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Visitors and the first weeks

Who comes to see the baby in the first weeks and on what terms, from an open door to no visitors for a set period, and any ground rules such as hand-washing.

When should we allow visitors after the baby is born?

In short: Parents choose between 4 main approaches: Open door from day one; Short scheduled visits; Helpers only; No visitors for a set period; plus conditions (vaccinated, hand-washing, no kissing). Evidence: your call. No outcome evidence picks a winner. Preference, culture, money and logistics decide. Best settled: during pregnancy.

Evidence
Your call
Best settled
During pregnancy
Part of
Pregnancy to first birthday

Visitors and the first weeks: what are the options?

Parents usually land on one of these 4 approaches.

  1. 1. Open door from day one

    Family and friends can visit freely from the start.

  2. 2. Short scheduled visits

    Visits are brief and arranged in advance.

  3. 3. Helpers only

    Only people who come to help, with meals or chores, are welcome early on.

  4. 4. No visitors for a set period; plus conditions (vaccinated, hand-washing, no kissing)

    You see no one for an agreed period, and set rules such as vaccines, hand-washing and no kissing the baby.

Visitors and the first weeks: what does the evidence say?

Your call. No outcome evidence picks a winner. Preference, culture, money and logistics decide.

No outcome sources; therapist-written lists advise telling family the rules in advance

Sources

What else is worth knowing?

The first weeks involve recovery, feeding and little sleep, and visitors can be a help or a strain. Newborns are also more vulnerable to infection. Agreeing your rules in advance, and who will communicate them, spares you awkward moments later.

Questions to ask each other

  • Who do we want around in the first weeks and who should wait?
  • What ground rules do we need, like handwashing or keeping visits short?
  • How do we say no kindly, and who will do the telling?

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First published 2026-10-03. Last updated 2026-10-05. General information, not medical advice.