The arrival of a newborn is an event no one wants to miss. How much joy it brings to family and friends! However, these visits aren’t always handled in the best way. Some mothers and fathers prefer to spend these first days—often marked by fatigue and uncertainty—in privacy. And the truth is, When a baby is born, a family is also born. and you have to learn how to be one. Get to know yourselves. Discover yourselves. At LILLYDOO, we want to share a few recommendations that may help you manage visits with your newborn. Will you join us? ;)

How to limit visits to the newborn in the hospital?

If you’re choosing a hospital for the birth of your little adventurer, we’ve already shared on other occasions what you should consider, such as how to prepare or how to properly create your . However, it’s less common to think about how you want to be accompanied during those first days with your baby. If you think you’ll need to limit visits to only your closest circle—or even avoid them altogether during your hospital stay—don’t hesitate to communicate this to those around you. Communication is always key to your well-being and your baby’s. One idea that can be helpful is to have your partner, if you have one, send a message announcing not only the birth of your little one, but also your wish for privacy. With assertiveness and kindness, they’ll surely understand.

How to manage visits at home?

Every family is different . Some will need a few days to adjust, while others will be eager to reunite with loved ones at such an important moment. Either way, what matters most is having time to be together and relaxed, so you can get to know each other and settle into this new life. Here are some recommendations for managing visits to the newborn at home:

• First of all—and most importantly—always express how you feel and what you need. Don’t do anything out of obligation! In the first days, not only will the baby need care, but you also need to be cared for and supported with the utmost tenderness.

• In the first days with your baby, delegate the task of managing visits to your partner or a trusted person. You can agree in advance on a few essential points about what visits to the newborn should be like.

• If you don’t want to receive visits every day, you can set visiting days—for example, three days a week at a specific time. This will help you organize the rest of your time together. Remember that rest is very important, because it directly influences your mental health.

• You can also set visiting times in advance based on your needs and the baby’s: nap time, bath time, dinner time… The important thing is that you feel comfortable and that visits don’t add extra work on top of the already enormous caregiving effort, but instead feel like a breath of fresh air.

• Along the same lines, it’s important to insist on punctuality from those who come to visit. If you’ve outlined a schedule of visits and times, delays can disrupt the rest of your plans or cause visits to run longer than intended.

• Finally, remind family and friends that it’s always best to let you know before stopping by, so they don’t interfere with your new routines. Life with a baby can be quite an adventure!

What should visitors to a newborn avoid?

In addition to the above, there are a few points that can be helpful for anyone visiting a newborn to know. They’re simple things we often overlook, but they can significantly improve the experience. Do you think it would be helpful to share this with your friends and family? Share!

Offers help

When a baby arrives home, tasks seem to multiply—or become more complicated. Laundry, cleaning, shopping, meals, and dinners… there are many things that can’t be managed with just two or four hands. If you’re going to visit a newborn, it’s best to ask what you can do and how you can help. Starting a load of laundry and hanging it up, or cooking dinner, can do much more for a baby and their parents than the most expensive gift.

Do not use strong perfumes

Babies are born with a highly developed sense of smell. This is essential for recognizing their mother and locating breast milk. When you expose them to strong odors, you can confuse them, which may make them feel disoriented or upset and can unintentionally interfere with breastfeeding. It’s best to skip perfumes, colognes, or cosmetic products with strong scents.

No fumes moments before the visit

Although smoking has decreased significantly in recent decades and we’re now more aware of the harm tobacco can cause to babies and young children, it’s still common for some people to smoke before seeing a newborn. Avoid doing this, because chewing gum or cologne won’t mask thirdhand smoke.

Avoid picking up the baby in your arms without asking first

Babies are precious. A marvel of nature. A miracle. That’s why it’s not uncommon for everyone to want to hold them and cradle them, but avoid picking up the baby unless the parents offer. These first days can be emotionally vulnerable for everyone, and being passed from arm to arm may not be what the newborn needs most in that moment. There will be time! Promise.

Do not kiss the baby

The pandemic showed us how vulnerable we are to viruses. What might be a simple cold or a runny nose for you can turn into bronchiolitis—or something worse—in a baby.

Don't go if you're sick

As we mentioned before, babies are very delicate. So don’t visit if you’re sick or if you have any physical symptoms, no matter how mild.

Do not give opinions or advice unless asked.

It may sound harsh, but a mother’s last need is to be told how to breastfeed or bottle-feed, how to bathe the baby, or how to hold them. Unless she asks you, the best thing to do is to keep your opinions and advice to yourself. If you truly feel you need to share something, do so with love and respect.

As we mentioned at the beginning of the article, the arrival of a baby is a wonderful event, and as friends and family, you want to be part of it. But don’t worry—there will be time to share. Respect the new family’s time to get to know each other and adjust; they’ll thank you. :)