It is not true that the baby must stay home for 2-4 weeks or longer after birth. No matter how often someone has told you that you cannot take the baby outside the house for many weeks after delivery, it's not true. As long as your baby is healthy, going outside and getting some light or fresh air can be great. Not only for the baby, but also for mom and dad. But you need to take some precautions:
- Make sure you are all dressed correcly, not too overdressed and not too underdressed. If it's too hot outside, make sure the baby won't get overheated, and if it's too cold make sure the baby is warm and well covered.
- Stay away from direct sunlight. Newborn babies have very delicate skin and should be exposed to direct sunlight only shortly or not at all. The newborn baby's skin burns much easier than an adult's, so keep baby's skin in shade, away from direct sunlight. Even shade can sometimes be a problem, because light can be reflected, so make sure the baby is always well protected.
- Stay away from public and other places where you know ther could be people who could be ill such as public transportation or malls.