Cold and flu season is upon us and it’s easy to feel like there are germs lurking around every corner. But, while the sniffles may be hard to avoid, there are some easy ways for you to get prepared and keep the bugs at bay. Here are six of the best tips to help keep baby healthy during the winter months:
1. Wash those hands
Contact with germs can help build your child’s immune system, making for a healthier baby in the long run. But some germs can make your baby sick, and keeping your hands clean is a simple way to help your little one stay healthy during the cold and flu season.
Don’t be embarrassed to ask your friends or family to wash their hands before picking up your baby, especially in the first 3 to 6 months after they are born. Leave Lysol On the Go Travel Size disinfecting wipes around the house.
2. Stay on top of the vaccinations
Your baby won’t have all their vaccinations right away, so it’s a good idea for you and other caregivers to consider getting a flu shot. Seeing your baby laid low during the winter can be tough for moms, but protecting yourself with the flu vaccination can help keep baby healthy during the coldest months of the year.
Visit your local healthcare provider to find out the fastest way to get vaccinated. Sometimes it’s as easy as a trip to your local pharmacy.
3. Nutrition is key
It’s an age-old battle of moms around the world, but getting your baby to eat fruit and vegetables really is a great way to help keep them healthy. When they are ready for solid food, use textures and pieces appropriate for their stage, and continue to offer them, even if they refuse the first several times. If your baby is using formula, the prebiotics in products like Enfamil Reguline stimulate the growth of friendly bacteria.
4. Keep nursing (if possible)
Nursing isn’t for everyone, and that’s fine. But for those who can or choose to, breast milk is a great source of antibodies which can help protect your baby from seasonal bugs during the winter months.
As Joe Rubino, Lysol’s Chief Microbiologist explains: “A baby will get immunity primarily through breast milk – a mother will have antibodies that will give short-term immunity until the baby begins to develop immunity of its own.”
5. Keep them warm, but not too warm
Remember your baby needs one more layer of clothing than you when they’re out and about. But it’s also important that they don’t get too warm, especially while they sleep. Check their temperature by placing your hand on the back of their neck, back or torso – then adjust the amount of clothing depending on whether they feel too hot or too cold.
6. Make sure your baby is getting enough sleep
Babies need lots of sleep to stay alert and healthy during the winter months. But as many moms know, getting them to sleep can be easier said than done. If your baby refuses to nap, try putting them down a little earlier in the evening. Sometimes a small adjustment in their sleep pattern can make a world of difference to them – and help you get the sleep you need to keep up with everything you need to do during the day.
