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Family Forum / Parenting / Mothers / November 2003Preventing the flu
What are things we can do as moms to prevent our babies from getting the flu? Alena's too young to get the shot and she has a compromised immune system in more ways than one. I'm planning on getting the shot, but I know that people can still get the flu even with the shot. So what are things we can do? I know hand wasing's a big one. But what else?  SignatureLina Alena born July 1st, 2003 www.maternalinstinctscanada.com validate the email address before sending. If taking her out I'd probably discourage others from holding her as they might be passing the germ inadvertently. I might also give serious consideration to not going out much in order to limit exposure and not inviting folks in who appear to be ill. And contact with little children is almost definitely going to result in germ sharing if there is any touching and the other child has been exposed. That may be the hardest part of all to control because kids just automatically touch kids or stuff kids just touched. Good luck, this sounds daunting to me, but somehow we parents do pull it off pretty well most of the time. -Aula Signaturesee my creative works on ebay under http://snurl.com/369o > What are things we can do as moms to prevent our babies from getting the > flu? Alena's too young to get the shot and she has a compromised immune > system in more ways than one. I'm planning on getting the shot, but I know > that people can still get the flu even with the shot. > So what are things we can do? > I know hand wasing's a big one. But what else? She is not too young to get the flu shot, who told you that? Izabellas pedi gives it to all babies over I believe 2 months old I cannot remember. -- Laura, TTC #2 Mommy to Izabella **Feb 10th, 2003** And 2 felines *Ashes(3) & George (5)* http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/i/izabellawelburn/ > What are things we can do as moms to prevent our babies from getting the > flu? Alena's too young to get the shot and she has a compromised immune [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > www.maternalinstinctscanada.com > validate the email address before sending. I was told she should be at least 6 months. I'll ask her pediatrician. This was at my family doctor's. I'm still nervous though as the shot is missing the really bad strain. > She is not too young to get the flu shot, who told you that? Izabellas pedi > gives it to all babies over I believe 2 months old I cannot remember. [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > www.maternalinstinctscanada.com > > validate the email address before sending. Yeah you might want to ask her pedi they give it here in Ottawa, and your are in TO so it should not be different. I know it does not have that bad strain, there has only been one person dead in ONT of it so far, it seems that its up west that its worse. We are having izabella done at our family dr. her pedi did not recommend it because it was 2 shots!! SO STUPID EH? anyways he has no clue LOL. -- Laura, TTC #2 Mommy to Izabella **Feb 10th, 2003** And 2 felines *Ashes(3) & George (5)* http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/i/izabellawelburn/ > I was told she should be at least 6 months. I'll ask her pediatrician. This > was at my family doctor's. [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > > > www.maternalinstinctscanada.com > > > validate the email address before sending. > We are having izabella done at our family dr. her pedi did not recommend it > because it was 2 shots!! Copied from the Region of Peel website (http://www.region.peel.on.ca/flu/info/index.htm) : "What are the flu vaccine recommendations for children? The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI, http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/pphb-dgspsp/naci-ccni/) recommends that children between the ages of 6 months and 9 years of age, who have never received flu vaccine, obtain two doses of influenza vaccine given at least 4 weeks apart. Two doses are required because children may have limited exposure to the flu and therefore need two doses to develop protection. Children who have received flu vaccine in previous years need only one dose for protection. It has been estimated that 10-40% of healthy children get the flu. As well, children are at higher risk for developing otitis media (middle ear infections) as a result of influenza illness. Children are a major contributor to the spread of the virus in both school and household settings. Even healthy young people can become quite ill." Christina mama to DS, two > What are things we can do as moms to prevent our babies from getting the > flu? Alena's too young to get the shot and she has a compromised immune > system in more ways than one. I'm planning on getting the shot, but I know > that people can still get the flu even with the shot. > So what are things we can do? > I know hand wasing's a big one. But what else? I wish I knew... if you find out let me know. Sometimes I feel like I must be doing something fundamentally wrong with the number of colds and stuff K gets. Afterall, along with us she managed to get full blown flu at 5 weeks old. That was hell, but we survived. Sarah >What are things we can do as moms to prevent our babies from getting the >flu? Alena's too young to get the shot and she has a compromised immune >system in more ways than one. I'm planning on getting the shot, but I know >that people can still get the flu even with the shot. >So what are things we can do? >I know hand wasing's a big one. But what else? If Alena's compromised then she is probably a candidate to get the flu shot anyway. My second son was given it at a younger age than usual because of his heart defects so it's something that's worth discussing with your doctor rather than just assuming that because the guidelines say no that it's always no. Most babies under 6 months don't need it but those that do should be able to get it. My son got about a half dose of the flu vac and my older son got the other half. As far as other ways to protect her, you've covered the two biggies, getting the flu shot yourself and making sure you wash your hands. The best thing you can do for her when you're out in public is to carry her so people are less likely to touch her and she can't touch things that might carry virus on them. You should also limit contact with people who are coughing or sneezing, and if you can't think of a way to do that gracefully another advantage of using a sling is that you can use the tail to cover your baby's face. SignatureCheryl Mum to DS#1 (11 Mar 99), DS#2 (4 Oct 00) and DD (30 Jul 02) > What are things we can do as moms to prevent our babies from getting the > flu? Alena's too young to get the shot and she has a compromised immune [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > -- > Lina Keep her away from crowds and people with sniffles or who are coughing. Wash your hands and hers often. If you take her out in public, don't let her touch anything (railings, shopping cart handles, etc.) and put her fingers in her mouth without using hand sanitizer on her at least. People get the flu from one another, from coughs and sneezes and from touching things other people have touched. Remember that fast food servers don't get paid unless they work, so they often work while sick. Toys and playground equipment in public places are incredibly germ-laden. Stay away! gloria p |
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