https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 08 May 2026 00:25:19 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/taking-a-newborn-to-thanksgiving/page/2#post-2368558 Tue, 24 Nov 2015 16:44:39 +0000 LuLu Mom 2368558@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JennyG: what about the Ergo infant insert? $25 bucks at target right now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/taking-a-newborn-to-thanksgiving/page/2#post-2368554 Tue, 24 Nov 2015 16:40:30 +0000 MrsADS 2368554@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@elbiekay it is 100 precent true. My LO got the full septic workup, which is a lumbar puncture (spinal tap), blood cultures, and urine cultures (which they must cath the baby). It was horrible. It is the standard of care in any baby under 60 days old I was told. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/taking-a-newborn-to-thanksgiving/page/2#post-2368537 Tue, 24 Nov 2015 16:21:43 +0000 JennyG 2368537@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thank you so much for all the advice and suggestions. I think wearing her would be a great idea if I can get my hands on a wrap of some kind. I only have an ergo right now and she's just too little for it.</p> <p>If I can't wear her, I'll just plan on letting everyone know we're not passing baby around. Once she's older, everyone is welcome to come visit and see her more up close.</p> <p>@Mrs. Microscope: What great advice!!! I had a terrible cold last week and DD didn't get it at all due to breastfeeding,</p> <p>@gingerbebe: Good idea! Keeping her hands covered will be a definite! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/taking-a-newborn-to-thanksgiving/page/2#post-2368442 Tue, 24 Nov 2015 14:59:40 +0000 Raindrop 2368442@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow first off I want say how brave and amazing you are for wanting to take out a 2.5 week old!! I would totally be holed up in my house and skip Thanksgivings.</p> <p>I think the baby wearing idea is good. Also the blaming of professional (aka doctors) is good.</p> <p>I'm normally not a very confrontation person - most of the time I have trouble standing up for myself! But when it comes to the safety of my baby I don't mind being a b!tch. I had these same worries when I was a new mom but when it came right down to it... I was very comfortable protecting my kid and making sure that he was safe and healthy. So if you are worried you won't be able to stand up for your kid I think you can do it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/taking-a-newborn-to-thanksgiving/page/2#post-2368405 Tue, 24 Nov 2015 14:33:22 +0000 gingerbebe 2368405@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>OH ALSO, we kept him in newborn footie sleepers - the ones with the built in fold over mittens - forever because a pastor's wife once gave me a tip that it helps keep people from touching fingers and what not. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/taking-a-newborn-to-thanksgiving/page/2#post-2368393 Tue, 24 Nov 2015 14:27:57 +0000 ElbieKay 2368393@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Also: Our ped said that if our un-vaccinated newborn got a fever, he would need a spinal tap to rule out meningitis. I have no idea whether or not that's true, but I definitely used it as an excuse somewhat regularly! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/taking-a-newborn-to-thanksgiving#post-2368391 Tue, 24 Nov 2015 14:27:02 +0000 mrsrain 2368391@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would wear her to avoid passing her around as much as possible. Maybe you could say something like, "Since it is cold and flu season our doctor has recommended that we do what we can to avoid exposing her to unnecessary germs." </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/taking-a-newborn-to-thanksgiving#post-2368388 Tue, 24 Nov 2015 14:26:00 +0000 ElbieKay 2368388@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son was 6 weeks old at Passover two years ago, and I just told my parents we were skipping it that year. My mom always invites all these people I barely know -- which irritates me anyway, since I would prefer to keep this as a family holiday -- and I told her I was not willing to play Pass The Baby before his 2mo shots. Our parents and sibling came to our town and we went out for dinner instead. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/taking-a-newborn-to-thanksgiving#post-2368386 Tue, 24 Nov 2015 14:25:37 +0000 turquoisemama 2368386@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Definitely baby wear and if you want anyone to hold her have them wash and sanitize. It's awkward but people need to understand her weak immune system. I asked everyone to wash and had my close family members all get flu and whooping cough vaccines before coming. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/taking-a-newborn-to-thanksgiving#post-2368384 Tue, 24 Nov 2015 14:24:30 +0000 mauxie 2368384@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@2littlepumpkins: ours said if he suspected an infection he'd need to do a spinal tap and yadayada.. freaked us out! </p> <p>We liked him but have since moved on to another practice in the neighborhood, hehe. