https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 24 May 2026 15:29:21 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/little-kids-visiting-newborns#post-2099570 Sun, 08 Mar 2015 09:37:56 +0000 oliviaoblivia 2099570@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>There weren't any toddlers in our lives before DD1 was born so I didn't think about it. Now that DD2 is here I'm very sensitive to DD1's friends health before play dates. I actually have a lot of anxiety around her health and vaccination status of those she's exposed to. I didn't really worry about it with my first, but I'm really worked up about it this time.<br /> We had a play date a few weeks ago and I found out afterwards that one of the kids had stayed home from day care that week with vomiting, diarrhea, and fever. It was almost a month ago and I'm still furious at the mom for not telling us her kid was that sick just two days prior to me bringing a five week old into her house. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/little-kids-visiting-newborns#post-2099555 Sun, 08 Mar 2015 09:17:13 +0000 winniebee 2099555@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>First time I didn't mind so long as the toddler wasn't sick. Asked them to wash hands and not be near babies face at all. </p> <p>Second time I obviously had a toddler too but same feelings applied. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/little-kids-visiting-newborns#post-2099544 Sun, 08 Mar 2015 09:01:05 +0000 Corduroy 2099544@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a toddler in daycare and visiting newborns makes me nervous because I never know when she's going to get sick. She's been in daycare almost 2 years so colds aren't super frequent but they can come on suddenly. </p> <p>When I know we'll be around a newborn I always tell daycare and ask them if anyone is sick. If anyone is sick with something LO hasn't had she won't go. We the moons align and everyone is healthy I make LO wash hands (useless for a 2 year old, hands stay clean for 2 seconds maximum) and we have a no touching babies rule. I'm not a germaphobe in general but I would hate to get a newborn sick. </p> <p>If you aren't super excited to see the kids themselves I would ask for a kidless visit and just blame new mom worries &amp; recovery. As a toddler mom I would not be offended at all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/little-kids-visiting-newborns#post-2099245 Sat, 07 Mar 2015 19:18:54 +0000 Charm54 2099245@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had no problem with it. Their parents were always courteous and had them wash their hands before </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/little-kids-visiting-newborns#post-2099230 Sat, 07 Mar 2015 18:51:54 +0000 ElbieKay 2099230@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My ped said that if my son got a fever before his meningitis vaccine at 2mo, they would have to assume he might have meningitis and the treatment includes a spinal tap. So she recommended against children other than close family visit because even a standard bug could result in a fever.</p> <p>We asked our friends to keep their young children away for the first few months for that reason. The only exception was my best friend's 1yo because my friend was so insanely helpful with the baby, and due to logistics they were a package deal. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/little-kids-visiting-newborns#post-2099043 Sat, 07 Mar 2015 13:53:12 +0000 raintreebee 2099043@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I personally wouldn't risk it. At three months, LO caught a cold and it turned into bronchiolotis. That has caused us problems even a year later--his colds just never clear up and the doc thinks it's because he got sick so young. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/little-kids-visiting-newborns#post-2098932 Sat, 07 Mar 2015 10:27:50 +0000 ChiCalGoBee 2098932@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@KatieBklyn: We had this issue with some of our closet friends, who have two kids (4 years old and 2 years old). They are both in daycare full time, and are *constantly* sick. They originally wanted to bring the whole family by, and before we could even think of a way to politely decline, they cancelled the visit because both kids had fevers and were throwing up. It ended up working out that they visited when the kids were in daycare, and since our son had been in the NICU and was still recovering, I wasn't willing to take any chances with winter germs coming into the house. When it's my turn to visit a new baby in the future, I'll only go when my son is able to be home with my husband so the new parents don't have to worry about germs! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/little-kids-visiting-newborns#post-2098916 Sat, 07 Mar 2015 10:05:28 +0000 Mae 2098916@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We let me SIL and our nephew (then 18 mo and in daycare, and also flew to get here) stay with us for 10 days when LO was 3 weeks old. He arrived with a cold and gave it to both DH and I and LO... which a 3 week old with a cold is just SO sad. We really tried to keep them separate but with that amount of time/shared space I think it was just inevitable. I don't think I'd be okay with small children staying with us for days if we had another new baby (really for a variety of reasons), but I'd still let them visit as long as they weren't obviously sick. I feel like if you don't let them hold the baby they aren't likely to pass along germs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/little-kids-visiting-newborns#post-2098879 Sat, 07 Mar 2015 09:10:22 +0000 luckypenny 2098879@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We only had three close friends that had older toddlers (who were my DD1's best friends) so I let them come over. They mostly played with my older daughter and had little interest in the baby. They were also all healthy. I trust their judgement and everyone washed their hands. </p> <p>We also had a spring/summer baby so maybe if it was flu season I would have been more cautious. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/little-kids-visiting-newborns#post-2098873 Sat, 07 Mar 2015 08:48:20 +0000 SugarplumsMom 2098873@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's definitely a personal call. Having a sick infant is no bueno! For me, it just isn't worth the gamble. Their systems are so vulnerable, that even a cold at that age is scary (not to mention the extra sleepless nights for the parents). