When a new little one arrives, you want to do everything in your power to keep them safe. You may have heard that one way to do this is to keep them inside for their first few months, so that they aren’t exposed to germs or to extreme temperatures. Is this an old wives’ tale, or something you should take to heart?
“A newborn baby’s immune system is in the very early stages of developing, and they are vulnerable,” notes Dr. Andrew Elliston, a board certified pediatrician at Elliston Pediatrics. Still, there are ways to venture out safely.
So, when should you take a newborn out? Here, we’ll get to the bottom of this question with tips and advice from pediatricians.
When can you take out a newborn?
While there’s no hard and fast rule for when it’s safe to take a newborn out, pediatricians urge caution for the first few months of life. This is because a newborn’s immune system takes time to become fully functional. “A newborn’s immune system has the benefit of a mother’s antibodies during the first few weeks of life,” explains Dr. Robert Quillin, board-certified pediatrician and medical director at Pediatrix Medical Group. “However, a newborn’s immune system is not considered to be fully functional until 2 to 3 months of age.”
Does this mean a baby can’t go out for the first few months? Not necessarily. “It’s actually pretty safe to take a healthy newborn out in public, especially if the weather is nice, you are outdoors, and it is not crowded,” Elliston says.
“Parents should be more cautious about a baby born prematurely or who has an underlying health condition. For those newborns, the less exposure to other people the better.”
—Dr. Andrew Elliston, pediatrician
The important thing, both doctors note, is taking common sense precautions to protect new babies. “Parents should minimize direct exposure to other people, like touching, holding or kissing their baby,” Elliston explains. You should also avoid or be cautious around anyone who is sick.
Additionally, Quillin says, you should avoid extreme temperatures and dress your baby appropriately for the weather. “Care should also be taken to assure the temperature outside the home is not too hot or cold,” he adds.
By 2 months of age, most newborns will start to receive protective vaccines, Quillin notes. Even then, though, you’ll want to remain cautious, as the baby is still young and won’t have received all of their vaccinations just yet. Additionally, Elliston says, “Parents should be more cautious about a baby born prematurely or who has an underlying health condition. For those newborns, the less exposure to other people the better.”
What are the risks of taking out a newborn?
The main risk to taking a newborn out isn’t really the weather — though you should avoid extreme temperatures, whether very hot or very cold. The biggest concern is that the baby will catch a nasty bug.
“The primary risk for taking a newborn out into public would be concerns for infection, particularly during the winter months,” says Quillin. His advice is that if an infant needs to be in a public space, it’s best to avoid crowds or any groups of more than four to six people.
There are several reasons why viruses and other infections are particularly dangerous for newborns. Here’s what to know about illness in a baby under the age of 2 months, according to Elliston:
- Any fever 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher in the first two months of life can be a sign of a serious illness.
- Although a fever itself is not necessarily harmful, the infection causing the fever can be.
- The standard of care is to send a baby under 2 months with a fever to the emergency room for a detailed evaluation.
- Newborns under 2 months shouldn’t be given Tylenol or other similar medications without getting a medical evaluation first.
Safety precautions before you take a newborn out
Whatever age a baby is, there are certain common sense precautions you should take before venturing out. Here’s what experts recommend.
1. Stay up-to-date on vaccines
It’s vital to vaccinate babies on time, says Elliston. This is because doing so can help protect them from some of the most serious viruses and infections.
2. Consider the RSV antibody shot
You might also consider connecting with your pediatrician regarding the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) antibody shot available to newborns. Called Nirsevimab, this isn’t a vaccine, but a monoclonal antibody that can prevent severe RSV symptoms in babies.
“Now that we have the RSV antibody shot available for newborns during RSV season, it is so important to use it to protect them from the number one reason babies are hospitalized every winter in the U.S.,” says Elliston.
3. Ask people who interact with the baby to take precautions
This includes steps like staying up-to-date on flu and COVID-19 vaccines, diligent handwashing and even wearing masks, when appropriate. “It is helpful for parents and caregivers to protect themselves, too, so that they don’t catch a virus they can pass to the newborn,” says Elliston.
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4. Always stay away from sick individuals
It can’t be emphasized enough that you should keep your baby away from anyone who’s ill. Similarly, Quillin advises parents to keep their newborns away from unvaccinated adults or adults whose vaccination or health status you aren’t aware of.
5. Dress for the weather
You should always dress the baby in weather appropriate clothing, taking care not to overheat the baby. Consider dressing them in layers if the weather changes.
The bottom line
To some extent, there isn’t one definitive answer about when it’s safest to take a newborn out. That’s because it depends, in part, on where you are taking the baby, who is there, how crowded the area is and what the baby’s health status is.
Elliston says that whenever you end up taking your newborn out for the first time, you should do so in a cautious, common sense driven way. “This means that exposing your healthy newborn to a crowd or even just a large number of people can put them at risk,” he explains.
Whatever you do, the experts conclude, don’t let others get too close to your baby in those first few months. This is particularly important if you have a premature baby, or a baby with an underlying medical condition. By taking a few simple precautions, it’s possible to keep new babies healthy, no matter the setting or season.
