1 day old baby, toddler has a coldsore

[Keepingbusyeating]

I’ve just got home from hospital after giving birth and my toddler has a cold sore. She’s 2.5.

Spoken to the doctor who basically just said to keep them apart which is really hard when she’s obviously interested in the new baby and doesn’t understand so I feel really bad having to try and get her to stay away.

Obviously letting her nowhere near the babies face. Trying to get her to wash her hands lots but she’s reluctant and I can’t lift her.

I am really anxious about it - she keeps blowing raspberries and I’m worried about that near the baby.

The doctor says it can last a month - I’m so upset that this is the start of having her sibling be here and she can’t even have a cuddle with him. Has anyone else been in this situation and have any advice?

Didn’t want to read and run - bumping for you. Hope you get some helpful answers 💐

Is it the toddler’s first coldsore (they’d usually be poorly as well if so)? I’d usually think they’d last a few days to about a week which would hopefully feel more manageable and easier to explain to her that the baby just needs a few days without anyone except mummy and daddy touching while it’s so new?

Not a doctor but I think touching face then baby would be much more likely to transmit than raspberries nearby.

I sympathise! I had a coldsore when my baby was born and that was stressful enough, your situation adds another challenge level. I do think it will be over a lot sooner than your dr said though and sibling cuddles will happen in no time!

Thank you. I hope so too as it’s breaking my heart a bit as I feel so sorry for her! When she first started nursery she had what I now think might be a first outbreak. It was much worse than these 2 sores. She was a bit under the weather last week and I think has been a bit stressed whilst we’ve been in hospital for new baby. Hopefully you’re right and it’ll be over quicker than the doctor said!

If you don’t get them yourself do you know about lysine and arginine? Obviously you wouldn’t want to give a toddler supplements but eating lots of cheese and milk and avoiding peanut butter might help it heal faster! A lip balm with zinc and liquorice might help too. Hope she’s better soon to get on with big sister activities.