Babies are prone to various infections as their immunity is just on the developing stage. You might have notices that babies tend to fall sick with the change of season or place.
Such things happen as the immunity of your baby is not ready to face such sudden change and its body is not ready to face the infections and diseases that are in the environment.
One of the major infections faced by most of the babies is cold and flu. Babies tend to catch cold and flu easily with the sudden change in climate or due to pollution in the environment.
If you take your baby in area that is prone to be most polluted, your baby might catch cold and flu due to the pollutants present in the atmosphere.
Also babies, especially new born ones in their first few months of life may get sick from minor and common illness like cold and flu. As their immune responses to such illness are not yet developed, they are not able to fight off these infections very well.
So if you want to cut odds that your child will be down with cold and flu? Keep the germs away with two vital tools – good hygiene and flu vaccine. For protecting your new born from germs that are present in the environment and especially if your baby is born during cold and flu season, then these are the things that you can do:
- Maintain good hygiene: Maintaining hygiene and cleanliness is one of the most important aspects to keep your baby away from cold and flu. Always wash your hands before handling or nursing your child. Also insist on the visitors to wash their hands before touching the baby. Keep the room and the bed of your baby spic and span, in other words dust free. We all have germs on our hand and washing them protects everyone. Minimizing the number of germs your baby comes into contact with when he/she is very young will provide good base for strong health and also will help protect her until her immune system has time to develop.
- Keep your baby away from sick people: As mentioned earlier, your baby tends to catch cold and flu easily because of weak immune system. So if you are aware that your grandma, or the babysitter or any other member of the family is not well, then it is best to keep the baby away from them until they are fully well. It is not that you should keep track; who are sick or not, it is just do your best to avoid such places or people till they are well. In case you cannot avoid such situation, then request the person not to hold or touch your child or cover their mouth while coughing and sneezing.
- Breastfeed: This is the best way to provide protection to your child after he is born. Breast milk contains antibodies that will help build up the immune system of your baby and protect him/her from illness that could make him sick. In case if you cannot breast feed your child, have a word with your doctor about the formula and take as many other precautions to fight against infections and diseases.
- Avoid public places: There is no rule to stay at home after the birth of the baby. Based on the weather conditions, going out for some fresh air will do good for you and your baby. But it is highly advisable to avoid public places that is crowded as such places is virus prone and as the immunity of your baby is not well developed, he/she might catch flu or cold easily.
It is advisable to take care of your little
one during early months so that he/she gets good immunity and health. It is not
only the
Baby is vaccinated timely and all the
important vaccines are given to him/her. As a parent, one has to provide good
care to keep the baby away from common virus of cold and flu. Good hygiene,
care and alertness will not only keep your baby fit and fine but also will
build the immune system.