Given how contagious COVID is, just the idea of delivering a baby and then taking care of a fragile newborn is enough to give any woman a scare. But if you have delivered recently, here are some tips of taking care of your baby 

1) When bringing baby home: Making a newborn wear a mask is almost an impossible task and therefore it is suggested that every adult around the newborn wears one--be it the mother, father, grandparent, nanny..it is imperative that people, when they are around the baby, keep their mouths and noses covered.

2) Hand washing and sanitizing is not enough; people should not be encouraged to pick up and handle the baby especially during the pandemic. Only the main caregivers should be allowed to pick up the infant.

3) Visitors can wait. A lot of people will be eager to meet you and pay your baby a visit. Politely tell them to wait for a few months since anyone can be an unsuspecting aysymptomatic carrier.

4) It is advisable to avoid hiring a nanny or a domestic help just now. Bring in only a trusted person now...a nanny who has been residing at your parents house, or someone you know. If you must, ensure she follows proper protocols, stays away from the baby and the baby’s things and only helps you with household chores.

5) Do not take the baby out anywhere except for the routine vaccinations. You may take the baby out in her pram, during hours for a walk, when there are least number of people around and that too is less crowded spaces.

6) If staying in a joint family, ask others to restrict their contact with the outside world so that they can spend more time with the baby. They will need to make the tough decision.

7) Any baby things that are ordered, or bought, have to be sanitized first. Stock up at one go so that you are saved the entire cycle of shopping-santizing-storing.

8) Breastfeeding is the best immunity gift you can give your baby now. If you are not able to breastfeed, connect with a lactation expert.

9) If you have an older child at home, ensure he/she also washes or sanitizes hands before touching the newborn, but do so gently, so that the older sibling’s feelings are not hurt.

Build lots of positivity around yourself and your baby to keep the stress away and enjoy your motherhood.