https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 16 Apr 2026 18:26:16 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccines-and-family-after-baby#post-1404282 Thu, 06 Feb 2014 15:32:35 +0000 littlebug 1404282@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We insisted on flu shots and Tdap for all the grandparents; we both also got both, so I knew my flu shot would protect D. But outside of that, we were just very limiting in who could visit, and we made sure that no one was sick, and we insisted on hand-washing before handling him. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccines-and-family-after-baby#post-1404260 Thu, 06 Feb 2014 15:27:08 +0000 rattles 1404260@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I asked that grandparents and my sister (who was visiting for DD's birth) get the TDAP. There was pushback from my in-laws, so DH talked to them about why it was important to us and offered to put them in touch with our pediatrician (who backs up such requests). We didn't push it about the flu vaccine, but we kept some surgical masks on hand for people who came over with colds/sniffles in the first couple of weeks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccines-and-family-after-baby#post-1404239 Thu, 06 Feb 2014 15:21:53 +0000 HellOnHeels 1404239@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Maybe forbid is a strong word. Also, maybe I was projecting my irritation at my Aunt onto the original post. I really just wanted to get an idea of how people approached this kind of scenario. I'm sure I will get flack big time about vaccinating my family from her, but hopefully she will just leave it be and maybe not visit because her and her family don't now anyway. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccines-and-family-after-baby#post-1404052 Thu, 06 Feb 2014 14:46:12 +0000 Beehive 1404052@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@OldEnglandMama: Do you know why the Tdap isn't approved for use in the UK? Just curious. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccines-and-family-after-baby#post-1404040 Thu, 06 Feb 2014 14:44:52 +0000 looch 1404040@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son was born in December and we didn't require anyone to have any vaccines. No one stayed at our house anyway. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccines-and-family-after-baby#post-1404035 Thu, 06 Feb 2014 14:43:54 +0000 MamaMoose 1404035@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We insisted on Tdap and Flu Shot for anyone who stayed in our house, but otherwise... we were just really intense about making sure everyone thoroughly washed their hands before holding her. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccines-and-family-after-baby#post-1403991 Thu, 06 Feb 2014 14:35:00 +0000 wheres_c 1403991@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@OldEnglandMama: none of my family traveled to see LO but if they are up for it, the minute clinic idea is a good one! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccines-and-family-after-baby#post-1403870 Thu, 06 Feb 2014 14:11:52 +0000 justdarling 1403870@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think its fine to ask people to get the flu shot/Tdap. But, you must also take into consideration when people are not allowed to get these shots for their own health reasons. The biggest thing is to make sure that no one is sick when they are visiting your child and have everyone wash their hands frequently. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccines-and-family-after-baby#post-1403850 Thu, 06 Feb 2014 14:07:00 +0000 Vegmama 1403850@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Like others said: we asked our parents to get a Tdap. Our LO was born in January, and honestly, I didn't think about asking our parents about getting the flu shot. They all live far away, so their stays would be longer (which is why we asked them to get the Tdap if they wanted to visit). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccines-and-family-after-baby#post-1403328 Thu, 06 Feb 2014 11:50:24 +0000 oscarthegoon 1403328@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it's completely reasonable to ask anyone who will spend a significant amount of time with the baby to get the flu shot and tdap. Flu and whooping cough can be extremely dangerous for babies and young children. I asked both sets of grandparents to get both shots and provided them with an article that explained the importance of it. Personally, I will not forbid them from visiting the baby if they don't get them, but I think it's selfish if they don't at least consider it for the sake of the baby. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccines-and-family-after-baby#post-1403244 Thu, 06 Feb 2014 11:33:52 +0000 Dandelion 1403244@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I never get the flu shot. I do regular scheduled vaccines for ds (and I will for lo) but the flu shot is one thing I won't get. If you require me to get it to see your baby then I'll wait til flu season is over if it means that much to you.</p> <p>So I guess you'd need to just decide if its worth your family not seeing your LO. If they're that anti vax, I doubt they'll get the flu shot just for yiur baby. