10 Things To Avoid When Visiting A Newborn

It's always exciting to hold a newborn baby but try to bear in mind that a healthy respect of boundaries will help new parents greatly and put them at ease with you being around their pride-and-joy.

You see, often a new mum will be too tired to notice if you're not baby-friendly, or too afraid of offending you to speak up. So consider the following few things the next time you visit a newborn or you may find that you're not invited next time.

1. Don’t Wake The Baby

We know that it’s amazing to see those beautiful big eyes but it’s also a no-brainer not to disturb a sleeping baby. Babies, especially newborns, need to sleep at least 18 hours a day to help their development. Plus, the parents probably spent a lot of time trying to get the baby to sleep so if you wake it, I guarantee you'll be on their "not-to-be-invited-next-time" list.

2. Don’t Smoke

It’s good to be sensitive rather than insensitive. Smoking before or during the visit is a strict no-no. Toxins from the cigarette will stay on your breath and also on your clothes. This transfers to the baby through the air and is is called passive smoking. Also, your breath stinks and the baby doesn’t need that.

Oh, and the same goes for strong perfumes.

3. Don’t Hold Hot Stuff In Hand While Holding The Baby

It is just terrifying for a mum to see somebody holding her baby while they nonchalantly sip a hot drink. A million questions about the safety of her baby will just pop into her head. “What if the hot drink spills on the baby? What if the cup breaks? What if the baby kicks the cup?” Never ending panicky ‘what if’ thoughts will stress her out.

4. Don’t Kiss The Baby

Oh I know, babies are so kissable and their heads are so sniffable but we have to agree on this one because it’s common sense. Kissing is simply the most unhygienic way of expressing your love for a newborn. Not for you, but for them. So please, ask before you kiss and don't take offence if mum says no.

5. Don’t Visit When You Are Unwell

You don’t want the baby to catch an infection from you, do you? It's pretty simple to understand that people pass down infections at close quarters. So wait till you get well before you visit the baby. The poor thing has enough going on without being made sick.

6. Don’t Be Late

Even if you're going to be just two minutes late, a heads up message will be much appreciated by new parents. Having a new baby is hard enough without the stress of waiting around for guests. So be a little courteous and apologise for being late and if necessary cut your visit short to allow them to get back on track.

7. Don’t Take Other Kids Unless Invited

Being a new mother is so overwhelming, especially if it’s the first baby. So unless specifically invited, don’t take any other kids. Don't get me wrong, I love kids but no matter how lovely and well-behaved they are, they are noisy and distracting for stressed out mums. Plus, kids are germ factories.

8. Don’t Forget To Wash Hands

As mentioned earlier, newborns are prone to getting infections easily, so please always wash your hands before carrying the baby and use a blanket under the them while carrying.

9. Don’t Stare While Breastfeeding

Nobody likes to be stared at, especially a new mum breastfeeding her baby. Breastfeeding is natural and you don’t need to make a big deal out of it. If she is a first-time mum, breastfeeding is very much new to her and both the baby and mum are learning. Let her focus on feeding rather than making her uncomfortable.

10. Don’t Give Unwanted Advice

Unsolicited advice is not great. Don’t give unnecessary advice and join the other voices that might be annoying her. Be there for her, support, and offer help. Let her know that you are there to support any time she needs you. Otherwise, keep your thoughts and advice to yourself.