Recent replies to "Babies and Colds"

Reply from mandy moto

mandy moto — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 15:54:31 -0000

I am exactly the same way with my children I am always very careful about who they plays with because is the child looks sick I try to get her aways from them but.. I guess it isn’t always possible because kids will be kids.

Reply from Ricardo Vidal

Ricardo Vidal — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 17:37:52 -0000

I stand corrected. I guess I must have picked up my info from some CSI episode or something… it was so far off!

Dr Hsien to the rescue! :)

Reply from Hsien-Hsien Lei

Hsien-Hsien Lei — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 12:43:35 -0000

And good grief am I late to the conversation or what?!

Reply from Hsien-Hsien Lei

Hsien-Hsien Lei — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 12:42:57 -0000

Oh, back to the original question. ;)

I hear what you’re saying, Shara, but I don’t much like my child mingling with those who are visibly sick. Especially when it comes to cold viruses that mutate so quickly, one exposure won’t really strengthen the immune system as much as challenge it with potentially harmful sequelae especially for the very young. Colds in the newborn are especially troublesome since they can’t blow their noses and can’t even feed properly if they get sick.

Reply from Hsien-Hsien Lei

Hsien-Hsien Lei — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 12:37:59 -0000

Rick, what in the world are you talking about?! Breast milk has been proven to have loads of immune properties that DOES transfer to the child. In fact, because most children’s immune systems don’t develop fully until they are past 3-4 years of age, breast milk can benefit them even after they would normally be weaned.

THE best place to get info on breastfeeding is kellymom.com and this article about how breast milk protects newborns is a good start.

As for our guts not being porous, that isn’t true for newborns which is all the more reason the breastfeed.

Reply from Ricardo Vidal

Ricardo Vidal — Sat, 26 May 2007 22:29:46 -0000

A newborn already has an intact immune system. The problem is it is just too naive and takes longer to respond to exposure.
Breast milk doesn’t pass on much antibodies to the baby specially since we don’t have porous stomachs to let the goodies in.

But babies do get a good dose of antibodies from mother via placental transfer of IgG. So, it’s a small kick-start.

Overall, the sooner you are exposed, the sooner you are ready for more. But I can understand the newborn’s mother in asking to keep away from the sniffles.

Reply from Martha Behnke

Martha Behnke — Sat, 26 May 2007 12:14:19 -0000

I think she was right… a newborn doesn’t have the capacity to develop antibodies in response to exposure and depends on mother’s milk for the first couple of months (6 or so I think?).

I’m not an immunologist, just what I remember reading about early development…

I don’t worry about germs and my kids after about 6 months or a year :)