Why Is Hand Washing Important When Handling Babies?
A large number of newborns are infected with diseases from adults due to a lack of good hygiene in those who handle children. It seems trivial, but it certainly is not. A baby is a very fragile creature. Any illnesses, no matter how mild they may be for an adult, can be life threatening for a newborn. In view of this, all precautions should be taken, and hand washing is of utmost importance.
The importance of hand washing
That something as simple as washing your hands before picking up your baby can save lives can be difficult to understand. Hand washing is a precaution that all adults should take before touching a baby. There are some serious diseases that can be contagious. At the same time, there are diseases that are mild for adults, such as gastritis or a cold, which can be fatal to a newborn baby.
During the first months of children’s lives, it is especially important to keep their hands clean at all times to avoid spreading diseases to the little ones. Babies are much more vulnerable and can easily get sick. With their weak immune system, a quick and happy recovery can be very complicated and often requires immediate hospitalization.
How and when to wash your hands
You should wash your hands every time you want to pick up the baby. Hand washing is especially important before feeding it, after changing nappies and after touching your nose or mouth (for example, after sneezing or sniffing). Wash your hands patiently. Use soap and water because they are important to prevent the spread of bacteria.
It can be tiring, but you should always ask others to do the same before interacting with your baby. Older siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, aunts, uncles and all other people who touch your child during the first months of life should have clean hands. If someone is ill with a viral or bacterial infection, hand washing is even more important.
In fact, if someone has a viral infection or other viral illness, it is better that they do not touch the child at all. The fewer opportunities to spread the disease to the child, the better. This may mean that you do not walk close to the child for several days while you are ill. Better to be on the safe side when so much is at stake.
You should not feel embarrassed or uncomfortable when you ask grandparents or other visitors not to touch your baby if their hands are dirty, and they have nowhere to wash their hands at the moment, or if they have a virus. They should be understanding because the child’s health and well – being are at stake. Do not feel bad for it. If you need to tighten the boundaries so that your baby does not get sick, do so.
We can all spread bacteria
Even if we are not sick with a virus, we can all still spread bacteria. We spend all day touching things that have been touched by others, so we can not be completely sure if our hands are completely clean or not. Therefore, hand washing is our best card to protect the health of the newborn baby.
For those occasions when for some reason you do not have access to soap and water, it is always a good idea to have a bottle of rubbing alcohol in your bag. Hand sanitizer disinfects your hands without the need for soap and water. It is a safe option, especially when you are out and if you come across someone who wants to touch your little baby.
As you can see, extreme care must be taken to protect your child from other people’s bacteria. Keeping your hands very clean is important, and everyone around you should think about it if they want to touch your baby. Children are vulnerable and we must all work together to keep them safe.
