How to Safely Introduce Your Newborn to Visitors During the Coronavirus Pandemic

Bringing a baby home used to mean a flood of visitors with frozen lasagnas where the only precaution typically taken was washing hands with soap and water. With COVID-19 remaining a very real concern though, parents welcoming a newborn are now having to determine what’s safe and what’s smart when it comes to allowing extended family to visit during the pandemic. To get specific guidance, we chatted with three doctors for their advice on how to make newborn introductions right now.

Safety Practices to Follow

A new baby is most vulnerable during its first six weeks of life. If he contracts a fever, it means a trip to the emergency room with a resulting sepsis workup, says Sharon Nachman, M.D., chief of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital. “We often tell families to restrict visiting during those weeks,” she says. The key idea is cohorting: It’s better to visit with a small cohort for a long time than a large cohort for a short time, Dr. Nachman says. In other words, keep your circle as tight as possible.

When you’re thinking about who may visit, it’s also smart to be critical in determining how well your potential visitors have maintained social distancing and isolation from other potential viral carriers. Have they been working from home? Have they had groceries and goods delivered instead of going inside stores? What’s more, how likely is it that your visitors will be able to follow the measures you put in place to protect you and your baby from possible exposure, poses Jay Lovenheim, D.O., F.A.A.P. of Lovenheim Pediatrics.

It’s a good idea to consult with your OB and your baby’s pediatrician and then decide exactly when you’ll allow some visitors and what you should ask them ahead of time. When you are ready to introduce your baby, keeping visitors behind a glass window or door is a safe option. The next safest is being outside and at least 6 feet apart, Dr. Lovenheim says.

“As a pediatrician, I am as concerned about the parents as the newborn,” says Leann Poston M.D., M.B.A., M.Ed. of Invigor Medical. That means that even if you don’t allow visitors to hold the baby, you need to keep your own safety in mind. Everyone in the house or outdoor space should wear a mask, and have anyone who may touch your baby wash their hands rather than wear gloves, as gloves tend to get cross-contaminated, Dr. Poston advises.

Getting Cozy with Siblings

When it comes to older siblings, you can generally relax more. As long as they’ve been practicing responsible social distancing and are not currently sick, brothers and sisters should pose no greater concern than the mother and father of the new baby, Dr. Lovenheim says. As always, just make sure kids wash their hands before being close with the baby. And if you do think your older child is sick or has had any potential COVID exposure, then have her wear a mask as well, Dr. Lovenheim advises.