Would you worry about this?

[cristeen]

My father and his wife were supposed to come down tomorrow to meet the baby (8 mos). He emailed me today to say that she just got back from a (international) trip on Wednesday and has a bit of a cold that she's getting over. He indicated that she's on the recovery end, but wanted to know whether we wanted to reschedule.

My feeling is that she's probably no longer contagious, and that I'm not that concerned about exposing him to germs to begin with... should I be concerned?

[MusicianDad]

I say reschedule just because I see no reason to take a chance with that.

[ledzepplon]

At 8 days, or maybe 8 weeks, I'd hesitate, but unless she's hacking and sneezing all over the place, I'd be okay with it.

In a few more months, as your little one gets more mobile, he'll probably lick the underside of a shoe or suck on somebody's filthy cell phone (well, if he's anything like my kids, that is!).

Maybe just ask that everyone wash up when they come in and keep the hand sanitizer handy in case it's needed. But you probably encounter nastier germs at the grocery store than anything she's carrying.

[CBall]

Maybe I'm paranoid but if it wouldn't be that inconvienent to reschedule,(as in they live fairly close by) that's what I would do. I have a 5 month old and while I try not to be too overly concerned about germs that are common to the area that we live and that I myself have been exposed to in my life, (therefore passing on some immunity through my milk) I would worry about the international flight. What if it's not just a common cold? And the fact that your Dad was concerned enough to ask if you wanted to cancel kind of worries me.
But it would definetly depend on the circumstances. If they live far away and won't be able to visit for a long time, I would probably allow the visit and just be the handwashing police. Hope this helps.

A slightly Bookish wife to my best friend and mama to little miss goo 12/23/09

[Mom2M]

Because it is after a flight I would probably be a little concerned but I'm sure she will be careful about washing hands and not coughing around him, especially since he called to ask if it was ok. she could have been the one who asked him to call and check with you.

[jess5377]

I wouldn't worry about it, but that's me and I'm pretty nonchalant about germs.

[mamadelbosque]

I wouldn't worry. At 8wks, yeah, I'd be a bit more worried, but 8 months is really pretty much past the age of absolute freak out ya know? I mean, your kids probably crawling around and eating *way* nastier stuff than whatever typical cold she's got.

Where were they? Europe? If they were in like, some wierd 3rd world country doing aid/missionary work in africa/asia/pacific/s america I might wonder a smidge more... But assuming its typical europe/australia/japan/china/etc type trip it wouldn't phase me in the least Good luck!!

[Abraisme]

I don't worry about that kind of thing. If she had a nasty flu or something terrible I'd reschedule, but not for a cold.

[Llyra]

At 8 months, no I wouldn't reschedule. I might gently request that she wash her hands frequently.
But I wouldn't be pushy even with that.

I would be more protective for a newborn, obviously. I would also worry more about someone sick with something more serious, or with stomach bugs, since I HATE dealing with kids and diarrhea. But for a simple cold, I don't think I'd change my plans at all. Baby is just as likely to catch a cold from a stranger at the grocery store, and I can't rearrange my life around that possibility. Colds are a part of being human.

[sncmom]

As long as it is just a cold (no nasty cough or anything), I wouldn't worry about it. At 8 months your LO is no longer an obligate nasal breather and colds are going to happen. With a newborn, I would definitely encourage the rescheduling.

[cristeen]

Thank you ladies, and gent.

I went ahead and told him that so long as she's feeling on the road to recovery and he's not feeling like he's coming down with it then they can come on down, but that I'll be asking them to wash their hands.

She was in Central America, I don't know how long her trip was, but she was probably visiting her mother. This is their first chance to meet the baby, and if we were to reschedule, our next open weekend is 5 weeks from now, so it's not a simple reschedule. (This is the first time I'll have seen them in over 3 years.)

[Spirit Dancer]

Originally Posted by cristeen

Thank you ladies, and gent.

I went ahead and told him that so long as she's feeling on the road to recovery and he's not feeling like he's coming down with it then they can come on down, but that I'll be asking them to wash their hands.

She was in Central America, I don't know how long her trip was, but she was probably visiting her mother. This is their first chance to meet the baby, and if we were to reschedule, our next open weekend is 5 weeks from now, so it's not a simple reschedule. (This is the first time I'll have seen them in over 3 years.)

In this case I would certainly not reschedule. Have fun!

[bri276]

Nah, the chances are it's probably nothing. It was nice of them to ask, though

[Sharlla]

Originally Posted by jess5377

I wouldn't worry about it, but that's me and I'm pretty nonchalant about germs.

same here. i haven't worried about it at all and Panda hasn't been sick yet at almost 5 months old.

[tzs]

Originally Posted by mamadelbosque

Where were they? Europe? If they were in like, some wierd 3rd world country doing aid/missionary work in africa/asia/pacific/s america I might wonder a smidge more... But assuming its typical europe/australia/japan/china/etc type trip it wouldn't phase me in the least Good luck!!

on this: wasn't the recent mumps outbreak here imported straight from europe? i had a couple friends in nyc who got it and while in most cases of illness i'd rather have us exposed....mumps is one of the ones i don't want to mess around with (sterility in boys doesn't sound like fun.)

in general i like germs. i'm a big fan of my babe licking all the shopping carts she can wrap her mouth around. an international flight, i'd be wary of but probably not what you are describing.

enjoy your visit!

[mamadelbosque]

See tzs and thats where we differ I have boys and I wouldn't care in the least if they got exposed... when I read about mumps while researching vaxes, it was a pretty much non-issue. The incidence of true sterility was like nill - it did occur sometimes but almost never in both testes.