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/taking-a-newborn-to-thanksgiving#post-2368377 Tue, 24 Nov 2015 14:21:10 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2368377@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mauxie: I find that interesting because our ped did send us to the hospital but didn't make a big deal about it, just reassured us that the vast majority of the time it's fine, but they needed to evaluate baby. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/taking-a-newborn-to-thanksgiving#post-2368353 Tue, 24 Nov 2015 14:08:33 +0000 Autumnmama79 2368353@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JennyG: This would give me anxiety too, I feel for you. We had a fair number of large family gatherings after DD was born and I had the same concerns you did. Not wanting people to touch her, but also avoiding confrontation. My solution? I breastfed her nearly constantly until she fell asleep again and then I would just leave her attached, asleep and under the BF cover. Nobody came near her or me!! Or to really drive the point home, I would even go into another room to "bf" even if thats not what I was doing :silly: </p> <p>Survival mode! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/taking-a-newborn-to-thanksgiving#post-2368309 Tue, 24 Nov 2015 13:48:06 +0000 mauxie 2368309@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would babywear! People will be less tempted to reach out and touch your baby if she's nice and close :). </p> <p>I would also make it seem more like the Ped is requiring handwashing/sanitizing. Our Ped made a big deal about us taking our 5 week old to church (even though I insisted I would babywear, wouldn't let others touch him, etc). He went on and on about how if DS were to get sick, they'd need to admit him and put him through all this testing as a newborn, etc... scared us and others, lol. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/taking-a-newborn-to-thanksgiving#post-2368287 Tue, 24 Nov 2015 13:35:13 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2368287@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsADS: we got this too, at 5 weeks (2 weeks ago.) But we were only there 3 nights including the ER. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/taking-a-newborn-to-thanksgiving#post-2368276 Tue, 24 Nov 2015 13:31:54 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2368276@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: ditto to this! I always blame someone else. :P</p> <p>If your newborn does get sick though, you won't be the first. Ds is 7 weeks old and has had two colds, one of which was easy (just congestion) and one was pretty nasty for all of us who got it. Just wanted to throw that out there because I felt pretty guilty about "letting" him get sick. He lives with a 3 year old, newly in preschool.. You know, the kind of kid other people try to keep their newborns away from! We do try to have dd only touch his feet or maybe the top of his head. Eta, and during that cold I had it too and wore a mask and washed hands ALL THE TIME. It does happen. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/taking-a-newborn-to-thanksgiving#post-2368231 Tue, 24 Nov 2015 13:08:36 +0000 MrsSRS 2368231@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Lots of great ideas from pp. I also like this line for kids "the baby's doctor said kids can only touch her feet during cold season Because she won't put those in her mouth yet, silly baby. Want to count her toes?" </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/taking-a-newborn-to-thanksgiving#post-2368226 Tue, 24 Nov 2015 13:02:07 +0000 gingerbebe 2368226@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Generally, people were surprisingly careful about asking me before they touched my son. They never just grabbed him. If you are afraid, I second just putting him in a Moby or Boba wrap. </p> <p>I was pretty careful about people touching my son, but I usually prefaced it with "you are welcome to hold him if you wouldn't mind using hand sanitizer - he wont have his first round of shots until he's 2 months old so we are trying to be careful since its cold and flu season." Usually that kept people from even coming near my baby - that little reminder usually gets them to think carefully about whether or not they've been around a sick person or if they've washed their hands recently. Adults generally didn't let their kids touch my baby. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/taking-a-newborn-to-thanksgiving#post-2368150 Tue, 24 Nov 2015 12:11:34 +0000 catomd00 2368150@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>babywear! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/taking-a-newborn-to-thanksgiving#post-2368081 Tue, 24 Nov 2015 11:22:57 +0000 sapphire 2368081@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At less than 2 months old, I wouldn't bring LO to large crowds esp in cold and flu season. If she gets a fever it's an automatic trip to the hospital. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/taking-a-newborn-to-thanksgiving#post-2368063 Tue, 24 Nov 2015 11:14:38 +0000 PawPrints 2368063@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That is a lot of people to have around her at a very young age. I wouldn't let a single person hold her, personally. When our LO was that young we didn't let her near anybody who hadn't agreed to get their vaccine boosters, I don't see how you could be sure of that around so many people. