So we brought a newborn on our trip

[Nancyg56]

But how are you going to do your shopping? Not everyone has help after having a baby... that said I can understand the concern but so long as mom and/or other care givers are washing hands well it shouldn’t be an issue (they - the babies - are not touching much of anything yet). Really, it’s daycare at 6 weeks that’s the bigger issue- and again if you have to work that’s what you do.

I agree. I had to take my babies with me whereever I went, and that was just the way it was. Today, I would rather chew glass and die then place a 6 week old baby in daycare, or take one to a germ infested theme park environment, but that mindset is just so easy for me because I do not have to make those choices, and TBH, DH and I are way more protective over the grands than we ever were with our own kids. I am still in awe my kids made it to adulthood given the changes in child protection we now have. The carbed in the back seat alone now makes me cringe.

Personally, I think that as long as parents are willing to make the concession necessary to take tiny ones to a theme park that is their choice, and comments or snippy looks should be withheld.

 

[Summer2018]

My mother took me everywhere in the back of the station wagon in a "Porta-crib." She had to drive my teenage siblings everywhere, and I went along for the ride. I can remember rolling around the back of the car as a young child and getting car sick. My parents and their friends also smoked constantly. Yes, I survived. In spite of her lack of judgement in some areas, she was the first person to put the idea in my head about not bringing a newborn out in public. Over and over again, this idea was put in my head by my family and friends.

I had trouble conceiving and did IVF. I spent the first and last three months of pregnancy on bed rest. During the traumatic birth which was an emergency C-section, both my daughter and I almost died. We stayed in the hospital for one week, and fortunately, I was able to take 3 months maternity leave. As a result of very real fear of something happening to DD, I was most definitely over protective. The only place we took her was to the pediatrician. DH did groceries, and everyone who visited had to wash their hands before holding her. It was my pediatrician (Neonatology specialist at Yale) who told me not to take her out in public where she would be exposed to germs for three months. Some pediatricians say 6-8 weeks. I took her outside in the fresh air bundled up in the stroller every day for long walks. But, where a lot of people gathered, I followed my family's, friends, and pediatrician's advice.

This is my experience. This is my opinion. This is not meant to upset anyone.

 

[Nancyg56]

My mother took me everywhere in the back of the station wagon in a "Porta-crib." She had to drive my teenage siblings everywhere, and I went along for the ride. I can remember rolling around the back of the car as a young child and getting car sick. My parents and their friends also smoked constantly. Yes, I survived. In spite of her lack of judgement in some areas, she was the first person to put the idea in my head about not bringing a newborn out in public. Over and over again, this idea was put in my head by my family and friends.

I had trouble conceiving and did IVF. I spent the first and last three months of pregnancy on bed rest. During the traumatic birth which was an emergency C-section, both my daughter and I almost died. We stayed in the hospital for one week, and fortunately, I was able to take 3 months maternity leave. As a result of very real fear of something happening to DD, I was most definitely over protective. The only place we took her was to the pediatrician. DH did groceries, and everyone who visited had to wash their hands before holding her. It was my pediatrician (Neonatology specialist at Yale) who told me not to take her out in public where she would be exposed to germs for three months. Some pediatricians say 6-8 weeks. I took her outside in the fresh air bundled up in the stroller every day for long walks. But, where a lot of people gathered, I followed my family's, friends, and pediatrician's advice.

This is my experience. This is my opinion. This is not meant to upset anyone.

So, I am not trying to be argumentative, but I take exception to your "lack of judgement" comment. You see, times and thoughts were way different back in the 50's, 60's and 70's. My Mom also smoked during pregnancy, in the car, home and anywhere else you could hold a cigarette. The placenta was thought to be a giant protective balloon, not many people had even heard the term 2nd hand smoke, and if they did had no idea the harm, and there were no protective devices that are available today. A carseat was meant to keep kids from running all over the car, safety was not even a consideration. People held babies and rocked them to sleep in the front seats of moving vehicles as a matter of course. Kids ran all over the place in those jumper things, and cribs were a sleeping device, not a safety measure.

We know a lot more today, and the technology available is much improved. With that said, I believe the jury is out in regards to how to build immune systems in children, what age is safe to be exposed to a bunch of strangers for any child in particular, and how to manage the real logistics of living with a newborn is still a challenge for many people. I would caution you to remember that we all look at circumstances through our own lens and what is appropriate for my family or yours may not work for others. As I said upthread, it is a miracle my kids are alive given the way I raised them. I left them in the car when I ran into a store, used a carseat that tucked under the seat to keep Dan from leaping over a seat, had gates that were just tucked between two doors and not clamped into the woodwork like fort knox to keep them in one room, and on and on and on. If my DD tried any of this with my precious DGD I would have had to be strapped down. Life and mindsets change, and I bet you a buck your own child will be telling tales about you.

 

[Summer2018]

So, I am not trying to be argumentative, but I take exception to your "lack of judgement" comment. You see, times and thoughts were way different back in the 50's, 60's and 70's. My Mom also smoked during pregnancy, in the car, home and anywhere else you could hold a cigarette. The placenta was thought to be a giant protective balloon, not many people had even heard the term 2nd hand smoke, and if they did had no idea the harm, and there were no protective devices that are available today. A carseat was meant to keep kids from running all over the car, safety was not even a consideration. People held babies and rocked them to sleep in the front seats of moving vehicles as a matter of course. Kids ran all over the place in those jumper things, and cribs were a sleeping device, not a safety measure.

