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@CatchAFallingStar: I think we went out for coffee after her first doctor's appointment, so like 5 days old? We took them out very early. I mean, they're in their carseat + stroller or in a carrier, they weren't really in a position to be picking up random stranger germs. We fully took advantage of the sleepy newborn days.

I think this is a personal decision. We waited until after their two month shots. But both were born during cold times /cold / flu seasons

Around 2-3 days old for both, wearing them.

My son was an early March baby and I took him out as soon as I was ready to get out of the house. But we live in a walkable urban place where it's easy to take the stroller somewhere and sit down for lunch or a cup of coffee.

However I did not let children visit until he got vaccinated, and I never went to a large gathering where people would try to play pass the baby. I kept him either with me or in the stroller or bucket seat. And if we had a grandparent or close friend visit then we let them hold him (provided they washed their hands first).

ETA: We skipped Passover at 6w old because I knew I would be busy dealing with him. Plus my mom invited a bunch of non-relatives and I wanted to avoid the crowd especially since it was not people important to me so I did not care about him meeting them. Not worth it.

We took LO2 out fairly early as she was already exposed to LO1 who was a germ factory. I think it’s personal choice.

With that said, both my kids weren’t born in the midst of flu season. I would have some serious pause considering the flu epidemic going on right now.

ETA: I would be more prone to limit my older child going out than the baby. He’s the one more likely to get sick and bring it home to the baby.

About two weeks for both of my kids, they stayed in the car seat the entire time though

Depends on what you mean by "out."

Open-air places like parks and restaurants with outdoor seating? I'd be willing to do a couple weeks, and if I was worried, I'd hang a thin blanket over the car seat.

Semi-crowded places with mixed ages, like grocery shopping or church? Maybe a month. Again, bringing a thin blanket.

Crowded indoor kids places like an indoor playplace or childcare rooms at church? Personally I avoid as long as possible, like 4-6 months.

LO1 doesn't go to daycare, but he daily goes to parks, libraries, or stores. We asked that my babysitters not take him to any crowded indoor kid places for the first month. That would be stores and indoor playplaces.

Both babies have been winter babies.

Open air places- within the first week. It was a warm spring. DD got dehydrated the first week and after that I got really paranoid and only allowed my Mom for a month. But we still went out on walks. We would have allowed MIL but her husband had pneumonia. We skipped a baby shower when she was 6 weeks old.

After what @LAZB: has been through I’ll probably pull DD1 from childcare and not allow visitors for several weeks. I’d go out open air places early again still. Specifically wineries. But not stores or restaurants or anything similar.

Within the first week with both. No way to keep a baby home once we had another and I expect it will be the same with baby 3. I was wearing them or they were cover d in the car seat.

I used to see people at the mall with tiny babies and think “what are you doing?!?! That baby is too small to be out in public!” Then I had a baby and by day 6 I was going stir crazy, so we took him to walk around Target and have a drink in the Starbucks. He never left his car seat, and we packed like we were going to be gone for a week.

We took our November baby to home depot 4 days after birth and out to dinner 5 days after birth. Both times she was in her car seat with a bunting cover so there was little exposure

My first was a July baby, so I brought her places that were outside for the most part- like sitting at a restaurant outside- within a couple weeks.

My second was a December baby. It took longer to bring her to something like a restaurant but I did bring her to my older daughters classes. She would be in a carrier or car seat, and while there were other kids around, there were also other moms who were aware and helped keep germs from her.

LO1 was born in July, and we were out and about the first week. LO2 was born in February, and I think we went out after about 2 weeks-ish - but kept him in the car seat with a light blanket over it.

@LAZB: Oh my god, I’m so terribly sorry to hear that. Our pediatrician said not until after shots as it was flu season and given that she is extremely* lax about 99% of things we thought we better take her advice, and we did. Hugs to you.

@LAZB:

I have just had this debate with my MIL. My view is by 3 or 4 days old they'll be in a wrap on walks outside. No human contact. I'll run to the grocery store if needed or to DS's school (again, baby on me) . By 3-4 weeks we will go out to eat (outside seating only). No family get togethers until 6-8 weeks.

We welcome healthy visitors and I breastfeed, so I'm not super worried. But I'm also not bringing a week old baby to church or a large family get together where people expect to hold him

My first was an April baby and we were out for walks the first week. Close contact with others, confined spaces probably 4-6 weeks
My second was an end of year baby. It has been tough because it’s my second, my husband is never home and we have to leave the house often bc of my first. So I just sorta started taking him out immediately. Like 4 days old. Of course no close contact but we were on the subway at 10 days old. Just what it was. I’ve been paranoid bc of the flu, but really moreso what my older one is bringing home from pre k. It has been challenging. But no matter the time of year or what number kid, I get out of the house pretty early compared to others.

@CatchAFallingStar: This is super relevant to me right now too with LO at 3 weeks! I think you'll get a variety of answers and I think they may also depend on whether it's the first child or second.

Our pediatrician recommended waiting till the 2 month shots. The hospital strongly recommended against exposing her to crowds, especially children, because RSV and the flu are so prevalent right now in MA. We've taken her outside on walks most days, and people have come to the house 1 or 2 at a time. I did pop into a bakery last week because my bladder was going to explode and I had her with me - put the cover on her carrier and hoped for the best. I think I would consider doing similar at other places that were mostly populated by adults and not too crowded, but I am very anxious about her getting sick because if she gets a fever before 6 weeks it apparently entails a full workup including blood and spinal fluid and I don't want to do that to her. It's a little disappointing - I had every intention of doing dinners out with DH while she was tiny and sleepy - but I've accepted that's a side effect of having a winter baby during flu season.

We went out fairly early with both. I know we were running errands with DD2 at 6 days old. But we have two summer birthdays as well.

I didn’t take her into a public building other that the doctor until after her two month vaccines. We went on walks and to the park as soon as I was able to postpartum.