It is rare for babies to get COVID-19. If you and your baby are healthy, they are not at a higher risk of getting COVID-19. Babies don’t get very sick with the virus, but they can spread it to other people.

The COVID-19 vaccine gives the best protection from serious sickness. The HSE recommends that babies over 6 months now get the COVID-19 vaccine also.  Talk to your doctor for more information.

• high temperature (38 degrees Celsius of higher)
• new constant cough
• breathing problems
• loss or change to your sense of smell or taste

If you have symptoms call your GP right away.

Call your GP straight away if your baby:

• is under 3 months old and has a high temperature (38 degrees Celsius of higher)
• is pale and their skin is cold
• has breathing problems
• doesn’t respond to you or does not seem their usual self
• is going blue round the lips
• has a fit or seizure
• has a rash

Phone your GP straight away. You and your baby will need to restrict your movements until you can talk to your GP.

1. Get the COVID-19 vaccine. If your baby is over 6 months, talk to your doctor about them getting the COVID-19 vaccine.
2. Wash your hands often. Wash your baby’s hands often too with soap and water. Don’t use hand gel on their hands.
3. Wear a face mask if you feel sick or are coughing or sneezing
4. Don’t touch your face with your hands.
5. Cover your mouth with a clean tissue when you’re coughing or sneezing. Cough or sneeze into your elbow if you don’t have a tissue.

Follow the latest government advice on visitors to your home. Not everyone shows signs or symptoms of COVID-19.

Talk to your Priest about baptising your baby. For more information you can also call the Parish of the Travelling People: 01 838 8874.

Fresh air and exercise is good for you during this time.

You will need to self-isolate if you have COVID-19. This means:

• Stay at home
• No visitors
• Keep 6 feet apart from other people in your home
• Wear a mask when you are near other people in your home
• Stay in a separate room with the window open if you can
• Don’t share food, plates, drinking glasses, knives, forks, spoons, towels, dishcloths and bedding with other people. Wash these items well with soap and hot water after you use them

Only stop self-isolating when:

• you have had no fever for 5 days and
• it has been 10 days since you first had symptoms

Ask your GP or public health nurse for more information.

If you need support to safely self-isolate, contact your:

• Local Authority
• Local Traveller organisation
• Traveller Primary Health Care Project/Traveller Health Unit

If you want to keep looking after your baby, you should:

• Wash your hands with soap and water or hand sanitiser before and after feeding, bathing and cuddling your baby
• Wash your hands after changing their nappy
• Wear a mask when you are around your baby
• Don’t cough or sneeze around your baby
• Don’t be kissing your baby on the face

Breastmilk is the best milk for your baby. It is safe to keep breastfeeding. To prevent passing the virus on to your baby while breastfeeding:

• Wash your hands before touching your baby
• Wear a mask
• Sterilise any breast pump or bottles

If you are bottle-feeding, keep sterilising the bottles. Wash your hands before and after you feed your baby.

Your GP will organise a test for you and your baby if needed. If your baby needs to be tested, the tester will place a cotton bud inside both nostrils to get a sample. For children under the age of two, the swab will only go 1cm deep. The test is easy and quick.

If your baby tests positive for COVID-19 you will need to self-isolate them. You will need to wear a face covering when you are with them. Make sure to wash your hands before and after touching your baby.

If your baby has COVID-19, call your GP right away if:

• they have a high temperature (38 degrees Celsius or higher)
• they have a rash
• they are getting sicker
• they have swelling in their hands and feet – the skin looks red and hard
• their lips, mouth and tongue are dry, cracked, swollen or bleeding
• they have swelling around their eyes or redness in the whites of their eyes