I’ve partnered with MedImmune and Latina Bloggers Connect in this compensated campaign to spread awareness for an important health issue.
We welcomed our second son into the world a month premature, so saying we were cautious with him is an understatement. We limited visits from friends and relatives, and insisted on baby etiquette practices (even when it offended people). What is baby etiquette? It’s anything we do to keep our baby safe and healthy, from washing hands with an antibacterial soap before picking him up to keeping toddlers in daycare and preschool (who are around lots of germs and viruses all day) away from our newborn.
RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) is a common seasonal virus that pretty much all children contract by age two, but in premature babies it can be life threatening. Many moms have never heard of RSV (2/3 of Hispanic mothers have not) so it’s important to learn the ABCs to protect your babies.
Awareness
RSV spreads easily and occurs in epidemics each year. In toddlers, RSV usually manifests itself with mild flu-like symptoms, but in young babies and preemies with immature immune systems, it can lead to a serious respiratory infection, hospitalization, and worse. RSV is the leading cause of hospitalization for babies under a year old.
Babies
Premature babies (born before 37 weeks gestation) are most at risk if they contract RSV, yet 2/3 of Hispanic women never even heard of RSV. The preterm birth rate in Hispanic women has grown 6% over the last decade, and these babies have fewer antibodies and underdeveloped lungs compared to full term babies, so they are at risk for becoming seriously ill.
Contagious
RSV is extremely contagious, and can live on surfaces like doorknobs, countertops, even bedding, for several hours and is often spread through touching, hugging and kissing. Older children in the same family are contagious to babies, especially if they are in school, and well meaning family members who want to visit are also a threat during the early months.
Parents are the main line of defense against the threat of RSV, and there is no cure, so prevention is the key. Ask visitors to please not ask to visit if they feel sick or have been around anyone sick, keep premature babies away from older siblings that want so smother them with kisses, and wash hands often. Avoid crowds and don’t let anyone smoke around your baby (harsh for their immature lungs). It’s also important to keep their toys and clothes very clean.
Serious RSV infection is the leading cause of infant hospitalization, responsible for more than 125,000 hospitalizations and up to 500 infant deaths each year. Symptoms of serious RSV infection include:
* persistent coughing or wheezing
* rapid, difficult, or gasping breaths
* blue color on the lips, mouth, or under the fingernails
* high fever, extreme fatigue, and difficulty feeding.
Parents should contact a medical professional immediately upon signs of these symptoms.
To learn more about RSV and how to protect your baby, visit http://www.RSVProtection.com.
I remember asking people to do the same thing.
Informative post, and what a beautiful baby! 🙂
I don’t blame you one bit! We have to do what we can to keep our children safe and healthy.
RSV is so scary!!
My younger daughter was a 35 weeker and she had RSV. Now she’s almost 6 and when she catches a cough she keeps it longest!
In this day and age people should not be upset if you ask. I also always had hand sanitizer around. When he was in his car seat I actually got this sign! mytinyhands.com/
I’m such a nervous nelly.. I will make sure anyone who wants to touch baby has clean hands. So important.
I kept a little bear on my son’s pumpkin seat that said, “Your germs are too big for me, wash your hands”. I got some strange looks, but people didn’t touch him without washing first!
Great tips!
Yes, they should! My granddaughter was small and had to be delivered early. She ended up in the hospital with RSV. We all took turns staying with her there. THEN they had her room with a sick baby and guess what? She ended up in there again because she got what that baby had. After that I got really sick with something, too, from the hospital.
It is worth every precaution. I remember when my son was born and he was in the hospital for a week and his chances were 50-50. When he came home his doctor said keep him at home and away from opthers for a year and at home.
I always want people to wash when they come here and I always wash when I go to my grandkids as soon as I come in and always remind my hubby, too. I won’t touch those kids or things till I do. My hands look like crap but I am always careful with that, food, toilet, etc. That is what happens when you take microbiology in college.
It’s incredible how many people go to the hospital and get sick while there…that is so sad about your granddaughter, what a scare!
Proper hand washing and sanitizing is so important for all babies but especially for preemies. I find it rude for people to feel put off by asking if they’re sick or to wash their hands when holding the baby. I’m hoping this flu season wraps up quickly so at least that threat will be gone.
Yay!! I FINALLY see a picture of your new baby boy!! Oh my goodness he is adorable!! So sweet 🙂 And yes, I totally agree with you on the handwashing!!! No one touched my new babies without doing that first!!!
Penelope, is that your little one? I’m in love and I want to be a grandma so bad, and YES I’ll wash my hands first.
I was very insistent about that when my son was born.
Such an important post!
Yep, he’s my second little man 😉 He was so teeny at birth (premature) but now he is over 9 1/2 pounds already!
Yes, that is something everyone should do!
I was always protective of my kiddos!!
Thanks for sharing!
I completely agree. Asking someone to wash their hands before they hold a baby is very important!
I had absolutely no problem at all asking people (even grandparents) to wash their hands before touching my son when he was a baby. I got a little more relaxed after his first birthday. 🙂
Great tips! Your son is a little doll.
My daughter (second child) had this when she was just a few months old. I had never been so scared in my life, especially since my first child never experienced any illnesses as a baby or toddler.
These are great tips. Hopefully I can keep them in mind so as to not but others’ babies in danger!
RSV is SO scary when you have babies. 🙁
My baby boy wasn’t premature, but since he started his little life in the NICU we’ve been quite cautious with him as well. It doesn’t help that he was born right in the thick of RSV season!
My friends baby just got this and I had no idea what it was! Thanks for the tips!
I didn’t realize it caused that many hospitalizations or that it was so very contagious! Yikes!
I didn’t know that much about RSV. Thanks for bringing it to our attention.
I was a paranoid mama when I had my babies and we stayed in a long time, especially my winter babies, not so much my June, August or September babies.
I remember how scared I was when our son was a baby of him getting RSV. It’s scary for sure.
We have several friends and relatives who had children born at risk for RSV. It’s important to know how to keep babies safer.