Tips For Bringing A New Baby Home During Flu Season
Bringing a new baby home is an exciting, yet stressful time. You’ve been anxiously waiting to bring your new bundle of joy into her newly perfectly decorated nursery filled with baby gear to last her through the next year. And while nursing, feedings, and sleep schedules may be a challenge, combating the everyday guest can be ranked right up there too! When flu season is here in full force, that means moms and dads of newborns have to be extra careful with baby getting sick! Even the slightest little fever on a newborn is grounds for a trip to the ER- and often- an inpatient stay with lots of poking, prodding, and testing!
Here are some tips for bringing a new baby home during flu season.
1. Set ground rules early. Before baby is born make your expectations known to anyone who may be coming to visit.
2. Only healthy visitors. Don’t allow anyone near baby who is not feeling their best. If they’re stuffy “but it’s only from allergies” take a raincheck. This includes if anyone in their home is sick. So when Mary’s husband Steve is home with the flu, tell Mary to skip her visit, even if she isn’t sick, she can be a carrier.
3. No kids. Keep kids- especially those who are in daycares and schools- away. As much fun as it is for kids to see a baby, they are little germ transporters.
4. No kissing on the face. As tempting as it may be to smooch little ones cheeks, remind visitors to please refrain from kissing baby on her face.
5. Always wash hands. My favorite is when people say “my hands are clean” or “I just washed my hands before I came”. Humor me and soap up those hands in my sink so I’m confident they’ve had a proper cleaning!
Setting ground rules and expectations early will make visiting much less stressful. If you are the visitor, remember it’s not about YOU. Keep mom stress free by following the guide!
