How to protect a small child from viruses

How to protect your newborn from colds and flu

During the period of exacerbation of influenza and ARVI, a nursing mother and newborn have a high chance of contracting a viral infection. The main reason is the insufficient restoration of the woman’s immune system after childbirth and its immaturity in the child. Therefore, it is important during this period to know not only how to protect a newborn from colds and flu, but also his mother.

We're staying at home. Diary of a Young Housewife

Often after the birth of a baby, mothers begin to be wary of everything. It is for this reason that relatives and friends simply forget the way to the newborn’s home. After all, such a visit can bring a huge amount of negativity and germs and bacteria that will cause God knows what diseases.

Of course, such a precaution may be correct, however, you should remember that the baby must live in the real world from the first days of his life. That is, your excessive care will allow you to raise a “greenhouse” child, who will subsequently not be able to play normally in kindergarten or attend school. Diseases will simply stick to him, and you will not be able to do anything.

The only right decision is to start the right, mind you, the right health care from childhood. How to protect a newborn from viruses ?

After being discharged from the hospital, take your baby for a walk outside every day. It is best to start with ten minutes, gradually increasing the time. Remember that even in a very cold winter, your baby should definitely take a walk outside. In order for the child’s body to quickly get used to temperature conditions, normalize the walking time. That is, go outside at the same time all the time.

Make sure that your baby is always dry; OLYMPERS diapers will help you with this; you can order them on the website of the company’s official representative office in Russia olympers-e.ru.

Pay attention to proper nutrition. The maximum amount of vegetables and fruits, but according to a special preparation system. It is best to consult a doctor; he will certainly tell you which system is best to feed your child.

Don't forget about vaccinations. Of course, at the moment, many mothers are scared and are trying to refuse all vaccinations. After all, we know a huge number of cases that led to the death of children, and it is for this reason that refusing vaccinations has become something completely natural.

In fact, vaccinations are a necessity. After all, without them, the child will actually be minimally protected. When carrying out the vaccination procedure, pay attention to the quality certificates of the medicinal product, and also pay attention to the manufacturer’s company. If the drug does not have a certificate and was produced somewhere, say, in India, then it is better to refuse vaccination. If everything is in order with the documentation and the drug was produced in your country, you should get vaccinated.

In fact, the health of your baby is in your hands, so you should be very attentive to the process of feeding, vaccination, walking and hardening, and not focus on diseases and how to protect your newborn from viruses. Build a strong and strong body, and your child will certainly be very grateful to you.

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Prevention of ARVI in a newborn

Colds in children are associated with a weakening of the body's defenses against infection. Therefore, a mother should know how to protect her newborn from flu and colds. It is important to follow the following recommendations:

Breastfeed.
Go for walks with your child every day.
Daily wet cleaning of rooms.
Careful processing of newborn dishes.
Give multivitamin complexes.
Limit contact with strangers.
Carry out hardening procedures daily.

Breast milk is considered the best preventive measure to protect a child from infections . Therefore, even if the mother has cold symptoms, this is not a reason to stop feeding. Together with milk, the child receives the hormones, vitamins, enzymes and minerals necessary for his body, which are difficult to introduce into an artificial mixture. When it enters the child’s body, antibodies begin to be intensively formed, which help to transfer the disease in a mild form. It is recommended to breastfeed for as long as possible until milk is produced. If he is given only artificial mixtures, then all dishes must undergo careful processing.

Every day a child needs fresh air and therefore walks, especially in autumn and winter, should be at least 1 hour. Children can get sick without leaving home if the room is rarely ventilated, where a large amount of viral infection accumulates. To avoid this, you need to open the window at least 3-4 times a day for 15-20 minutes. The environment for the spread of microorganisms is dust, which settles on surfaces in the apartment. Regular wet cleaning will reduce the risk of getting the flu and ARVI. The optimal temperature for a child to stay indoors is 20-22˚C.

