https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 07 May 2026 12:54:40 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/not-allowing-sick-visitors-but-its-only-allergies#post-302162 Thu, 20 Sep 2012 09:00:18 +0000 LuLu Mom 302162@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I will be pushing Purell like crazing, as well as spreading the word that we would appreciate anyone not feeling well to stay away until they are 100%! If someone has allergies I will just ask them to wear a mask just to be sure. I have horrible allergies and would not be insulted if someone asked me to wear one just to be sure, it's the safety of the newborn that means the most! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/not-allowing-sick-visitors-but-its-only-allergies#post-302140 Thu, 20 Sep 2012 08:52:34 +0000 HLK208 302140@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If someone seems sick then, I wouldn't let them hold my baby. Even if it's just allergies, people are still snotting and sneezing everywhere. I still make people use purell before holding DD at 3 months old. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/not-allowing-sick-visitors-but-its-only-allergies#post-302132 Thu, 20 Sep 2012 08:49:37 +0000 sorrycharlie 302132@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@blackbird: yup, she has a neti-pot! i think she uses it at least - when DH lived at home he did, so I assume she would too. but my worry with her (as I replied to someone else) is that she's sick *so often* from Sep-Mar with colds that I honestly don't know if it is a cold or allergies. She hasn't insisted either way - my nephew was sick last week and she's his primary caregiver, so I am assuming it's a cold. oy. I cannot *wait* til we move farther away and this isn't really an issue anymore, lol. (not people being sick - but being so close that we can't really avoid them if need be). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/not-allowing-sick-visitors-but-its-only-allergies#post-302125 Thu, 20 Sep 2012 08:47:31 +0000 chopsuey 302125@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would ask that all not healthy people (cold or allergies) keep their distance until they're at 100%! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/not-allowing-sick-visitors-but-its-only-allergies#post-302121 Thu, 20 Sep 2012 08:45:53 +0000 blackbird 302121@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I know if i have allergies or a cold, so uh...yeah. If i say I'm not sick, I'd be insulted to have someone insist that I am. I get allergies like MAD every fall/spring, but haven't had a cold in probably...3 years now? </p> <p>It's also not just pollen. This time of year, it's ragweed and mold in my area. I'm super allergic to mold. I get this disgusting voice and sound really congested because I get thick phlegm in my throat. The more I try to clear my throat, the worse it gets because my throat gets inflamed. People ask if I'm sick, but I'm not. Nobody questions it. </p> <p>The hospital has a TON of germs, anyways. You think nurses don't work when they don't feel 100%? No. Those doorknobs have 100x more germs on them than your MIL does :) All you can do is ask people to wash their hands. If someone really makes you uncomfortable, they can wear a mask, and I think that is perfectly reasonable!</p> <p>Could you suggest your MIL use a Neti-Pot? They are great for helping to clear out symptoms faster and prevent allergy attacks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/not-allowing-sick-visitors-but-its-only-allergies#post-302104 Thu, 20 Sep 2012 08:38:54 +0000 Mrsbells 302104@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My baby was born in april which was major allergy season, it was very worrying hearing people sneeze and blow their nose, but we had lots of sanitizer around, handwashing and thankfully she never got sick. breastfeeding also helps to boost their immunity a bit. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/not-allowing-sick-visitors-but-its-only-allergies#post-302099 Thu, 20 Sep 2012 08:35:43 +0000 pastemoo 302099@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Thehistoryofus: Bummer. I've only had allergies a few times so I don't know. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/not-allowing-sick-visitors-but-its-only-allergies#post-302094 Thu, 20 Sep 2012 08:34:53 +0000 spaniellove 302094@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Thehistoryofus: True. Are you also a fellow severe allergy sufferer? My allergies go way beyond pollen although I guess I was thinking of the most obvious thing. It is a good idea to rule out all possible allergens before assuming illness! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/not-allowing-sick-visitors-but-its-only-allergies#post-302080 Thu, 20 Sep 2012 08:26:55 +0000 T.H.O.U. 302080@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pastemoo: Not all allergies are "cured" with allergy meds. @spaniellove: Pollen counts are not the only thing that might cause someone to have allergies and be congested. </p> <p>I guess I am in the minority here.... Again, if it was a random friend who was honestly sick and was planning to come snuggle up close with the baby, yes, I would ask them not to come. But this is family and she has a few sniffles. