Not everyone agrees with the list (Photo: Getty Images)

A mother has shared the list of ‘newborn rules’ she sends to friends and family before they can visit her baby for the first time.

Nikki, a former paramedic who now works as a health specialist for Australian childcare and education service Tiny Hearts, shared her 10 rules in a short Instagram video.

But before explaining her rules, Nikki explained on the service’s Instagram page: “We are expecting our newborn girl next month and just sent out our boundary texts to our family and friends about some of the rules we have and I wanted to share with all of you.

Nikki then went through all ten rules and explained her reasons for doing so. The first few lines are all health related.

“Please don’t kiss my baby at all.” If you are sick, stay away. Please wash and disinfect your hands,” she told her followers.

She also urged her family and friends not to show up ‘unannounced’ and asked visitors to return the baby if it started crying while they were holding it.

Nikki also explained her rules about not posting photos of her newborn on social media without her knowledge.

“Please ask me or my husband before changing the diaper so we can agree,” she added, urging visitors not to wear “perfume or strong scents.”

For those who didn’t know, some perfumes can irritate the skin (and senses!) of newborns.

People who have not been vaccinated against whooping cough must wait six weeks before they can visit Nikki’s newborn baby.



I was terrified after my boyfriend met my newborn son

New mum Siobhan Smith said she was “scared” after her friend kissed her newborn son’s forehead.

“During the first few months of life, babies have underdeveloped immune systems, and what might be a simple cold to you or me can lead to a baby being hospitalized,” she wrote in a recent article for Metro.co. uk.

“When my boyfriend kissed my son, I was overcome with a paralyzing fear that this innocent gesture could make him seriously ill or even kill him.

“It may sound exaggerated, but he was only 21 days old and I was worried he might become infected with other people’s germs.”

“I’ll be the first to admit that this fear may have been quite extreme at first.

“I remember seeing people holding my son and being so tense all the time; Be careful about kissing or touching bare skin with hands that may be unclean.

“The constant worry led me to avoid certain social gatherings because I didn’t want to be seen as rude or seem like a neurotic new mother (I’m pretty sure I failed the second part).

“But considering that my baby was born right at the height of post-pandemic cold and flu season — combined with the fact that I’ve been dealing with health issues — my concerns might make a little more sense.”

“And while I may have been overly sensitive to my son getting sick from unwanted adult germs, that is a completely valid fear.”

The last rule, which Nikki says is the most important, is that visitors should keep their opinions to themselves and only offer support.

“These conversations can be very awkward. “Once the baby is here, texting early is so important.”

While some people supported Nikki’s list, others disagreed with certain rules.

Instagram user Maaike Schüller shared her own experience with setting rules, noting, “Yes… everyone ignored it… and still does… no matter how many times I say it.”

Another commenter, @emmak.onst, said: “I wish I had this list and especially not perfume.”



Nikki’s visiting rules for newborns

  1. Please don’t kiss, baby
  2. If you are sick, stay away
  3. Please do not show up unannounced
  4. Wash your hands before touching them
  5. Give me back my baby when he cries
  6. Please don’t post photos without asking
  7. Ask before changing the diaper
  8. No perfume or strong odors
  9. No whooping cough vaccination, no visitors for six weeks
  10. No opinions, just support please

Anna M. Frymire wrote, “Before I had a child, such things seemed excessive and, frankly, very rude, controlling, and paranoid. But that was because I assumed the general population was well-behaved. “Now I know that some people should actually be asked not to do these things.”

Mari Karppinen said: “I wish this was automatically sent to every family member before a mother comes home with a baby, and it has NOTHING to do with us as mothers sending it.”

However, Instagram influencer Natalie McCracken (@true.rebel.heart) commented: “I’m so the opposite of that… I want to share the joy of my baby with my village!” ​​I love that we all respect different ways of parenting.”

While Kaz Barkho shared: “That’s too much to ask.”

And Instagram user Jakob simply asked: “What kind of pretentious nonsense is that?!”

The Lullaby Trust says people visiting newborns should wash their hands, not kiss the baby and not visit at all if they are sick.