3 of 20

Write now Article Tools

Once the news goes out that you have finally had a baby, everyone will be dying to see her. It is not always a good idea to invite all of your friends and relatives into your home, but going visiting is usually a pleasant experience. In fact, it is beneficial for a baby to go out and explore the world around her and socialize with other people, grown ups and kids alike. It not only allows her to gain new experiences, but may also benefit her language development.

Whether you are going out for just a couple of hours, or all day, you should plan ahead to make sure your baby will be comfortable and safe.

First of all, it is not recommended to take a newborn baby out into a public place until she is about six weeks old. Before then, an infant's immune system isn't mature enough to be able to fight off disease. If you can't wait that long, it would be wise to ask your baby's doctor, first. Visiting family or friends in their home might be safer than going to a park or a restaurant, as long as none of the guests are sick. To be safe, you should call ahead and ask. If you have to cancel your visit, don't feel bad. You are protecting your baby. And there will be many other opportunities to go out in the future.

One way to make sure your visit will be a pleasurable experience is to allow your baby to take a good long nap before heading out. She will be well rested, happy and probably more tolerant of spending a few hours in unfamiliar environment. If you would rather have the baby sleep during the visit, you can keep her awake until it's time to go. It does not always guarantee the baby will sleep through the whole party, but it will give you at least some time for yourself.

You should also pack a large diaper bag with all the necessities: several diapers, baby wipes, a change of clothes, a couple of burping cloths and baby blankets, a bulb syringe to clear your baby's stuffy nose (infant's nostrils are very small and get congested easily), gas drops and prescription medication, if your baby requires it.

If you are breastfeeding, you don't have to worry about bottles of formula, but you should bring a few nursing pads and, of course, wear clothes suitable for nursing your baby.

If you are bottle feeding, prepare one bottle full of formula ahead of time and take a couple of empty sterilized bottles for replacement. You have the option to take either powdered or liquid baby formula. Liquid might be more convenient, because it is ready to drink, and it doesn't

• 1
• 2
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about Tips for going visiting with a baby?
We want to hear your view. Write now!