When is it ok to take your preemie out into public?

MARTINA - posted on 06/26/2010

i reallly cant tell you..... i took my daughter outside 2 days after she was released from the hospital

Larni-Jean - posted on 06/26/2010

6 weeks was the same with me, however the first place i was told to avoid was the supermarket i found that so hard considering i was parenting on my own....because the germs are not preventible inside with the amount of public, and also going out mid morning mid afternoon only.....the first thing i did was jump on the town bus and go for a ride, and then i walked to the drs.....for the second trip...its all to do with taking care of their immune system so it doesnt get affected, as it takes harder to get better from being sick.....but that didnt stop my son getting tonsilitis at 3 months.....it was just so hard for my older son not to be able to kiss him......how have u been have u been taking baby out?....

Angie - posted on 06/26/2010

they never told me when I could take my boy out but when I left the hospital I had to pick up his drugs and all from the store, and he has been going out every since. as long as there is no sick people around you should be fine.

Liz - posted on 06/25/2010

Stacey, that would be directly contravening the instructions given to me by the NICU and by my child's doctor, which were made for a reason. The RSV/Flu season is over, but there are plenty of viruses and illnesses that would result in severe sickness and hospitalisation if my daughter caught them now.

My recommendation stands: every child is different. Each mother should liaise with the child's doctor before deciding what to do. While some will be perfectly fine to go outside now, others will NOT. A blanket 'it's okay' is as inappropriate as a blanket 'it's not okay'.

Stacey - posted on 06/25/2010

It's past Flu / RSV season...get on out there!! Get this sign: http://www.mytinyhands.com/, bring a well-stocked diaper bag, and go enjoy your kids...

Amy - posted on 06/24/2010

My daughter was also born at 28 weeks. We were told to be very careful with her for a year and not to venture out in winter to crowded places. The chances of a premature baby this early going back into hospital are 50% and unfortunately we have already been back once due to a viral infection - you just have to be so so careful with these little ones :)

Liz - posted on 06/18/2010

Ask your paediatrician, as it totally depends on the individual baby.

My daughter was born at 28 weeks in January and she is still not permitted to have any contact with anyone aged under 16, nor groups of adults larger than about 10. We are still not permitted to take her to the mall, grocery shopping, church etc.

This is because of the risk of transmission of colds and viruses which, though minor for adults and healthy children, would seriously compromise her respiratory system. This is after she had both of her lungs collapse on the 2nd day she was alive.

At the end of the day, follow your doctor's advice that is tailored to your baby individually...and follow your instincts.

Dehra - posted on 06/17/2010

i think it depends on dr's orders and your comfort level. i had twin preemies they both wher in the nicu for 3 wks. The following day after they came home i had a peds appointment and i didnt make the appointment the hospital did. and the following wk i had dr's appointments needless to say my husband an i was pissed but we had to make the appointments. so again i guess it depends on your dr and you .

Lilah - posted on 06/16/2010

We were very cautious with our 35 weeker who was born last July. We have 3 older children and I teach school so we bring home enough germs. Short trips to the park or indoor places during slow hours will probably be fine. Don't be afraid to tell people not to touch.

Lyneeda - posted on 06/16/2010

i had my baby march17 at 24wks an she is'nt due home until july 7 but they are doing study's on vitamin d an its good for us an you can get it from sunlight so as soon as mine come home an its a hot day she will get some sunshine on our front porch i will keep her well protected from too much exposure,i feel that we as parents know whats best for our babies use your better judgement an be safe.it will work out.

Shaniqua - posted on 06/15/2010

about a month i waited to take my son out around ppl excluding doc visits but a window open for fresh are is always good for the long in moderation

Anna - posted on 06/14/2010

My baby was born at 32 weeks in September...we stayed home all winter because the flu and swine flu season were rampant in our area. I literally would only take him out to his appts and even then would sit in the car until the receptionist would call me on the cell when he was next to go in. Call me paranoid but he just turned nine months and has never been sick...thank God. I didn't start taking him out until he was about 5 1/2 months old or so and only for brief periods and always in his stroller with the cover down. We also had hand sanitizer, lysol and face masks by our front door and everyone who visited had to use the sanitizer and if we even thought they may have the sniffles they wore a face mask. Maybe a bit on the extreme, but if I had to do it all over I wouldn't do it differently. It has paid off, not even so much as an ear infection! Good luck, it will be more difficult for you because of your 6 yo but maybe family and friends can pitch in and take him places for you so he doesn't get cabin fever!

