About visitors

The first days after your baby is born are very special. It is a time of getting to know this new member of your family. Use this time to rest. Give yourself and your partner time alone with your baby. Include your other children and your baby's grandparents. They, like partners, are welcome to visit any time you wish as long as they have not been exposed to an illness or feel sick.

Although you may be eager to share your baby with other family and friends, it is a better choice to limit visitors while you are in the hospital. Consider waiting to invite visitors to see your baby until after you have enjoyed skin-to-skin time with your baby and have successfully had your first breastfeeding.

Consider asking visitors to see you and your baby after you get home. Some birth centers provide a "Do Not Disturb" sign for your door.

To help protect your baby's health, ask people to wash their hands before holding your baby. Anyone who has been exposed to an illness or who has a cold, flu, diarrhea, cold sore, impetigo or a fever during the past 24 hours should not visit.

Siblings should not visit if you know or think they have been exposed to an illness that can be spread, like chickenpox, cold or flu.

There may be visitor restrictions if there is a community outbreak, such as the flu.