when to interact with baby mice

Question
QUESTION: So, my mouse Coral has just recently given birth to a litter. Today is the sixth day and I'm starting to worry about the cleanliness of the cage. When do you think I can manage to clean it? /How should I go about it? She's a very very timid mouse. I am so so afraid of startling her, because I know she's afraid of me. So, I don't want to clean out the bedding and such too early if it's going to freak her out.

ANSWER: Dear Korinne,

It depends  on how dirty the cage is.  If it really stinks bad of mouse pee, it will be bad for both her and the babies' respiratory systems.  However, if it is just a mousy smell, and you will only be a week or ten days over time, with such a scaredy mom I'd suggest waiting until the babies are two weeks old when they can move around a bit on their own.  I don't like to even touch babies at all, until they are over 7 days, even with a calm mommy.  

squeaks n giggles,

Natasha

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Alright, that makes me feel better about it.
Also, when do you think I can get away with interacting with the babies while she's still in the cage? Obviously not now, since they're not even crawling out of the nest yet, but can I do this before she starts to wean them? By the way, by interacting I mostly mean just putting my hand in the common area of the cage (not where the nest is)
I just want to start familiarizing them with me as soon as is acceptable.

ANSWER: Dear Korinne,

You can put your hand in there now.  They won't be crawling out of the nest until about 14 days, but it's good to get them used to your smell before then.  Start picking them up on about day ten.  Scoop them up all at once and hold them for a few minutes a couple of times a day.  Mom will be safely out of the way after you open the nest if she is as scaredy as that.  It will be far harder to hold them after their eyes open if you haven't held them before then.

squeaks n giggles,

Natasha

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: So, just to confirm. You're saying I can hold them after they're ten days old WHILE Coral is still in the cage? She won't be upset that I'm in the nest? Or that I'm touching the babies?

Didn't mean to ask so many questions, I just want to make sure I got everything right. XD

Answer
Dear Korinne,

I don't know how tame Coral is.  If someone can pick her up or you can put her somewhere while you hold the pups, that is better.  I had the impression Coral was hard to pick up.  If that won't work, don't worry about it.  Make sure she has somewhere to hide in the cage (like a toilet paper roll) while you are handling her babies.  The babies do need to be handled or they will be difficult too.

Have fun : ))

squeaks n giggles,

Natasha