How to Keep a Baby From Catching a Cold the Mom Has

As a parent to a newborn baby, the cold and flu season can be a time of worry for you. The joy of caring for your newborn also comes with responsibilities that can take a toll on you both mentally and physically. This can lead to a weakened immune system and greater susceptibility to coming down with a cold or flu. If you do happen to come down with a cold, the last thing you want is for your baby to catch it too.

Instructions

• 1

  Limit the spread of your germs. Make a conscious effort to always cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze. The safest way to do this is to raise your arm and cough into the inside of your elbow.

• 2

  Wash your hands regularly. This is especially important since you touch your baby often for dressing, changing, cleaning and feeding.

• 3

  Strengthen your baby's immune system. First, do not be afraid to handle your baby when you have a cold. The act of holding and caring for your baby creates a neurological signal that sends messages to your baby's brain about her environment, enhancing the baby's response and defense mechanisms (immune system). Second, make sure your baby is eating properly. Your newborn baby will get the best nutrition possible through breast milk. In her book "The Crazy Makers," Carol Simontacchi wrote, "Bioactive substances in human milk include friendly bacteria, enzymes that destroy unfriendly bacteria and aid in digestion, and nonessential amino acids that aid in the growth and healing of the intestinal tract. Formula contains none of these additional factors." Third, make sure your baby is sleeping regularly. Sleeping is the most important time during your baby's development, and without proper sleep your baby will lack the energy and function she needs to fight off unwanted invaders.

• 4

  Strengthen your own immune system. Make sure you are drinking plenty of water and getting more rest than usual. Decrease your sugar and carbohydrate intake, since bacteria and germs feast and multiply on the environment those foods create in your body.