We know a lot more today, and the technology available is much improved. With that said, I believe the jury is out in regards to how to build immune systems in children, what age is safe to be exposed to a bunch of strangers for any child in particular, and how to manage the real logistics of living with a newborn is still a challenge for many people. I would caution you to remember that we all look at circumstances through our own lens and what is appropriate for my family or yours may not work for others. As I said upthread, it is a miracle my kids are alive given the way I raised them. I left them in the car when I ran into a store, used a carseat that tucked under the seat to keep Dan from leaping over a seat, had gates that were just tucked between two doors and not clamped into the woodwork like fort knox to keep them in one room, and on and on and on. If my DD tried any of this with my precious DGD I would have had to be strapped down. Life and mindsets change, and I bet you a buck your own child will be telling tales about you.

Enjoy your grandchildren. I look forward to mine one day.

 

[Nancyg56]

Enjoy your grandchildren. I look forward to mine one day.

They are a Blessing and way more fun!

 

[MomOTwins]

I am going to give the mother the benefit of the doubt and assume she cleared this with the baby's pediatrician. OP-sounds like a lovely vacation and nice for your family to all be together.

 

[tinkerjo]

My babies went with me a wherever went from day 1 out of necessity. Babies have a certain amount of acquired immunity from their mother. I did ask people not to touch/hold my baby and kept them close to me. Nobody should have been so rude as to come up to you at a theme park and attempt to shame you. I am glad your sister and niece were able to share your vacation.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

My mother took me everywhere in the back of the station wagon in a "Porta-crib." She had to drive my teenage siblings everywhere, and I went along for the ride. I can remember rolling around the back of the car as a young child and getting car sick. My parents and their friends also smoked constantly. Yes, I survived. In spite of her lack of judgement in some areas, she was the first person to put the idea in my head about not bringing a newborn out in public. Over and over again, this idea was put in my head by my family and friends.

I had trouble conceiving and did IVF. I spent the first and last three months of pregnancy on bed rest. During the traumatic birth which was an emergency C-section, both my daughter and I almost died. We stayed in the hospital for one week, and fortunately, I was able to take 3 months maternity leave. As a result of very real fear of something happening to DD, I was most definitely over protective. The only place we took her was to the pediatrician. DH did groceries, and everyone who visited had to wash their hands before holding her. It was my pediatrician (Neonatology specialist at Yale) who told me not to take her out in public where she would be exposed to germs for three months. Some pediatricians say 6-8 weeks. I took her outside in the fresh air bundled up in the stroller every day for long walks. But, where a lot of people gathered, I followed my family's, friends, and pediatrician's advice.

This is my experience. This is my opinion. This is not meant to upset anyone.

that works with a first born but when it is a second and the older is involved with other kids the baby is going to be around all those germs at home. been there and done that plus bugs can be passed 24 hours before known to have. and yes we have had a premie in the family

 

[LSUmiss]

My mother took me everywhere in the back of the station wagon in a "Porta-crib." She had to drive my teenage siblings everywhere, and I went along for the ride. I can remember rolling around the back of the car as a young child and getting car sick. My parents and their friends also smoked constantly. Yes, I survived. In spite of her lack of judgement in some areas, she was the first person to put the idea in my head about not bringing a newborn out in public. Over and over again, this idea was put in my head by my family and friends.

I had trouble conceiving and did IVF. I spent the first and last three months of pregnancy on bed rest. During the traumatic birth which was an emergency C-section, both my daughter and I almost died. We stayed in the hospital for one week, and fortunately, I was able to take 3 months maternity leave. As a result of very real fear of something happening to DD, I was most definitely over protective. The only place we took her was to the pediatrician. DH did groceries, and everyone who visited had to wash their hands before holding her. It was my pediatrician (Neonatology specialist at Yale) who told me not to take her out in public where she would be exposed to germs for three months. Some pediatricians say 6-8 weeks. I took her outside in the fresh air bundled up in the stroller every day for long walks. But, where a lot of people gathered, I followed my family's, friends, and pediatrician's advice.

This is my experience. This is my opinion. This is not meant to upset anyone.

I completely get where you’re coming from. I didn’t have to do IVF, but my DS spent 11 days in the NICU for a birth defect & ended up with a temp ostomy (it’s reversed now thankfully). He had surgery at 5 days old & again at 4 mos. I also had an emergency c-section & made my dr discharge me a day early so I could hobble my butt to the NICU where I stayed most of the day & night for 11 days. So, after going through all that, you’re darn right I’m over protective! I feel like I am more over protective than my friends who didn’t have that experience. I think it’s b/c for me the experience was an eye-opening one that showed me that terrible things can & do happen. So, now I do my best to prevent the ones I can control (and probably those I can’t). My feelings have nothing to do with the OP & I would never pass judgment on someone else’s choices (within reason), but I am overly cautious for sure! Ftr, I later learned how intense Neonatologist can be! They had me scared to death to leave him! But, they see a lot & take their jobs seriously so I get it. And, he wasn’t a premie so some of what they told me really didn’t appt to him.