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The arrival of a baby is exciting news and makes us wanna rush to the hospital to pay a visit. Especially when it’s someone close to us who had the baby, we just can’t contain our excitement to cuddle this new member in our lives. After all, we don’t want to be one of the last ones to get to meet the baby and the new parents. However, in this excitement, we tend to forget that the new parents might be overwhelmed with too many visitors at the moment. Also, childbirth is a painful process for mothers that require some time to recover from. Entertaining too many visitors can be stressful for both the mother and the newborn. As such, it’s essential for you, as a visitor, to keep a few things in mind before paying a visit. In this post, we are sharing some important visitor etiquette tips that you can’t afford to miss:
1. Wait For Your Turn
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The news of a newborn baby is exciting, and we often can’t wait to get a glimpse of the little one — but you’re not the only one who feels this way! Keep in mind that there are so many people, such as grandparents and siblings, who are also waiting to have a look at the newcomer. Drop a congratulatory message to the new parents, and politely ask them to let you know when you can pay a visit. It’s okay to wait, and there is no need to be offended. It can be an overwhelming time for the new parents, so be a little patient and wait your turn!
2. Respect The Hospital Hours
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There’s always that one person who picks a fight with the hospital staff when they’re not allowed to visit outside visiting hours. Don’t be that person. Here’s the thing — visiting hours are there for a reason. When you visit outside of this window, the chances are that the mother and child are resting or the nurses are taking care of a few things such as feeding or cleaning up. It becomes very inconvenient for the patient and the staff when you get in the way of their duties.
3. Check Your Own Health
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Infants, particularly newborns, have a very susceptible immune system. Their bodies are just developing, and with a weak immune system, they can easily catch infections and fall sick. The mother, too, has just endured extreme physical pain and is in the process of healing. The last thing she needs is an infection to deal with at this time. Refrain from visiting if you’re suffering from a cold or flu.
This is all the more important in today’s Covid scenario. If there is even a fraction of chance that you might have contracted the virus, delay your visit until you get yourself cleared in the covid test. And while visiting, take the utmost care in following all covid related protocols like wearing a mask, using sanitizers, etc.
4. Don’t Be The Paparazzi!
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Yes, the baby is cute, and you’re all excited and can’t wait to show the world the joy of new life…but you might want to check with the parents before you begin uploading this new development on your social media channels. Sometimes, parents would like to play it low for a while before introducing their newborn to the world. Parents often want to be the first to announce and share this good news with the world. Sharing a picture before even the parents got a chance to, might cause offense. You’ll also have to consider the mother — she’s tired, sleep-deprived, and in pain. The chances are that she isn’t waiting to face the camera just yet!
5. Don’t Make Noise
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In case you didn’t know this — babies aren’t particularly fond of loud noises. It can scare and startle them, and the mom and nurse won’t be too happy once the baby starts screaming. Make sure you keep your voice low and keep your phone on silent mode.
6. Another Time For Your Kids
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Your kids are probably as excited as you are to see the tiny human, but it’s better to bring them to visit the mother and newborn at a later time. It’s not easy to maintain safety measures such as touching the newborn baby with clean hands or keeping the voice low when it comes to kids. The first time you visit the mother and newborn child, make sure you do so alone or with your partner, but not with your kids. Come back at a later time with your children, preferably when the little one is home, and the mother is in a slightly better state.
7. Ditch That Strong Perfume
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This might seem like an insignificant, unwanted etiquette, but you’ll be surprised at how grateful new moms will be if you forget about your overpowering deodorant or perfume when you visit! Here’s why — pregnancy and postpartum are all about raging hormones. There’s a surge of them even after childbirth, and the mother is probably already dealing with headaches and nausea. Adding a heavy perfume to the mix is not going to help her! Similarly, babies are sensitive too, and they might not be very comfortable with a rich fragrance all of a sudden. Maybe you could opt for something mild for the visit.
8. It’s Okay If You Don’t Get To Hold The Baby
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We’ve all been there — wanting to carry the little one in our arms and begin with the baby talk. But remember that you might not always get the chance to hold the little one in your arms. You’ve probably come at a time when the baby has just fallen asleep. Or maybe the little one is cranky and upset and wouldn’t want to be carried. Whatever be the case, don’t be disheartened! You can revisit the little one after a few weeks.
Remember that the birth of a newborn is exciting news for you — but for the parents, especially the mother, it’s much more than that. It can be tiring, overwhelming, and even painful. Some mothers will also have to deal with difficult relatives, a sickly baby, or battle postpartum trauma and depression. Don’t add to her burden. Follow these simple etiquettes so you can make the visit a happy one for everybody! Do you have any visitor tips you’d like to share? Let us know in the comments below!
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