COVID-19: Precautions for newborns and babies

The recorded number of illnesses due to COVID-19 among children of any age has been low all over the world - early data from China show that children comprised 2.4% of all COVID-19 patients in that country (that said, China was not reporting asymptomatic cases till 1 April and most children who contract this disease show very mild or no symptoms).

All current research points to the fact that while babies and infants are definitely at risk of contracting COVID-19, the disease seems to have a milder effect on them when compared to adults and those with underlying conditions.

Since COVID-19 is a new disease and there’s currently very little research available on it, the precise reason why infants and children are affected less by it is not known. The recent death of an infant below the age of one year in the American state of Illinois might alarm parents, but research into the death of a 10-month-old infant in China previously indicated the likelihood that the infant deaths are related to comorbidities and complications in the recovery process rather than the severity of COVID-19 infection.

The important thing for parents to do is take ample and strict precautions against COVID-19 infection themselves and protect their newborn babies and infants from it, too.

According to the WHO, CDC and other health agencies, there is currently no data to support the idea that vertical transmission of COVID-19 from mother to newborn child is possible, even if the infected mother breastfeeds the baby. This is because no traces of the virus have yet been found in the amniotic fluid the baby gestates in for nine months in the womb, or in breast milk either. 

While this suggests that COVID-19 cannot be passed from mother to newborn babies or breastfed infants, these are still early days into research regarding COVID-19. Vertical transmission, therefore, cannot be ruled out completely. This is the reason why, if you see any symptoms of COVID-19 or upper respiratory tract infections in your infant, you should contact your doctor or emergency health services immediately.

Read more: What pregnant women need to know about COVID-19

Most of the precautions parents need to take to avoid COVID-19 infection in their newborn babies and infants are similar to the ones recommended to be followed by all children and adults. The following are the precautions all parents must take:

• Make sure anybody who comes in contact with the newborn washes their hands with soap and water thoroughly before and after touching the baby. 
• If your infant is crawling or even walking, make sure his or her hands are also washed and disinfected properly and regularly. 
• Avoid using alcohol-based sanitizers for newborns and infants, because this can irritate their skin. Use soft baby soap for infants’ skin, clothes, linen, etc.
• Avoid crowds and keep your babies away from them strictly. 
• Keep all surfaces at home and especially around the baby clean and disinfected. Pay special attention to toys, baby blankets, and things within their reach.
• Keep newborns, infants and all children at least six feet away from anybody who is sick, and make sure they do not come into contact with the same surfaces.
• Teach your older infants and toddlers to wash their hands, cover their mouths while coughing or sneezing, and avoid face-touching at all costs. Reward them if they follow through these practices. This will ingrain these good hygiene and COVID-19 preventive practices in your child early on.
• Babies and children can pick up stress and anxiety from parents. Make sure your mental health and language is in check in front of the babies, and reassure them if they are old enough to understand.
• If you see any symptoms of any sickness, especially symptoms of COVID-19, isolate your infant and call emergency health services or your doctor immediately. Do not delay getting medical aid during a pandemic. That said, do not take your child to a hospital - call your doctor or the government helpline to know the next step if your child is exhibiting symptoms.

Read more: How to take a COVID-19 patient to hospital: government guidelines

So far, there have been very few cases of newborns, infants and children having a severe complication (or death) due to COVID-19 infection. Still, it’s important to remember that these risks increase in some cases. If your newborn or infant has any of the following issues after birth, taking extra precautions to avoid COVID-19 infection should be discussed with your obstetrician or primary healthcare provider.

• Premature babies: Preemies are usually underdeveloped and weigh less, which is the reason why they’re often placed in neonatal intensive care units (NICU). If your baby is premature, he or she should be given professional care during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Asthmatics: Since COVID-19 affects the upper respiratory tract and is a highly contagious infection, it can lead to severe complications if your baby has asthma or lung diseases.
• Diabetics: According to Johns Hopkins University, so far there have been no complications observed in infants with COVID-19 infection and diabetes, but since the risk of complications is high among adults and very little is still known about the impact of COVID-19, it’s best to take extra care. (Read more: Why COVID-19 could be more dangerous for diabetics)
• Congenital defects: Newborns and infants with genetic defects like spina bifida have a compromised immune system which makes them more vulnerable to all types of infections. Consult your doctor about how to take proper precautions if your baby has a congenital abnormality and avoid surgeries unless absolutely necessary.
• Cancer: It’s a saddening fact that newborns and infants also contract cancer, which compromises their immune system considerably. It’s of the utmost importance to care for infants with cancer during this pandemic. That said, children with cancer are also likely to get less severe symptoms of the infection than grown-ups in similar health. (Read more: COVID-19 and cancer)
• HIV-positive: Babies who are HIV positive because of vertical transmission from the mother also have a compromised immune system and should be given extra care during the pandemic. (Read more: What HIV/AIDS patients need to know about COVID-19)