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/taking-a-newborn-to-thanksgiving#post-2368044 Tue, 24 Nov 2015 11:04:00 +0000 Keybee 2368044@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think that wearing her will deter people from touching her without permission. It's definitely OK to tell the kids she isn't big enough to be held yet. RSV is no joke, and the season is upon us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/taking-a-newborn-to-thanksgiving#post-2368039 Tue, 24 Nov 2015 11:00:24 +0000 Adira 2368039@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I love blaming professionals for things that annoy others. I'd say something like "Our pediatrician was really adamant about us limiting her interactions with others, especially since it's flu season and she hasn't been vaccinated yet!" And then wear her or just not let others hold her (or insist on washing hands first). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/taking-a-newborn-to-thanksgiving#post-2368038 Tue, 24 Nov 2015 11:00:16 +0000 tofuwad 2368038@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would just say - we've already been through one cold and if she gets a fever, she's going straight to the hospital because she's younger than six weeks. Or what I have done (to my BIL who is very snooty about me being a FTM) is just say. "Hey, let me have my FTM crazies and you can hold the next one!"</p> <p>Plus wrap LO up in a stretchy carrier. People find those fairly intimidating. I took LO to a dinner with about 15 people when she was about a month old and specifically wrapped her so people couldn't just snatch her. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/taking-a-newborn-to-thanksgiving#post-2368035 Tue, 24 Nov 2015 10:58:52 +0000 rattles 2368035@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yup, mine was a week old at Thanksgiving last year. I wore her, but people definitely still asked to hold her any time they saw me changing or nursing her. I brought sanitizer and had DH be the bad guy half the time. We blamed the ped but did let my grandfather hold her. She got her first cold a week later, but I don't think it was due to Thanksgiving. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/taking-a-newborn-to-thanksgiving#post-2368024 Tue, 24 Nov 2015 10:53:52 +0000 JoJoGirl 2368024@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd wear her! That way it's too annoying for people to paw her or ask you to take her out of the carrier to hold her.</p> <p>ETA: I see everyone else suggested the same thing :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/taking-a-newborn-to-thanksgiving#post-2368021 Tue, 24 Nov 2015 10:53:09 +0000 Mrs. Microscope 2368021@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A great piece of advice I got this week from a lactation consultant was to give your baby lots of wet kisses on her face and hands after people have touched her... You take in the germs and start producing antibodies that you pass on in your milk, if breastfeeding. Double protection! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/taking-a-newborn-to-thanksgiving#post-2368019 Tue, 24 Nov 2015 10:50:40 +0000 MrsADS 2368019@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd skip bc everyone is gonna want to hold her, even if they wash hands you just don't know. But my LO got a virus at 3 days old and was hospitalized for a week, on IV antibiotics and it was hell. That's unusual but after going through that I'd do whatever was necessary to keep her healty. I thought the ped would say just watch him at home, make sure he's hydrated, etc. But at that young age, we got an automatic hospital admission, blood and urine culture, lumbar puncture, etc. So, I'm more of a nervous Nelly than most! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/taking-a-newborn-to-thanksgiving#post-2368013 Tue, 24 Nov 2015 10:48:28 +0000 Mommy Finger 2368013@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS1 was born a week before Thanksgiving 3 years ago and we skipped out on going. But we ended up going to my parent's house the next day to see my brothers and their families. I didn't know until we got there that my mom invited a bunch of other people to come see the baby. I wasn't too happy about it. All of the kids did want to hold him so I made them all wash their hands and I had him ridiculously wrapped in a blanket so not much could get on him and only let them hold him for a few secs. Basically, enough to get a picture. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/taking-a-newborn-to-thanksgiving#post-2367997 Tue, 24 Nov 2015 10:40:24 +0000 Madison43 2367997@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would skip a gathering of that size - it's just too much exposure at that age for me . I also come from a small family though, so 30 people at dinner seems huge to me. If you're comfortable going, I would wear her and not let anyone hold her. That seems extreme but I think a blanket "no" is easier to enforce that selecting who can and can't hold her. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/taking-a-newborn-to-thanksgiving#post-2367973 Tue, 24 Nov 2015 10:27:31 +0000 BandDmommy 2367973@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I third baby wearing. That solves a lot of problems. </p>