Did you know that almost every baby will contract the RSV virus by the age of 2? Only about 1/3 of moms even know what it is.
The RSV Virus is the leading cause of infant hospitalization and the cause of up to 500 infant deaths every year. There is No treatment for RSV. The only thing you can do is take precautions to protect your baby from the RSV virus.
You can ask all of my family, when it comes to bringing my newborn babies home, I was very cautious with their exposure to germs. I required everyone to wash their hands before holding my baby and if they had a cold, I asked them to wait to visit. Babies are too precious and vulnerable to viruses as newborns, especially if they are born premature.
RSV Virus Symptoms
RSV Virus symptoms 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.
Both my kids had the RSV virus this school year as it was spreading all through their schools, and they had it when they were ages 1 and 3. I slept next to my wheezing kids, just to be sure they could breathe through the night until their fevers broke and their breathing improved.
How RSV Virus Spreads
The RSV Virus spreads very, very easily. The RSV Virus can live on surfaces for several hours like doorknobs, counters, toys, bedding, etc. The RSV Virus spreads through touching, hugging, kissing, etc.
How to Prevent RSV Virus in Newborns
Lucky for me, my kids didn’t contract the RSV virus as infants. There was a reason that I waited until my baby was almost 3 months old before taking them to church, why I didn’t expose them to unnecessary germs at stores, and why I required everyone to wash their hands before holding or touching them. I was protecting my babies.
The below RSV Infographic shows more about RSV Virus in Newborns
RSV “season” is basically fall through spring. So, that accounts for most newborns’ birthdays. You must be extra cautious if your have a premature baby since their lungs are underdeveloped and have immature immune systems. To prevent RSV Virus in newborns, you must be cautious about exposing them to visitors.
- Have guest wash their hands frequently, once they enter your home and before holding your baby
- Ask guest to leave toddlers at home, especially if they go to daycare or preschool since they often carry germs and viruses like RSV that are easily spread
- Ask guests to not visit if they are sick or have been sick recently
- Don’t let anyone smoke in your home, or near your baby
- Wash your baby’s toys, clothes, and bedding often
- Keep your baby away from crowds and young kids, and sick people
Find out more about the RSV Virus at https://www.rsvprotection.com.
My family follows the above rules with our own babies and those that we visit. There have been many times when we did not attend a family function or visit someone with a baby because one of us was sick, even if it was just a cold. Nothing is worth taking a chance at getting a newborn sick.
Sometimes, it is easier to mail a letter to explain your situation than to tell every single person why you are concerned for your baby’s health. Here is a template letter that you can fill out and use.
My sister-in-law is expecting. If she was to have her baby tonight, only my husband would be there to welcome the newborn because I’m sneezing, my son is coughing, and my daughter’s nose is running. I know that she is 100% appreciative of that too. Please consider the above information when visiting newborns in your life or use it to empower yourself to protect your own baby.
I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of MedImmune and received promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.
