To not protect the baby from getting Covid?

[StatisticalDream]

I'm curious what other people would do or have done in these circumstances.

So far I have been quite careful with covid. Always wore a mask in public indoor settings and avoided taking the dd (6 months now) to crowded public indoor places.

Ds (4 years old) tested positive (PCR) for COVID on Wednesday. My PCR test and the baby's pcr test werr negative. Dh had a positive PCR yesterday. We are all self isolating at home but not isolating from each other. I have been trying to keep all the windows open where possible and I've asked ds not to bring his face too close to the baby's face but I haven't told him to stay in his room or keep much of a distance from us. I don't really want to. Both he and baby are going through a clingy phase (started pre Covid) and I think it's a bit cruel making ds keep his distance from us.

I have now developed a cough so I'm pretty sure I've got covid too. Baby still has no symptoms. I'm going to do a test later but I was wondering what should I do if the baby still tests negative.

Keep ds away from her? (Very difficult). Ask dh to not hold the baby? Make dh and me wear masks indoors? Move the baby (or myself) to a different room so that at least in the night she wouldn't be constantly exposed? Or do nothing?

I'm trying to breastfeed her as much as possible but would you take any other precautions?

Yabu- yes you should take more precautions (and please tell me what) to protect the baby as she is still quite young

Yanbu - keep going on as you are and don't worry too much about it.

Thank you!!

Bit late to worry about it now. But I think most people would do as you're doing because if baby doesnt catch it now theyll probably catch it next week.

Ah I'd do what you are doing. Ask him not to get too close and maybe open some windows but that would be it. I don't think you can isolate a little child. (Any child for that matter). I hope your little boy feels better soon and you all escape it!

I would just keep doing what you're doing personally. As you say it would be cruel to ask a 4 year old to keep away, you've asked him to be careful and that is as much as you can do.

Just to add the reason why I haven't been more careful so far is that the baby had quite a bit of a cold and I had a bit of a sore throat so I assumed that we too would test positive on the PCR. I was surprised that only ds did. He is quite symptomatic though lots of coughing, sneezing and his nose is running a marathon.

However, considering that both D's and dh just have been infectious for maybe a week now is there even a point in trying to be more careful now?

It took 4 days for myself to test positive after my DH. I had same symptoms so presumed I had it also. 2 adult sons also tested positive, so really not a chance in me not catching it. Although my friend also tested positive this week, but her DH and DS didn’t catch it, but she did give it to DM and DF on the one occasion she saw them before testing positive. It’s all very random, who gets it and who doesn’t.

Thanks for the replies. Cross posted my last comment before I could the replies. The baby keeps pulling my hair so apologies if it all sounds a bit muddled.

We just live as normal in our house, we don't isolate from each other. All five residents, including a 2yo and 9mo now have it. Sleep is a bit crap (just like any other illness) but it's not been too bad for us.

@oioimatey

We just live as normal in our house, we don't isolate from each other. All five residents, including a 2yo and 9mo now have it. Sleep is a bit crap (just like any other illness) but it's not been too bad for us.

Speedy recovery and hope you get some sleep soon!!

Similar situation here, 5 year old brought it back from school. She’s ok and baby (7 months) is a snot monster all the time! I’ve just got a cough so guess I will have it now. I can’t ask DD to keep away from DS as she’s always playing with him so he’s definitely been exposed.

You can’t distance from your baby or your 4 year old if your husband is also positive, it’d be neglect really. I’d wash my hands before handling babies things or the baby were possible, and hope for the best! Don’t feel guilty about not protecting the baby, it’s just not possible here. Hopefully she doesn’t catch it anyway, you never no with covid. Hope you all feel better soon OP!

Covid is airborne so unless you’re keeping in separate well ventilated rooms then the chances are the baby will be exposed. If it was me I’d carry on as normal.

All 4 of us have had it here this week, including 2.5 year old and 9 week old. Almost relieved in a way that we’ve all had it together. You can’t ask a young child to keep their distance it isn’t fair. I’m sure your baby will be fine - similar to others we’ve just had congestion causing more restless nights than usual.

Btw if you want to lateral flow baby, just a light sweep inside the nostrils was enough to return a positive test for my baby

@WTF475878237NC scaremongering much?!?

@WTF475878237NC

Scarred stiffened lung tissue won't function as well as baby grows which may have implications in later life. It really isn't just about how unwell baby gets now.

What the fuck - WTF - what an incredibly unhelpful & thoughtless comment. OP can't do anything more than she is to look after her children. I'm sure she really needs this too. Seriously happy Saturday to you too. OP I think you're doing everything right & yes feed, feed, feed - it's magic stuff & will almost certainly help!!

Honestly I'd just carry on as normal. DH and I had it and 18mo DS didn't. There was no way we could have done anything other than carry on as normal. He did test positive about 10 days later but I think it was inevitable. He was ok, just snotty and clingy but no different to when he has a cold. Speedy recovery and hope you're all ok!

@WTF475878237NC wtf? COVID is in the world now. This baby will catch it, if not now then at some point soon. Their best protection against long term damage is, in fact, catching it young giving that the alternative - not catching it - has long ceased to be an option.
Luckily for the vast, vast majority of young children, this is a minor illness. The OP has no reason to be afraid so why try and make her so?

We managed to keep Mil covid free at Xmas when we all succumbed
We~
Wafted door every half/ hour
both wore a mask and social distanced 4/5 metres
Antibacterial wipes everything I touched
Washed hands v throughly
She went out as much if the day she could
Not all of this you can practically do
we did not socially distance from toddler but tried as best we could to limit breathing in his face and stop him from putting his fingers in our Mouths as he loves to do ( ? Why? )
bizarrely he tested negative every day for 7 days ( we gave up testing him after we were all negative and it was upsetting to do it to him every morning)
To this day I am baffled how he stayed negative as he co sleeps right on top of my head ( we used lft but we did stick it right up his nose and twiddled it properly )
Best of luck and hope you are all well soon , lucky for you it’s warmer as ventilation seems to be crucial it was a bit brutal wafting the freezing cold in