Newborn and dad has a cold

[newmumtobe1998]

We have a 11 day old and her dad has come home with a cold. He is constantly washing his hands but I’ve had a c section so need the help and support. There’s not much we can do but obviously worried newborn is going to catch it.

Anyone else been in this situation before and been ok? Would love some reassurance.

Newborns do sometimes catch colds but they'll more than likely be absolutely fine. Just keep an eye on their temperature, maybe order a thermometer if you don't already have one.
With my last child I had a cold when they were a couple of weeks old and they didn't catch it from me! We could not have been closer!

It's honestly fine, don't worry. I know it all feels so precarious in the first few weeks but babies are just fine with colds unless there's a significant underlying problem.

Heck, I had pneumonia when my second baby was born by section, and it was ok. (Although I don't recommend coughing with a day of a section!)

I had covid when my daughter was 2 weeks old, also after a section. I was breastfeeding so obviously couldn't distance myself from her. Everyone else in the house caught it except her. I think newborns have good immunity that they get from you while pregnant

Did you have the RSV jab in pregnancy? If so, that would help protect against the most dangerous to newborns cold virus.

Yes I did have this.

I'm not sure what you can do apart from maybe dad wearing a mask and sleeping elsewhere? but think about newborns who have an older sibling at nursery, they'll be exposed to far more. we were out at the pub with our newborn at that age! Good to get germ expose in early.

Oh, that's really good. The most common cold virus that really hits newborns is the one that protects against.

My newborn has recently had a cold and she’s been okay. If they do get it, this is really good. Chemical free, suitable from newborn and just loosened up everything in her nose so it came out.

Both of mine had colds as newborns, it was fine and they didn’t require any hospital / Dr treatment. The main thing is when they’re that small they haven’t yet figured out how to breathe through their mouths which can make it difficult with all the snot. Buy a baby nose sucker (can’t remember the correct term for it!) and some saline solution. Spray that in their nose and suck all the snot out, you need to do it more often than you think. If you can keep their next to me crib elevated too that will help (assuming they’re in a next to me).

Are you breastfeeding? If you are, you will more than likely produce antibodies which will protect the baby