When my children were infants, I wasn’t the type to bathe them daily, and if the weather permitted, I often skipped the newborn hat (yes, I know, sacrilege!). Their little nails sometimes got too long, leaving scratches on their delicate faces, and I wasn’t always diligent about cleaning up every bit of spit-up on their clothes—or mine, for that matter.
I didn’t subscribe to the notion that you should keep a baby confined to a sanitized home for the first three months. Honestly, how is that even feasible, especially when you have more than one child? However, there was one rule I stood firm on: “Keep your germs away from my baby!” I frequently wore my baby in a carrier wherever I went. This was partly due to the fact that my little ones were like Velcro, clinging to me, but it also served to shield them from all the germ-infested adults who thought it was acceptable to swoop in and smother my baby with kisses.
Listen, I get it. Babies are adorable. They’re irresistible. It’s incredibly hard to keep your hands to yourself. But please, don’t touch a newborn without asking first. Don’t hold them unless you’ve washed your hands, and for goodness’ sake, don’t shower them with kisses. And let’s not even start with sneezing on a newborn and making excuses about allergies or some other flimsy reasoning.
Be Mindful of Your Health
Here’s the big one: If you think you have “just a cold” or “just a scratchy throat,” don’t even think about visiting my newborn. It doesn’t matter how minor you believe your symptoms to be; if there’s a newborn in the house, you need to be completely healthy to step inside.
Your mild sniffle could lead to serious implications for a newborn, potentially requiring a hospital visit. While adults may have developed robust immune systems over the years, babies have not. A simple virus like respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) might feel like a trivial cold to you, but for a newborn, it can be life-threatening, necessitating medical intervention just to help them breathe.
This concern is echoed by experts. According to pediatrician Tanya Remer Altmann, MD, infections in small babies can escalate quickly. She notes that viruses manifest differently in infants compared to older children and adults, making it essential to take extra precautions during the first few months of life—sometimes even up to six months.
Real-Life Experiences
Of course, despite our best efforts, illness can still find its way into our homes. I have a close friend whose week-old baby had to be hospitalized due to germs brought home by an older sibling. Thankfully, these situations are rare, and most babies fare well, although they can be quite alarming for parents. Why take unnecessary risks when it’s as simple as staying away from infants when you’re feeling under the weather?
While I tend to be a bit of a germaphobe, I do believe that as children grow, it’s important for them to be exposed to some germs. Once they start crawling, it’s nearly impossible to prevent them from exploring every dirty surface. My kids have even been known to crawl around, tasting the floor as they go. But there is a reason that the phase when babies start to pick up germs coincides with their ability to fight off illnesses, typically after receiving a few vaccinations.
Final Thoughts
Until then, please keep your germs to yourself. I don’t care if you traveled across the country to see that baby; if you’re feeling sick, stay away until you’re completely recovered.
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Summary
Keeping germs away from newborns is crucial for their well-being. It’s essential to ensure that anyone visiting is completely healthy to prevent serious infections. As babies grow, they will encounter germs, but until then, it’s best to stay away if you’re feeling unwell.