Advice When Visiting A Newborn

If you are going to visit a newborn, there is one thing you absolutely must remember. You are not the child’s mother, father, or other close relationship. You must behave as you would behave towards a stranger. Be polite but reserved. Read on and then we will explain why.

You carry around bacteria

When visiting a newborn, you should see yourself as someone coming out of the street and therefore being a person carrying a number of pathogens.

You should know that the environment outside is invaded by all types of microorganisms that can attack the child’s immune system. Remember this if you are going to visit a newborn, because the baby does not have the necessary defenses to protect itself.

Breast milk enriches not only the baby with nutrients but also antibodies. In this way, newborns can defend themselves against certain invasions. However, breast milk alone is not always enough.

Throughout the first days of life, the child needs an environment that is hygienic and as free of pathogens as possible so that he does not get sick.

When you have to visit a newborn, smile at him, talk to him, sing to him … but avoid holding him, kissing him and touching him too much.

Do not touch his wrists or clothes. If you love him, take care of him.

• Wash your hands, arms up to the elbow, face and neck.
• Do not use strong perfumes or deodorants.
• If you smoke, avoid approaching the child right after. Wait about 15 minutes.

Other advice if you need to visit a newborn

In addition to avoiding carrying the newborn, there are other things to keep in mind when visiting a newborn. Among other things, we will propose the following:

Do not be inappropriate

There are certain, crucial periods that should be respected as intimate moments for the newborn’s parents and family. This includes the sleep rhythm of everyone in the house, as well as bathing and eating times for the baby.

If you choose to visit in the morning, then avoid coming too early. If you choose to visit in the evening, then avoid extending your visit until late in the evening.

The afternoon can also be complicated because the family wants lunch, the mother wants to breastfeed her baby and everyone (especially the baby) wants a nap. In fact, there are many parents who have such a schedule so they get a little more rest after the sleepless nights.

The same thing happens with any breastfeeding or bottle-feeding time, or times that the family dedicates to chores at home. In short: when you need to visit a newborn, report your visit and ask about the preferred time of the visit. 

Show your best manners

When visiting a newborn and his parents, practice in your best ways:

• Wash your hands and show up in clean clothes.
• Do not stay longer than 20 minutes.
• Do not speak loudly.
• Do not insist on meeting the baby if he is asleep. Remember that his rest is essential. Also, not all parents lock everyone into their child’s room.

• Do not visit a baby if you have a cold or a contagious disease. If you have to meet the baby due to culture or a family tradition, apologize by phone to the parents and postpone the visit.
• Do not make yourself usable and offer help with work related to the newborn. Also, do not fold clothes and wrap it in the closet. Wait until the parents ask for help. If you want to be polite, it is better to offer help with the household chores such as washing the floor or doing the dishes.
• Avoid expressing your opinions unless asked. Do not criticize anything related to the newborn or mother.
• You can visit the newborn alone or with someone else. Do not rush to visit. Stand in line or organize with the others in the circle of family and friends who you know are going to visit.