My first baby should be arriving in the next few weeks, and my husband and I would like to have some friends come visit the new baby after a week or two home from the hospital. Quite a few of our friends have young kids themselves - mostly toddlers and pre-schoolers - and today, one of those friends asked whether she should bring her four year old with her when visiting us after the baby arrives. I was like, "of course, why wouldn't you?" and she mentioned that some new parents don't feel comfortable having other young kids around until the new baby has had his/her first round of vaccines.

I know little kids - especially ones in daycare and preschool - can be total germ vectors, but I also know my friends vaccinate on the regular schedule, will be happy to wash their hands once they're here and are responsible enough not to come visit us with a sick kid. Beyond that, do you think kid visitors in general pose an additional risk to a newborn? And if you were comfortable having adults visit your newborn, did you have different rules for children?