7 Steps to Keeping Your Baby Healthy and Safe During the Pandemic

If you are pregnant or recently had a baby, here’s what you can do to protect yourself and your child.

1. Get vaccinated

COVID-19 vaccines reduce the risk of people getting the virus and can also reduce the risk of spreading it. Be sure to get everyone in your family who is 5 years of age or older vaccinated and up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines. The CDC recommends that people who are pregnant, breastfeeding, trying to get pregnant, or might become pregnant in the future to stay up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines.

2. Do not put a mask or face shield on your baby

Babies move frequently. Their movement may cause the plastic face shield or mask to block their nose and mouth, or cause the strap to strangle them. Children younger than two should not wear masks or face shields. Putting a face shield or mask on your baby could increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) or could strangle or suffocate
your baby.

3. Limit visitors to see your new baby

The birth of a new baby typically brings families together to celebrate. Before allowing visitors into your home consider the risk of COVID-19 to yourself, your baby, people who live with you, and visitors, like grandparents or other people at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19. Bringing people who do not live with you into your home can increase the risk of spreading COVID-19. Some people without symptoms can spread the virus. Limit in-person gatherings and consider other options, like celebrating virtually, for people who want to see your new baby.

Avoid interacting in person with people who might have been exposed to COVID-19 as much as possible. If you or someone in your household is sick with COVID-19, follow recommendations for isolation.

4. Keep your distance

Keep six feet between your baby and people who do not live in your household and between your baby and those who are sick. Consider the risks of COVID-19 to you and your baby before you decide whether to go out for activities other than healthcare visits or child care. Avoid crowds and indoor spaces that do not offer fresh air from the outdoors.

Ask your child care program about the plans they have in place to protect your baby, family, and staff.

5. Know possible signs and symptoms of COVID-19 infection in babies

Babies under one year old might be more likely to have a severe illness from COVID-19 than older children, but most babies who test positive for COVID-19 have mild or no symptoms. Reported symptoms in newborns with COVID-19 include fever, being overly tired or inactive, runny nose, cough, vomiting, diarrhea, poor feeding, and trouble breathing or shallow breathing.

If your baby develops symptoms or you think your baby may have been exposed to COVID-19, get in touch with your baby’s healthcare provider within 24 hours and follow the steps for caring for children with COVID-19.

If your baby has emergency warning signs (such as trouble breathing), get emergency care immediately. Call 911.

6. Take your baby for well-baby checkups

Don’t skip your baby’s healthcare appointments. Newborn visits should be done in person, if possible. That way your baby’s healthcare provider can:

• Check how you and your baby are doing overall
• Check your baby’s growth and feeding
• Check your baby for jaundice
• Make sure your baby’s newborn screening tests were done and do any
  repeat or follow-up testing.

If you think you or your baby might have COVID-19 or might have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, call your baby’s healthcare provider before visiting.

7. Ensure your own social, emotional, and mental health

During the COVID-19 pandemic, parents may be extra stressed and tired. Learn about ways to cope with stress and tips for caring for yourself during the COVID-19 pandemic. Call your healthcare provider if you think you are experiencing depression after pregnancy.

Caring for your baby if you have COVID-19

If you recently had a baby and are in isolation for COVID-19, take precautions while caring for your newborn in the hospital and at home. Pregnant and recently pregnant people are more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19 compared to people who are not pregnant.

If you are sharing a room with your baby in the hospital

Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before holding or caring for your baby. If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol. Wear a mask when within six feet of your baby. Talk to your healthcare provider about using a physical barrier while you are in the hospital, like placing your baby in an incubator.

If you have COVID-19 and are caring for your baby at home

Stay home and away from other people who live with you who are not infected. Wear a mask in shared spaces. The mask helps prevent you from spreading the virus to others. Have a healthy caregiver who is up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines and is not at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19 care for your baby. The caregiver should wash their hands for at least 20 seconds before touching your baby. If soap and water are not available, they should use a hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol.

If the caregiver is living in the same home or has been in close contact with you, they might have been exposed. They should wear a mask when they are within six feet of your baby the entire time you are in isolation and during their quarantine after you complete isolation.

If a healthy caregiver is not available, you can care for your baby if you are well enough. Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before touching your baby. If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol. Wear a mask within six feet of your baby and other people during your entire isolation.

Know when it is safe to end isolation and extra precautions

If you had symptoms, it is safe to end your isolation after

• 5 days since your symptoms first appeared and
• 24 hours with no fever without fever-reducing medications like ibuprofen and
• Your other symptoms of COVID-19 are improving

If you never had symptoms, it is safe to end your isolation five days after the date of your first positive COVID-19 test.

Once your isolation period has ended you should still wear a mask until day 10. After 10 days, you should still wash your hands before caring for your newborn, but you don’t need to take the other precautions.

Hiring a nanny?

Download Your Guide to Hiring a Nanny. In this guide, we lay out the steps on how to hire a nanny the right way and maintain a strong relationship with your employee.