Protecting Newborns From Illness

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I am getting slightly worried about the daycare children exposing my baby due Sept. 2 with illnesses.

I don't have anything in my handbook about simple runny noses or coughs (beyond GREEN SNOT, that is in there) but I'm slightly paranoid about even those once a newborn is in the house. I plan on keeping baby on me in a moby wrap or in the kitchen (gated off) in a swing or pack and play and baby won't be around them at all for the first month. Am I just being too paranoid? Maybe I've read too many horror stories? ::

What has been your experience with newborns in care with older children present?

[SilverSabre25]

I had no problems whatsoever. My DS has been very healthy all 20 months of his darling life. I did have a "do not touch the baby" rule for the first 6 months or so (until he got mobile) along with a rule about not touching the baby's toys.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I had no problems whatsoever. My DS has been very healthy all 20 months of his darling life. I did have a "do not touch the baby" rule for the first 6 months or so (until he got mobile) along with a rule about not touching the baby's toys.

How many children did you have in your care?

I have 9.

[Country Kids]

I think it really depends on the sickness that is running through you home. Whether your baby is worn or not they still will be exposed to germs. Like I said, last week my one dck was fine and the next day, had broncitis! I would have never known he was sick-

Right now we have a friend that is a provider and the baby (2 months) is in the hospital with rsv and some other things. So she isn't able to work and I'm not sure if a sub came in or she may just have closed completely for now.

[MyAngels]

I keep all of the baby's toys, equipment, etc. completely off limits to the older kids, as well as not allowing the older kids to hover over the baby - basically they have to stay at arms reach.

My families are all pretty good about not bringing sick children anyway, but I also tighten up my illness policies if necessary.

Along with the usual cleaning and disinfecting these things have always worked pretty well for me.

Plus, don't they say that being exposed to more germs makes for a healthier child in the long run?

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I just don't want to take my newborn baby to the hospital due to having an illness within the first few months. That's my goal.

We just had a bunch of kids out with the flu, now they all have hacking coughs and running noses. We wash our hands here AT LEAST 5 times per day (they're here 9 hours), I wash and sterilize all the toys, I really don't know what else I can do...

I don't know how well a "no runny nose/cough policy" would go over. I don't know of anyone else who has a policy like that.

[SilverSabre25]

DS made 5. My limit is 6.

Unless your baby is immuncompromised it's not very likely that an illness would be that serious--especially if you breastfeed.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

DS made 5. My limit is 6.

Unless your baby is immuncompromised it's not very likely that an illness would be that serious--especially if you breastfeed.

Good to read. I can't afford to close due to baby being severely ill.

[SilverSabre25]

Good to read. I can't afford to close due to baby being severely ill.

Remember that if you breastfeed, not only does baby get your antibodies for whatever bug you've been exposed to, but your breasts themselves actually make antibodies for whatever the baby exposes *them* to. So baby ends up with a double hit of antibodies, basically.

Take precautions to keep your immune system healthy and you and baby should both be fine. A good probiotic, Vitamin D supplement, Vitamin B-complex, and Vitamin C are all good. Especially Vit D. That's KEY for immune function.

[NeedaVaca]

I keep all of the baby's toys, equipment, etc. completely off limits to the older kids, as well as not allowing the older kids to hover over the baby - basically they have to stay at arms reach.

My families are all pretty good about not bringing sick children anyway, but I also tighten up my illness policies if necessary.

Along with the usual cleaning and disinfecting these things have always worked pretty well for me.

Plus, don't they say that being exposed to more germs makes for a healthier child in the long run?

Exposing kids to germs yes but not a newborn...their immune systems are not mature enough to handle it. That's why Dr's say to be so careful the first 6 weeks. Breastfeeding will help build their immune systems. I don't have a lot of advice other than the obvious, wash your hands every time before picking up your baby. I'm not sure what else can be done that hasn't already been mentioned. If you have good parents just kindly ask them for the 1st 4-6 weeks to keep sick children home, even colds. Hopefully you will have the baby during months where the colds aren't as bad as they are right now

[Solandia]

I had a June baby with a daycare, I took 2 weeks off daycare kids completely...no problems. But my families at that time were all super good about keeping sick kids out, but I did not isolate me/my baby from the other kids...being that it was June and school was out (less sickness going around).

I also had a January baby, (a foster), and he started with the daycare kids at 3 days old. He was a full term cutie, and has always been exceptionally healthy from day 1. We were smack dab in the middle of flu/RSV season, and we did have RSV & fifths go around that Jan & Feb, but he never contracted either. I did NOT keep him separated, but with all infant...don't share toys, and the older kids could only touch/kiss his feet...no kissing/no touching the face at all.

I had a March dcb preemie who started in June with me...again, the best possible time of year, wrt illness. We were extra careful that fall/winter with him though...jsut ot be on the safe side...he was healthy, although very small (like 2-3%-ile/FTT) even when age adjusted.

i have older kids anyway, who go to public school...so when I had my Jan & June babies, there really was no point in being so cautious as I had no intention of isolating them from their own siblings...and the sibling were much more likely to bring something home from school that the daycare kids who had no older siblings.

