Newborn Visitation Rules?

[october]

This has been on my mind for a little while now. I'm wondering if I should type up some rules for friends and family that I should either email out or print out and hang outside our apartment door? I guess it would just drive me batty if people came over and I had to tell them every time to please wash their hands and not nuzzle/kiss the baby anywhere on her face or hands. And it would drive me batty if they did before I could tell them!

Does anyone think I'm overreacting? Are there any other 'rules' to consider? I bet this is mostly a first time mama thing. It's just kind of scary, the idea of her getting sick within the first 6 weeks, or even me! Since we both are not running on a stable immune system...

I am up SO EARLY this morning. Restless night.. hoping to go into labor today. Dreams told me her birthday would be March 27th. That would be so nice.

[Juvysen]

Maybe have some hand sanitizer next to you so it's easy for people to just clean their hands? that's what most hospital rooms have (uh, ok, that's what they had in the rooms when I was in the hospital w/my first)... I think it's gonna be difficult to get people to not nuzzle the baby. In all honesty, it might be easiest for you to just not offer to let the baby be held/be nursing while people are there, if you don't want the baby nuzzled/touched a lot.

I know some midwives provide mothers with a sign to hang on the door with rules about how long to stay (like, "if you are here more than 15 minutes, please do the dishes, vacuum, or throw in a load of laundry" kinds of rules) and indicating that they should go directly to the sink and wash their hands when they enter the door... that kind of thing. I wonder if there's one out there that's already printed up...

[1babysmom]

I have a family member who sends out an email when her babies are born and she just says things along the lines of "we would love to have visitors after _____ days, when you come please wash your hands when you arrive, take off any clothing that smells of smoke (this was when her preemies were born)" etc.

RSV was running pretty rampant here when DS was born almost 4 weeks ago, so I just made it known that we're not passing him around because of that (makes it easier to have "reason" I guess, because I'm a wimp ), and people are very understanding. But I agree with the PP that if you don't offer, it's far less likely than people will ask to hold her. And nursing is a sure-fire way to keep people away from baby, because so many people are afraid of boobs. MANY people I know (surprisingly) don't want to hold new babies unless the mom offers...I LOVE snuggling new babies but I'd never be comfortable ASKING to hold one.

[elmh23]

A friend of mine just kept hand sanitizer by the door and by where she and baby were usually sitting. It's not the way I do things, but I didn't mind when she told me to use the sanitizer before I could hold the baby.

She also had a note from the midwife like the one Juvysen said. Seemed to work out well for her.

[staceychev]

I'd recommend asking people not to wear perfume if you do something. DD2 had a rash all over her chin and cheek when we took her to the peds a week ago. The ped called it "the grandparent rash." Apparently, it's a common side effect of being held by someone wearing perfume.

And silly me for missing that one... DH and DD1 have crazy sensitive skin, and we've been fragrance free for years.

[october]

Thanks you guys. I don't want to come off as extreme but I also want to protect my baby as much as possible. Also, we have some family members that I KNOW are going to want to kiss and nuzzle the baby all over and I'm afraid of the outrage I'd feel, especially during such a sensitive post partum state. So I'm just trying to prevent as much inner strife as possible! I'm seeing the midwives today so I'll ask if they know of any such list...

[Juvysen]

Originally Posted by staceychev

I'd recommend asking people not to wear perfume if you do something. DD2 had a rash all over her chin and cheek when we took her to the peds a week ago. The ped called it "the grandparent rash." Apparently, it's a common side effect of being held by someone wearing perfume.

And silly me for missing that one... DH and DD1 have crazy sensitive skin, and we've been fragrance free for years.

Ds didn't get a rash but after MIL handed him back he totally stunk of the fabric softener she uses. In fact whenever she washes anything (like after she sews something for the kids), i can smell that stuff on it for multiple washes later So, hooray for phthalates, I guess! :Puke