A pump dispenser of hand sanitizer is prominently displayed on the coffee table inside Jelissa Buchanan?s home. The mom of three hopes guests will get the hint to slather some gel onto their hands before asking to hold her newborn daughter. ?I?m a little bit of a germaphobe,? admits Buchanan, who knows how quickly viruses can spread thanks to her job as an elementary school teacher.
Asking visitors to practise hand hygiene before holding your infant is awkward, but it really is a good idea, says Eddy Lau, the chief of paediatrics at St. Joseph?s Health Centre in Toronto. He explains, ?Newborns? immune systems aren?t built up yet, so they?re more susceptible to infections. It?s really important for parents to be cautious about what the newborn is exposed to.? Moms who nurse or bottle-feed their babies using breastmilk do pass along protection in the form of maternal antibodies, which help infants build their own immune system and lymphocytes (infection-fighting white blood cells) as well as healthy gut bacteria that promote intestinal balance. Breastmilk, however, does not necessarily protect against rotavirus, a severe stomach flu that can lead to dehydration, which can be dangerous for babies and children, explains Lau.
So it?s not unreasonable to politely ask sick visitors to stay away. It?s also important to use a disinfectant spray to clean surfaces that your little one comes into contact with, such as change tables. But you needn?t go to extremes, says Lau. A home is ...