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccines-and-family-after-baby#post-1403243 Thu, 06 Feb 2014 11:33:42 +0000 coopsmama 1403243@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think requesting that family get the flu shot is incredibly overbearing. If the flu is as widespread as it was this year, and if you take your baby anywhere, it's likely to come in contact with the flu bug at some point. Everyone seemed to get it this year -- including folks who got the flu shot! My DS, DH and I didn't get the flu shot and, while a lot of our family did get the flu, we haven't been sick once this winter. </p> <p>I think if you have a tiny baby in the wintertime, the best protection is trying to keep your baby out of large crowds as much as possible and requiring folks who want to hold him/her to wash their hands. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccines-and-family-after-baby#post-1403229 Thu, 06 Feb 2014 11:29:11 +0000 mrsjyw 1403229@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we asked our parents to get the tdap shot. other visitors we did not ask about shots/etc. (we had a nov baby) and most of our visitors came by for brief stints throughout the december. they were responsible enough to cancel / reschedule if they were sick/carrying symptoms/etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccines-and-family-after-baby#post-1403226 Thu, 06 Feb 2014 11:27:58 +0000 Mae 1403226@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're having a May baby so I am a bit less concerned about the flu, but my doc did say that anyone who would spend any real amount of time with the baby should have the TDAP vaccine. I didn't really make it a question, I just told all our parents that they need to get it at least 2 weeks before they see her, so to be safe get it 1 mo before she is due. The only push-back I got at all was my mom wondered allowed if my dad would be allowed to get it because he has some other health problems. In that case I told her to have him check with his doc and if it is not safe for him then obviously we'll make an exception-- but otherwise everyone needs to get it if they want to be staying in my home with a newborn. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccines-and-family-after-baby#post-1403201 Thu, 06 Feb 2014 11:22:43 +0000 wonderstruck 1403201@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I see people mentioning just not letting sick people visit - but you're contagious for like 1-4 days before you get any symptoms, so that concerns me. Also, the fact that I have some relatives who wouldn't bother to tell me that they're sick before they come visit is obviously an issue. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccines-and-family-after-baby#post-1402689 Thu, 06 Feb 2014 08:47:53 +0000 Greentea 1402689@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I asked they get vaccinated and they freaked out. It was important to me. My doctor also said to make them wash their hands as that is equally important. I made them wash as soon as they walked in! Hey, it is your lo, I think these are reasonable requests. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccines-and-family-after-baby#post-1402675 Thu, 06 Feb 2014 08:37:49 +0000 OldEnglandMama 1402675@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@wheres_c: Side question...<br /> Am I right in thinking you're British? What did you do about relatives visiting from the UK? We're due any day now and my parents fly out next week. Their GP said the Tdap isn't approved for use in the UK, so they can't even pay to get it privately. There is one pertussis vaccine that is approved for adult use but they don't meet the very specific criteria...so he won't give it to them. I'm thinking of having DH drive them straight to a CVS minute clinic from the airport and paying the $70 each out of pocket to get it there. But then, if LO arrives when they should, they won't have had the two-weeks necessary for an immune response to have been generated. (My mum will be staying for 3 months to help so we definitely want to do the whole cocooning the infant with everyone in the household vaccinated thing.) </p> <p>The different recommendations make life so confusing!</p> <p>(PS Sorry to threadjack @HellOnHeels: My answer to your question - I would "strongly encourage" vaccination, and provide evidence as to why it's important to you, but wouldn't outright ban people from visiting. I think so long as you were vaccinated, and you take good precautions on the state of people visiting (ie no fevers, coughs, sniffles, compulsory hand-washing etc) then your LO should be safe. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccines-and-family-after-baby#post-1402597 Thu, 06 Feb 2014 06:46:37 +0000 blackbird 1402597@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I requested people who would see her a lot get one-grandparents mostly. No flack, though. The dr said it was important and my LO was in the special care nursery for a week with breathing problems so I didn't want others near her </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccines-and-family-after-baby#post-1402543 Thu, 06 Feb 2014 01:41:46 +0000 PointeShoesTutus 1402543@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Babies are a couple years off but I plan to ask my parents and in-laws to get a tdap booster and a flu short if it's flu season. I I fire they're the ones who will be seeing baby the most so I want them to be immunized and helping to protect my baby. My SIL are having kids are are up on flu/tdap so it won't be an issue for them.<br /> The rest of our friends we won't require them to get shots but will ask them not to come over sick, wash hands before holding baby, please don't kiss my baby on the mouth or put baby's fingers/toes in your mouth.