A baby’s immune system isn’t very good at fighting off illnesses when they are first born, so it’s important that parents do what they can to protect their newborns from unnecessary exposure to them.
So what is a parent to do to protect their new baby from the germs that are everywhere in our environment? Especially if the baby is born during cold and flu season? It turns out there are quite a few things you can do.
Minimizing the number of germs your baby comes into contact with when she is very young will help protect her until her immune system has time to develop. Don’t be afraid to speak up and insist that anyone that wants to touch your baby clean their hands first.
This can be a life-threatening illness for young babies. Pregnant women should get a Tdap vaccine during each pregnancy and any other adults living in the home, as well as other regular caregivers, should check with their healthcare provider to make sure they are up to date as well.
Flu vaccines are equally as important for caregivers. Infants cannot receive a flu vaccine until they are six months old, so ensuring that everyone around them is vaccinated will help protect them from this potentially deadly illness.
Of course, you don’t always know when someone is sick. Do your best to avoid places where many people might be who could be ill. If you do come into contact with someone who is sick, request that they not hold or touch your child and encourage them to cover their cough.
That being said, there are plenty of women who cannot breastfeed for any number of reasons. If you cannot breastfeed your child, talk to his Pediatrician about which formula is best and take as many other precautions as you can against disease.
Newborns and young infants don’t have fully developed immune systems and may be more at risk of getting common infections. A virus, like RSV for example, only causes cold symptoms in older children and adults but can be life-threatening for an infant. Doing what you can to avoid exposing your baby to these germs early in her life is an important step in keeping her healthy.
If your child develops a fever over 100.3 degrees F and is under 3 months old, contact her Pediatrician or healthcare provider or seek medical attention. Very serious illnesses can cause fevers in young infants and they need to be caught and treated quickly. If you are having trouble keeping your baby awake (more than usual) or you cannot wake your child, call the doctor right away.
