Did you know that the flu, cold sores, and chickenpox are all very contagious? Even as a parent, you’re not immune to catching these viruses. You don’t have to be sick with something to pass it on to your child. In fact, in a perfect world, you should never even come into contact with these illnesses. Fortunately, there are measures you can take as a parent to help prevent passing on an illness to your child. However, sometimes things just happen and no matter how cautious you are, it’s impossible not to catch a common cold at some point. When we talk about kissing our baby with a cold sore as parents, there is cause for anxiety. Let this article highlight the most important things you need to know if you kiss your baby with a cold sore ever again!
What To Do If I Kissed My Baby With A Cold Sore
Wash your mouth out with soap and water as soon as possible
Since kissing your baby with a cold sore will most likely involve some sort of saliva exchange, it’s important that you wash your mouth out immediately after. You can do this by rinsing with warm water and then scrubbing your mouth with soap. It may be uncomfortable but try to put up with the discomfort for the sake of preventing passing on a virus to your child.
Avoid kissing other people’s babies if you have a cold sore
It’s not only cold sores that can be transmitted through kissing but also chicken pox and the flu. If you have a cold sore, avoid kissing other people’s babies or even hugging them or touching their faces or hands. This is because these viruses can be easily passed on through saliva exchange without the person being sick at all! Some of these viruses are extremely contagious and there is no way to know whether you have caught one of them or not.
Never kiss your baby with a cold sore if you have a fever, or if you feel nauseous
If you have a high fever and are sick, it’s best to avoid kissing your baby at all. You will not only prevent yourself from getting sick but also help prevent the virus from being passed on to your child. If you feel nauseous, avoid kissing until the nausea passes. This goes for any illness as well; whether it’s the flu, chickenpox, or just a cold sore!
Consider using lysine supplements to help defend against viruses and cold sores
A common supplement that is used by many parents is lysine supplements. It’s important to note that this supplement does not treat an infection but rather helps the immune system fight off infections like cold sores and chicken pox by increasing your body’s production of lysine which yourself from spreading a sickness but also your baby will get sick too! If you feel nauseous and have a fever, it’s even more important that you avoid kissing your baby with a cold sore.
Do not kiss your baby with a cold sore if you have chicken pox or the flu
You should never kiss your baby with a cold sore if you have chicken pox or the flu because these viruses can be passed on through saliva exchange. When you kiss your baby, the virus can be transmitted to them and they will then develop chicken pox or the flu as well! Even though most people will recover from these diseases without any problems, it’s best to avoid catching them at all costs.
Avoid kissing your baby if they are crying
If your baby is crying, it’s best that you avoid kissing them or hugging them. This is because when a person cries, their immune system is weakened and this makes them more susceptible to catching viruses. It’s important that you avoid kissing or hugging your child if they are crying in this case because of the chances of passing on a virus increase drastically in these instances.
Avoid kissing your baby with a cold sore if they have an infection
If you kiss your baby with a cold sore and they have an infection, such as the flu or chickenpox or even an ear infection, there is a chance that you will catch their illness. You should not kiss them in these cases! Instead, cover their mouth when they are crying in order to prevent any saliva exchange occurring between the two of you. You can also use tissues to cover their mouth for short periods of time when they are sick.
How To Kiss Your Baby Without Contracting An Illness
Wash your hands!
Newborns have immature immune systems, which means they are constantly being exposed to germs. They can’t clean their own noses, and they’re too young to receive vaccinations. This makes them much more susceptible to contracting an illness. When you’re around your newborn, you can’t take any chances. You need to make sure you don’t contract an illness from your baby, so the first thing you need to do is to wash your hands. You can do this before, during, and after each kiss. Before you pick up your baby, make sure you wash your hands with antibacterial soap. This will help you prevent cross-contamination. You don’t want to transfer the germs from your hands to your baby. You can also use hand sanitizer before picking up your baby. This is especially important if you’ve been out in public. You can never be too careful when it comes to newborns and germs. During the kiss, try to avoid the mouth. Instead, kiss your baby on the shoulder, head, or cheek. After each kiss, wash your hands again. This will prevent you from transferring any germs from your hands to your baby.
Use a tissue
The inside of your mouth is full of germs. This can be dangerous if you kiss your baby on the mouth. That’s why you need to use a tissue when kissing your baby in the mouth. This will help you avoid transferring germs from your mouth to your baby. You can then dispose of the tissue after each kiss. If you’re worried about looking silly using a tissue, you can always use your finger. It’s not as effective though. If you’re breastfeeding, you can’t use a tissue. You can, however, use your finger. You can also use a barrier device, like the Last-E-Nate, to prevent getting milk into your mouth.
Don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth
Newborns have open wounds. This makes them more susceptible to contracting an infection. Babies have very few antibodies, which makes them very vulnerable to diseases like chicken pox, shingles, and even the flu. If you have any of the above illnesses and you kiss your baby, the baby may contract the illness. You don’t want to risk contracting an illness from your baby, so you need to avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth when you’re around your baby. You can pick up your baby with clean hands. You can also use a clean towel, blanket, or tissue to cover your baby when you pick them up. To avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, you should wear clean and sanitized gloves when you’re around your baby. This is especially important if you have any of the above illnesses. If you don’t have gloves, you can use clean hands to pick up your baby and a clean towel, blanket, or tissue to cover your baby.
Change your clothes
Newborns poop and pee a lot. This can get messy and is more than enough reason to change your clothes when you’re around your baby. Doing so will keep the mess away from your mouth, nose, and eyes. If you don’t change your clothes, you’re more likely to transfer harmful bacteria from your clothes to your baby. If you do change your clothes, make sure you wash them regularly. You can also use disinfectant sprays to keep them clean.
Short kisses only
It’s best to keep your kisses short when you’re around your newborn. A long kiss can be dangerous since you can transfer germs from your mouth to your baby’s mouth. You can also accidentally drop food or saliva on your baby when you’re kissing them. For short kisses, make sure your nose doesn’t touch your baby’s mouth. You can put your hand between your mouth and your baby’s face to avoid touching your lips to your baby’s mouth.
Conclusion
Kissing your baby on a regular basis is a great way to show them love and affection. However, kissing your baby with a cold sore can be harmful. It’s important to protect your baby from coming into direct contact with your cold sore by keeping your lips away from their delicate skin. It’s also important to be proactive about keeping your baby safe by washing your hands regularly when you have a cold sore.
FAQ’s
Q: How do I know if I have a cold sore?
A: A cold sore is a small blister-like lesion, usually red and itchy. It may be accompanied by fever, chills, and headache.
Q: What should I do when I get a cold sore?
A: Warm compresses help relieve the pain and itching of a cold sore. If you have a fever, you should see your doctor as soon as possible for medical attention.
Q: How long does it take for my cold sore to go away?
A: Cold sores usually last between 2-7 days.
