How to Protect Your Baby from Flu, RSV, and COVID-19 This Season 

Babies are especially vulnerable during respiratory virus season. With flu, RSV, and COVID-19 circulating this fall and winter, vigilance is important to keeping a baby healthy. 

Babies are not born with the ability to regulate their body temperature. Their thermoregulatory system matures gradually, reaching fuller function between 9 to 12 months. Until then, they rely on caregivers to keep them warm, healthy, and protected. 

This season, the CDC has revised their vaccine guidance guidelines. Adding to this year’s threat is the lower uptake of vaccinations, which could lead to more illnesses and hospitalizations. 

Here is how parents can protect their baby’s health: 

• Vaccinate: The CDC recommends annual flu shots for all children over 6 months, and RSV monoclonal antibody protection for babies under 8 months. 

• Good Indoor Habits: Improve air circulation, disinfect surfaces, and avoid crowded indoor spaces. 

• Hygiene: Handwashing, covering coughs, and keeping sick kids at home. 

Monitoring fever on a regular basis is crucial. Since fever is often the first sign of infection, regular temperature checks help caregivers spot illness early, especially in infants who can’t verbalize how they feel. 

Exergen’s Temporal Artery Thermometer offers a clinically accurate, non-invasive option. Just a gentle swipe across the forehead captures core body temperature, without disturbing a sleeping baby. It is the same clinically proven technology that is trusted by hospitals and pediatricians nationwide. 

When it comes to a baby’s health, being prepared is essential. Use every tool available, including your pediatrician’s guidance and a reliable thermometer, to stay ahead of flu, COVID, and RSV. Protecting a baby starts with knowing when something’s not quite right and acting fast. 

Sources: 

• CDC, https://www.cdc.gov/acip/vaccine-recommendations/index.html 

• Exergen International, https://international.exergen.com/blog/fever-in-babies-why-accurate-temperature-checks-matter-more-than-ever/ 

• Exergen International, https://international.exergen.com/blog/when-can-my-baby-regulate-their-own-body-temperature/ 

• Uphealth, https://www.uphealthsystem.com/news/2025/09/03/how-to-protect-your-child-from-fall-viruses-like-flu–rsv–and-covid 

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