Play pass-the-baby on Thanksgiving?

[mittendrin]

My baby will be 2.5 wks on Thxgiving and I am planning on keeping him in the sling. We're invited to some friends' house and I know a few people will want to hold him. Actually it's only one woman... How rude is it to politely let them know that it's RSV season and flu season and that you really don't feel like taking the risk? I hate the pass-the-baby game...: but also don't want to piss people off.

[melissakc]

I would turn it into a blame-the-pediatrician thing. Just say the ped recommended against contact with people outside the family for the first month and you're really not supposed to be at Thanksgiving in the first place.... My ped actually gave me permission to do this and made me swear to her that I would put the health of my my baby before the feelings of some lady at the grocery store with a cold sore who wants to kiss on my baby. She actually said that!

[GinaRae]

I'm worried about this too. We're supposed to go to my friend's house on Thanksgiving where my husband will cook for everyone. They're expecting us. But they will want to pass the baby and he will be 7 days old. I am not so interested.

Both for the germs and my mood. My friend's MIL is SO LOUD and hard to handle and she's super excited. I don't want to deal with her, her husband's smoke smell when he comes inside, the kids... I am so not looking fwd to any of it.

I think I will come in a separate car in time for the meal and wear Lachlan in a sling. I can leave early if needed.

*groan* There's also Wednesday we're supposed to see friends, one of whom my husband hasn't seen in maybe 8 years. I SO do not want to play pass the baby then either. Yuck.

[lisalulu]

:

I hate that game too and my mom's family is pretty good at it at any occasion. Looking forward to the responses-I wish I had a good suggestion for you!

[laohaire]

I gotta wonder why people DO this (demand to hold such young babies)!

It would never occur to me to do this to anyone, friend or relative, much less a stranger.

I dunno, it's like "Oooh, I love your dress, can I try it on?" or "I see you're making dinner, can I lick the bowl?" Too personal of a request!

[Kontessa]

Stand up and protect your baby!

Unlike me today!

So I went shopping with a friend for thanksgiving stuff and some much needed house items. (Both our husbands deployed so we are doing something small but nice for us and the kids. It helps to not be alone in this, it really is hard and her year just started where as next month my deployment ends.) Libby is a week old, I had her in a Moby Wrap. Strangers came up and where touching her face and talking to me in spanish and giving her blessings of some kind! OMG. I had been warned about this as we live on the boarder and it is a culture shock type thing for me. I thought baby safer in the wrap then in the car seat. People where right there with their faces next to my BOOBS even. It was so wierd. I am going to try the ring sling next time as maybe less people will notice and she will be lower then eye level near my tummy in a cradel way. OR, I will just give my friend a list and stay home. LOL We did take my kids to a park first though and got the baby some fresh air and sun. A friend thought she looked a little yellow but I swear she does not at all in good light and when she is not wearing yellow and green. (Hubby really thought it was a boy and so I did too! LOL)

Anyway, your baby, your the mama, be the mama Tiger and protective.

Others: Oh.... so tiny, can I hold?
You: In a few weeks the Dr said that should be safe but for now we are strict orders that it is only house hold family germs aloud. Baby will still be adorable then though I promise.

Good Luck!


P.S. I so badly need to learn spanish. How do I kindly say NO TOUCHY!

[JamesMama]

**shrug** I figured we'd just give it up. Aldria will be almost a month old, we've already passed her around so I give up. We'll just be politely requesting people wash their hands or use purell.

Of course we're just with family so they wouldn't ask to hold her if they were sick or anything.

[Curlita]

We're having the whole famn damily over for Thanksgiving and it hadn't occurred to me *not* to play pass the baby, since it would give me a break. Four of the 12 invited work as doctors or nurses, though, and I don't think they will be offended if we ask them to wash hands -- most of my family do this already without being asked.

I don't let strangers handle my baby, but I've always been pretty permissive about friends, etc. holding them.

[Valerieg]

Since I don't have a babe in arms yet...I'm glad to not have to deal with this just yet. If the baby comes between now and Thanksgiving I won't be attending. But I was worried about this! I hate pass the baby!

[scheelimama]

Kimmy, I've been wearing Piper in my ring sling and covering her with the tail so people can't even see her. If they can't see her, they're less inclined to get up close and personal. But I've still had a few strangers get too close for my comfort or touch her head.

[mittendrin]

Yep, so Maya Wrap-ed he's gonna be!
Happy Thanksgiving, mamas!
Kimmy, I was in a similar situation last spring when I flew to Germany. Had a layover on Philly and took the shuttle to the plane, full with Indish people. A few women kept wanting to touch my boys in the face, and they were already 4 and almost 3 then. I was cringing when they stroke their hair but when they started pinching their cheeks I told them to stop. Yikes, heaven knows what kinda germs they had on their hands. Airport bathrooms, bus, stuff from god knows how many continents...Urgh!

I have good reflexes by now when people go for my kids' faces - my oldest had bad eczema when he was a baby and there was always someone who commented on his "nice rosy cheeks" and wanted to pinch him!:

[chrysalis]

oh i hate pass the baby. after a few seconds of watching others hold my baby i am so ready to take baby back. people gotta realize that yes, we realize they want to love on the baby and get feel good vibes from holding baby, but what it does to us mamas is unbearable. i think i'll just stay home and on my turf and if my mom wants to come over here and her boyf, they can, but i'm not bringing sheamas out and about til i'm good and ready. i'm sooo glad i don't have to deal w/ tom's stupid family. they are all so damn loud and obnoxious and stupid. good riddance on my part. i'll never have to worry about them. nor do i worry about meghs' bio fathers family either as they are idiots too and non involved since day one. phew!!! thankfully i don't have to worry too much about pass the baby. my old homeschooling mama friends in MN wanted to play that game and i wasn't looking forward to that... got out of that one too... hee hee.

i'm so ready to just meet this little guy! well i think i've been on here lonnnnng enough tonight. so hard to get off of this forum. i love you all so much. gonna go snuggle w/ my girl........................................... g'nite.

[chrysalis]

Originally Posted by Kontessa

P.S. I so badly need to learn spanish. How do I kindly say NO TOUCHY!

you could say something like "nooooooo las manos!" i forget how to say touch. but manos means hands. and no means...NO.

when i was 4 i lived in san miguel de allende, mexico. beautiful place, btw...anyway, those local native mexican adults would pinch my cute little cheeks cuz i was a total white haired cutie and tan as could be. well one day i looked up at one of these grown ups (can't remember if man or woman) and said "IF YOU DO THAT TO ME ONE MORE TIME.............!!!" i had had it!!! so help me goddess. i was a fireball even then.

[*GreenMama*]

I guess thats the only good thing about being baby-less this Thanksgiving.... unless this little one decides to appear tonight or tomorrow!

I'm hoping to get past Turkey day so a) baby will be 38 weeks and b) maybe everyone will be too busy to want to break down the hospital door to see the nugget! I can only imagine if the baby is born on Turkey Day or tomorrow that I'll be expected to open the hosp door up wide for all the relatives who are off from work and in the area... When I say no thanks you know they'll :