Dear Queenie,
Some relatives of ours just had a baby, their first child. We would like to visit them, but we don’t want to stress them out.
Queenie, do you have any suggestions?—Thoughtful relatives
Dear Relatives,
Wait until they have had the child at home for at least 3 weeks.
Keep your visit short, maybe half an hour, unless you stay to help with the housework or the new parents ask you to stay longer.
Bring food.
Wash your hands before touching the baby.
If you have small children, do not bring them with you, as their antics may cause stress for your hosts.
If the new mother needs to breastfeed her baby and cannot move around comfortably, offer to leave the room to give her some privacy.
