Yes, newborns can get COVID-19, mostly after birth from close contacts; severe illness is uncommon, and smart precautions lower risk.
Parents hear mixed messages. Here’s the clear picture: babies in the first weeks of life can catch SARS-CoV-2, usually from a caregiver with recent infection. Most cases are mild, yet a small share need hospital care. The sections below explain how infections happen, what symptoms look like, when to call the doctor, and the steps that cut risk without adding stress.
Newborns And COVID-19: Current Risk Picture
Hospital teams and pediatric groups track outcomes closely. Across recent seasons, infants under six months show the highest pediatric hospitalization rates, but the majority still recover with standard care. Public health agencies emphasize prevention in the home, early contact with a clinician if a baby has fever, and continued feeding to maintain hydration and calories.
How Transmission Happens In The First Weeks
Most infections start after delivery through close contact with an infectious adult. True congenital infection, where the virus passes through the placenta before birth, is uncommon. Breast milk is not considered a risk route; instead, it carries protective antibodies when the mother has been vaccinated or previously infected.
| Pathway | What It Means | Practical Step |
|---|---|---|
| Close contact with a sick caregiver | Main source for baby infections in the home | Stay home while contagious; wear a mask near the crib; hand hygiene |
| Visitors in the first month | Asymptomatic adults can still spread virus | Limit visits; ask recent contacts to skip; meet outdoors when possible |
| Healthcare waiting rooms | Crowded rooms raise exposure | Book first-morning slots; wait in car until called; keep baby covered |
| Placental transmission | Rare route documented in studies | Routine prenatal care; talk with your obstetric team |
| Breast milk | No evidence of spread through milk | Continue nursing or give expressed milk; clean pump parts thoroughly |
What Current Evidence Says
Research groups studying mother–infant pairs report a very low rate of transplacental infection, often under one percent, and reassuring newborn outcomes. Benefits from maternal vaccination include antibody transfer across the placenta during pregnancy and into milk after birth. Those antibodies reduce the chance of symptomatic infection in early infancy, when babies are too young for their own shots in many regions.
Care Basics When A Baby Has Respiratory Symptoms
Newborns breathe fast and have small reserves. Any fever in the first month deserves prompt medical advice. Outside of emergencies, comfort care matters: keep feeds coming, clear nasal congestion with saline and a bulb, and watch energy level and diaper counts. If the baby looks worse, call right away—early evaluation prevents larger problems.
Use a digital thermometer correctly: rectal temperature gives the most reliable reading in the newborn period. Log values with times and any medicines given so your clinician can see the pattern. If your clinic offers nurse triage, use it; a short call often saves a long night in the waiting room.
Symptoms You May See
Typical signs include stuffy nose, cough, poor feeding, and fussiness. Some babies have brief pauses in breathing or wheeze. Many have no symptoms at all after an exposure and simply test positive while the household is sick. Track changes over hours, not minutes, and write them down; the note helps the clinician triage by phone.
When To Seek Urgent Care
Seek care fast for trouble breathing, bluish lips, repeated vomiting, fewer wet diapers, fever in a baby under 28 days, or if the baby is hard to wake. Trust your gut—if the baby looks off, call. Clinics can arrange testing and check oxygen levels; emergency departments can give fluids and monitor breathing.
Testing, Isolation, And Day-To-Day Life At Home
Rapid antigen tests detect higher viral loads and work best during the first days of symptoms. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests detect smaller amounts of virus and may stay positive longer. For newborns, testing plans should come from the baby’s clinician, who will also set timing for follow-up and decide whether other infections need evaluation.
Smart Isolation With A New Baby
If a parent or caregiver is infectious, the goal is to limit direct exposure without interrupting care. Wear a high-filtration mask while holding or feeding the baby, wash hands before touching bottles or pump parts, and keep shared surfaces clean. If another healthy adult can take primary care duties for several days, do it; if not, masking and ventilation still cut risk during feeds and diaper changes.
Feeding While Someone Is Sick
Breastfeeding can continue. If latching is tough while masked, express milk and use a clean cup or bottle. Hydration comes first; small, frequent feeds are fine. Formula-fed babies do well on usual schedules. Keep a log of feeds and diapers so you can spot early dehydration. Public health pages reinforce this approach; see CDC guidance on COVID-19 and breastfeeding.
