Keeping Winter Bugs Away from your Baby
Winter can be hard when you have a little one – especially if they’re brand new.
Not only do you need to think about keeping baby warm and dry, you also need to worry about colds, flus, and other winter nasties.
Small babies don’t have fully developed immune systems, so they can be more susceptible to viruses. Underdeveloped nasal passages and lungs can also mean these illnesses affect them more than adults.
Fortunately, there are a few ways to minimise the chance of sickness in your little ones. And if they do happen to pick up a bug, we’ve included some ideas to help them cope with the symptoms and recover as quickly as possible.
Warm and well
Despite the old wives’ tales, we now know that ‘catching a chill’ isn’t the cause of colds and flu. However, keeping warm and dry can help make it easier to ward off any bugs – if your body is using energy to raise its temperature, that energy can’t be used to fight off illness.
As a general rule of thumb, dress your baby in one layer more than you are wearing. Make sure layers are easy to remove, so you can adjust if baby gets too warm. At home, keep the room temperature at about 18-20 degrees, and use merino sleeping bags and clothing to keep baby cosy. Merino naturally regulates temperature, so it’s a great option to keep babies warm and safe overnight.
Bug-fighting food
It’s well recorded that a high-quality diet is essential to a good immune system. If your baby is no longer exclusively formula or breastfed, pay special attention to their solid food. Include an array of colourful fruit and vegetables in their diet – from frozen is often as good as fresh, especially in winter when much of the ‘fresh’ produce has been cool-stored for many months. Stay away from refined sugars (including from dried fruit) and trans fats (like those found in processed meat and chippies). A good rule of thumb is to make all your baby’s food from scratch – some seemingly ‘healthy’ baby food has been heat-treated to preserve it, which destroys the vitamins.
Experts generally don’t see vitamins and other supplements as necessary for babies. Having said that, some parents swear by them! Supplements aren’t likely to do any harm as long as you use them as an ‘extra’ to an already high-quality diet (rather than as a replacement) and follow correct dosage and age limits.
Germ reduction
Handwashing is huge when it comes to preventing the spread of germs. Make sure you wash your hands frequently, particularly if you’ve been in a public place. A good tip is to sing “happy birthday to you” in your head, scrubbing front, back, palm and all your fingers and thumbs while you do. Make sure your dry your hands well too. Remember to wash your baby’s hands as well – especially when they’re old enough to grab things and put them in their mouths.
If you have older children who attend daycare or school, teach them to wash their hands thoroughly when they get home. You can also teach them to cough or sneeze into their elbows, rather than their hands.
If you take your baby out in public, you could also keep the pram covered to avoid strangers touching them or sneezing near them.
Hydration and health
Breastfeeding is proven to deliver antibodies that help boost immunity in your baby. If you’re willing and able to breastfeed, it could help your baby fight off illness in the early days.
But even if you’re not breastfeeding, hydration is important in winter – particularly if your house is air-conditioned, or if you’re using a heater in baby’s room. Make sure your baby is drinking enough formula – or water if they’re older – to keep them well hydrated. Dehydration dries out the nasal passages and can make babies more susceptible to illness.
Sickness solutions
No matter how well you wash your hands and avoid germs, your baby may still come down with a cold. If they do start sniffling, you can help them out in a couple of ways.
Because babies don’t know how to blow their noses, a nasal decongester is an invaluable tool for new parents. Our gentle option lets you unblock your baby’s nose safely and comfortably, so they can breathe easier and hopefully sleep better. For very blocked noses, some parents use the decongester with a couple of drops of saline solution to loosen mucus – you’ll find products especially designed for infants in your pharmacy.
Elevating your baby’s bed and a humidifier in your baby’s room can help ease breathing as well. Many parents also like using essential oils, or eucalyptus rubs, but be wary of using them on your baby’s sensitive skin – they can hurt! Best to apply these on their bedding or sleepwear. It’s a good idea to grab these items early, so you’re prepared if your baby does come down with something.
Worried about keeping your baby warm and healthy this winter? Take a look at our beautiful, cosy range of merino babywear now.
