since we had to take him and pick him up!

When my oldest was a couple of weeks old, I went to a lactation center for help. Afterwards, we stopped to pick up food at a fast food place next door. I sat with him in the very back corner - the restaurant only had a handful of customers, none were close to me - while my husband stood at the counter to order. An older woman, who spoke very little English, made a point of coming TO MY TABLE to tell me how terrible it was that I was out (in her culture, you are supposed to stay in bed for a full month - not just the house, actually in bed with the baby). I told her my baby was coming back from the doctor and we had no choice to be out. She continued to tell me how awful it was until I finally said something like "you are the one coming up to him and giving him germs."

I waited until my kids were 6 - 8 weeks old before I went out to stores.

I kept my children inside for 1-2 months after they were born. This was the advice of their pediatrician. She simply stated, to protect the baby. Their immune system is so weak they are at risk for serious infections with little signs except fever. RSV, Flu, rotavirus or coxsackie virus. If you are able to prevent people from getting in the baby's face, or touching their hands (hate when people do that) then it helps. But, most viruses are spread via droplets you can't always see, or are even aware they went flying into your baby's face. The risk is real and my pediatrician said she saw that a lot. Most of the time the baby is fine, but the few times they aren't, can be devastating.

It was almost two weeks for us. Just enjoyed being home with him.

I was out with my daughter when she was about 5 days old and then with my son when he was a week old. Whatever works for you is fine.

You go out when YOU are good and ready. I took my son out when he was about 5 weeks also. I took my youngest out at 3 weeks. I was going batty in the house and I needed to walk due to a c-section. Back in the day, you know, wives tales and such, and depending on your culture as well, you didn't take baby out for 40 days or until baby was baptized. Some cultures don't take baby out until 3mos.