Depending on the age of the baby, taking multivitamin complexes is allowed, but only after consulting a doctor. The drugs not only stimulate the immune system, but also contain the necessary amount of microelements needed by the child’s body.

During an epidemic of influenza and ARVI, if possible, the child is limited from contact with other people. If medical advice is required, it is better to call a pediatrician at home. Any stranger must put on a mask before approaching the baby. Before picking up a child, you need to wash your hands with soap.

From an early age, to strengthen the immune system, parents should carry out hardening procedures for their baby. The most common methods are air and water. Before walking or feeding, you need to remove all his clothes for a few minutes. The temperature in the room should not be below 20-22˚C. The duration of the procedure increases daily.

Water hardening is carried out by lowering the temperature when washing or pouring over the newborn’s feet. It is reduced by 1°C over several days, gradually reaching 25°C.

Prevention of ARVI for a child if the mother is ill

Treatment of breastfeeding women has some peculiarities. Most drugs are contraindicated during lactation. Therefore, it is necessary to know how to protect a nursing mother from the flu during the epidemic season. During this period, the correct selection of funds is important so as not to harm both the woman and the child. The treatment regimen includes:

antiviral agents;
antipyretics;
saline solutions;
drinking plenty of water;
foot baths;
mouth rinse;
vaccination.

Antiviral drugs for breastfeeding mothers include Grippferon and Viferon . They are used not only for treatment during a flu epidemic, but also as a means of prevention. To stimulate the immune system, you can take a plant-based drug - Aflubin .

It is possible to reduce elevated body temperature using physical methods of cooling the body. Rubbing with cool water and compresses on the forehead are used. If there is no effectiveness, taking Paracetamol or Ibuprofen is allowed.

Another way to protect your baby from flu and colds is to rinse the mother’s nasal cavity with saline solutions. If you are worried about a severe runny nose, then you are allowed to use vasoconstrictors only before bed. The duration of treatment should not exceed more than 3 days.

During seasonal exacerbation of influenza and ARVI, it is recommended to drink plenty of fluids with the addition of honey, lemon, currants, and raspberries. Vitamin C, which many berries are rich in, improves immunity. If you have a dry cough, a mixture of milk and honey with butter is effective. It is consumed warm.

In the absence of fever, foot baths with the addition of mustard powder are recommended as a means of prevention. For a sore throat, use a mouth rinse solution with the addition of sea salt and soda.

Healing herbs such as chamomile and calendula can be used as a replacement. A few drops of essential oils with bactericidal properties (eucalyptus) are added to the solutions. You need to rinse your mouth 3-5 times during the day.

Vaccination

One of the main ways to protect an infant from influenza and ARVI is to vaccinate the mother. Breastfeeding after the injection does not affect the immune system's response. After it, antibodies are formed that protect the woman’s body. They pass through breast milk to the baby and provide additional protection during the flu period.

There are certain restrictions when vaccination is contraindicated for a woman. These include:

Allergy to chicken protein (included in the injection).
Severe allergic reactions that occurred previously after vaccination.
Illness with high body temperature.

Another way to protect your infant from the flu is to give him an injection. Vaccination is allowed for children over 6 months of age.

Live vaccines are most often used to combat seasonal infections. The most famous of them is the “Live Allantoic Influenza Vaccine”. It is allowed for children only after 3 years of age. The advantage of vaccination is the presence of 3 types of influenza pathogens. Younger children can be injected with Vaxigrip, Fluarix, Grippol.

The most effective way to protect an infant from the flu is an integrated approach to the problem . Protecting the nursing mother and newborn will strengthen the immune system and fight seasonal infections. In childhood, the baby’s body is poorly formed. Therefore, the risk of complications is high. To avoid this, in the absence of contraindications for the mother, it is necessary to carry out vaccine prophylaxis for her and her child. Disease prevention is best done all year round - hardening, taking vitamins in the form of fruits and vegetables.

