How to Protect Your Infant from Flu​ ?

The United States Center for Disease Control estimates that on average, 20,000 children under 5 require hospitalization due to influenza in the United States each year. Severe complications from the flu are most common in children under 2 years of age. Infants under 6 months old are most vulnerable, as they cannot get the flu vaccine, but there are many steps you can take to protect your infant from the flu.

Get the seasonal flu vaccine as soon as it becomes available. The seasonal flu vaccine usually protects against a combination of different flu viruses and becomes available in early fall.

• Make sure everyone living in the same dwelling as the infant gets the flu vaccine to reduce the chance that the baby will be exposed to the virus through a family member or roommate.
• Check to make sure any caregivers who will come in close contact with your baby have gotten the vaccine. It is especially important that daycare providers or nannies who feed infants be vaccinated.

Breastfeed or feed your baby expressed breast milk if possible. Breast milk helps strengthen your infant's immune system and protect against illness.

• Continue feeding the infant breast milk, even if the mother becomes ill with the flu. The mother can express breast milk and another caregiver can feed the baby with a bottle.
• Check with your doctor and/or pharmacist to make sure any medications you take are safe for a breastfeeding baby if you become ill. The antiviral flu medications Oseltamivir and Zanamivir are both commonly prescribed and safe for breastfeeding mothers to take.

Wash your hands with soap and water prior to holding or feeding the baby. Use an alcohol based sanitizing hand rub if soap and water are not available. Cleansing your hands will help prevent the spread of flu germs.

Avoid coughing or sneezing in the baby's face. Doctors believe the flu virus is spread through droplets formed during coughing and sneezing. If you are holding the baby and must cough, cover your mouth and nose with a facial tissue or even the crook of your elbow if no tissues are available.

Request that family or friends experiencing flu symptoms postpone visits. Flu symptoms can include fever, cough, sore throat and body aches. Although they may be eager to see your baby, visits from contagious people can imperil the health of your infant.

• Explain why you are asking the person to wait to see the child.
• Ask the sick person to let you know once they have gone 24 hours with no fever without taking fever-reducing medication. A fever is a temperature at or over 100 degrees F (37.8 degrees C). After meeting these conditions, the person is most likely no longer contagious and you can reschedule the visit.

Use a sling or baby carrier, or hold your baby in public places. When you hold your infant close to your body, other people are less likely to get close to the baby's face or touch the baby. This helps prevent your infant from being exposed to the flu virus.

• Stay 6 feet (1.8 m) away from people who are sick or displaying flu symptoms.

Sterilize baby items. Steam, boil or use a disinfectant to remove germs from pacifiers, baby toys and bottles and nipples.

Call your doctor if you or anyone living with the infant suffers from flu symptoms. Getting prompt treatment is especially important, as antiviral flu medications are most effective during the first 2 days of illness.

• Quarantine the sick person to 1 room to prevent spreading the virus to other areas of the house.
• Ask another person to care for the infant if you are the primary caregiver and are suffering from the flu.
• Wear a face mask if you are sick and must care for the child. If the face mask makes it too difficult to breathe, be very careful to cover your mouth and nose with a facial tissue while coughing and sneezing.

Sources : www.wikihow.com