Why parents should restrict visitors from touching their newborns – Paediatricians

Child health experts have advised parents to limit the number of visitors their newborns come in close contact with to avoid exposing them to infection as their immunity is not yet strong enough to fight infections.

According to the physicians, it is wrong for parents to allow extended family and friends, unrestricted access to their babies citing high vulnerability to diseases.

They said though there is no one-size-fits-all approach to visiting a newborn, it is important for new parents to set boundaries and take precautions so their new baby can stay healthy.

The paediatricians said it is important for parents to protect their newborns from infections, stressing that their immune systems are not well developed until after about six months old.

A Consultant Paediatrician at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Kwara State, Dr. Oluwabunmi Mokuolu, told our correspondent that parents who allow visitors unrestricted access to their babies are increasing the chances of having viral infections.

“You don’t know what they are harbouring. Some of these people who carry babies have allergies like colds for example.

“Colds are usually transmitted by viruses and by the time they carry babies, they are indirectly transferring these viruses.

“So, you are increasing their chances of having a cold and other viral infection. These bring down their immunity. You know they are really small and are new to the world, and their immune system is weak.

“So, this virus brings down their immunity and colds can be very serious even as little as a cough. No cough is little, to adults, it is little but to babies, it is not. That cough can be something else to the child.

“It can be a bacterial cough and this way, infections can be transferred to the newborn and the poor child does not have enough antibodies or immunity to fight infection like an adult.”

The child health expert also stressed the need for mothers to ensure that their babies are vaccinated before leaving the hospital, warning that babies could die from viral infections, especially if they are presented to the hospital late for treatment.

“If they have these diseases, they are usually a severe form of the diseases and it is not good for them.

“Some can even die from it because parents bring those babies late to the hospital. If you are coming to a newborn’s place, at least, observe basic hygiene.

“Please wash your hands and as much as possible. You don’t have to cuddle or kiss the baby. You have greeted the parents; it’s okay. Even if you have to cough where a baby is, you have to observe the basic cough etiquette by coughing into the elbow. If you have a cold, as much as possible, stay off”, she advised.

Mokuolu also urged parents to ensure that their babies get full complement immunisation.

The American Paediatrics Academy says even parents with health issues should avoid kissing their newborn babies, warning that they could spread cold sores to them.

According to APA, parents or relatives with cold sores should be careful not to kiss babies, stressing that their immune systems are not well developed until after about six months old.

“Cold sores are highly contagious. They can spread through saliva, skin-to-skin contact, or by touching an object handled by someone infected with the virus.

“When a child develops a cold sore for the first time (also called primary HSV), the blisters often spread beyond the lips to the mouth and gums. A child may also have a fever, swollen and tender lymph glands, sore throat, irritability, and drooling.

“The virus from cold sores can spread to the eyes, which can lead to HSV keratitis, an infection of the cornea—the clear dome that covers the coloured part of the eye. The infection usually heals without damaging the eye, but more severe infections can lead to scarring of the cornea or blindness”, the academy said.

Also, a Consultant Paediatrician in the Clinical Services Department of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos, Dr. Agatha David also warned,” People should treat newborns with respect. Wash and sanitize your hands when paying a visit to a home where there is a new baby. Don’t get too close.

“It is our culture to show love and care to a newborn, but such acts can endanger the life of the baby.’

David, who is a Deputy Director of Research at the institute, urged mothers to stop exposing their newborns to the risk of infection, saying “A baby’s immune system is not properly developed to fight off the infection.