Samantha - posted on 06/13/2010

i had my son out after the first few days , just made sure that noone touched him and coverd his car seat with a balnket or whatever to keep the air from him but still allow him fresh air, cause u still gotta watch out for RSV or whatever it is that kids are gettin now, ive only heard of it once so

Natalie - posted on 06/13/2010

i took my girl out fairly often as i dont have anyone to rely to help me with my shopping. i did end up buying a fly screen cover for the pusher as people kept trying to touch her. this seemed to stoo them. just take the things you usually would take when you go out with a baby. just see how you feel.

M - posted on 06/13/2010

My pediatrician told us to keep our preemie at home for 8 weeks. Also do not let anyone into your house that has any signs of illness. Hopefully they know better, but some don't. I made everyone wash their hands and use hand sanitizer before holding him too. It was very hard to stay home, but I did it for his sake.

Kari - posted on 06/12/2010

There wil come a point when you NEED to get out. Like many of the other mums have said just don't let anyone touch your baby or id they are going to then ask for them to wash hands. That is the easiest way to transmit germs. Also keep a cover over baby. It creates a barrier and public are less likely to get close if they see that the bub is covered. My little girl was a 26wer and with swine flu around last year the docs strongly suggested to keep her away from crowded places.

Dorothy - posted on 06/12/2010

congrats on the homecoming of your little one!! my twins were born at 33 weeks back in november. our pedi recommended that we steer clear of "public" and crowds until 6 weeks after the girls DUE DATE. that was during the winter though when there was a lot of sickness going around with colds and flus. it was hard as we had to skip family functions for the holidays, but we would do anything to keep our babes healthy and safe! i wouldn't rush gettting out. protect that little one. see if friends, family or neighbors can take the 6 year old out while you stay home and love on that baby!!! have people come visit you rather than going out. make sure people wash their hands before holding baby. trust your gut... if you are comfortable going out... then go out. if you feel you should stay home, stay home. check with your pedi too, see what he/she recommends. good luck!

Ashley - posted on 06/10/2010

I took my son out not to long after he came home. I made sure to always keep him wrapped up and protected.

Ashley - posted on 06/10/2010

I kept my boys at home for quite a while, unless we needed to groceries but I was too nervous. Just always wash your hands, thats what I learned and try to clean everything that went out in public, like stroller handles etc.

Hollie - posted on 06/10/2010

my son was 9 weeks early he can home at 3 weeks but got RSV at 5 weeks and went into ICU he then can home again just before his due date. i was very protective after that (even more then normal) and didn't really take him out until the summer so he would have been about 5 - 6 months but i was told he could go out as soon as he was home from the hospital, i just didn't think it was a risk worth taking

Tara - posted on 06/10/2010

Great advice! I do the same for my preemie born at 28 weeks! Who cares what anyone else says or thinks?

Toni - posted on 06/07/2010

hi
my daughter was in NICU for 5 weeks before she came home. i am a single parent and needed some stuff for her and though i hated to do it i had to take her shopping with me. luckily my aunt helped me with her and i took her to her office while i ran around shopping. my daughter never had any complications though so maybe u should ask your doctor first to find out what is safest. remember to be careful of who touches her though. germs are rampant.

Samar - posted on 06/06/2010

i would say if the weather is good and you finished your 40 days then it would be ok to take her out a little bbut remember the longer you wait the better, i took mine out exactly after 40 days and they got sick witin a few weeks, so again i think that you should calculate when she would be full term and from their go 40 days unless its nice and sunny

Rebecca - posted on 06/04/2010

My last baby was 25 weeks and born in Dec. We were pretty much told not to take her anywhere that she may be exposed to other children for 6 months. Of course, that was impossible, but we did make everyone, including our own kids, spouse and myself, wash our hands before touching her. My older kids were in school (lots of exposure there) and the first thing they did when they walked in the door was scrub their hands. I also carried around hand sanitizer with me. I'm sure people around me thought I was paranoid, but even in the NICU, where exposure is limited, I saw a baby brought in with RSV and another with MSRV and they had been nowhere but in the hospital room with their families.
There is no harm in being over cautious. I know what it's like though to be cooped up inside. Just use your best judgment.

Heather - posted on 06/04/2010

I took my daughter out after a month, but didn't let anyone touch her, then after about a week she was in the hospital with RSV. RSV just shows as a typical cold in older children/adults. but can be deadly in premies. It was very scary. She was turning blue.

