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Going out in public: When is the right time?

Home » Babies » New Mom Going out in Public » Going out in public: When is the right time?

Doctors tend to vary in their opinions of when it is okay to take a baby out in public places. Some say a month, while others think it is best to wait three months. By "public places", doctors usually mean any environment where the newborn could be exposed to viruses and other potentially harmful things. Places to consider as "public" include malls, grocery stores, churches or other houses of worship, any type of event or location where lots of children would be present such as a school or preschool, and so forth. Going to grandmother's house is generally a wonderful idea if the infant is well and all those in the home to be visited are not sick. There are a couple of factors to consider when deciding when the right time is to go out in public. First of all, the overall health of the child is very important. If the child has the sniffles or has had any sort of illness, waiting until you are sure if the child is well is important. Secondly, premature babies are generally more susceptible to illness in their first few weeks and months of life. Your doctor will probably give very specific instructions if your baby was born before a gestation of 36 weeks. A third factor to consider is the time of year. If it is late October or early November until March, and you have had a new baby, the cold weather, and even more specifically, the threat of the flu or the potentially dangerous virus called RSV that usually more common in winter months is something that you have to factor into your decision. It is not being overly cautious to double check with your pediatrician about whether or not the flu has hit your area or whether or not RSV is going around. Finally, the mother must decide she is ready. While many moms are eager to get out, the thought of loading a baby in and out of the car seat and changing diapers in a public restroom can be very overwhelming to some new moms. If this is the case, then waiting until you feel ready is a good idea. When the time comes to give it a try, a great idea is to bring a close friend or relative along. Don't bring along someone who might unnecessarily criticize you. Most of us know right off hand who those kind people are in our lives! Bring a friend who can genuinely help. The key is to gain confidence and realize, "I can do this!"

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