We have Covid, worried about baby

[HerrBish]

Hello,

My husband has been ill with Covid the last few days and I’ve now contracted it. Feeling horrendous, this is not fun! But we have a 9month old and I’m worried about him getting it. Is there anything we can do to help protect him? I’m guessing not.
Both had one jab and I’m breastfeeding. I’ve heard rates are low for babies but I’d hate for him to get sick. Is it worth me doing extra cleaning of his toys and things? (Though I’m struggling to do anything right now, he’s an active little terror and is frustrated about being stuck in as it is!). I’m guessing it’s pointless as hes with me all the time anyway. He’s a bit snotty and has a slight cough so it may be too late, I’d just hate him to feel like this!

Honestly cleaning his toys wont help at all. You have to be near him and its carried on the breath. Chances are he was infected days ago and that's what the snot/slight cough is but its unlikely to get any worse. Just keep an eye on him and you rest as much as you can and remember to drink plenty.

Oh, and think about it this way: several very mild coronavirus infections in childhood will hopefully prevent him ever feeling as grotty as you do encountering the virus for the first time as an adult.

Breastfeed as much as you can your milk will have antibodies to help baby fight the virus. When I was ill my milk was a completely different colour to what it usually was as its full of antibodies, its amazing!

Thank you both. I didn’t think there was much we could do, I just don’t want him feeling like this at all bless him! Fingers crossed it’s over soon! X

Your baby has a better chance of not becoming ill due to you having had one vaccine and breastfeeding. Most people reporting babies and toddlers who have tested positive are a bit more clingy.

DP and I had it when our little girl was 10 months old. She didn't catch it, or was asymptomatic, despite her co sleeping with me. We didn't do anything differently in the house. I wasn't breastfeeding or vaccinated at the time so those things are definitely in your favour. My 5yo didn't get it either but my 8yo old did.

Dh brought covid home and passed it on to me who gave it to ds2 and ds3. Ds3 was 10months then. I was also breastfeeding ds3, we had all the windows off the house open and the heating on high as well as wearing lots of layers of clothes.
Ds3 was super clingy and would not sleep unless he was next to me. He had one day cough and high temperature the next day. It went better than the normal vaccinations. His clingyness remained for a while.

My 1 year old has had it. He had a bit of a cough and was snotty and clingy but it was indistinguishable from the other dozen colds and viruses he has had since starting nursery and much milder than tonsillitis and the ear infection which he has also had. I can’t imagine that washing things would make any difference- his nursery wash stuff all the time and he literally couldn’t have picked up more coldy viruses from nursery since he started. I’d just breastfeed lots and give him lots of cuddles.

The absolute best thing you can do for him is continue to breastfeed.

The chances are he’ll already have it if he’s going to pick it up and infections in children are generally milder. The biggest thing you can do is keep the house well ventilated as that will reduce viral load, keep feeding him lots as your breast milk will have antibodies and above all make sure you get as much rest as you can, eat well and drink lots of fluids. It’s ok if he has too much screen time or things slide around the house. Don’t be tempted to rush around the second you start to feel better make sure you give yourself time to recover.