hi ladies- hope everyones doing well!
Sorry i have so many questions.. ANY answers will help tons!!!

first- how old were your babies before you took them out? (to like the mall, food store etc)

Second- my daughters cord stump fell off today and it still looks goopy inside her belly button.. should i clean that with rubbing alcohol or just some warm water? Also- is it okay to give her a regular bath now and not just a sponge bath?

third- When is it okay to cut babys nails? Her pediatrician said now is fine but the pediatrician in the hospital said to wait 2-3 weeks. What have you ladies been told?

Thanks in advance!!!!!!:)

Taking the babe out for the first time is really individualized. How do you feel about others oohing and aahing over the baby? Just beware that shopping carts are filthy and I always take hand sanitizer so that I can rest easy when I touch the baby. Also, money is filthy as well. And people are going to walk up to your child and some may even try to touch them. Babies are just such wonderous creatures and people are automatically drawn to them. Make sure that people don't touch their hands, as babies will chew on them. I always let people touch his feet or something like that.

I would just clean the stump site with a little alcohol. I would not submerge the baby in a bath until the drainage has ceased, maybe a couple of days.

Cutting nails, there are so many different views on this. I cut my son's nails at a few weeks old because he wouldn't leave mitts on and he scratching the living tar out of himself. Some people file them down with an emery board. Also I was recently told that newborns nails should be cut with scissors to avoid pulling the nail off of the bed. The mere thought of that scares me.

Hope my rambling helps a little.'

Amy

I went back to school with my baby at 11 days, and my sister took her daughter to school with her when she was 5 days old, but that's not the mainstream approach. I wouldn't have done it if it weren't so close to finals.

But as to strangers touching the baby, I carry my baby in a sling and no one has ever tried to touch him. I guess because they feel like it's an invasion of my privacy to come so close? I don't know, but I like it because there's no one breathing in his face and I can breastfeed while grocery shopping and no one knows :).

We stopped at the store on the way home from the hospital. I didn't allow people to ooh and awe over the baby. I started using a sling when she was a few weeks old, that way she was out of harms way. I would never put a baby seat on top of a shopping cart. They are unsafe and REALLY nasty dirty.

And when DD's cord fell off it was kind of icky too, I just kept wiping it with alcohol until it dried up.

I didn't cut her nails until she was a couple of months old. The reason is that the skin it still connected to their nails, so when you trim their nails, there's a good chance you can cut the tip of their fingers. While they were soft they were easy to tear, so I did that. When they started to grow sepperate from the skin I was able to cut them.

I took my daughter grocery shopping at 6 days because I had no choice. Like another mom said, it's individual. Just do what feels right to you. I just wouldn't let anyone touch him/her. I'm a total germaphobe (sp?)!

I would also wait for the drainage to give a real bath. Clean it with an alcohol pad. It should clear in a couple of days.

You can really cut the nails whenever you want. I would just do it when he/she is sleeping. There's less chance of them moving and getting accidentally cut in the process.

Congrats!!!!!

thank you so much ladies all your responses have been very helpful!

i took my daughter out a few days after she was born, just because i was a nervous new mom and didn't want to leave her at home with grandma... what can i say...i covered the top of the carseat with a blanket to protect her a little. this also helps for any strangers trying to get too close. i also carry hand sanitizer with me at all times and try not to touch her too much while outside (especially when shopping).

i was told by my pediatrician to only use water to clean the healing area on the belly button once the stump fell off. i used rubbing alcohol while the stump was still on but after it fell off it seemed it was hurting her more with alcohol than just clean water. it took a while to heal (was still bleeding for a few more days) so i waited with a bath until the area completely healed up, after about a week.

i waited about 3 weeks to cut her nails, for one my mom scared the living heck out of me when i tried to cut them after we got home from the hospital. dunno, i guess back home (Switzerland) they advise you to wait, so she was terrified of me cutting them. the pediatrician said it was fine to do it right away but i still waited. i do it when she's asleep, it's the best way, otherwise she'll try and pull her hand away. just be very careful, because it's really easy to cut them, even with baby clippers!!!

good luck and congrats!

Befer.

I took my little one out at 2 weeks, but at first just for walks in the neighborhood and then later to stores or cafes.

In Germany they tell you not to cut the nails for 2 months. I think dd was 7 or 8 weeks the first time I tried it and I only do it when she's sleeping.

My midwife gave me some kind of powder to put on the belly button until it dried up completely. Then she said it was okay to bathe her.

Hope that helps!