This post is brought to you by Caitlin Bell.
Caring for a newborn baby during a pandemic can seem like a scary thing, especially if it’s your first baby. If you take the proper precautions, you should have no problem keeping your baby safe and healthy throughout the course of the pandemic. Take a look at a few ways you can do that.
1. Consider Breastfeeding
As you might know by now, breastfeeding can be incredibly beneficial for a newborn baby. Breast milk can provide the best nutrition for babies because it contains everything the baby needs for the first six months of life in just the right proportions. Breast milk also contains important antibodies that help babies fight off viruses and bacteria and boost their immune system, which can be especially helpful now. Also consider breastfeeding well beyond infancy, learn about the benefits of breastfeeding a toddler.
2. Have Everyone Wear a Mask
Whenever people are going to be around your newborn, make sure that they all wear a mask when holding the baby. The last thing you want is to have someone get your baby sick at such a young age. Both adults and children should wear the best mask while near or holding your newborn baby. Keep some kids’ KN95 masks and some for the adults on hand if you plan on having company. You can find all kinds of comfortable masks at retailers like Green Supply.
3. Avoid Crowded Places
While it might not be ideal, you may have to leave the house sometimes with your baby. When you do have to go out, try to avoid places that tend to be crowded, like the grocery store on weekends. Instead, have your groceries delivered if you can. Keep your baby’s contact with the public as limited as possible to avoid potentially getting your baby sick.
4. Make Sure They’re Up-to-Date on All Vaccines
If you want to ensure your newborn stays healthy during this pandemic, make sure they’re current on all of their vaccines. It might seem safer to stay at home rather than take your perfectly healthy baby to a pediatrician’s office with potentially sick children, but keeping them up to date on all of their vaccines can actually help them. There are still bacterial and viral diseases that spread from person to person (sometimes without symptoms). Since vaccine-preventable illnesses are still going around, it’s better to get your newborn’s vaccinations as scheduled.
5. Pay Attention to Your Own Needs
Caring for a baby before the pandemic was stressful enough, but add coronavirus to the mix and you’ve got a recipe for disaster. That’s why it’s important that you pay attention to your own needs, because things can get overwhelming pretty quickly. Reach out to family and friends when you need help and try to rest as much as you can. Find time for yourself by having your partner or a grandparent care for the baby on occasion. Remember to seek help if you really need it — there’s no shame in that.
Keeping Your Newborn Happy, Healthy and Safe
Keeping your baby in good health during a pandemic might seem like an uphill battle, but with the above in mind, you can keep your baby happy and healthy. It takes a village, so remember to ask for help when you need it and give some of these tips a try.
