Soap and Water or Hand Sanitizer to Keep Baby Safe?

How Should Parents Protect Their Newborn From Germs?

October 26, 2010

It's the real world out there! Once baby leaves the womb, the infant has to deal with the threat of contracting everything from the swine flu to whooping cough. The thought of germs getting to the precious babe can have new parents pulling out medical masks and sizing up visitors. But infants love affection, so it's just a matter of time until the wee one is held by friends and family members. What precaution do you think parents should take to keep their kiddo healthy?

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6 Comments

starbucks 2 years 29 weeks

I was never really concerned with that, actually. I trust my family and close friends to be rather clean and I never thought twice about letting them hold her. I only once denied someone from holding her. My aunt had just come back from a cigarette break and wanted to hold her (she was only like 6 days old). Um, no...

katialoves 2 years 29 weeks

washing hands plus no sick visitors, obviously.

2 years 29 weeks

Hi, I really love this website, it's very informative when it comes to kids health and also moms, I have two lil kids 3 years old and 5, and i've made this website for them, so that when they grow up, they can update and add their own articles, for the meantime I have established a feed from this website and I thank you for that.

2 years 29 weeks

I don't see a need to do much at all. Unless someone has a contagious illness, or the baby has a problem or was a preemie that requires extra special care, why would you do anything beyond handwashing? I can't remember even asking people to wash their hands before holding any of my children-they're holding a baby that's wearing clothes and swaddled-they aren't touching their bare skin. We have a hard and fast rule not to touch baby's hands and face though.

Carri 2 years 29 weeks

Hand washing is sufficient if you do it properly.

2 years 29 weeks

You should never use hand sanitizer with a child less than two years old, their skin is too sensitive. I've seen more than one child's skin burned by someone who put on hand sanitizer and then touched the baby. If you're practicing proper hand washing, you don't need sanitizer, and it shouldn't be suggested as an option with newborns.

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