Yes, newborns are at higher risk from COVID-19, with infants under 6 months showing the highest hospitalization rates.
Parents ask this because care in the first weeks feels fragile. The short answer: tiny babies can get sick from SARS-CoV-2, and while most do well, the youngest end up in hospitals more than older kids. The good news is that day-to-day steps and smart feeding plans lower exposure at home.
Newborn Vulnerability To COVID-19: What Puts Them At Risk
Three things drive risk in the first months. First, airways are small, so any swelling narrows breathing. Second, babies can’t be immunized yet, which leaves them without vaccine-driven protection. Third, exposure usually comes from adults or siblings with sniffles who kiss or cuddle the baby.
Quick Risk Snapshot
Public health tracking shows that babies younger than 6 months have the highest COVID-19 hospitalization rates among children. That pattern has held across seasons since late 2022. CDC graphics and reports lay this out plainly.
| Factor | Why It Matters | What Parents Can Do |
|---|---|---|
| Age < 6 months | Highest pediatric hospital rates seen in this group | Reduce contacts, keep sick visitors away |
| Prematurity or lung/heart issues | Less reserve for handling lower oxygen | Use a low-threshold for phone triage |
| Household spread | Most exposures come from caregivers and siblings | Mask when sick, test, wash hands, improve airflow |
| Feeding pattern | Human milk carries antibodies after maternal shots | Encourage direct nursing or expressed milk |
| Daycare or visitor volume | More close contacts raise odds of a dose | Limit passes from arm to arm in the early weeks |
If you want a single anchor point from U.S. data, see the CDC page on infant and child hospital use; it shows the under-6-month group at the top of the pediatric curve. Link below in the care section.
How Infection Reaches A New Baby
Most newborn infections start after birth at home from droplet and aerosol exposure during close care. A smaller share begins around delivery. Standard maternity practice now keeps mom and baby together in the room with simple precautions. Skin-to-skin, latch help, and regular checks still happen with masks when the adult has symptoms.
Rooming-In And Visitor Rules
Hospitals moved away from routine separation. The current approach is couplet care with hand hygiene, a clean mask for anyone with sniffles, and spacing the bassinet a few feet from the head of the bed when the parent rests. At home, stick to a small circle of healthy helpers, skip kisses when sick, and keep windows cracked or a HEPA unit running during visits.
Protection Newborns Can Get Right Now
Shots start at 6 months, so newborns need layers from the people around them. Two big tools help: maternal shots during pregnancy and nursing. Both place antibodies where they matter in the early months.
Maternal Vaccination During Pregnancy
When a pregnant person gets an updated dose, antibodies cross the placenta and show up in cord blood. Studies and CDC reports link that to fewer hospital stays among babies in the first half-year of life.
Antibodies In Human Milk
After mRNA shots, milk contains antibodies against the virus. That adds a useful layer for mouth and airway surfaces during feeds. If direct latch isn’t possible, pumped milk still carries those proteins.
What If The Birthing Parent Has COVID-19?
Direct feeds can continue with a mask and hand washing. If a parent feels too ill, pump or hand-express and have a healthy adult offer the bottle. Hospitals may test the baby near discharge to guide home care plans.
Everyday Precautions That Work
You don’t need a lab. A few habits cut exposure without turning the house upside down.
Home Habits
- Anyone with a cough wears a snug mask while near the baby.
- Wash hands before feeds, diaper changes, and after wiping a nose.
- Crack windows or run a portable HEPA filter in the room where you cuddle.
- Limit passing the baby around in the first six weeks.
- Keep surfaces simple and clean: phone screens, doorknobs, pump parts.
When A Caregiver Tests Positive
- Pick one healthy adult as the main baby handler for a few days.
- The sick person rests, masks when in the same room, and sleeps apart.
- Feed with direct latch or pumped milk; express on schedule to protect supply.
For medical details on infant hospital trends and breast-feeding with COVID-19, see the CDC pages on infant hospital risk and COVID-19 and breastfeeding.
