Neonatal and childcare amidst COVID-19 Pandemic

This is undeniably a scary time for all parents. While protecting themselves from the highly contagious COVID-19, they are trying to ensure the best of health for their children today and for years to come. To help parents navigate through these tough times, expert pediatricians at Infinity Medical Care, Corona, California share their inputs:

CHILD CARE

Teach your children the importance of social distancing, hand hygiene, and washing their toys often. Keep them occupied to engage their minds with indoor activities. Good mental and physical health should be your top priority for the children.

VACCINATION

While the world awaits a COVID-19 vaccine, there is no reason to skip the already available vaccines. This is will end up making your children sick from other diseases. Your pediatrician can help you determine which vaccines are urgent and the ones that can be delayed.

Vulnerable population children with immune-compromised statuses or children recovering from malignancies or cancer require special care and should be protected from the outside world. If your symptoms are flu-like, see your specialist, and bring these children only if required to the hospital.

NEONATAL CARE

You will be relieved to know that COVID-19 is usually mild in newborn babies and the recorded incidents of transmission from mother to baby remain very low. However, the healthcare facility you choose to welcome your baby too needs to have strict infection-prevention protocols to ensure their safety.

Many infecting mothers across the world are debating whether to breastfeed. While the benefits of breastmilk are well-known the baby must receive breastmilk to build immunity in these unprecedented times. But remember to wear a mask at all times if you are infected and are constantly coughing and sneezing.

Parents need to keep in mind that babies don’t expose themselves to the disease by walking out of the house without a mask, the people around them do. Parents and guardians should make limited contact for their safety and thus for their child with the outside world, including neighbors and relatives.

To further protect your child, practice excellent personal hygiene and consider Vitamin-D supplements to build the baby’s immunity.

In case your little one is exposed to the disease, he/she may not necessarily get a fever. If the baby has diarrhea and vomiting, get in touch with your doctor, as these symptoms may be indicative of the virus.