When can I take my new baby out in public? I’m afraid she’ll catch a cold—but I need to run errands. What should I do?

There is really no reason why you can't. In some cultures the new mother and baby must go through a 41-day confinement period, but there is no medical reason to not go out. However, be careful of a few things: - Do not take your baby out for too long (as you mentioned, there maybe chances of the baby catching an infection). - Do not spend too much time (more than 1 hour) in close quarters or with too much crowd. - Make sure that whoever touches the baby must sanitise their hands. - If you are taking your baby out and it crosses the napping or feeding time, prepare an emergency baby kit and stack it with diapers, baby wipes, feeding supplies, breast pump and extra clothes. - Dress your baby according to the weather you expect to encounter outside the house. - Protect your baby from the sun's heat and light. Carry a stroller, if needed.