MIL kissed my baby then said she felt a cold sore coming on, what do I do?
My mother in law kissed our 3 month old on the forehead at dinner and then casually mentioned she felt a cold sore tingling on her lip. I know hsv can be a concern for young babies and now I am worried sick. Is there anything I should be watching for, and how do I handle this with her in the future without starting a family war?
When I feel that tingle I start abreva right away, keep lysine and spf lip balm on hand, and stay far from my nieces until it is fully healed, so maybe share that kind of routine with her kindly.
Going forward, make it a simple house rule that nobody with a tingle, a fever blister, or chapped lips kisses the baby, and frame it as a rule for everyone so she does not feel singled out.
Try not to panic, a forehead kiss with no visible blister is lower risk than a kiss on the mouth, but it is worth calling your pediatrician today so they can tell you what to watch for and put your mind at ease.
Founder here. What worked for me was consistency over intensity: same simple protection every single morning, not only when the sun is out. Wind, cold, and short sleep stack up quietly, so getting ahead of them beats chasing an outbreak once it starts. Rooting for you.
Oh I'd be watching that baby like a hawk for the next couple of weeks, and honestly I'd have a gentle but very clear talk with her about no kisses on the face, ever, not just when she feels one coming. It's such an awkward conversation but you're allowed to be the bad guy on this one.
Oh I remember that panic, my heart went straight to my stomach when something similar happened with my dad. Try to breathe, keep an eye on baby for a couple of weeks and call the pediatrician if anything looks off, and then maybe have a gentle but firm chat with her about no kissing on the face going forward, it is a fair boundary and you are not overreacting.
I felt the same when I started, it does get easier.
Oh mama my heart sank reading this, I've been in almost the same spot and the worry is so real. I'd just keep a close eye on baby for the next week or two and call the pediatrician if you see anything at all, and honestly it's okay to set a firm no kissing rule going forward, you're not being dramatic.
Oh mama, I would have been so upset too, and you're not overreacting for wanting to protect your little one. I'd just keep a close eye on baby for the next week or so and have a calm but firm talk with her about no kisses when she feels anything coming on, because with tiny babies it's truly not worth the risk.
Oh mama, I would have felt that panic in my whole body, and I just want you to know you're not overreacting for being upset. When something similar happened with my nephew I called the pediatrician just to talk it through, and honestly it calmed me down so much more than spiraling online did, so maybe give yours a ring and then have a gentle but firm boundary chat with your MIL when you're ready.
Oh mama I would have been so upset too, you did nothing wrong by feeling protective. I ended up just telling my in laws plainly that nobody kisses the baby on the face, period, and honestly most people took it better than I feared.