Bringing home a newborn comes with enough worries—and heading into cold, flu and RSV season can add a whole new list of questions.

Can grandparents kiss the baby? What if an older sibling comes home with a runny nose? Should visitors get a flu shot? And how do you know when a newborn’s symptoms need a call to Beverly Hills Pediatrics?

Here are a few simple ways to help protect your newest family member this fall.

Should Family Members Get a Flu Shot?

Because babies under 6 months are too young to receive the flu vaccine, one of the ways to protect them is by making sure eligible household members and caregivers stay up to date on recommended immunizations, including the annual flu vaccine.

We also highly recommend the TDaP vaccine, which protects against whooping cough, for all adults who are interacting with your newborn (siblings should be up to date on their whooping cough vaccine as part of routine immunizations.)

Is It Okay for People to Kiss My Newborn?

Everyone wants to snuggle a new baby—but during the newborn period, it’s reasonable to set some boundaries.

It’s okay to ask family and friends not to kiss your newborn, particularly on the face or hands. People with an active cold sore should avoid kissing a baby altogether.

You don’t have to feel guilty about setting rules. Protecting a newborn’s health comes first.

What If an Older Sibling Has a Runny Nose?

This one can be tricky. Older siblings go to school, preschool and activities—and sometimes it feels like they bring home a new virus every week.

You may not be able to completely separate siblings, but you can reduce exposure:

• Encourage frequent handwashing
• Avoid sharing cups, utensils, pacifiers or towels
• Teach older children to cough and sneeze away from the baby
• Clean frequently touched surfaces
• Avoid having a sick sibling kiss the baby’s face or hands
• After hugging your sick older child, change your shirt and wash up well before handling the baby
• Divide and conquer. At times, enlisting the help of a grandparent or babysitter so that you can physically separate the sick child from the baby is best.

And don’t panic over every sniffle. If you’re concerned about an exposure, give us a call.

When Should Visitors Stay Away?

It’s perfectly okay to ask someone to postpone a visit if they’re sick.

Someone with fever, cough, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, significant congestion or other symptoms of illness should wait until they’re feeling better before spending time with your newborn.

If someone is coughing because their “allergies are acting up,” it’s best to be on the safe side and have them visit another time.

When Should You Call Us?

Newborns are different from older babies and children, so don’t hesitate to contact us if something doesn’t seem right.

For babies 2 months old or younger, a rectal temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher requires prompt medical evaluation.

You should also call us promptly if your newborn is having trouble breathing, is unusually difficult to wake, isn’t feeding normally, has significantly fewer wet diapers, develops a concerning change in color, or if you simply feel that something isn’t right.

When it comes to a newborn, we’d rather you call and ask.

You Don’t Have to Keep Your Newborn in a Bubble

Having a newborn during cold and flu season can feel intimidating, but the goal isn’t to eliminate every possible germ. And it is important to remember that the postpartum period can be isolating, so having interactions with family and friends is important for new parents.

Simple precautions—clean hands, staying up to date on recommended vaccines, keeping sick visitors away and knowing when to call your pediatrician—can go a long way.

If you are more risk averse, consider meeting your friends for an outdoor stroll around the neighborhood to keep the likelihood of exposure significantly lower.

And remember: you don’t have to figure everything out on your own.

Beverly Hills Pediatrics is here for you 24/7.

Our Beverly Hills and Valley offices are open Monday–Friday, and our Beverly Hills office offers weekend appointments on Saturdays and Sundays. After hours, our nurse triage team and on-call physicians are here for you, so you always have support when you need it.

If you’re worried about your newborn, please call our office so our team can help guide you.