RSV & Baby Etiquette

When my first child was born, I felt very protective of who was touching him and if their hands were clean. Being so tiny and precious, I could not imagine him getting sick. When his baby sister was born, his germy hands were the ones I worried touching the baby the most. I knew it was dangerous for new babies to get sick so I made sure my son was watching his hands frequently. I asked him to kiss her cute toes or rub her arm instead of kissing her face and rubbing her hands when he wanted to be close to her.

To this day, when my kids meet new babies, I try to make sure they still follow those rules: Clean hands and face, and kissing or touching their toes instead of face or hands.

If you haven't had a baby recently, you may not know or recall the proper etiquette when meeting a new baby.

A few tips to remember when a loved one has a new baby:

· Call before you visit. New parents need time to set up a routine and bond. By giving them time to do so before you visit, you are respecting the new family.

· Postpone a visit if you feel that you may be getting sick, have recently been ill or exposed to illness.

· Remember that parents know best. If you feel they are being overprotective or overly cautious, just consider that only they know what’s best for the health of their new son or daughter.

Do something to ease their responsibilities as they spend time as a family, such as laundry, cooking or dishes. Sleep-deprived moms and dads will appreciate your help!

If you do schedule a visit with a new baby:

Wash your hands frequently—upon entering the home and especially prior to holding the baby. Parents, and the new baby, will appreciate it.

Leave toddlers at home, especially during the winter months. Young children, especially if they attend day care or preschool, often carry germs and viruses, like RSV, that are easily spread.Below is some facts about RSV that you may not have heard before. I actually didn't know that almost every baby will get RSV before the age of two. Keeping my babies and the babies we come in contact with healthy is so important and one of the best things we can do to prevent sickness is to wash our hands as frequently as possible, keeping the bathrooms they wash clean, and keeping a clean hand towel or paper towels available.

A few facts about RSV that all parents, caregivers and loved ones should know:

Almost every baby will contract RSV by age 2, but only 1/3 of moms say they’ve heard of the virus.

· Serious RSV infection is the leading cause of infant hospitalization, responsible for more than 125,000 hospitalizations and up to 500 infant deaths each year.

· RSV occurs in epidemics each fall through spring. The CDC has defined “RSV season” as beginning in November and lasting through March for most parts of North America.

· There is no treatment for RSV, so it’s important for parents to take preventive steps to help protect their child (e.g., wash hands, toys, bedding frequently; avoid crowds and cigarette smoke).

· Certain babies are at an increased risk of developing serious RSV infection, so it’s important to speak with a pediatrician to determine if a baby may be at high risk for RSV, and discuss preventive measures.

• Symptoms of serious RSV infection include: persistent coughing or wheezing; rapid, difficult, or gasping breaths; blue color on the lips, mouth, or under the fingernails; high fever; extreme fatigue; and difficulty feeding. Parents should contact a medical professional immediately upon signs of these symptoms.

To learn more about RSV, visit www.rsvprotection.com.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of MedImmune and received promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.