Congratulations on your new baby! Having a new baby is exciting but with a diagnosis of COVID-19, it can be very stressful. Based on current information, babies and children do not appear to be at higher risk for getting COVID-19 than adults, and the symptoms and complications of COVID-19 appear to be milder in babies and children than adults.
The best way to protect your baby is to take all self-isolation precautions and avoid exposing your baby to COVID-19. This includes:
- before touching your baby, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 15 seconds
- wearing a non-medical face mask over your nose and mouth whenever you are near your baby
- keeping your baby’s sleep surface at least six feet from your face if possible
- asking friends or family members who are not sick to help care for your baby
If you are breastfeeding, always wash your hands before touching your baby and wear a face mask while breastfeeding.
If you have made an informed decision to feed your baby infant formula:
- ask someone who is well to feed your baby
- always wash your hands and wear a face mask while preparing formula and feeding your baby
- sterilize bottles and equipment, and clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces
- have a two to four week supply of formula on hand
- if your baby is under two months of age, use liquid concentrate or ready-to-feed formula
- homemade infant formula is not recommended as it is nutritionally incomplete