How to protect a newborn's body

Every parent is confident in the need to prevent the child’s body, so another question arises: what means are suitable for this, especially if the baby is only one month old? Quite often you can find children with congenital allergies to any drugs or products, so you need to approach this issue seriously, do not self-medicate, but contact your doctor so that he can select the necessary sprays and tablets to prevent diseases.

According to the results of a survey of experienced mothers, children's Anaferon is currently in great demand. A huge advantage in using this preventive remedy is that it can be taken by children of absolutely any age, and parents do not need to be afraid of the appearance of allergic reactions in the baby. In addition to the fact that Anaferov himself fights viruses, he also supports and strengthens the newly formed children's immunity.

Even though the drug is so harmless that it is suitable for infants, you should consult your pediatrician before purchasing and using it. In addition to children's Anaferon, you can also find an adult one in pharmacies, which is perfect in cases where parents feel slightly unwell.

Causes of colds in infants

What we used to call a cold is actually an infectious disease - ARVI. Its cause is viruses that infect the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract and cause inflammation, which is manifested by characteristic symptoms. The common cold is called ARVI because most often the disease develops against the background of hypothermia. It weakens local and general immunity, and viruses freely attack the respiratory tract.

On a note

There are more than 300 types of ARVI pathogens [1]. Among them are adenoviruses, rhinoviruses, influenza and parainfluenza viruses and others. It is usually impossible to determine exactly which of them caused the cold, so it is preferable to take drugs with a broad spectrum of antiviral action.

The disease actively spreads by airborne droplets: viruses enter the body by inhaling particles of infected saliva that the patient releases into the environment when coughing and sneezing. You can also become infected through contact - through objects or a handshake (which is why doctors recommend washing your hands as often as possible during the epidemic season).

Anyone can get ARVI, but a cold in a newborn is very rare. In the first three to six months, the baby’s body is protected by antibodies received from the mother during fetal development. In addition, breastfeeding plays an important role in protecting the child from infections. Mother's milk contains protective factors that increase the child's body's resistance. Formula-fed babies have a higher risk of getting sick.

The most effective ways to protect your baby from colds. How to protect your baby?

So, something bad happened - someone in the household got sick, or another virus was spreading around the city. And this, it would seem, is nothing unusual, especially in the autumn and spring periods. But, if there is a baby at home, it is necessary to take all measures so that he does not get a cold. Such young children are much more difficult to tolerate even a common runny nose, so you need to do everything to prevent the baby from getting sick. How to avoid infecting your newborn with a cold? Usually, following some rules and simple disease prevention is enough.

How to protect your child from viruses

So: from 1 month to a year we use Chlorophyll, Bifidophilus Flora Force - this set is the basis of health. We add Calcium (in chelated form, it does not settle in the kidneys and is 98% absorbed by the body) from 1-4 months and Vitamin D from 500 IU. Colloidal mineral solution from 1 month with 0.2-0.3 ml/month to solve problems with anemia. From 6 months Lecithin, Peptovit, Omega-3. Children prone to allergies can begin to be given Omega-3 from 9 months.

Several general rules for protecting a child from disease

The easiest way is to isolate the baby from a sick family member. However, this is not always easy. If the apartment is one-room or the mother is sick, it will not be possible to temporarily isolate the child. Therefore, the sick person should stay at home wearing a mask and change it regularly;
Try not to have gatherings with your family or invite guests during periods of exacerbation of infectious diseases. The more bacteria there are at home, the easier it is for your baby to pick them up. Even if all guests are healthy, give them masks;
Take your baby for walks in the fresh air more often. But! Do not walk in crowded places;
Wash your hands and face often when you come home. The rest of the family should do the same. Keep an eye on the dishes your child eats from - always sterilize them. The linen on which the baby sleeps and the towel should always be clean. Pathogenic microorganisms easily grow in dirty fabric;
You can protect your baby from viruses in the air with chopped garlic and onions on a plate in the children's room. Of course, the smell will be heavy, but the child will be protected;
If your baby has already started sniffling, you need to do everything to prevent him from getting sicker. Clean your child's nose of mucus; if he is already able to blow his nose on his own, make sure he does this regularly. Use antiseptic nasal drops. You should not drip breast milk, as many people advise. It may make the problem worse.