<br /> I hope I don't get to much push back. My SILs are more into crunchy parents so my preferences are slightly more mainstream. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccines-and-family-after-baby#post-1402536 Thu, 06 Feb 2014 01:04:33 +0000 birdofafeather 1402536@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I requested family to get tdap bc it's been an epidemic here in ca (had a January baby last year) but we never get the flu shot ourselves and didn't get it for LO. I think that hand washing and keeping baby away from sick people is more helpful. You can't control everyone babies/kids are in contact with so instead I try to go with common sense.</p> <p>ETA: i would not have barred family from seeing LO without vaccines though. It was a request and immediate family obliged us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccines-and-family-after-baby#post-1402520 Thu, 06 Feb 2014 00:36:24 +0000 luckypenny 1402520@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At my OB appt yesterday she checked to make sure I got the flu shot and told me one of her patients just lost her 16 month old LO to the flu this week :( so I think it's a very serious matter</p> <p>Luckily, I've only had spring babies but I required everyone to have whopping cough vaccine and I would be adamant about flu if it was winter. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccines-and-family-after-baby#post-1402504 Thu, 06 Feb 2014 00:16:15 +0000 wheres_c 1402504@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Personally, I think requesting a flu shot of every visitor to baby is a little over the top. You obviously call the shots - so whatever you say goes - not criticizing you personally - just think it's unnecessary.</p> <p>Making sure visitors wash their hands - yes, making sure no sick visitors, yes. Even asking for shots for those in extended contact - babysitters, grandparents etc.</p> <p>EDIT: I had a December baby, and asked that grandparents get TDap but didn't require flu shots. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccines-and-family-after-baby#post-1402453 Wed, 05 Feb 2014 23:22:15 +0000 autumnlove 1402453@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Had a December baby and we only asked our parents to get the Tdap. We had lots of other visitors the first month and I didn't ask them to get vaccinated, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccines-and-family-after-baby#post-1402448 Wed, 05 Feb 2014 23:16:05 +0000 Weagle 1402448@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hmm... My LO was a May baby, so we didn't have much flu risk. We don't require people to have vaccines to visit. Like pp said, it is such a personal decision and there are many reasons why people opt out. Also, our pediatrician advised against LO getting the flu vaccine for the past two winters. As a SAHM, it's pretty easy to keep her away from sick folks - and I find people are generally extra cautious around kids anyway. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccines-and-family-after-baby#post-1402444 Wed, 05 Feb 2014 23:11:06 +0000 matador84 1402444@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am debating how to handle this. I am due in a couple weeks and it seems like everyone has gotten the flu, even some who have gotten the vax. Vaccines are such a personal decision, I am not going to require those to get it to visit the baby. Flu season here has been very severe and it scares me that my newborn or toddler could get it. Hoping if I just regulate on those to practice good hygiene and hand washing around baby that will suffice.</p> <p>Eta: I did not get a flu shot until a few weeks ago. DS had a 103 fever and I was so afraid he caught the flu. Flu test was negative our pedi was adamant I get the shot and just the scary possibility that DS could have had it and I could have gotten it was enough for me. She gave it to me right there in the office and I did not know that it will help protect the baby the first few months of life. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccines-and-family-after-baby#post-1402442 Wed, 05 Feb 2014 23:10:04 +0000 wonderstruck 1402442@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm so glad LO was old enough for the flu shot when that season rolled around, because I would've had this exact same problem. And...I just realized I will have that problem next year. Crap.</p> <p>This could be a big problem for us when the holidays come, because MIL will think I'm overbearing/overreacting and my anti-vax and aunt cousins (with kids of their own) will want to start a freaking debate over it. How the heck am I going to get through the holidays...</p> <p>So yeah, sorry I don't have any helpful advice, but I'm following this thread hoping others will! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccines-and-family-after-baby#post-1402430 Wed, 05 Feb 2014 22:57:00 +0000 HellOnHeels 1402430@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So I have an aunt who is anti-vax (among other things, but lets not get into that). She's been posting a lot lately on the topic and it got me to thinking... if we are able to have a baby during the winter, in prime flu-season, I will be asking all of our family to get the flu vax, including ourselves. I've heard of too many infants being hospitalized this winter and would rather protect an LO as much as possible than put them at risk.</p> <p>So, with that, if you had black-lash from family members about this request, did you forbid them from visiting? How did it go down? </p>