Visiting a newborn: 4 hygiene rules to keep in mind
By Cynthia Lodite, September 17, 2026A new baby can quickly become the centre of attention in a family, with relatives and friends eager to visit, hold the baby and celebrate with the parents.
While these visits can be special, newborns are still developing their immune systems and can be more vulnerable to infections. This means families may need to take a few extra hygiene precautions when welcoming visitors.
Here are some simple things families should keep in mind.
Wash hands before holding the baby
One of the easiest ways to reduce the spread of germs is to make sure visitors wash their hands before touching the newborn.
People pick up germs from phones, door handles, public transport and other surfaces throughout the day. Washing hands with soap and water before holding the baby can help reduce the risk of passing some of these germs to the child.
Parents should feel comfortable reminding visitors to wash their hands, even if they have already done so earlier.
Avoid visits when sick
Anyone with a cough, fever, flu-like symptoms, vomiting, diarrhoea or another contagious illness should postpone their visit.
Even what seems like a mild cold to an adult can be more serious for a young baby. Visitors who have recently been exposed to an infectious illness should also consider speaking to the parents before coming over.
The same applies to people with active cold sores. Newborns can become seriously ill from herpes simplex virus, which can spread through contact with a cold sore.
Keep kisses away from the baby
Visitors may be tempted to kiss a newborn on the face, hands or lips, but this can expose the baby to germs.
Parents can ask visitors to avoid kissing the baby, especially around the mouth, nose and eyes. This is particularly important for people who may have an infection without obvious symptoms.
It is also useful to remember that babies frequently put their hands in their mouths, so kissing their hands can also transfer germs that the baby may later ingest.
Be careful with crowded visits
A newborn does not need to meet everyone at once. Large gatherings can mean more people, more close contact and more opportunities for infections to spread.
Families can consider having smaller visits, particularly during the baby’s first weeks. Parents should also feel free to limit how long visitors stay if the baby needs to feed, sleep or rest.
The goal is not to keep a newborn away from everyone, but to create a cleaner and calmer environment while the baby adjusts to life outside the womb.