Good Luck! I have always wanted a fall baby...I was one myself ... instead I have 2 winter babies, a spring and a summer.

[Willow]

I just don't want to take my newborn baby to the hospital due to having an illness within the first few months. That's my goal.

We just had a bunch of kids out with the flu, now they all have hacking coughs and running noses. We wash our hands here AT LEAST 5 times per day (they're here 9 hours), I wash and sterilize all the toys, I really don't know what else I can do...

There's really nothing you can do to avoid all germs that could send an infant to the hospital the first few months of their lives short of putting them in a bubble

The same germs you're concerned about dck's bringing in will be present on friends and family coming to visit, in their homes when you visit others, at convenience and grocery stores, gas stations, doctors offices during well baby checks etc etc etc.....it just is what it is.


I remember being afraid to take my first born out of the house at all after she was born. At her two week check the nurse asked where we've been and about peed her pants giggling at me when I said nowhere because I didn't want her coming into contact with any germs. She told me that even in the womb they are susceptible to a myriad of germs and illnesses. If they're old enough to be out they're old enough to handle the run of the mill junk they're going to encounter out in the world. They HAVE to encounter that stuff to grow into healthy adults and the sooner they start the better. If I pulled something out of my cupboard to eat for breakfast and then touched my baby guaranteed that was "contaminated" with something because of how many people had touched it before I did.

I was horrified at the notion but her pediatrician confirmed and reminded me children survived infancy long before bleach, hand sanitizer, antibiotics and hospitals.

We took our first walk outside that day

The odds of a healthy term infant picking up something serious really are way smaller than you think.

Chances are despite any insight you receive here you'll obsess over it just like every other first time mom does until you see for yourself that baby is just fine regardless.

In short there's nothing to worry about, but you're normal as heck

[daycarediva]

Remember that if you breastfeed, not only does baby get your antibodies for whatever bug you've been exposed to, but your breasts themselves actually make antibodies for whatever the baby exposes *them* to. So baby ends up with a double hit of antibodies, basically.

Take precautions to keep your immune system healthy and you and baby should both be fine. A good probiotic, Vitamin D supplement, Vitamin B-complex, and Vitamin C are all good. Especially Vit D. That's KEY for immune function.

This, plus I would keep baby gated off until mobile in a play yard and out of arms reach. I would also be super strict about my illness policy.

My own two youngest are 7 & almost 5 and were newborns in my care. I breasfed and keep them separated. They are the HEALTHIEST children I have ever KNOWN. Ds hasn't missed school in 2 years for illness (so we let him play hooky on Fridays when I have the day off! ) He and youngest ds were the only ones to NOT get the flu, or the stomach bug, or strep when it went through our family/house/daycare.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

There's really nothing you can do to avoid all germs that could send an infant to the hospital the first few months of their lives short of putting them in a bubble

The same germs you're concerned about dck's bringing in will be present on friends and family coming to visit, in their homes when you visit others, at convenience and grocery stores, gas stations, doctors offices during well baby checks etc etc etc.....it just is what it is.


I remember being afraid to take my first born out of the house at all after she was born. At her two week check the nurse asked where we've been and about peed her pants giggling at me when I said nowhere because I didn't want her coming into contact with any germs. She told me that even in the womb they are susceptible to a myriad of germs and illnesses. If they're old enough to be out they're old enough to handle the run of the mill junk they're going to encounter out in the world. They HAVE to encounter that stuff to grow into healthy adults and the sooner they start the better. If I pulled something out of my cupboard to eat for breakfast and then touched my baby guaranteed that was "contaminated" with something because of how many people had touched it before I did.

I was horrified at the notion but her pediatrician confirmed and reminded me children survived infancy long before bleach, hand sanitizer, antibiotics and hospitals.

We took our first walk outside that day

The odds of a healthy term infant picking up something serious really are way smaller than you think.

Chances are despite any insight you receive here you'll obsess over it just like every other first time mom does until you see for yourself that baby is just fine regardless.

In short there's nothing to worry about, but you're normal as heck

:: Yes, I got to bypass being a freak with my son since I got him at 15-years-old!

Now that I'm on my 4th pregnancy (3 losses before) I am turning into a paranoid weirdo. I'm totally NOT a bubble person when it comes to children. I raised my Godson for the first five years of his life. It's JUST the newborn stage that really freaks me out.

[cheerfuldom]

have all the items for baby be his/her items....nothing that other kids use. dont allow them to touch baby and preferably not in coughing distance. wash your hands every time you go from kids to baby. its worth the extra work. this isnt about being paranoid. its about keeping an infant safe. to me, every infant has "compromised immunity" for the sole fact of age. if an infant is taken to the hospital with a fever, they do an assortment of tests on them immediately. many hospitals require things like a spinal tap! its better to do the extra work and keep baby away from the daycare kids for as long as possible.