As we reach the peak of the winter season, we also reach cold and flu season where it seems like every other person you know is ill! Your newborn baby’s immune system is still developing, so they are at higher risk of getting a cold or flu. To keep your baby from catching a cold, and to keep yourself healthy in order to look after them - follow our tips below.
Being antisocial is okay!
Showing your new baby off to friends and family is a highlight for new mothers, but when it comes to visiting other households or inviting people around to your home - you may have to give it a miss. Luckily, January presents the perfect opportunity to scale down your social activity. New people and environments unfortunately increase your baby’s exposure to catching a cold or any type of illness. Whilst it is necessary to build your baby’s immune system, both of you need to be fighting fit in those all important newborn stages. So don’t worry about FOMO, enjoy keeping yourself and your little one healthy!
Hygiene is everything
Out of everyone, you as a parent are most likely to pass on any cold or flu to your little one as you handle them often. This means ensuring increased cleanliness to prevent you passing on any germs. Washing your hands regularly and keeping a clean home can help reduce you passing on cold or flu germs to your baby. If you or your partner do happen to be ill, regularly washing your clothes and bedding can minimise the risk to your baby. If you have family members, friends or other individuals that come to your home to help you with childcare, make sure they also wash their hands upon arrival. Using hand sanitizer that is at least 60% alcohol is also a great way to prevent passing on germs and bacteria.
Limit time outdoors
The more your baby is exposed to cold weather, the more likely they may catch a cold or flu. To avoid this being a possibility, make sure to keep your baby wrapped up warm whilst still wearing breathable fabrics and easily removable layers. Keep your little one out of especially windy or wet weather as this will also increase their likelihood of getting sick. Whilst limiting time outdoors during flu season is important, you should also ensure that your indoor temperatures and conditions are optimum for your baby. Although you may have a warm home, this can also be incredibly drying for your baby and can lead to congestion. Using a dehumidifier can help keep moisture in the air and reduce the chance of congestion.
Monitor for sickness
As with most things, the best way to avoid sickness is to help prevent it. By monitoring your baby’s temperature you can get an indication of whether they may be close to catching a cold. Anything above 100.4°F can be considered as a fever and should be taken seriously. Your baby may show other signs that they may be getting sick, such as increased fussiness. This may also be colic, so make sure to note how often they are crying, eating as well as monitoring their facial expressions and body language.
Breastfeeding
It’s thought that breastfeeding can help build up babies immune systems and protect them from flu. Your breast milk naturally contains antibodies that can fight infection causing illnesses. For more information on common problems your baby might experience, check out our advice below.
