What's too young?

[Marseeya]

For those with kids, what's the youngest you ever had your babies out in public after they were born?

I had c-sections with both kids, so I didn't feel well enough to take mine out in public for a few weeks, so maybe my thinking is a little skewed.

DH and I went out to eat last night at a Texas Roadhouse (somewhat rowdy steakhouse for those who don't know of it) and sitting next to us was a young lady (early 20s) with a newborn and her parents. Someone asked her how old the baby was and she said four days old! And there was mama, chugging away at a beer and then went to the bar to smoke a cigarette... which IMO the baby was entirely too close to the smoking section anyway. It just really bothered me. It was all nasty and rainy yesterday, plus being in a loud chaotic restaurant like that... I can't imagine it's good for a baby.

When both of mine were four days old, we were just leaving the hospital, but after that I was still making everyone wash their hands to handle them and kept them all cozy and quiet at home. Or was I just overprotective?

 

[Beth76]

Yeah, that's definitely too young especially for a smoky restaurant. I was probably taking mine to the grocery store around 2 weeks. And probably restaurants and other places shortly after. But, not smoky restaurants.

 

[diznygirl]

DD was born on the 15th, home the 16th, out shopping and dinner on the 19th.

Well, she needed clothes.

But I'm not a smoker, and I did not partake in the sangria. I wouldn't have brought her into a situation like you describe.

 

[Alice's Mom]

mine was a couple weeks old when she finally ventured out after she was born. She was born a preemie, I thought it would be a good idea to keep her in.

A lot of smokers especially young ones, really don't seem to see the problem with smoking around their kid. Since I live in California it never occurs in restaurants, but I see it a lot in cars. Always makes me cringe when I see a baby in the car seat and mom or dad puffing away.

 

[ChrisnSteph]

I've taken my babies out at a week or two old. Never in smokey places or anything like that. Just bundled them up, and they slept in their carrier wherever we went. They survived!

 

[RadioNate]

DS was in his first restaurant at 10 days. I was taking my mom to the airport so she could go home and someone hit us! My mom missed her flight, I was a mess so we went out to dinner.

While I think 4 days is young to be near the smoking section etc, I couldn't imagine staying home for weeks. By the time DS was about a month we were pretty much back to business as usual.

Once about 10 years ago when I worked at Kohls there was a teenaged mom with a 3 day old Christmas shopping in Chicago. She was carrying the baby and all it had on was a onsie. Even at 19, I was pretty shocked by that one.

 

[Rachie0507]

My kids were both out in public when they were less than a week old. We only went out for baby supplies and to visit people. I would have never taken them to a restaurant with smoking, I still avoid that now. I had very easy deliveries and recoveries and I'm not one to just sit around, so it just seemed natural for us to go out.

 

[Planogirl]

Well, at least the Mom went off to the smoking section by herself. Or at least that's how I read your post. So hopefully she doesn't smoke around the baby.

Assuming the Mom and baby are healthy, I see nothing really wrong with going out to eat though.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I brought my babies out very young. I remember walking around Sam's Club when my third was tiny. Guess I got cabin fever easily. Don't know how I had the energy, though. I do remember eating out when our youngest was 5 days old. It was his sister's 12th birthday. BTW, he was rarely sick and had his first (and only) sick dr visit when he was 5yo.

 

[icebrat001]

A smoking section, what's that? hehe, just kidding, here in California smoking is outdoors only.

Everyone I know waited 4 weeks before taking the baby out.

 

[jennyl772003]

I took my DS out right away. He needed to go to the hospital daily for blood tests anyway, so we were already out. I see nothing wrong with taking a newborn out. My son never even had a cold until after his first birthday.

 

[Mysteria]

Where's that popcorn smilie?!

Myst

 

[binny]

I dont know, Cam had to stay at the hospital for a day or so but we were out after that to go to the inlaws house and stuff, with Kaylee I felt better after the birth than I did before the birth so we went out within a couple days to friends houses. We were at church when she was 3 days old
Karissa was longer though. We took several days to stay home.
Of course all of my kids had their first real trips at 6 weeks too. So we started early.

I wouldnt take them out to a smokey restaurant though. I would be pretty selective where we went really.

 

[Rella Bella]

My son was adopted... so I felt fine and we went out to Church when he was just 4 or 5 days old. Totally inexperienced parent! It was a big mistake! I didn't pass him around at all but still had 100 faces right up to him!
A week later he had a cold which turned into Broncollitis when he was just 2 weeks old. I can't say for sure but I've always felt they were connected.
I think if he had been nursing and he'd had that immunity he might have been okay... but nursing wasn't an option for us.
He came out of it fine, but we had a few sleepless nights (very scary for a new parent). I wish someone had told me not to take him out!

 

[lil mermaid]

I took Maddie out a few days after she was born - but only outside for walks or to the doctor. I didn't take her shopping, to the mall, etc. until she was over two weeks old. I didn't want people breathing their germs on her!

I think there is a big difference between taking a baby outside to get some fresh air and to places where lots of people are.

 

[Marseeya]

I took Maddie out a few days after she was born - but only outside for walks or to the doctor. I didn't take her shopping, to the mall, etc. until she was over two weeks old. I didn't want people breathing their germs on her!

I think there is a big difference between taking a baby outside to get some fresh air and to places where lots of people are.

I agree.

I said in my first post that I didn't take mine in public for the first couple of weeks, but that didn't mean I kept them and myself cooped up at home. We went to my mom's and to the doctor and I remember visiting where I worked (a very small retail business). For me, it was just surprising seeing the baby at a Texas Roadhouse.

 

[robinb]

I went out with my DD at a few days old. She went to the local farmer's market when she was 10 days old. As for the mother's smoking, she probably smoked though pregnancy and now smokes around the baby too. You don't give up something like smoking to pick it back up right away after birth. {{shrug}} You can't change people.

 

[Marseeya]

Where's that popcorn smilie?!

Myst

I don't think it'll get that way.

 

[Marseeya]

I went out with my DD at a few days old. She went to the local farmer's market when she was 10 days old. As for the mother's smoking, she probably smoked though pregnancy and now smokes around the baby too. You don't give up something like smoking to pick it back up right away after birth. {{shrug}} You can't change people.

I really hope she doesn't smoke around the baby. At least she went into the bar to do it at this restaurant rather than sitting in the smoking section to do it right at the table.

I used to smoke, but quit smoking through both pregnancies... it's funny you mention giving it up and not starting right back up, but I did with my first child! OMG, I was still lying in the hospital wondering when I could have my first smoke. But I was always very careful to keep it away from my kids. When DD was born, I nursed her so I didn't start back up right away.

 

[Jackie0824]

I havent read all the responses yet. With my first, honestly I cant remember the first outing. With the last 2, well probably on day 4 we took them out. I remember going to the store to buy stuff we didnt have. We didnt take them to restaurants, but alot of running around to different stores. Call me a bad parent, but it wasnt a big deal to us. Nobody touched them, but people did ask questions on their age etc...
Not one of my babies got sick becauase I brought them out in public when they were 4 days old.