Should I postpone my son's birthday party (family sick & have a newborn)?

[JFTB1177]

My DS2 is turning 2 next week, we have a family party planned for Sunday the 13th. I also have a 3-week-old (and a 4-year-old). My mom informed me today that my brother, SIL, niece and nephew all have the flu and were throwing up and sick a few days ago! They are coming to my son's party (of course), but now I am really worried because of my newborn. My mom insists it'll be fine because they seem to have a 24-hour flu or sickness and shouldn't be contagious by the time we have the party. I really don't want to reschedule but I REALLY don't want my baby getting sick!

I should also add that my dh, DS2 and I just got over BAD chest colds and the baby (DS3) didn't get it at all (prob b/c I am breastfeeding). Somehow my DS1 escaped it too! Would my breastfeeding protect my baby from my brother's family's sickness? Will they still be contagious in a week?

WWYD??

[Knitting Mama]

Me personally, I would not. A week is probably enough time to ensure they're not contagious, especially since they're already on the mend and not in the throes of sickness. However, I might do a check in with the people who are sick on, say, Tuesday and gauge how they are doing then. If it's just a family party, it might be easy enough to postpone it to the next weekend (as long as your sweet 2 year old is okay with that).

[Cujobunny]

I agree, I think it sounds like they will be fine by party time. I would wear the baby anyway & minimize his exposure to any germs.

[Asiago]

I would postpone the party. The risk is that your very young baby may become ill if someone is still a carrier or clinically ill. I recall when my son was born our pediatrician advised no group gatherings or public places until at least two months of age so that was the plan we followed. He did say that individuals, provided they are not ill, could come visit baby though.

Even fever is medically treated differently in young babies. Babies less than six weeks are treated as medical emergency if they have temperature over 101. Babies 7-12 weeks should be seen within a few hours of fever onset.

Illness in very young babies is just more dangerous, so I would likely postpone the party. Just my personal view though.

[HollyBearsMom]

These things don't worry me. You and your family are most likely exposed to people who are sick or are in the process of becoming sick or are recovering from illnesses of which you were not even aware..  Unless you and your family never leave your home you are at risk of picking up something and exposing your children to it. 

Since you know they have been sick make sure that they wash hands upon arrival, have plenty of tissues around and limit or do not serve communal food (dips etc). The devil you know and all that, YWIM? As another poster said, wearing your infant is a great defense but I would be more concerned with the 2 and 4 year olds. Make sure they practice good hygiene as well (hand washing, elbow coughs, etc). 

[MsFortune]

People are typically most contagious at the beginning of an infection.  So in a week they should be fine.  

Agreed with poster above - good hygeine, washing hands, and probably not letting anyone touch the baby.

[JFTB1177]

Thank you ladies so much for all of your advice!! I kept rereading your reponses, trying to figure out what to do... in the end, my brother decided for me lol. He said he def would like to wait another week b/c he would feel awful if baby got sick, so that's what I'm gonna do! Thanks everyone!! :)