Flu can be very serious in young babies. Children under 6 months of age cannot get flu shots. To help protect your baby:

• Everyone in your household and people who help take care of your newborn should get vaccinated against seasonal flu.
• Take special care not to cough or sneeze in your baby’s face, and wash your hands often.

Breastfeeding can help protect your baby from getting sick.

• Babies who are breastfed do not get as sick and are sick less often from the flu than babies who are not breastfed.
• You can help protect your baby from the flu by breastfeeding. Your breastmilk has antibodies that are passed to your baby when you breastfeed. Antibodies fight infection.
• To protect your baby, keep breastfeeding even if you are sick. Breastfeed often and limit formula feeds if you can.
• If you are too sick to breastfeed, pump your milk and have someone give the expressed milk to your baby.
• Learn more about breastfeeding support for families.