Dear Old Fashioned Grandma,
The typical answer to your question is anywhere from two to four weeks or more. In reality, however, recommendations regarding when a newborn should be taken out into public areas are not based on cut and dry rules but on some common sense principles.
One of the major goals for parents of newborns (as well as that of newborn health care providers!) is to keep infants fever-free and relatively sheltered from anyone with a cold during the first few weeks and months of life. That is why even strict hand washing is important early on to prevent the spread of germs. Heading out into crowded enclosed public places is discouraged because it increases the likelihood that a newborn will be touched, kissed, and even coughed or sneezed on.
Another reason to avoid trips out to crowded public places is over stimulation. Remember that a newborn who has just entered the outside world may find a trip to the mall as overwhelming as a day at Disneyworld--if not more so. This can cause disturbances in her eating and sleeping habits and even cause inconsolable crying!
And finally, while this doesn't apply to you as a grandmother, it is important for new mother's to remember that they need as much rest as they can get after going through all that entails bringing a new baby into the world. It is always wise for a new mother to check with her own health care provider for recommendations concerning her physical recovery before jumping into activities that require exertion.
With all of that in mind, I will tell you that there are reasonable ways to take a newborn out of the house without wreaking havoc. Whether a new mom is going stir crazy and simply wants to get out of the house or a grandmother wants to take her new grandchild out to a not-very-crowded mall, there are ways to do so. Asking that others not touch the baby, avoiding enclosed spaces (such as elevators, in particular), choosing destinations that are not too loud, and limiting your time out to short periods (say half an hour), seem quite reasonable--even for an infant only a week or two old.
Congratulations on your new grandchild!— by Laura Jana, M.D., F.A.A.P. |
