When is it OK to take a newborn out in public?

My daughter is having our first grandchild next month. When will it be safe to take him out in public?

Laurie, The MNBC Mommy's Reply:
Thoughts on when it's safe to take a newborn out in public have changed somewhat over the years. When I was born, my grandmother insisted that my mom not take me out of the house for six weeks. While being cautious is a good idea, this might be more than necessary.

I expect that your daughter is anxious to show off her little one. Assuming that the baby is healthy, and your daughter is assertive enough to ask people to keep their "hands off", it would probably be fine to take the baby out at a couple of weeks old. (I would answer differently if this were flu season.) She should keep an eye out for people with signs of illness and insist that anyone who wants to touch or hold the baby wash their hands (carrying hand sanitizer is a good idea). Personally, I figure if the baby can stay well after visiting the pediatrician's office, the immune system must be doing okay. You probably can't find a much germier place than that!

Getting outside in the fresh air is a good thing for both mom & baby, as long as the baby is dressed appropriately and protected from sun exposure.

Most babies carry some of their mother's immunity from birth. If she is breastfeeding, immunities are continued to be passed along. On the other hand, a simple cold that would only annoy a healthy adult could become something much more serious in a newborn baby. Being cautious is never a bad thing.