Is it even possible to protect my newborn from Omicron?

[Anonymous]

DH is working from home, and I’m on maternity leave, but we have two vectors of exposure:
- 4yo DD who is in a masked half-day pre-K program
- Nanny who has a 12yo DD in middle school

I feel bad constantly reminding DD to wear her mask around her baby sister, but it’s mandatory. Other than that, and taking a shower as soon as she comes home, can anything be done? I feel like there’s a 99% chance newborn is going to catch this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DH is working from home, and I’m on maternity leave, but we have two vectors of exposure:
- 4yo DD who is in a masked half-day pre-K program
- Nanny who has a 12yo DD in middle school

I feel bad constantly reminding DD to wear her mask around her baby sister, but it’s mandatory. Other than that, and taking a shower as soon as she comes home, can anything be done? I feel like there’s a 99% chance newborn is going to catch this.

I would separate the baby and older kid as much as possible. I know it sucks, I'm so sorry.

[Anonymous]

The newborn might get it, but the longer you can hold it off the better. Keep doing what you’re doing.

[Anonymous]

I know this probably isn’t what you want to hear, but unless the mask is a well fitted N95/KN95, it’s probably not going to do much. The shower is definitely not going to do anything. That being said, if it helps you feel like you are protecting your newborn, keep doing.

Does your daughter’s daycare have strict protocols in place? For example, symptom checks, parents not allowed inside the school, can’t return to school until 48 hours after symptoms subside (even if it’s confirmed not to be covid), etc? Ours hasn’t let up on them since they reopened last June, and has only had two cases this entire time.

With the nanny’s daughter being in middle school, that is the real wild card factor.

[Anonymous]

I have a newborn, a 3yo, and a 5yo, and I don't think it's inevitable though it's definitely very possible and I'm concerned. I'm not making my older kids mask at home, but they both mask at school (heavy duty disposable when they go back in January), we're not seeing anyone without rapid testing before, and I'm nursing so she should be getting antibodies (I also had the first two shots while pregnant and the third while nursing). Do what you can, accept that you cannot fully eliminate risk, and remember that most children do not have adverse outcomes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a newborn, a 3yo, and a 5yo, and I don't think it's inevitable though it's definitely very possible and I'm concerned. I'm not making my older kids mask at home, but they both mask at school (heavy duty disposable when they go back in January), we're not seeing anyone without rapid testing before, and I'm nursing so she should be getting antibodies (I also had the first two shots while pregnant and the third while nursing). Do what you can, accept that you cannot fully eliminate risk, and remember that most children do not have adverse outcomes.

I'm also in this boat (4 yo in preschool, 2 yo with nanny, 5 day old) and we're approaching it this way, too. Grocery delivery, not going to stores, seeing vaccinated family following negative tests only. We're not masking at home.

[Anonymous]

Why don’t you keep the 4 year old home for the next month?

[Anonymous]

I would pull the older one out until the wave passes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would pull the older one out until the wave passes.

+1

[Anonymous]

I’m in the same boat. I don’t have any answers. Have a 6 week old, older toddler in a masked half day pre school program, and a nanny. Husband wfh and I’m on mat leave.

[Anonymous]

I have a newborn and an almost two in full day daycare. We don’t mask at home (and toddler won’t start making at daycare until she turns two next month). I’ve accepted it’s pretty likely we’ll catch Covid; I’m really hoping antibodies from breast milk help the newborn? I was boosted at 36 weeks pregnant and at least at have no other risk factors.

[Anonymous]

How long is your maternity leave? I would keep my oldest home and stop the nanny until this wave passes. Also, breast feed if possible to pass vax antibodies. Stay away from indoors and wear good masks when out.

[Anonymous]

I would not ask my child to mask around their sibling, or to give their sibling distance. I would pull from preschool before that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would not ask my child to mask around their sibling, or to give their sibling distance. I would pull from preschool before that.

+1. Mental health and bonding is more important

[Anonymous]

Give the nanny a few weeks paid vacation and pull the older child temporarily out of preschool.