Everything You Need to Know to Get Through Cold & Flu Season With a Newborn

Oct 5

6 min read

Cold and flu season can feel especially intimidating when you have a brand-new baby at home.

Newborns have immature immune systems, and as a parent, it can be hard to know what precautions are actually necessary, what symptoms to watch for, and what to do when your baby inevitably gets a stuffy nose.

The good news? You don't have to spend the entire season living in a bubble.

With a few simple precautions, a well-stocked newborn medicine cabinet, and a plan for what to do when someone gets sick, you can feel much more confident navigating those first few months.

Here’s everything I (as a NICU nurse and mom) want new parents to know:

1. You don't have to avoid everyone

It's completely reasonable to be more cautious with a newborn during cold and flu season—but you don't need to isolate your family.

Instead, focus on healthy visitors and smart boundaries.

Before someone visits:

Ask them to stay home if they feel sick or have recently been exposed to something contagious.
Encourage handwashing before touching the baby.
Consider asking close contacts to stay up to date on recommended vaccines.
Avoid kissing your newborn, especially on the face and hands.
Keep visits smaller during periods of high respiratory illness.
Don't be afraid to postpone a visit if your gut tells you something isn't right.

A simple, "We're being extra cautious while baby is little, so we'll reschedule when you're feeling better!" is enough.

You don't owe anyone an explanation beyond that.

Do what feels best for you and your family and what you're comfortable with.

2. Handwashing is one of your best defenses

It sounds simple, but it's one of the most important things you can do.

Anyone who is going to hold, feed, change, or otherwise care for your newborn should wash their hands first.

Make it easy:

Keep soap and clean towels readily available.
Put hand sanitizer near the baby's changing area or entryway.
Ask visitors to wash their hands when they arrive.
Wash your own hands before feeding or handling your baby, especially after blowing your nose, coughing, using the bathroom, or coming home from public places (seems like common sense but you'd be surprised).

3. Don't let people visit when they're sick

This is one of the biggest boundaries I want parents to feel comfortable setting, even though it can be a very hard one.

"I just have a little cold."

"I don't have a fever."

"I'm feeling better now."

"It's just allergies."

Those things don't necessarily mean someone is no longer contagious.

If someone is actively sick, they can wait to meet the baby.

And remember: this applies to family, friends, siblings, caregivers—and yes, even grandparents.

4. Know the difference between prevention and panic

Your newborn may still get a cold.

That doesn't mean you did anything wrong.

Babies can be exposed to respiratory viruses even when parents are doing everything "right." Your goal isn't to guarantee that your baby never gets sick. Your goal is to reduce unnecessary exposure and know what to do if they do become ill.

That distinction can take a lot of anxiety out of the season.

5. Have a newborn sick-day kit ready BEFORE you need it

You don't want to realize at 2 a.m. that you don't have a nasal aspirator.

Consider keeping these items together:

Digital thermometer
Saline nasal drops or spray appropriate for infants
Nasal aspirator
Humidifier
Acetaminophen

Important: Don't give a newborn over-the-counter cough or cold medication unless specifically directed by their healthcare provider.

6. A stuffy nose can make feeding harder

Newborns are primarily nose breathers, so even a little congestion can make feeding more difficult.

You may notice your baby:

Pulling off the breast or bottle
Taking longer to feed
Getting frustrated while eating
Needing more frequent breaks
Sounding congested while feeding

Saline drops followed by gentle nasal suction can sometimes help clear the nose before a feed. You can also try holding your newborn in a warm steamy shower (upright) to loosen secretions and then apply gentle nasal suction.

If your baby is struggling to feed, having significantly fewer wet diapers, or you're concerned about hydration, contact your pediatrician.

7. Keep baby's sleep environment simple

When your baby is congested, you may be tempted to add extra blankets, positioners, pillows, or other products to help them breathe.

Don't.

Even when baby is sick, safe sleep still applies.

