Do you Know How to Protect your Baby from RSV?

This post was sponsored by AstraZeneca as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.

As a mom of preemies, I knew from the very beginning that winter was going to be a serious cause for concern. We got lucky my first winter as a new mom. The second winter though, hit us with a vengeance.

I knew that we were dealing with RSV when I saw how much my son was struggling.

With winter just around the corner, do you know how to protect your baby from the threat of RSV? October is National RSV Awareness Month and it is a great time to educate yourself and your child’s caregivers about RSV prevention and create a game plan to keep your child safe.

RSV is a huge concern. Nearly all babies will contract the illness by the age of two. Some babies have mild symptoms and for others, it can be fatal.

RSV is seasonal and typically occurs between November and March here in the U.S.

We were extra vigilant when we had new babies at home during that time. Now that my youngest are toddlers, we are still careful but now we are extra careful about making sure we do our part to keep younger babies safe by staying in when we are sick and avoiding contact with tiny babies when we know there’s a bug going around.

There are a few important things you can do to prevent RSV:

• Wash hands often. This is important all the time, but especially when you are around a young baby.
• Keep your baby away from crowds. If you do have to go to a crowded place, keep your baby covered as much as possible and do your best to stay away from the most crowded spots.
• Stay away from people who are sick. There’s a tendency to push through a cold and keep on with your regular routine. The problem is, that spreads illness. Ask people who are sick to avoid visiting your home and stay away from anyone who is visibly sick in public places.
• Wash your baby’s toys, clothes, and bedding often. This is so important during the winter months. Babies put everything in their mouths so any germs on their toys will be spread quickly.
• Don’t let anyone smoke in your home or near your baby. Tobacco smoke can irritate babies lungs, especially if your baby is a preemie.

Go here to learn more about RSV disease and what you can do to keep your child safe.