Healthy Holiday with Baby… How to Safeguard Your Baby without Being Rude.

During the holidays, it can be a challenge to keep our babies safe from undue exposure to bacteria and viruses.  After all, tis the season for colds and flu!  But this is also the time to get out and enjoy the company of family and friends.   Holiday parties… Air travel… Hoards of people in stores and malls… Great uncle Harry (with his weird wiry whiskers) who wants to kiss all over your baby!

The good thing is that if you are breastfeeding, you are providing a unique level of protection only you can give your baby.  When you are exposed to pathogens in the environment, your body naturally produces antibodies and delivers them to your baby through your breast milk.   Even though your breast milk is a powerful force, additional measures should be taken to minimize exposure.  Here are just a few easy things you might consider:

·       Encourage family members and friends who are ill to stay away.  If someone in your household becomes ill, remind them to cough or sneeze into a tissue or toward their armpit (not into their hands).   Did you know that droplets fly at about 100 miles per hour when someone sneezes without covering their nose?

·       Wear your baby at parties.   A baby wrap or sling discourages people from asking if they can hold your baby and prevents baby from being passed around.  You can also keep a portion of the wrap hanging so that if you find yourself in close proximity to someone who appears to be ill (sniffling or sneezing),  pretend you are shielding your baby from bright light or noise and cover his head (loosely) until you are far enough away.

·       If others are permitted to hold your baby, ask that they wash their hands first.  Blame your discourteous behavior on your healthcare provider!  Explain that you are not trying to be rude, but that this is what your pediatrician has suggested you do.  Carry a small container of hand sanitizer.  It might be useful, even for yourself, if you’ve been shaking a lot of hands (goodness knows where those hands have been).

Gatherings are fun, and I would encourage you to socialize!  Just know that by taking a few precautions, you can dramatically reduce the chances of your baby (and you!) becoming ill.  While holidays are a great time for sharing… there are some things better left unshared!