This post is all about How to restrict visitors’ interaction When Breastfeeding in a pandemic
Breastfeeding in the pandemic seems like a different experience. You are trying to learn to breastfeed, adapt to the new routine and understand your child’s hunger cues. On the other side, you worry about the constant visitors, their interaction with the baby, and the spread of covid 19.
Some people understand the needs and concerns of new parents, while some take it as a personal attack. Honestly, the most important thing is to be firm and clear about your limitations. You must prioritize your family’s health when it comes to visitors coming into the house to meet you and the baby.
Read along to know some helpful tips to restrict visitors’ interaction and ways to get help from them.
8 tips to limit visitors’ interaction
Here I have enlisted a few helpful tips to make sure your visitors are helping instead of adding further burden on the new parents.
Say no to cuddles
I know the loving grandma would love to give your little one a cuddle and a kiss but, you have to be firm and categoric about visitors’ interaction with your child.
According to Healthline, a newborn died from meningitis due to a visitor’s kiss.
Gently but firmly tell everybody to be away from the child. They can visit you, look at the baby, bring gifts but cuddling and unnecessary touching are not acceptable.
I am sure it will hurt a lot of people’s egos and feelings but, in these difficult times, you have to make some hard decisions for your family’s health.
Offer a sanitizer
Never hesitate to ask the visitors to wash their hands or use a sanitizer after entering your home.
Visitors should also understand that newborns are sensitive and vulnerable to viruses and, their slight carelessness can cause problems.
If you are visiting a new parent’s house, keep a sanitizer with you and clean your hands before entering the house.
If you are a new parent, please be responsible and offer a sanitizer to your guest. We have to adapt to the new normal and, wearing masks and using sanitizers is a compulsion now.
Limit the visitors
You can tell your close friends and family members to take a break and visit a limited number of times.
Having a lot of visitors can increase the risk of getting infected with covid 19. It also causes fatigue for the new parents and their children. So, it is good to be polite and gentle with visitors and explain your concerns regarding the pandemic.
I am sure your well-wishers will understand!
Ask them for help
You have to abide by one parenting rule
Never refrain from asking for help.
There is no shame in asking for help from your friends and family members. As new parents, you already have so much on your plate. Your friends can help you cope with some of the pressure.
If your visitor is an experienced mother, ask her for tips about breastfeeding, ways to have a good latch, and different nursing positions. I am sure all the experienced moms will love to pour out their experiences.
Similarly, you can ask things like:
- Cleaning of the breast pump
- Doing laundry
- Cooking
- Taking the older children out
- Cleaning the house
You must realize that those coming to visit you are your friends and well-wishers. If you ask them to help you, they would love to do it.
Don’t be a host
Stop acting like a host to your visitors. You must realize that your condition is very different right now. With a newborn baby and his upside routine, you should rest and feel relaxed.
All you can do is be kind and gentle with the visitors and let them help themselves. It is a good idea to relax and don’t overtire yourself.
Ask the visitors to stay away if they are sick
If you find out that your visitor is not feeling well. You can courteously call them, ask about their health, and request them to postpone their visit until they are fine.
You must remember that asking people to postpone their visit for your family’s safety is a valid reason.
Ask them to bring food
Just as I mentioned earlier, there is no shame in asking for help from your visitors. You can ask your friends, relatives and family members to bring tasty food for your family.
You can tell them about your chaotic routine and how a warm tasty meal would be helpful.
I am sure they will love to feed you with your favorite cuisines.
Final thoughts
New parents’ life is chaotic and unorganized. You have to adapt to the routine of your baby. Accepting visitors during that time is hard.
You can tell people to be understanding and responsible towards your family’s health.
This pandemic has caused us to have social distance but, we all must understand that it is for our good.