I have a cold !

[bb]

Hoping for some (more) wonderful advice !

Yesterday I developed a rotten cold ! I have been coughing and sneezing, and generally feeling dreadful !

My concern is connected to me being the primary carer of Hamish (3 months old) as daddy will be at work this week (three days and two nights). I am worried about breathing on Hamish, and giving him this yucky cold, but I don't know how I can avoid being close to him. Since he is bottle fed, I am also in a panic about sterilising his bottles, as I feel sure that as soon as I touch them, their sterilisation is compromised.

What can I do ?? ANY suggestions ?? The last thing I want to do is make my little man feel as blahhh as I do !

B

[ThomasMum]

Hi there, I can understand your concerns. Not so long ago when Thomas was around 8 weeks my DH brought home back cold from work (lovely innit!), I was worried sick, I did everything to prevent this not to happen to our poor wee bub (not that these preventions helped really) as Thomas is one strong bub (takes after his mum :) he didn’t catch anything then.

But, wait. 2 weeks ago I went back to work after being away from maternity leave for 7 months, and on Thomas's first day from childcare he's got mild cold! What I'm trying to say is that I guess sooner or later our kid/s will get some of those things, preventing this might help but as they grow older and mingle with the world outside the chance to catch cold/flue etc higher.
I remember what my old man used to say to us, cold/flue aren’t that bad some of them are rather good for our antibody etc, and sounds cruel: but the sooner being exposed is the better he said, my old man is an OB/GYN :)

Hope this story helps you to feel not too worry too much!

[Chickadee]

What Thomasmum said was right, sooner or later bub is going to start getting colds. If not at daycare then when they start school. It's really tough, on bub and on you, when they start so young though.

I think just common sense will be best at minimising the chance of passing on your cold to Hamish. Lots of handwashing by you after blowing your nose and before handling him or his bottles - that will take care of a lot of the potential for him catching it.

[bb]

Thanks girls !

As usual, some logical advice ! I just wish that when in these situations, the logical path was obvious. Sometimes it just helps to have someone else point it out !

Will be hand washing quite a bit - but so far so good ... I still feel rotten, but Hamish is healthy (and active and loud) as ever !

B