Symptoms In Newborns And When To Call
Most babies with SARS-CoV-2 have mild runny nose, cough, or a brief fever. A few develop trouble feeding or fast breathing. Because babies change fast, phone triage early when something seems off. Go to urgent care or an ER for the red-flags below.
| Sign | What You’ll See | Next Step |
|---|---|---|
| Breathing effort | Ribs pulling in, flaring nostrils, head bobbing | Call 911 or go to ER |
| Feeding downtrend | < half usual intake, fewer wet diapers | Same-day visit |
| Color change | Blue lips or gray skin tone | Emergency care |
| Fever | 100.4°F (38°C) or higher in a baby < 3 months | Immediate medical review |
| Listless behavior | Weak cry, hard to wake, floppy tone | Same-day evaluation |
Care Pathways If A Newborn Tests Positive
Testing may be PCR or an antigen swab. Many newborns with a positive test stay at home with phone follow-up. Doctors look closely at feeding, breathing, and hydration first. If the baby looks well, care centers on comfort and close checks.
Home Care Basics
- Offer small, frequent feeds to keep wet diapers steady.
- Use saline drops and a bulb to clear the nose before feeds.
- Keep the baby upright on a parent’s chest while awake; stick to a flat, empty crib for sleep.
- Avoid fever reducers unless instructed by a clinician for age and weight.
When Doctors Admit Newborns
Babies come in when they work too hard to breathe, drink too little, or show signs of dehydration. Teams may place oxygen, give IV fluids, and watch closely. Some centers use antivirals in select cases that meet strict age and weight cutoffs.
Pregnancy Choices That Help Babies Later
Getting up to date during pregnancy lowers the chance of severe illness for the parent and passes antibodies to the baby. That bridge covers the early months before shots begin for the child. Birth plans today also favor rooming-in with masks during respiratory symptoms instead of routine separation.
Feeding Plans If You’re Sick Around Delivery
Latch with a mask and hand hygiene, or pump and have a healthy adult feed. If you need rest, mark pump times on your phone and set up a clean station with labeled bottles. Ask the nursery staff to review safe milk storage rules before you go home.
Myths That Keep Circulating
“Breast Milk Spreads The Virus”
Screening to date has not shown milk as a driver of spread. The main risk is close face-to-face contact from a sick adult without a mask.
“Newborns Should Be Separated By Default”
Care teams now keep parents and babies together with basic steps like hand washing and masks during symptoms. That lets feeding get established and keeps stress down while still limiting exposure.
Putting It All Together
Babies in the first months carry more risk from this virus than older kids. Most infections are mild, yet the odds of a hospital stay rise in this age band, and some babies need monitoring. The best plan is simple: reduce sick contacts, keep air fresh, keep milk flowing, and act early when breathing or feeding slips. Those steps stack up.
Care Checklist You Can Screenshot
Daily
- Hand wash before every feed and diaper change.
- Keep visitors few and healthy; no kisses during sniffles.
- Run a HEPA filter or crack a window during visits.
If Someone In The House Gets Sick
- Mask near the baby and sleep in a separate room.
- Switch to one main caregiver for a few days.
- Keep milk moving with pump sessions if you feel too ill to latch.
Call Right Away For
- Fast breathing, ribs pulling in, or blue lips.
- Fever at or above 100.4°F (38°C) in the first three months.
- Half the usual feeds or fewer wet diapers.
Testing, Masks, And Air: Fine-Tuning The Basics
Which Test And When
A PCR swab finds small amounts of viral material and stays positive longer. Antigen tests flip positive closer to peak shedding. If a caregiver wakes with a sore throat, test before holding the baby. A negative with symptoms still means masking near the infant.
Simple Air Moves
Fresh air lowers indoor virus. Open opposite windows for short bursts when weather allows. With a portable purifier, park it near the crib during awake time and by the chair used for cuddling. Check the filter light each month.
When Your Baby Has Other Conditions
Some newborns leave the hospital with oxygen, heart checks, or early lung concerns. These families already follow careful routines. Use the same layers here: short visits, one main helper during illness in the house, and earlier phone calls to the care team. Many clinics run nurse lines for quick advice and same-day checks.
What Parents Can Ask At Discharge
Before leaving maternity care, ask three things: who to call during office hours and after hours; where to go for a same-day visit if breathing or feeding dips; and safe storage times for pumped milk. A small checklist on the fridge saves time at night. Keep handy.