People rally around mom who shared why she won't let her mother-in-law hold her baby

Babies require more care than adults, so parents often go to great lengths to protect them, even if it means being extra cautious. One mom, @FreightTrain, shared on Mumsnet about an incident where she refused to let her mother-in-law hold her baby for a specific reason. She asked the community if she was justified, and many responded with their opinions.

"Just arrived at in-laws with our 7-week-old daughter. They've met her twice," the post began. The mom further shared that her in-laws played with and held her daughter both times through one of the comments. "Mother-in-law gets cold sores. I discussed this with the husband in the car and asked him to be on the lookout for if she has one as she can't hold the baby if so," the mom expressed. "Arrived, no cold sore, but after being here ten minutes, it seems she is a bit ill. She sounded hoarse, her nose was a bit red, popping cough sweets," she continued. The woman pointed out how her husband might not have realized these things.

"He is an oblivious man, so either hasn't noticed or hasn't put 2+2 together about it not being ideal to have our baby around her," the woman remarked. "I've managed to escape the room where they're having lunch as the baby needs to be fed. I want out of here asap and don't want her to hold baby. What do I do?" The mom also clarified that the baby hadn't caught a cold once in 7 weeks. The mom explained how the Herpes virus can be fatal to babies, so she was not being overly precautionary, just trying to look out for her baby. People took to the comment section of the post to support the mom.

@Kaaraa shared, "I think I'd leave. You should have been given the heads-up. You shouldn't have to stay around anyone ill because they didn't bother telling you. Usually, I'm the first to think people are being precious on here (I don't say that, I just often think it), but I don't think you are. Common decency to let someone know you're ill if they are coming to stay." @Alittlebitwary wrote, "I'm on the fence, it's just a cold and baby will probably be fine, needs to be exposed to some illnesses to build up immunity, etc., anyway - but also if you want to avoid it, it's perfectly reasonable too. You are the mother and it's your call!"

@BetterThings commented, "I think it is selfish not to explain in advance to guests or visitors if there are colds or viruses in the home. I would not let someone with a cold hold a 7-week-old baby. If they got huffy, I would leave. I may say I will be in touch with more dates to catch up, in the proviso that everyone is well. I recently went to a big family meal with a 7 MONTH old. I felt perfectly fine but came down with a nasty COVID-19 virus the next day. I felt horrible and very guilty. I would check with my family and let them know I have a cold before visiting or meeting up."