Place your baby:

On their back
On a firm, flat sleep surface
In their own sleep space
With no pillows, blankets, bumpers, stuffed animals, or positioning devices

Don't prop up the mattress or let baby sleep in a swing, bouncer, car seat, or other sitting device because they're congested.

A clear crib or bassinet is still the safest sleep environment. If you plan on holding them for routine sleep, make sure you are staying awake while they sleep.

8. Know when a newborn needs medical attention

This is the part I want every new parent to save.

For babies under 3 months, a rectal temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher requires prompt medical evaluation.

Call your baby's healthcare provider if you notice:

Fever
Difficulty breathing
Breathing that is unusually fast or labored
Ribs pulling in with breaths
Bluish or gray lips/skin
Poor feeding
Significantly fewer wet diapers
Unusual sleepiness or difficulty waking
Your baby seems significantly different from their normal behavior
You are simply worried something isn't right

If your baby is struggling to breathe, turning blue/gray, or is otherwise experiencing an emergency, seek emergency medical care.

And remember: you don't have to wait until symptoms look "bad enough" to call your pediatrician or go to the emergency department.

You know your baby. If something is off, get them checked.

9. If YOU get sick, don't panic

This is one of the biggest fears I hear from new parents.

"What if I get sick?"

If you're breastfeeding, you generally don't need to stop breastfeeding simply because you have a cold or flu. In fact, continuing to breastfeed can provide your baby with immune factors.

Take reasonable precautions:

Wash your hands frequently.
Consider wearing a well-fitting mask when you're very close to baby if you have a respiratory illness.
Avoid coughing or sneezing directly around baby.
Clean frequently touched surfaces.
Ask for help whenever you can.

And if you're too sick to safely care for your baby, accept the help.

This is not the time to prove you can do everything yourself.

10. Make a sick-day plan with your partner BEFORE someone gets sick

This is one of my favorite pieces of advice for new parents.

Ask yourselves now:

If one of us gets sick, who is doing what?

Decide:

Who handles nighttime feeds?
Who handles diaper changes?
Who gets groceries?
Who takes care of older siblings?
Who contacts the pediatrician?
Who can come help if both parents are sick?
What work can be canceled or postponed?

You don't want to have this conversation while everyone is exhausted and running a fever.

11. Don't forget about RSV

RSV is one of the respiratory viruses parents hear about most during newborn season.

Talk with your OB or baby's pediatrician about current RSV prevention recommendations for pregnancy and infants, including whether maternal vaccination during pregnancy or an infant preventive antibody is appropriate for your baby.

Recommendations can change from season to season, so your baby's healthcare provider is the best source for your specific situation.

12. Don't let fear steal the newborn stage

Cold and flu season with a newborn requires some extra awareness—but it doesn't have to mean spending three months terrified of leaving your house.

You can take your baby for a walk.

You can have visitors.

You can see your family.

You can go places when you're comfortable doing so.

You can set boundaries without feeling guilty.

And you can enjoy your baby.

Your goal isn't to create a completely germ-free world. It's to create a safe, informed environment and know what to do when illness inevitably makes an appearance.

Your Cold & Flu Season Checklist

Before baby arrives, make sure you have:

☐ Digital thermometer

☐ Infant-appropriate saline

☐ Nasal aspirator

☐ Humidifier

☐ Hand sanitizer

☐ Plenty of diapers

☐ Extra burp cloths

☐ Extra newborn clothing

☐ Pediatrician's phone number saved

☐ After-hours pediatrician number saved

☐ Emergency plan

☐ Sick-visitor boundaries established

☐ Family vaccination conversations completed

☐ A plan for who can help if you get sick

And most importantly:

Trust yourself.

You don't need to know everything.

You just need to know your baby, know the basics, and know when to ask for help.

— Sasha Scanlon, MSN, RN, CBC | Founder of Simply Sleep by Sasha