Holiday festivities with a newborn? We’ve got you covered.

No one likes cold and flu season, but it strikes an extra chord of stress in new parents. With the holidays on the horizon, it can be overwhelming to attend the usual family festivities while toting along your sweet, lovable germ-susceptible baby. What’s a parent to do?

The experts at St. Elizabeth Healthcare have you covered. We’ve compiled a list of helpful tips and tricks to managing holiday fun with your brand-new baby in tow.

Use that baby wrap

Keep your baby close – and away from germy hands and kisses – by using a baby wrap, sling or carrier. This will also help prevent the pass-the-baby phenomenon that so frequently can happen during get-togethers. Arrive at the host’s doorstep with your baby already snuggled into your chest, or ask to use a private room as soon as you arrive to get the baby situated. You and your partner can switch off throughout the night. Bonus: many babies happily doze for hours while being wrapped, so enjoy those snuggles while socializing.

Insist on the flu shot

Babies have brand-new immune systems and cannot easily fight against the flu, making it a dangerous situation if they do get the flu. Protect your sweet new arrival by getting the flu shot yourself and insisting to loved ones that if you’d like to snuggle the baby, the flu shot is a must.

Dress for success

Whether you are heading next door or three states over for this year’s holiday celebration, make sure not to overdress your little one. A few tips for traveling with your newborn:

• Keep them comfortable: Opt
  for soft, cozy clothes for baby, especially during the car ride. Many of us
  purchase a darling holiday outfit for our newborn – which is great! Just plan
  to change your baby into their festive outfit once you arrive at your
  destination.
• No coats: Even in
  the middle of winter, avoid putting a thick coat on your little one, especially
  if you’re going on a long car ride. Use light, snug layers and make sure to snuggle
  your baby with blankets after you’ve securely fastened their car seat straps.
• Car seat covers:
  Protect your baby from the harsh winter wind or snow by using a car seat cover
  or lightweight blanket draped over the car seat if you are transporting your
  baby from the car to indoors. Once you have arrived, make sure to uncover the car
  seat right away so your baby has fresh air.
• Keep the car seat inside: Eliminate
  the need for those extra layers by keeping your baby’s car seat inside. Putting
  your little one into a room-temperature car seat is much more enjoyable for
  them than a car seat that has been in below-zero temperatures all night. It’s
  also safer – babies have a hard time regulating their temperature and keeping
  the car seat indoors prevents their body temperature from working hard to
  readjust.
• Be smart: Keep an
  emergency baby kit in the car, stocked with supplies you’ll need in a pinch if
  you get snowed in at Great Aunt Sarah’s house. Be smart about driving too –
  stay off of hazardous roads during treacherous conditions, especially with a
  little one.

For more tips and suggestions on how to travel with your new one this holiday season, call our St. Elizabeth Maternal Child Health Educators at 877-424-5750.