Yes, deaths among newborns from COVID-19 are rare but documented, with risk highest in preterm or medically fragile infants.
Parents ask this because headlines swing between alarm and shrug. The short answer is that deaths in the first month of life from this virus are uncommon, yet not zero. Most infected newborns do well. A small share gets very sick, and a smaller share dies. Risk climbs with prematurity, low birth weight, or heart, lung, or immune problems. U.S. hospital tracking also shows that babies under six months are admitted more often than older children, so trimming exposures during those early weeks makes sense.
Newborn COVID-19 Risk At A Glance
The table below condenses what large datasets and peer-reviewed reviews show. It is broad by design so you can scan fast, then read details in the sections that follow.
| Group | Typical Illness Pattern | Death Reports? |
|---|---|---|
| Healthy, Full-Term Neonates | Mild or no symptoms; short stays if admitted | Rare in reports and national tallies |
| Preterm Or With Medical Issues | Higher odds of breathing trouble and ICU care | Deaths reported, mostly in this subgroup |
| Neonates With PPHN | Severe disease more likely in case series | High mortality in small pooled samples |
| All Infants <6 Months | Highest pediatric hospitalization rates | Deaths occur but are uncommon |
PPHN = persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn.
Are Babies Dying From COVID-19: What The Data Shows
Large U.S. hospital surveillance during October 2022 through April 2024 counted 1,470 admissions for the virus among infants younger than six months. About one in five needed ICU care. Nine deaths were recorded during those months across the network. That tells us severe illness can happen in early infancy, yet death remains uncommon. You can read details in the CDC’s COVID-NET report.
Zooming in on the first 28 days of life, pooled research paints a similar picture. A 2025 meta-analysis of neonates born to infected mothers estimated neonatal death at about 1.3%, with risk rising when the mother was more ill. This measure tracks deaths from any cause among these babies, not just deaths proven to be caused by the virus, so treat it as an upper-bound signal of risk in that setting. See the open-access summary in BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth.
Small clinical series suggest that specific high-risk conditions can push odds higher. In neonates with PPHN who also had SARS-CoV-2 infection, pooled mortality reached about one in six, though the sample size was tiny and methods varied. That points to a vulnerable niche rather than the norm; details appear in the review hosted by PubMed Central.
How Newborns Catch The Virus
Most transmission to babies happens after birth from an infected caregiver through droplets or close contact. Mother-to-baby spread before birth appears uncommon in pooled data. A 2025 review estimated vertical transmission around 2.7%. Rooming-in and skin-to-skin can still be safe with routine hygiene if the parent is well enough, and breastfeeding remains encouraged worldwide. For feeding guidance during illness, see the WHO breastfeeding brief.
What Severe Disease Looks Like In This Age Band
When a neonate gets very sick, the warning signs are familiar to any pediatric team: fast or hard breathing, grunting, bluish tone, poor feeding, sleepiness that is hard to rouse, or fever below three months. Chest imaging can show lung changes, and lab work may reveal inflammation or oxygen problems. Some babies need extra oxygen or ventilation. These patterns match what COVID-NET hospitals saw in young infants.
Who Faces The Highest Risk
Prematurity And Low Birth Weight
Preterm lungs are still maturing. Add a viral pneumonia, and breathing help can be needed. Across reviews of infants born to mothers with the virus, preterm birth tracks with worse outcomes, including death in a minority of cases.
Heart, Lung, And Immune Conditions
Babies with congenital heart disease, chronic lung disease of prematurity, or immune disorders have less reserve. Case reports and series place more ICU care and occasional deaths in this group than in healthy, term peers.
Very Early Age
Across pediatric datasets, infants under six months show the highest hospitalization rates among children. That pattern likely reflects tiny airways, immature immune responses, and the fact that this age group cannot receive a COVID-19 shot yet.
What Lowers Risk For A Newborn
Vaccination During Pregnancy
Antibodies cross the placenta and help guard the baby for several months. Research ties vaccination in pregnancy to fewer hospital stays for the baby if exposed after birth. See the CDC’s analysis of infant admissions for context.