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/not-allowing-sick-visitors-but-its-only-allergies#post-302079 Thu, 20 Sep 2012 08:26:30 +0000 sorrycharlie 302079@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Thehistoryofus: that's exactly what I'm worried about, though - she'll cause WW3 if she isn't allowed to hold her or touch her. Year round (but worse from Sept-Mar) she's sick on average probably 50% of the time. Like, colds that last a week, 2x a month. I do not know what is up with her..because FIL doesn't get sick maybe 2x in that entire 6 month period? She watches my 3 y/o nephew, and the two of them are sick back and forth all season. </p> <p>@pastemoo: I might pick up some masks just in case DH or I get sick, too, to be safe (in the next few months). That's such a cute sign, too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/not-allowing-sick-visitors-but-its-only-allergies#post-302071 Thu, 20 Sep 2012 08:23:17 +0000 Beyond2 302071@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh I had a very similar problem! My MIL was sick about a week before I delivered and had us come to her camp without telling us. I was PISSED! Now that my son is here I'm super anal and ask everyone. Not sure what I'd do if they swore it was only allergies though... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/not-allowing-sick-visitors-but-its-only-allergies#post-302069 Thu, 20 Sep 2012 08:22:00 +0000 pastemoo 302069@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a sign on my door, "We are so blessed to have you here. Please wash your hands before touching the baby so all that you leave with us is love."</p> <p>And... people washed their hands even when I was too tired to remember and almost handed the baby to someone who hadn't.</p> <p>I agree with the better safe than sorry people. And you can always make people with allergies wear a mask and gloves... Or take allergy meds to be symptom free (because if they don't work it is a cold!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/not-allowing-sick-visitors-but-its-only-allergies#post-302068 Thu, 20 Sep 2012 08:21:41 +0000 T.H.O.U. 302068@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree that you have the right to do what you feel is best for your family. However. I think a few factors need to come into play. </p> <p>1. How close is this family member? If its your husband, a sibling, grandparent, etc. Its not like its a random friend thats coming.<br /> 2. How sick are they? Even if you assume its not allergies, if it is just a small cold, your baby will be exposed to germs as soon as it enters the world (what about nurses at the hospital with "allergies")<br /> 3. How close are they going to get to the baby. I think this you can control. Maybe ask people to wash their hands or ask them not to put their face close to the baby. Or just ask them to look from a distance to be safe. </p> <p>In your situation, when it is your MIL, I think it would cause WAY more drama that it is worth to try to ban her from seeing her grandchild just because shes a bit congested and MAYBE its a small cold. Let her at least come and see the baby but ask her to keep some distance and not hold him/her. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/not-allowing-sick-visitors-but-its-only-allergies#post-302064 Thu, 20 Sep 2012 08:19:26 +0000 spaniellove 302064@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sorrycharlie: You can check pollen.com and enter your zip code although the map looks like it's pretty low there right now! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/not-allowing-sick-visitors-but-its-only-allergies#post-302054 Thu, 20 Sep 2012 08:15:29 +0000 sorrycharlie 302054@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@spaniellove: I'm in RI. I should get those emails! I usually get terrible fall allergies, but I wouldn't know even if I had them, because I've had *severe* post nasal drip since week 6 of my pregnancy..haha. so much fun! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/not-allowing-sick-visitors-but-its-only-allergies#post-302051 Thu, 20 Sep 2012 08:14:42 +0000 sorrycharlie 302051@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaBehr: well I did see her yesterday (she lives in the other side of our duplex..yay!) and she *looked* okay but sounded congested. Not like the commercials of people for cold meds, but didn't sound like her normal self. I felt like I'd be being rude asking if she was sick, but if I see her again soon I might, lol.</p> <p>@BabyBoecksMom: do you mean if a nurse popped into your room and someone sounded sick, they asked them to leave? I read in our booklet of info for admission that we should ask anyone with sick symptoms or who have been around someone sick to stay home. </p> <p>but - like @mediagirl asked, I don't think I can trust MIL to stay home even if she really is sick. I think she'll be too excited about the baby...she's been waiting for a girl for almost 30 years, haha. Oyyyy!