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Not all parents feel comfortable letting other people hold their newborns
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Just like this mom, whose germaphobia became so intense she didn’t want to let her daughter near her in-laws
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“Parents should always be careful regarding visitors with a newborn during the first two months of life”
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Parents are right to prioritize their newborn’s safety around other people, as their immune system isn’t strong enough to fight infections in the first few months of their life.
“Parents should always be careful regarding visitors with a newborn during the first two months of life,”saysDr. Ahmad Bailony, department chief of pediatrics at Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center. “Babies do not form their blood-brain barrier for about two months, and so they are at risk for more serious infections until that point.”
However, putting our own needs first can be challenging, as it might feel like we are hurting our loved ones with our selfishness. “The tricky thing with boundaries is parents bend to ensure other people’s needs are met and wind up putting their own needs on the back burner,” said pediatric psychologist Dr. Laura Hlavaty.
“Imposing boundaries can feel selfish because the only person you’re pleasing is yourself, but in actuality, it’s prioritizing yourfamily’sneeds. You may not want to hurt a loved one’s feelings, but not speaking up hurts your feelings, creates conflict and can foster resentment in the long run.”
“The more steps taken to reduce the risk of infection, the better”
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To help manage visitation expectations Dr. Bailony recommends having mindful planning, timely communication, and a support system with a partner.
“Flu and COVID vaccination, hand-washing and having good ventilation, such as an outdoor environment, all help reduce the risk of a newborn getting sick,” says Dr. Bailony.
Another tip he has is to limit visitors and take additional precautions like taking a COVID test before arriving, having disposable masks and providing hand sanitizer, or a place to wash hands often.
“The good news is that serious infections in newborns are rare,” Dr. Bailony says. “However, we are still seeing children, including newborns, infected with COVID-19, flu and RSV. I would still take every precaution possible to lessen the chance a newborn gets sick, as newborns have weak and undeveloped immune systems. So, the more steps taken to reduce the risk of infection, the better.”
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