6 things to avoid when visiting a newborn

Taking home a newborn - whether it's your first or fifth - brings about a pretty seismic shift in your life.

Of course there's the unparalleled euphoria. But it can be a time of very mixed emotions due to the physical discomfort from the birth, exhaustion from the lack of sleep, and the general overwhelm that comes with a new little human in your life.

The new baby bubble

While you bask in your baby bubble, there's also a queue of friends and family dying to meet the new arrival.

But it's important you put your foot down and keep the first few days for you.

Here's six things to keep in mind when visiting a newborn.

1. No crowds: It's important to remember that the new parents are tired and adjusting to their new arrival. The last thing they need is a crowd of visitors to entertain. So consider going alone or tagging along with one person to make a team of two.
2. Do not over-stay: The new parents are learning the sleeping pattern of their baby and this may not be easy. By overstaying, you may affect this pattern. The new mom is also advised to sleep when the baby sleeps. So make your stay short and maybe offer to help out while you are there.
3. Don't wear strong perfume: Avoid strong perfumes when going to a house with a newborn as this could trigger a reaction.
4. Don't visit if you are sick: It is important to avoid visiting a newborn when you are sick. Their immunity is still low and they are very vulnerable to infection.
5. Don't kiss the baby: Again, this comes down to their vulnerability. Babies are adorable; you want to sniff their heads and soak in that newborn smell, and you want to smother their tiny faces in kisses. But kisses can spread the HSV-1 virus to babies, which can be fatal.
6. Don't wake the baby: Babies need sleep and their parents need that time to rest or to get household chores done. Although it's only natural to want to lift and cuddle the baby, you can leave them very unsettled.