Kylie - posted on 06/02/2010

My son was born at 27 weeks. I was told to avoid shopping malls, and parties, and to be very careful with who touched him. I used to carry him in a sling close to my body, that stopped people touching, if he was in the pram it was a nightmare!

We started doing a few group things with other babies once he was 4 months old.

We've been very fortunate, we didn't get the synagis shots (Uk is different to the states and they only fund in certain situations), but he has only had two very mild colds, and is now 1.

You need to be careful, but you also need to have a life!!!! You will find a happy medium.

Jen - posted on 06/02/2010

I had charlie at 28 weeks and took her out straight away. I think it probably depends on the history and health of your bubs. Charlie was very healthy and now at the age of 2 has less colds and illnesses than all the full term babies I know. Perhaps ask the SCN or your local GP.

Pamela - posted on 06/01/2010

You need to talk to your Dr. But don't put your baby in a sitiation where she will have to be hospitalized again. Also is your baby getting Synagis (RSV) shots? I was told RSV season spikes in Sept, so you will want to be careful then.

Liz - posted on 05/31/2010

All the moms on here have given great advice, i just want to say this -

Dont let anyone, strangers especially bully you into letting them touch your child! No one understands your baby better then you, and germs is one thing that is very hard to control. I had to beat people off with a stick it felt like. I had twins, and people seem to think that gives them license to do whatever.

Good Luck and Congrats on the new baby. I hope everything goes well!

Brandy - posted on 05/31/2010

my baby was born at 28wks also, i only let certain people come to the house for the first few weeks and nobody was allowed to touch her unless they sanitized their hands first. the nicu told me that when i took her to the dr to call and get the earliest appt and request a separate waiting area and not to take her out in public for at least 6 weeks unless it was like a relatives house or something but not if they had small children. i think i finally took her out to a store after about 2 months at home. and even then it was like maybe to walmart in the middle of the night when there wasnt anybody there lol maybe i was a little to cautious i dont know. but she never got sick until she was almost a year old.

Jackie - posted on 05/30/2010

Mine were only 6 weeks early i brought them home 3 weeks later I still didnt bring them outside until they were about 4 months I think lol I didnt let anyone babysit them until they were 9 months and it was my SO mom!

Jessica - posted on 05/30/2010

Mine was born at 31 weeks. And basically all I was told was to keep her exposure limited to others. That didn't stop me from doing the things we needed done. But it did keep me on the ball about others not touching her until she was about 4 months old. I think the best is to listen to your gut and work from there.

Becky - posted on 05/30/2010

Mine was born at 32 weeks and stayed in the NICU for 5 weeks. When she came home she stay home for 2 months, per the doctors strong suggestion. At the end she went to 2 funerals, but no one was allowed to hold or touch her. She stayed healthy all that time and got to her 2 month shots. Once at daycare she got sick immediately.

Ariel - posted on 05/29/2010

Just take all precaution, bring blankets in case of a change of weather, keep hand sanitizer and wipes around and keep baby away from people who are sick or have been sick. I have a 23 weeker and the winter is worse than the summer. Make sure your 6 yr old cleans hands a lot, my 6 yr old brought home every germ her little hands could find. Other than that have fun and be blessed!

Sarah - posted on 05/29/2010

My daughter was born at 31 weeks in September and we had to stay inside all winter. I was terrified she would get RSV or swine flu, both of which were in full swing. It's important to ask your doctor if flu season is over in your area and where and when it's ok for the baby to go out. It's different for every baby depending on their needs. The Big thing is making everyone wash their hands and use hand sanitizer before they hold her- especiallly your 6 year old! I also would wash my hands whenever I got home from being out. My baby turned 8 months tody and has never been sick!

Elyssa - posted on 05/28/2010

I took my son out shortly after he came home, but never for very long, and not to places that I wasn't familiar with. By the time the 6 weeks rolled around I had no problems taking him anywhere. I think it all depends on how tough your little girl is. If I were you, I would see if someone could take your 6 year old out for a little bit each day (some friends, for some play dates or something like that) Just so he/she doesn't go crazy! If you wanted a professionals opinion, you could call the nurses hotline or call your doctor to see what they say...

Evalee - posted on 05/28/2010

We asked the nurses that when we were in the NICU and they told us 6 weeks, but mind you my daughter was born at 35 weeks and she was only in the NICU for a week. I didn't worry too too much. One thing I found though was everyone wanted to touch her even strangers so I had to get tough and tell them all to back off as who knows what germs they have.