How long should I keep baby home?

[satay sue]

I took mine out at a week old and daily from thereon to keep my sanity! Would have been sooner but I'd had a c-section and was kept in hospital (Tokyo). I was scolded a lot by older Japanese ladies though, who told me I should have kept him home for a month!

 

[JL168]

I thought that the Chinese tradition was just to stay home for the first month.... And of course I didn't follow. I took my baby to the doctor when he was like 1 week old. After that, I regularly took him out for a short walk in the mall (I needed the escape, by the way, cause my parents were driving me nut ;-) ).

Same here!! Parents were very helpful, but a real pain
I took BB out after a 1.5 week and it felt so good! And as I'm breastfeeding, the vitamine D from sunlight was an extra.
What I can advise is: be careful going to crowded places since your BB didn't have all the vaccinations yet. And I think it's also important to dress her enough, especially in this chilly weather (babies can't regulate their temperature yet in the first few weeks). Enjoy!

 

[southside852]

first baby i did doctor's visits and walks in the neighborhood, but didn't do any public enclosed spaces (ie. malls, restaurants etc...) until after the first month. With #2, it took about 2.5 weeks.....

 

[Gracey]

don't listen to the chinese superstition.
actually, it's good for the baby to get out -- fresh air, sunshine (well, not with the weather this week, but you know what i mean)
i didn't got out TONS the first month, but we did regular park visits after that.
in canada, way back when i was born, the nurses used to march the new mothers out of the maternity ward for walks outside with their newborns. even my hong kong mom joined in!

 

[JoyousBaby]

I was told NOT to bring my bb out once she is 2 mths old by a hkg lady. She told me bb antibodies from mom will be gone then and will get ill easily if I bring her out. Many old wives myths that I must say I personally hate it. Especially my husband's side, cope too much n I simply just ignored, eg: no matter how cold u must bathe your bb otherwise will have body odor in future, bb must be home by evening before sunset.. Lots more which I find ridiculous but I just nod my head when advised. Not to be rude that is all.

So far I'm happy bringing my bb out n she is happy too. Need to get out of the house!!

 

[Lali07]

A baby will receive her mother's antibodies for however long she is receiving breastmilk. Depending in the duration of breastfeeding, the child will carry some of that immunity long after weaning, well into school-age and beyond. So taking a breastfed baby outside so long as mum feels up to it, shouldn't pose any significant health risk to the baby. A tiny new baby will probably prefer to be in a sling or carrier though rather than a stroller. Being close to his mother will reassure him and help him to feel safe out in the big world, plus no need to stop and feed, he can nurse right there from the sling

 

[penguinsix]

We were advised to avoid large crowds for at least the first 30 days. Taking the kid outside was more weather dependent in the first few weeks, but we were told not to go to a church or a mall with a child until they were about 30 days old to avoid contact with strangers (many of whom want to get in close and 'coo-coo' with a new baby).

The other advice, which might not apply on a day like today, is to avoid some of direct sunlight as newborn's can be sunburned quite easily.

But generally speaking, going to a quiet park or for a walk with a newborn is considered ok, and may actually help the mother who is probably wanting to get out of the house a bit.