Why Is It Important To Wash Your Hands When Dealing With Babies?
A baby is an extremely fragile being. A disease that poses no risk to an adult can become deadly to a newborn. Therefore, every precaution is not enough and it is very important to wash your hands.
The importance of washing your hands
An act as simple as washing your hands before having direct contact with a baby can save your little one’s life. All adults should take this precaution before touching a baby.
There are serious illnesses that can be spread simply by contact, and other illnesses that, while appearing mild to an adult, such as gastroenteritis or a cold, can be fatal to a newborn.
It is necessary to always have clean hands when we are in contact with babies to avoid the transmission of diseases, especially during the first months of life.
They are very vulnerable beings and their immune system is not well developed yet, and they can get sick easily. Also, their recovery is not as simple as in adults. On many occasions, immediate hospitalization is required.
How and when to wash your hands
You will have to wash your hands every time you come into contact with the baby. Be especially careful when feeding it, after cleaning it, or if you have touched your own nose or mouth (for example, after blowing your nose or sneezing).
It is important that you wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water to prevent the spread of bacteria.
Don’t forget to tell other people who will be interacting with your baby to do the same. For example, older siblings, grandparents, uncles or anyone else who touches your baby in the first few months of life should always have their hands clean.
Also, if someone is sick, contaminated with some virus or bacteria, that person should wash their hands more often.
If someone close to you is infected with a viral illness, then, rather than washing their hands, it is more important that they simply not touch the baby.
The less likely it is to transmit diseases to the child, the better. If that person has to go a few days without approaching the baby because he is sick, that’s fine. Better safe than sorry.
You don’t need to feel embarrassed about asking grandparents or other visitors not to touch or come close to your baby if their hands are dirty, if they can’t wash them right now, or if they have a viral illness.
You must understand that it is for your baby’s health and well-being. Do not feel bad. If you need to set limits so your baby doesn’t get sick, do so.
We can all transmit germs
Although we don’t have any viral illnesses, we can all transmit germs. We spent the whole day touching things and objects that, in turn, were touched by other people.
It’s practically impossible to know for sure whether our hands are really clean or not. Therefore, washing them will always be a safe solution to protect the newborn’s health.
It is always good to have alcohol gel or baby wipes in your bag as you may not find soap and water everywhere you go.
Hand sanitizing with alcohol gel is a great option, especially when you go out for a walk and meet acquaintances who want to touch your baby.
As you can see, you can’t be too careful to protect your baby from germs from other people as well as your own.
In short, everyone around you should be aware that it is very important to have clean hands when touching the baby, holding the baby or caressing her little face. A baby is very vulnerable and must be protected with everyone’s help.
