Protecting Newborns From Illness

[SunnyDay]

We have between 8-10 kids per day here, and our 2 babies who started last fall have stayed quite healthy. When the stomach flu hit everyone else, they were fine. They don't play with the same toys as the big kids, so they don't get nearly the germs. I think wearing baby and trying to keep him/her separate for the first few months will be a great plan. Good luck!

[NeedaVaca]

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.

Yes, a newborn with a fever will get a spinal tap at almost any hospital.

[Scout]

like the others said...BREASTFEED!! Breast milk is absolutely amazing stuff! I have used it on diaper rash, for pink eye, etc. There was a study where they actually found stem cells in breast milk too! How cool is that! A lot of us have breastfed, myself for 7 mos supplementing with formula for ds1, 18 mos breast milk only til 12 mos for ds2happyface! For both I pumped milk also since I worked away from them. If you need any advice, etc you can PM me after baby is born too. There are also sites that are great for questions on this such as cafemom, mamapedia, and more! I found I was always looking at this stuff with my youngest since it was sometimes a struggle to be able to pump him 2-3 bottles for dc but, we made it and I am so glad I didn't throw in the towel! Good luck in whatever you choose, there is nothing wrong with formula either if you decide to go that route, I just loved breast feeding so I am very prone to side with it if mom and baby can both do it!

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

like the others said...BREASTFEED!! Breast milk is absolutely amazing stuff! I have used it on diaper rash, for pink eye, etc. There was a study where they actually found stem cells in breast milk too! How cool is that! A lot of us have breastfed, myself for 7 mos supplementing with formula for ds1, 18 mos breast milk only til 12 mos for ds2happyface! For both I pumped milk also since I worked away from them. If you need any advice, etc you can PM me after baby is born too. There are also sites that are great for questions on this such as cafemom, mamapedia, and more! I found I was always looking at this stuff with my youngest since it was sometimes a struggle to be able to pump him 2-3 bottles for dc but, we made it and I am so glad I didn't throw in the towel! Good luck in whatever you choose, there is nothing wrong with formula either if you decide to go that route, I just loved breast feeding so I am very prone to side with it if mom and baby can both do it!

I plan to breastfeed until at least 2. I'm on of "those moms" in every way.

[Loveyoustinkyface]

Breastfeeding is an amazing thing! You just can't go wrong

Wear your lil one as often (and comfortably) as you can!

Wash your hands often

Don't let too many people touch your baby, everyone always wants to touch babies hands and feet....which is what babies stick in their mouths

Have a strict policy on not allowing children around that have just been immunized.

Good luck!!!!!

[laundrymom]

I've not read all responses but can offer my own experiences.
Took 2 days off w my son. Plus a weekend. Had 4 kids in care.
Took the same w dd #1, 6 kids
4 w/2nd dd 10 kids incl her
9 w/third dd. 10 kids incl her

They are now 21,19,14&11.
We've filled 3prescriptions total.

[Willow]

Yes, a newborn with a fever will get a spinal tap at almost any hospital.

I'd seriously question the intent and judgment of a doctor who insisted on newborns with fevers getting spinal taps across the board..... The notion is fear mongering at best.


There are loads of alternatives to just jumping right to a spinal tap over a mere fever. Thank goodness most pediatricians have more common sense than that and parents have the right not to consent to such an invasive procedure if it really doesn't make any sense to go to those lengths.

[SilverSabre25]

I'd seriously question the intent and judgment of a doctor who insisted on newborns with fevers getting spinal taps across the board..... The notion is fear mongering at best.


There are loads of alternatives to just jumping right to a spinal tap over a mere fever. Thank goodness most pediatricians have more common sense than that and parents have the right not to consent to such an invasive procedure if it really doesn't make any sense to go to those lengths.

^^^ AGREED.

That's kind of like ordering a CT scan for a hangnail IMO.

[Country Kids]

Breasting feeding is the best but please don't rely on that as a instant thought that little one won't get sick.

I exclusively breast feed my youngest for 12-14 months and they had their share of illnesses. I also was only able to take a week off.

My nephew excusively breast feed then organic fed, seems sick all the time. Was home with mom the first four months, exposed to others but not in childcare.

Another nephew breast feed and sees to always have something wrong.

That are just a few examples I know personally with kids being breastfeed. I know you can read, get tons of examples about breastfeeding and kids not getting sick but its not an instant guarantee that they won't.

[Vesta]

Just remember that some kids are just going to come down with everything that happens to walk through your door (or the door of anywhere you happen to visit).
My 13 month old got his very own nebulizer when he was 6 months.

Still going strong on the breast feeding, but he just looks at another kid with a runny nose and his starts going.

He's never even been a mouther but he's always catching something, even when none of the other dcks manage to.
My dh and I were actually talking about how it was a good thing I was breast feeding or the kid would have probably lost a lung by now--jk.

Just try to keep them out of the baby's face and away from school age kids.
I think they are the ones that are a bit on the typhoid Mary side.