Breastfeeding And Rooming-In With Hygiene
Milk provides antibodies and many protective factors. Global guidance continues to back breastfeeding, with mask use and hand hygiene if the lactating parent is ill. The WHO breastfeeding brief explains why nursing remains recommended.
Sick-Day Rules For Caregivers
If a parent or close contact tests positive, cut close face time, wash hands often, and mask during feeds until better. Keep the baby’s space aired out and limit visitors for a spell. These simple steps lower exposure while keeping bonding intact. The CDC page on prevention in young children gives clear pointers: protecting infants and children.
How Rare Is Death In The First Month Of Life From This Virus?
There is no single global registry that splits deaths by exact day-of-life and lab confirmation. What we do have are three lines of evidence. First, hospital networks in the U.S. show small numbers of deaths among hundreds of infant admissions. Second, pooled studies of neonates born to infected mothers show low, yet non-zero, neonatal death across all causes in that setting, with higher risk when maternal illness was severe. Third, expert reviews note that when deaths occur in neonates, many involve prematurity or other medical issues. Read each line as a piece of one picture: rare events overall, higher risk with fragility.
Symptoms To Watch At Home
Call your pediatric team or seek urgent care for any of the following: breathing that looks hard, grunting, color change to blue or gray, repeated pauses in breathing, fever in the first three months, dehydration signs (no wet diaper for six hours, dry mouth), or unusual limpness. These red flags apply to any serious infection in early infancy, not just COVID-19.
Why Reports Vary Across Studies
Methods differ. Some studies track babies born to infected mothers and count all outcomes, not just lab-confirmed infection. Others only include proven neonatal infection. Tests and care resources differ by region and time. Early waves carried different strains and uneven access to vaccination in pregnancy. Those differences shape death counts and limit one-to-one comparisons.
What This Means For Day-To-Day Decisions
New parents juggle real-world trade-offs. The data above point to a steady plan: limit exposures when a surge is underway, ask sick visitors to wait, keep feeds and bonding going, and stay up to date on shots recommended in pregnancy. Families will set the dial based on local spread and household risks, but the basics rarely change.
Evidence Notes And Context
Here are short snapshots of the sources behind the statements:
COVID-NET Hospitals
Across 12 states, infants under six months had more admissions than older children, with nine deaths among about 1,470 admissions during October 2022–April 2024. The same system shows this age band often needs ICU care. Link: CDC MMWR.
Meta-Analyses Of Neonates Born To Infected Mothers
A 2025 scoping review with meta-analysis estimates vertical transmission near 2.7% and neonatal death near 1.3% across varied settings, with higher risk when the mother was sicker. Link: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth.
High-Risk Subgroups
Small pooled reports of neonates with PPHN and SARS-CoV-2 show severe courses and a higher death share in that niche. Link: Children (Basel) review.
Practical Protection Plan For The First Month
Use this simple checklist. It keeps bonding strong while trimming risk.
- Healthy Birth Parent: If pregnant, take shots offered during pregnancy after talking with your prenatal team. Antibodies pass to the baby and can cut the odds of a hospital stay in early months.
- Home Basics: Wash hands before every feed and diaper change. If you are sick, add a mask during close contact until fever and symptoms ease.
- Feeding: Keep breastfeeding if that works for you; pump and have a healthy helper feed if you are too ill. Milk still carries benefits even when the parent has the virus.
- Visitors: Delay meet-and-greets with sick friends and relatives. Short visits in fresh air or a roomy spot help.
- When To Seek Care: Any breathing struggle, color change, or poor feeds deserve prompt evaluation, day or night.
Protective Steps And What They Do
| Step | What It Helps | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Vaccination During Pregnancy | Fewer infant hospital stays in early months | CDC COVID-NET |
| Breastfeeding With Hygiene | Feeds, bonding, transfer of protective factors | WHO brief |
| Masking By Sick Caregivers | Lower droplet exposure during close contact | CDC page |
Bottom Line Parents Can Trust
Deaths in the neonatal period tied to this virus are rare. They do happen, mainly in babies who are preterm or carry other health issues. Most newborns with infection have mild courses and go home. The best moves are simple: guard the baby’s bubble when someone is sick, stick with breastfeeding if you can, and take the shots offered in pregnancy. With those steps, the odds tilt in your baby’s favor while you keep the cuddles going.