Newborn and Sick Child

I just went through this too - I have an almost 4 year old and a 7 month old. Some of the answers are a little harsh in my opinion. You are just trying to do your best to protect your newborn! Its not as though you have kicked your 4 yr old out of the house :0) You have probably been home from the hospital for what a few days now? I would guess you are physically and emotionally exhausted even in the best of circumstances but with a sick preschooler and a newborn to worry about getting sick? And for the record, it is a big deal if a newborn gets a fever. Its an automatic hospital admission and in some circumstances, a spinal tap to check for bacterial menengitis! Of course you should do what you can to keep the newborn from getting sick. Lets have a little empathy people.
Anyway... its great that the 4yr old got some extra gma time while he was sick... something special for him and a little distance for the baby and even a break for you. Now that gma has to go back to work, go ahead and bring him home. Do your best to keep the 4yr old from kissing/hugging on the baby and practice good handwashing and thats the best you can do.
Hang in there momma, it gets easier, I promise!!

I don't think your 4 year old has to be out of the house. I never isolated like that when I had my second. Just don't let the older kid near the baby, and make sure You wash your hands whenever you touch baby.

My son got a terrible cold at 2 weeks. He was sick for the first 3 months of his life. Poor early December baby, with a 21 month old in the house.

I'm not trying to make you feel bad, but that kind of makes me sad for your four-year-old. Lots of changes, new baby in the house... and he's isolated because he's sick? How unfair! I don't think there's any need for that. Lots of handwashing, keep him from hugging/kissing the baby, and everything will be just fine.

I can honestly say that through three children, I've never kept my children away from each other through illnesses to that extent. What child wants to be kept away from their own mother and father while they're sick???? What mother wants to be kept from their child while they're sick? What mother wants someone else caring for and comforting their child while that child is sick? Would you be expecting someone else to care for either of your children while you're sick? Would you kick your husband out of the house while he's sick? So why are you allowing your pediatrician to tell you to kick your preschooler out of his own home while he's sick?

Even with a newborn in the house, it's perfectly all right to have another sick immediate family member in the house unless it's something that would truly be harmful in a life or death situation to a newborn. It's part of what helps the baby develop a healthy immune system, and if you're breastfeeding then the baby will have your breastmilk protecting him.

Everyone in the house should simply wash hands, cover noses and mouths when they cough and sneeze by doing so into the elbow and if not, into a tissue that is thrown away immediately. If it's done into the hands then hands are washed immediately. Teach everyone to cough and sneeze in a direction away from people.

Make sure everyone gets plenty of fresh air. Air out the house often. Wash laundry to get any ick out. Clean surfaces and don't let your son reuse cups and silverware, but put them in the sink or dishwasher right away after he uses them. Don't leave paper cups or sippy cups around the house.

The children can even be in the same room.

I seriously question any pediatrician that gives this sort of advice for a simple fever. That's not sound advice, nor is it practical.

4 years old is old enough that you can explain to him that he can't hug or kiss the baby right now. Keep them apart, and wash your hands every time you go from helping your older child to picking up the baby. I think you'll be ok.

And while there are no guarantees, people are usually contagious with viruses starting just before symptoms and then for about 48 hours. So he's probably not contagious anymore. Especially if his fever is starting to come down. I say let him come home and be with his mommy.

Bring your son home. His fever is almost a non-issue at this point and you've done your best under the curcumstances. Spend some time with him while baby is sleeping; this is a transition for him also, and I just think he needs to be home. At least he's not coughing all over the place, and with a runny nose...that would be worse. Maybe keep them separated for a day until fever is normal...and congrats, btw! I have three now, and remember bringing #2 home...took some getting used to, but it was a special time. Good luck.

If I could give you any advice would be to bring the baby back. It's hard but they have to build up your immune system, I'm sure It's hard for baby not to be with mommy also. How wonderful of your mom to help take care of your child. Lucky. Good luck. :)

We never worried about it. We washed our hands before handling the baby. The pediatrician said as long as the baby was nursing he would be fine. Think about it, if you were sick with a fever, you couldn't very well send the baby away! If it makes you feel better, then just keep the four year old from kissing and handling the baby until the fever is gone, but no need to isolate him.

If you can keep them apart at home that would be good. My youngest is 4 1/2 months when we brought her home my other 4 children came home from spending a week with my sister. My 20 month old ran a high fever followed by two of the other children. The doctors told me the baby was probably okay protected from my immunities.

I would do lots of hand washing and not let your 4 year old hold or touch the baby until fever and symptom free for 24 hours.

Kids are a lot more resilient than we think. Personally, I would not have sent him to gma because if the fever, but that's just how I view such things. Your baby, at only a week of age, probably has more resistance to 'catching' something than will be true ever again.
I agree that your 4 y.o. needs to be with you now. As others have mentioned, just not putting them too close together and observing all the universal health protections.... hand washing, covering mouth for coughs, sneezing etc. Possibly using gloves for changing the baby or helping the 4 year old with body fluid type of issues. These should give you the protection you want to keep the baby well. And you will be contributing to the emotional well-being of your 4 y.o. by having him home with you.