Friends Meeting the Baby

My baby was born in Nov 23 and we’ve only had 4 family members meet her so far. She somehow caught a virus from only limited exposure to those 4 people when she was 6 weeks old and we had to be hospitalized for a newborn fever. She was fine but it was policy to have her admitted and monitored due to her age. Ever since then I’ve been deathly afraid to be around anyone. She will be turning 3 months in late February and in mid March I really wanted to have a get together with some friends to celebrate my birthday and for them to meet her but I’m afraid that virus season will still be in full swing and that it’s a reckless decision that could get my baby sick again. I’m really struggling. It’s been so hard in this bubble of not seeing anyone to keep safe. How is everyone else (particularly those of us in the northeast where respiratory viruses are bad in the winter) handling other people meeting the baby?

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So my baby just got sick maybe twice now I’m sure if he was the last time luckily no fevers tho but this is my second baby and all I can say is it will drive you nuts trying to blame people or be a germaphobe just wash your hands and tell people to wash their hands and not kiss your baby or touch their face, but just saying you or your partner could have given the baby something if you’re leaving at all you don’t have to be sick to give them a virus so no use being super stressed over it you just gotta take it a day at a time idk if you breastfeed but if you do that’s really great for them

Also our babies are birthday twins!! 💕

Family and friends have made their comments/voiced their hurt of not meeting the baby - which caused me to feel guilty. My daughter just turned 3 mo and finished fighting off a virus. After seeing her sick, for a few weeks, I am no longer concerned in the slightest about how others feel. I'm responsible for her safety and well-being, WHATEVER that looks like for us. If you feel ready to interact with your friends because that is what YOU need, do it! There will still be viruses/illness lurking in the next few months, but you have the power to set boundaries. That would be my suggestion❤️ Have your friends over to celebrate you if thats what you choose, and have boundaries in place for your little one. For example, “Can't wait for you guys to meet her! Because she is still so young, I'm going baby wear/carry her during our get together. I really appreciate everyone's understanding of keeping my girl safe while celebrating me at the same time!”

@Monet it’s my second baby too! But my first baby was a summer baby so it was easy to see people because we could do it outdoors where the risk of catching a virus is much lower. It’s too cold for outdoor gatherings right now 😩 dad and I were both home the entire time as he was on paternity leave! But we didn’t play the blame game. I am just worried about her getting sick again. But we are breastfeeding, and even when she did get hospitalized for the fever, she was acting completely fine- they literally just made us stay because of policies around newborn fevers.

@Marissa totally, all for setting boundaries. No one has really voiced their hurt, I am just going stir crazy not seeing anyone. I definitely won’t be handing the baby around to be held but I’m still nervous with transmission being indoors, especially since many of my friends have kids who are in daycare and such 😔 maybe I’ll just keep an eye on trends. I know right now RSV and flu and norovirus is really bad, but they have to start dropping eventually 🤞🏽

I think all about the baby immune system. My baby has been around many people and family. We went to the water park when he was 6 weeks. He had never been sick. Think do what is best for your child

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