Can a child get sick from a ventilator?

Many parents fear that a fan running in a nursery may cause their baby to catch a cold. There are numerous stories on forums on the Internet that the use of this device has led to the development of various respiratory infections in children.

My son in the south developed follicular tonsillitis. Residents of Sochi told us that they themselves do not use fans or air conditioners.
olaSP
https://www.babyblog.ru/community/post/01medicina/769079

Parents often hesitate to use a fan for fear of catching a cold in their child.

On the other hand, on these same forums there are many positive reviews from mothers about the use of fans.

My kids sleep with a fan all summer. If you are afraid of catching a cold, then switch it in the opposite direction so that it blows into the ceiling and circulates air.
svetik_g1
https://detishki-israel.livejournal.com/5054035.html

Why do parents' opinions differ so radically? Perhaps the reason here is not in the device itself, but in its incorrect use in some cases.

To prevent a child from getting sick due to a working fan, parents just need to know a few simple recommendations for using the device and follow them

Doctors are more concerned about the danger of children overheating in the summer heat. Dr. Komarovsky, for example, not only does not object to the use of fans, but even recommends turning on air conditioners (which many parents are so afraid of).

If the house is at least sometimes hot, there must be an air conditioner; it is much more efficient than a fan. The younger the child, the more dangerous overheating is. If the parents are hot, then the child is even hotter - in young children the mechanism of thermoregulation is imperfect.
Evgeniy Komarovsky, pediatrician, candidate of medical sciences
https://www.komarovskiy.net/faq/kak-spasti-ot-zhary-v-kvartire-malenkogo-rebenka.html

If mom is sick

Preventing colds in infants will be very complicated if the mother is sick, because she is constantly in contact with the child. How to protect him from infections? Be sure to monitor your health during viral epidemics, and if you feel that you are starting to get sick, get treatment on time.

Important: even if you are sick, do not stop breastfeeding your baby. The infection is not transmitted through breast milk, and it itself saturates the child with the necessary elements and strengthens his immunity. There is no better way to prevent colds in children.

However, during illness, due to a lack of fluid in the mother's body, the amount of milk produced may decrease. To prevent this from happening, be sure to drink plenty of fluids to replenish the water balance in your body.

During treatment, do not rush to buy the first ARVI powders you come across at the pharmacy. Many drugs are contraindicated during breastfeeding, since they can enter the baby’s body along with milk. Take medications only after consulting your doctor.

The best remedy

Doctors never tire of repeating: breastfeeding

will protect the baby from many misfortunes.
Together with the mother's milk, leukocytes, macrophages, and immunoglobulins enter the baby's intestines, which will protect it from infection. And even if your mother is sick, you should not switch to artificial formulas
. On the contrary, along with breast milk, the child will receive from the mother antibodies developed specifically for this type of virus - only when communicating with the child, you need to wear a gauze bandage.

You should not stop breastfeeding even if the mother has a high temperature. First, heat is a defense mechanism. When it is above 38–39 °C, all viruses die. Secondly, it is at this moment that the immune system produces proteins that kill the infection.

In addition, breast milk can be used instead of ointments and drops that increase immunity. Freshly expressed milk is dropped into the baby's nose 3 times a day (1 drop in each nostril). After consulting with your doctor in advance, you can also resort to the help of homeopathic and antiviral remedies. They will also be useful for bottle-fed babies.

Garlic and onion nasal drops

If you are not yet seriously ill, but already feel slightly unwell and have a runny nose, make garlic drops by squeezing out the garlic juice. Be sure to dilute it with water in a ratio of 10 to 1, otherwise you will get a burn to the mucous membrane. Place the product in your nose 5 times a day. Such preventive measures will help you not get sicker and not infect your baby.