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/not-allowing-sick-visitors-but-its-only-allergies#post-302040 Thu, 20 Sep 2012 08:08:54 +0000 spaniellove 302040@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Don't know where you live, but at least in some areas allergies can't be used as an excuse right now! (I have bad allergies and get a daily pollen count email.) I never ever get sick and suddenly I've been sick as a dog for the past week so I told DH to give his pregnant sister a heads up b/c we're supposed to see her this weekend and I would feel terrible if I gave her something.</p> <p>I don't think antibacterial gel will help against a cold, since a cold is a virus, not bacteria. So if you can't convince them to stay home, at least insist that they wash their hands very thoroughly with soap and not touch or kiss your LO! And just say no to anyone who is coughing or sneezing. Or...you could get those masks. Seriously you see people wearing them all the time in Asia! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/not-allowing-sick-visitors-but-its-only-allergies#post-302032 Thu, 20 Sep 2012 08:01:33 +0000 heffalump 302032@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm on the better to be safe than sorry camp. If they were family and were sick (or seemed sick) they could see the baby from a safe distance. Usually people are pretty understanding about that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/not-allowing-sick-visitors-but-its-only-allergies#post-302027 Thu, 20 Sep 2012 07:55:38 +0000 MamaBehr 302027@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Once your LO gets here it is completely acceptable to make every person who either walks into your house or wants to hold her wash his or her hands. I never let anyone hold my baby during the newborn phase who hadn't washed hands first. </p> <p>That being said, I am completely on your side. I think knowingly going to visit a newborn when someone has an illness is unacceptable and rude. Could your husband actually go see your MIL to determine if she is actually sick? </p> <p>I have to say the health of a newborn is so important, so ifyou have to pull the mean mommy card and say she can't come over I say do it. It is the health of your baby! And a sick baby isn't fun (my DS picked up two colds before he was three months old due to my DD, but that was inevitable, this can be avoided) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/not-allowing-sick-visitors-but-its-only-allergies#post-302021 Thu, 20 Sep 2012 07:52:09 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 302021@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't let anyone who was sick or had "allergies" hold the baby. I'd rather come off as a control freak than have my newborn baby catch something. I also made EVERYONE that came into the room cover themselves with antibacterial gel. </p> <p>The nurses and hospital staff were really good about telling people to stay away if they were sick. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/not-allowing-sick-visitors-but-its-only-allergies#post-302020 Thu, 20 Sep 2012 07:52:03 +0000 mediagirl 302020@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That's tough. Can you trust your parents/in-laws? :) I know they are going to be soooo excited to see your lo when he/she is born. If your MIL comes in looking sick, maybe get her to purel up and double check with her that she's not sick. If she cops to being sick, get her a mask. Seriously! At least then she can hold the baby. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/not-allowing-sick-visitors-but-its-only-allergies#post-302017 Thu, 20 Sep 2012 07:48:36 +0000 DillonLion 302017@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Well, I just caught whatever DH had that he swore wasn't contagious. I'm irritated lol. I say no to sick visitors regardless. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/not-allowing-sick-visitors-but-its-only-allergies#post-302008 Thu, 20 Sep 2012 07:39:16 +0000 sorrycharlie 302008@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am due within the week, and of course it's allergy and cold/flu season. My husband has been sneezing and blowing his nose the past couple days and is in a panic that he's sick. I think it's allergies (clear boogies) but he's still nervous.</p> <p>That said, my MIL is also 'sick' - she looks fine but sounds congested over the phone. Not sure if she has allergies or a cold.</p> <p>I planned to bar any sick visitors at both hospital and home because of obvious reasons. But what do you do when someone insists that it's allergies and not a cold? There's really no way for me to know - so if someone is selfish enough to come visit even when they're sick, they risk my newborn catching it (if it's a cold and not allergies).</p> <p>I am totally aware I sound like a nutty control freak, HAHA, but I am a worrier. Has anyone else dealt with this? Did you just have to push Purell on people? </p>