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/little-kids-visiting-newborns#post-2098852 Sat, 07 Mar 2015 08:08:47 +0000 KatieBklyn 2098852@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks, everyone! Just to clarify, we aren't inviting anyone but our parents to see baby in the hospital. Definitely won't have friends over until we get home. </p> <p>I appreciate all the input - seems like there's a diversity of opinions so we'll think about it some more and decide when it's time to decide. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/little-kids-visiting-newborns#post-2098828 Sat, 07 Mar 2015 07:46:15 +0000 mediagirl 2098828@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our friends brought their kids over when we had our newborn at home. I figure once you have more than one, you can't keep kids away from newborns. The kids were 4 at the time and we're good. Curious about the baby but also ignored her. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/little-kids-visiting-newborns#post-2098825 Sat, 07 Mar 2015 07:44:19 +0000 rachiecakes 2098825@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our hospital wouldn't allow children to visit unless they were a sibling. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/little-kids-visiting-newborns#post-2098818 Sat, 07 Mar 2015 07:21:57 +0000 lamariniere 2098818@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it's a really personal call. Maybe it would be ok if the kid washed their hands and didn't touch the baby? That said, pretty much anytime my LOs get a cold, I get it too, so the parents could be carrying around the same germs as their LO. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/little-kids-visiting-newborns#post-2098806 Sat, 07 Mar 2015 06:52:08 +0000 Rocker2014 2098806@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our ped advised us to limit contact with young children for the first 2-3 mos because of some of the nasty germs going around. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/little-kids-visiting-newborns#post-2098798 Sat, 07 Mar 2015 05:19:18 +0000 wonderstruck 2098798@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The only time I asked people not to bring kids was in the hospital - I have a couple of hyper nephews and I would have spent the whole visit having anxiety about them pulling on my IV cord or jumping on me or something. But once I was home I was okay with it - my friends have common sense, they're not going to bring a sick kid around a newborn or let them be all over the baby or anything. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/little-kids-visiting-newborns#post-2098794 Sat, 07 Mar 2015 04:30:03 +0000 Mrs. Coral 2098794@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I live in a region that has had a whooping cough outbreak and a few cases of the measles. We had a baby in February and ask our 6 year old nephew to wear a mask and wash his hands whenever he is near baby. He goes to a school with low vaccination rates. Once baby gets her 2 month shotsbwe will chill</p> <p>ETA: Our hospital does not allow children in the OB unit at all </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/little-kids-visiting-newborns#post-2098793 Sat, 07 Mar 2015 04:25:00 +0000 birdofafeather 2098793@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our friends didn't bring sick kids and the kids didn't really get near our baby. We abide by the same rules unless explicitly asked not to bring our kiddo. In that case, I would just go as we don't have family around to watch our kiddo for a quick visit. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/little-kids-visiting-newborns#post-2098787 Sat, 07 Mar 2015 03:51:30 +0000 gilmoregirl 2098787@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think a four year old can be trusted to wash his or her hands and I would have no issue with it. </p> <p>It sounds like you also trust your friends not to bring a sick kid to your home, so it seems fine to me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/little-kids-visiting-newborns#post-2098773 Sat, 07 Mar 2015 01:21:07 +0000 Mrs.Someone 2098773@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It was fine with me as long as they were healthy and didn't touch the baby. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/little-kids-visiting-newborns#post-2098755 Sat, 07 Mar 2015 00:49:48 +0000 MamaCate 2098755@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You may want to ask about the hospital policy. I had a relative on hospital bed rest during her pregnancy and my LO was not allowed during the cold and flu season. I was surprised, but once they explained the reasons it made sense. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/little-kids-visiting-newborns#post-2098731 Fri, 06 Mar 2015 23:45:31 +0000 catomd00 2098731@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd be more concerned about flu and other illness picked up at daycare then vaccination status. Mostly just flu right now. My baby was born in Feb and I was not overly cautious and she was fine. I'd probably ensure there was nothing going around daycare that they knew of. But really baby could get sick from an adult visitor, too. It's really whatever you are comfortable with. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/little-kids-visiting-newborns#post-2098729 Fri, 06 Mar 2015 23:44:18 +0000 jhd 2098729@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We didn't have many visitors at all. Really just family. And neither my sis or SIL would bring kids if they suspected any germs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/little-kids-visiting-newborns#post-2098727 Fri, 06 Mar 2015 23:40:37 +0000 littlejoy 2098727@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had very limited visitors. One included our friends and their 3 year old. Like you mentioned, I knew they wouldn't visit if she had any symptoms, and we asked her to wash her hands. I held the baby, and their kid didn't touch her. </p> <p>I think limiting visitors overall (not just kids) is a really good idea. If people insist on coming over, I'd hold the baby or wear in a carrier. If they can't understand, oh well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/little-kids-visiting-newborns#post-2098701 Fri, 06 Mar 2015 23:13:53 +0000 KatieBklyn 2098701@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>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. </p> <p>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? </p>