You can use onion drops instead of garlic. Pour the finely grated onion with water, leave the mixture to infuse for an hour. Strain so that only the pulp remains, and mix it with honey (a quarter of a teaspoon is enough). Drop this remedy into your nose in the same way as the garlic solution.

How to protect a children's room from viruses?

It’s good if the baby has a separate room, but in a one-room or small apartment it’s difficult to isolate the child. Allocate a place for the baby in your bedroom, but be sure to follow the condition: do not put the baby to sleep in your bed if one of the parents is sick.

How can you avoid infecting your infant with colds and other viral diseases while being in the same room? Here are some tips:

Ventilate the room regularly so that the infection does not linger in the air. Open the window in the room several times for at least 15 minutes. Of course, the baby should not be indoors at this time - at this time you can go for a walk with him;
Do wet cleaning more often. Ideally, you need to wash floors and wipe surfaces twice a day - in the mornings and evenings. If you are very sick, add chlorine to your washing water;
Monitor the temperature in the bedroom. Both overheating and hypothermia are equally harmful to the baby. The normal temperature to maintain the health of a baby is about +22 degrees;
And of course, if you are already sick, get treated as hard and quickly as possible so as not to spread bacteria around the apartment. If the listed preventive measures did not help and the baby began to get sick, take him to the pediatrician. An adult can quickly recover from an illness in 2-3 days using home methods or pharmaceutical powders, but children get sick longer and more severely.

How to strengthen your immune system

From 3 to 6 months, the baby is protected only thanks to the mother’s milk; along with it, vitamins and nutrients necessary for the baby enter the esophagus.

It is thanks to mother's milk that a child at the age of six months develops its own immunity, which can protect the baby from viruses. But, unfortunately, not all women have the opportunity to breastfeed a child.

Now this is not a problem; in stores you can find baby food that will help the child fight diseases and strengthen his immunity. But, before buying such food, you need to consult with a pediatrician or nutrition consultant, since due to the individual characteristics of the body there may be certain contraindications.

Proper care of the baby is equally important. Children have a completely different body that reacts differently to various external stimuli. Even if it’s hot outside and the sun is baking, a newborn can easily get sick if he sweats a little. The consequences can be completely different. It is necessary to notice the earliest symptoms of illness in the baby, then the doctor will be able to begin treatment before the disease begins to develop. This is especially important for such a serious illness as the flu.

Preventing colds in children

It is no secret that it is better to avoid a disease altogether than to treat it. Often, if prevention of colds in newborns fails, acute respiratory infections in babies can lead to serious complications including heart murmurs, asthma, liver disease, kidney disease, and even loss of vision or hearing. The consequences are serious, so you should strengthen the child’s immunity from the very beginning. How to do it:

Give your baby vitamins regularly throughout the year. In the summer, this can be fresh fruits and vegetables in the form of puree. If you are breastfeeding, be sure to eat as many vitamins as possible. In winter, you can use preparations containing vitamin and mineral complexes;
An excellent preventative method is hardening. Of course, you don’t need to rub your baby with snow or dress him too lightly for a walk, but a contrast shower is a good way to strengthen the child’s natural immunity;
Sports activities are good for older children. Physical exercise is very beneficial for the body. Send your child to a swimming class or figure skating, you yourself will notice that he will get sick less often;
An effective remedy against diseases is vaccination. Vaccinations will allow you to develop immunity to specific diseases; be sure to consult your doctor before the procedure.

If your baby is already infected, do not give him strong medications, especially without a doctor’s recommendation. Give your child more warm drinks: milk, compote, fruit juice. Drinks can be combined with taking vitamins. If your baby has a high fever, bring it down by giving your child paracetamol. And, of course, do not delay your visit to the doctor.

A baby protected from infectious diseases with the help of preventive measures will be healthy and cheerful. It is enough to follow simple recommendations and reduce contacts of a healthy child with strangers during seasonal exacerbations of diseases. Don’t forget about your own health, because you are constantly with your baby.