It is a very stressful time for parents of toddlers, expectant fathers and pregnant women. That is why Apt club shares the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) on how you and your child can be protected, because for your child you are the most important contact point with the outside world. If you follow the simple methods and rules of the WHO, you can protect yourself against the corona virus.

To support you and your family in this particularly stressful time, our Apt club experts are at your side and answer the most frequently asked questions about pregnancy, breastfeeding and giving bottles.

7 ways to protect your baby

1. Wash your hands regularly

The corona virus is spread through human contact. That's why simply washing your hands is the best protection against the corona virus. So wash your hands before touching your child and insist that anyone who wants to touch your baby also washes their hands. Unfortunately, our babies cannot wash their hands themselves - at least not yet. So make it a regular part of playing or eating time and wash your hands together thoroughly with soap and water or with hand sanitizer.

Why? This kills all viruses that are on our hands and prevents you and your child from becoming infected.

Here you will find instructions from the Robert Koch Institute for proper hand washing.

2. Avoid making excessive contacts

Babies are so adorable that they often attract other people's attention. Therefore, it is your responsibility as a parent to minimize the interactions between your little one and other people. It may seem difficult at first to stop people from lifting and hugging their little one, but this helps to reduce the spread of the virus.

Not only avoid close contact, but also keep a safe distance of at least 1 meter between yourself and people who are sick and who cough or sneeze.

Why? Someone who coughs or sneezes spreads small droplets from the nose or mouth that may contain the virus. If you or your child is nearby, there is a risk that you will inhale these droplets, including the COVID-19 virus.

3. Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth

We tend to touch many different surfaces throughout the day. We also like to touch our babies, who in turn like to touch their faces. So make sure that everyone who wants to touch your child (and that includes you) has washed their hands thoroughly.

Why? Surfaces can be contaminated with the corona virus, and once the virus arrives on your hands, it can be easily transmitted to the body through the mouth, nose, or eyes as soon as we touch our faces.

It is difficult to avoid touching different surfaces, and we cannot and do not want to stop our baby's curiosity. However, we can prevent the virus from spreading to the body by touching neither our face nor our baby's face.

4. Pay attention to correct cough and sneeze etiquette

Make sure that you and the people around you have a proper cough and sneeze label. This means coughing or sneezing into a handkerchief or the crook of the arm. The used handkerchief should be disposed of immediately.

Why? Droplets spread the virus. If you pay attention to proper respiratory hygiene, protect your baby and those around you from viruses such as colds, flu and COVID-19.

5. Do you feel sick? Seek medical care early

It's simple: stay at home when you feel sick. If you have the first signs of fever, cough, and difficulty breathing, contact a doctor early. For more information, follow the instructions from your local health authority.

Why? The national and local authorities have the most up-to-date information about the situation in your region. If you call in advance, your family doctor can quickly refer you to the right healthcare facility. This protects them and helps prevent the spread of the virus and other infections.

6. Ensure cleanliness and safety when cooking

As parents, we cook for ourselves, our family and our baby. That is why it is all the more important to follow sensible food safety measures when cooking.

Use different cutting boards for raw and cooked food and wash your hands between processing raw and cooked products.

You don't have to do without meat either. Just make sure that the meat is cooked enough and handled correctly during preparation.

7. Find out and follow the advice given

Since your little one cannot read the news herself, it is very important that you are constantly informed about the current status of the COVID-19 outbreak. You can find information on the website of the World Health Organization (mainly in English), on the website of the Federal Ministry of Health and on the website of the Robert Koch Institute. Seek advice for yourself and your baby from trusted and reliable sources.