Prevention Layers That Matter For The Smallest Babies
Protection stacks. A household can mix several low-effort steps: staying current on vaccines for eligible family members, opening windows to increase airflow, postponing crowded indoor events, and skipping visits when anyone has new respiratory symptoms. These small moves reduce the chance a tiny infant ends up with a cough, fever, and a trip to urgent care.
Maternal Vaccination Helps Babies
When the mother receives an updated COVID-19 shot during pregnancy, antibodies cross the placenta and appear in breast milk after delivery. Studies show lower rates of symptomatic infection and hospital care in the first months of life among babies with this passive protection. Talk with your obstetric team about the right timing in pregnancy. NIH researchers report that vaccination during pregnancy protects infants through the first half-year.
Visitor Rules That Keep Peace
Set simple house rules: postpone visits if anyone has new cough, fever, or sore throat; offer outdoor meet-and-greets; and keep hugs short in the first month. Loved ones can help by dropping off meals or running errands instead of passing the baby around the room.
| Symptom | At-Home Care | Urgent Care Now If |
|---|---|---|
| Fever | Call your clinician for any temp in the first month | Age under 28 days or baby is hard to wake |
| Breathing trouble | Keep baby upright; clear nose with saline | Skin turns blue or chest pulls in between ribs |
| Poor feeding | Offer smaller, frequent feeds; track diapers | Fewer than 3 wet diapers in 24 hours |
| Vomiting | Pace feeds; burp often; watch for spit-ups vs. true vomit | Green vomit or repeated forceful episodes |
| Wheezing | Call for guidance; avoid smoke and indoor irritants | Fast breathing, flaring nostrils, or grunting |
Care Pathways: What Your Team May Do
Clinicians tailor plans by age and exam findings. A newborn with fever often gets blood and urine tests and may need observation in the hospital to rule out other infections. Babies with breathing trouble might receive oxygen, suctioning, or IV fluids. When care happens at home, the plan usually includes hydration goals, fever guidance, and a scheduled check-in.
Testing Choices In The Nursery And Clinic
Swab type and timing matter. Nasopharyngeal swabs pick up more virus but are uncomfortable; nasal swabs are common for quick tests. Your team may repeat a negative rapid test if symptoms are early.
Breastfeeding And Rooming-In
Hospitals now keep mothers and babies together in most situations. Direct nursing with a mask and hand hygiene is standard. When either parent is recovering from COVID-19, lactation help can assist with latching, pumping schedules, and milk storage so feeds stay on track.
Practical Home Setup For The First Month
Think air, hands, and routine. Crack a window during visits, keep hand gel at the door, and set a simple cleaning loop for high-touch surfaces. Build a small sick-day kit: saline drops, bulb syringe, digital thermometer, acetaminophen if your clinician approves, and spare masks. Post the clinic number on the fridge so you—or a helper—can call fast.
Travel And Errands With A Tiny Infant
Short trips are safer. Use curbside pickup and avoid packed waiting rooms when you can. If you must fly, choose off-peak flights and wipe shared surfaces near your seat. Keep feeds, diapers, and a change of clothes in easy reach.
What Parents Ask Most
Can Breast Milk Spread The Virus?
No. Studies and public health guidance report no evidence of spread through milk. Milk carries antibodies that help the baby’s immune system recognize the virus early. Keep nursing or offer expressed milk during illness.
Should Healthy Visitors Wear Masks?
Use a simple rule: if someone has recent exposure or any new respiratory symptom, skip the visit. If you welcome company during a local surge, short masked visits help. Outdoors is easiest for smiles and photos while the baby is brand new.
What About Shots For The Baby?
Vaccine plans for infants change over time and vary by region. Your pediatric team will advise when COVID-19 shots enter the routine series for your area and season. Until then, vaccinating eligible caregivers and older siblings is the fastest way to shield a newborn.
Bottom Line For New Parents
New babies can catch this virus, usually from a contagious adult after birth. Most do well, yet some need hospital care. Layer small habits—healthy visitor rules, masks when someone is sick, ventilation, and up-to-date shots for eligible family members. Keep feeds steady, track diapers, and call early if you’re worried. That calm, steady plan keeps tiny lungs safer while you settle into life at home.