You Are Sick with a Newborn: How to Keep Your Baby from Getting Sick When Mom or Dad Is
No one is completely safe from illness; both adults and children can get sick. Depending on the type of illness, proper actions must be taken. When there is a newborn in the house, it is absolutely essential to take infection prevention measures. Even if you are already sick with your baby, you still need to follow all precautions—as you would if your newborn were healthy. This is important because you could spread additional illness to your baby.If you are sick and your baby is healthy
Doctors say that a baby’s immunity is protected by the mother’s body for the first six months of life, after which the baby’s own immune system develops.
If a parent has a cold, cough, or fever, the rest of the family must protect themselves from the very beginning until the cause is understood.
Common cold: A cold is caused by prolonged exposure to cool temperatures. It can even happen in the middle of summer if you go outside feeling warm and sweaty and the weather changes. If a doctor diagnoses you with a cold, you don’t need to fear infecting your baby, since colds are not contagious. The main concern is monitoring your temperature—don't let it rise above 38 degrees Celsius. Only use fever-reducing medicine prescribed by a doctor, as many antipyretics enter the bloodstream and can pass into breast milk (if you are breastfeeding).
Viral disease: Everyone should wear disposable masks at home until test results show it’s not a virus. This precaution is especially crucial if a viral infection is confirmed. You should not try to self-treat, as this can be dangerous.
Measures to prevent the baby’s infection:
- Wear disposable masks and change them several times a day.
- See a doctor as soon as possible.
- Drink plenty of warm fluids.
- Eat lighter meals.
- Use disposable paper tissues and throw them away immediately after use.
- Run a humidifier; dry air slows recovery by drying out mucous membranes.
- Ventilate rooms frequently.
- Wash the floor once or twice a day.
- If the baby is breastfed, switch to formula until treatment is done. Mothers should pump to maintain milk supply.
- Get appropriate treatment. Breastfeeding mothers should use milder medications, as many drugs are not suitable. If the father is sick, treatment can be more intensive to speed recovery.
Advice:
There are many diseases transmitted through the air. To avoid infection, you must protect yourself and the newborn. To find out how to defend your vulnerable baby, take our unique Parenting Mentor Test. The results will teach you how to care for and protect your baby, and our recommendations will offer practical tips to help you become even better parents.
If the baby gets sick along with you
Viral and bacterial infections can be unpredictable. Sometimes, even as a healthy adult continues fighting the illness, the baby may show symptoms sooner. The infection could have happened at the same time, or you may have been a carrier and your child got sick faster. The incubation period can vary depending on the pathogen. What should you do? The same measures: monitor temperature, keep your baby hydrated, check air humidity and room temperature, ventilate well, and continue all the above precautions. Don't forget disposable masks.
What extra care does your baby need?
- Contact a doctor right away and arrange for all necessary tests. This will help diagnose the illness and choose the right medicine.
- Constantly monitor your baby's condition and temperature, which should not go above 38.3°C. Have two types of fever medicine in case one doesn't help. If your baby has a fever, don't overdress or wrap them up. Sometimes doctors recommend undressing the baby and wiping with warm water. The evaporation cools the skin and helps lower fever. Also, remove any diapers.
- If your baby has a runny nose—a serious concern for newborns, as they only breathe through the nose—use a nasal aspirator to clear mucus. Special nasal drops can help with congestion.
- If your baby coughs, in addition to medicine, help loosen mucus by gently patting the back while your baby lies face-down on your knees. Be gentle to avoid injury, and only do this two hours after a feeding.
- If you don’t have a humidifier, hang a damp towel near your baby’s crib (wet it with plain water and wring it out well; do not use perfume or powder).
- If your baby's fever is low (up to 37.5°C), bath time and fresh air walks are allowed while ventilating the nursery and parents’ bedroom.