Protect Your New Grandchild from Germs
Robert Nickell
Grandparents always love to “show off” their adorable,
sweet, perfect newborn grandbabies, but it’s important to practice caution in
doing so as there are harmful germs that can cause your grandbaby to become
ill. With seven kids of my own ranging in age from 7 months to 27 years old,
I’ve learned a trick or two about how to help grandparents feel confident
showing off their new grandchild while practicing safety and caution in the
presence of germs and public spaces.
Sanitize: I never
leave the house without some hand sanitizer and wet wipes. These two items come
in handy more often than you think. And when there’s a new baby around we
encourage all of our guests or baby handlers to thoroughly wash their hands (or
use sanitizer if on-the-go) prior to touching the new baby. When the
grandparents are out and about with baby ask them to keep a bottle of hand
sanitizer nearby. Then when a friend or passerby wants to get close to the baby
they can quickly and easily sanitize their hands before they touch the baby.
Stay In: One of
the best things I’ve discovered is the importance of controlling the
environment around a newborn baby. Instead of taking baby out and about – why
not encourage the new grandparent to stay in and have people come to their home
instead? That way they won’t have strangers trying to touch their grand baby
and their friends won’t likely be offended when they’re asked to wash their
hands before holding the baby. Staying in is always a great idea as it allows
for more personal time and bonding while still giving grandma the opportunity
to show off her new grandbaby.
Sign the Stroller: Make
or purchase a sign to pin on your stroller beginning the day you leave the
hospital if you want to. The sign could say, “Please Wash” implying you’d like
people to wash their hands before handling the baby. The sign might feel a bit
intrusive right off the bat; however, you’ll get used to it and come to love
it. People passing by will be less likely to try to touch your baby and it’ll
be a reminder to you, too – to wash your hands as often as possible in order to
lessen the chances of your baby becoming ill. With a sign on your stroller, the
proud new grandparent will be ready to go, and you’ll be confident your baby
will be safe and germ-free.
Cover Baby Up: When
you, or a grandparent, are out in a public space such as a super market or a
mall with a newborn cover the baby up by placing a blanket or car seat canopy
over their stroller seat. They make convenient covers now that let you easily
check-in with baby (to ensure they’re safe and well) while keeping them under
wraps. If there’s a cover over your stroller people will be less likely to try
to get a look at the baby since they’ll think he’s sleeping. The grandparents
can do their shopping alongside baby without being bombarded by baby-crazy
strangers.
When you have a newborn around you have to remember to
create a germ-free healthy space for the child to thrive in. Have a discussion
with the new grandparents early-on to remind them the hazards that come with
germs, the importance of requiring all baby-handlers to wash their hands and
that not everyone needs to be touching the new baby.
I hope these simple tips will help the proud new
grandparents in your life show off their new grandchild while keeping him safe
and healthy, too.
Happy parenting!
Daddy Nickell