Dear Parent or Guardian,

We know the look on a 7-year-old’s face when they’re told they can’t come in to see Mama and the new baby. We’ve seen it many times. And we want you to know: this rule exists entirely because of love.

Why Children Under 10 Are Restricted
Young children are exceptional at sharing — including germs they carry without symptoms. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza strains, and various enteroviruses are common in school-age children. Most healthy kids fight these off without incident. But a newborn’s immune system is not yet equipped to do the same.

In a maternity ward, we have mothers who have just undergone caesarean sections or difficult deliveries — their bodies are in a state of acute vulnerability. We have newborns in the first hours and days of life — the period of highest immune fragility. Introducing a vector of common childhood illness into this environment carries a risk we are not willing to accept.

This Is What Child-Centred Care Actually Looks Like
Ironically, restricting children from the ward is one of the most child-centred things we do. The child we are protecting is the newborn.

When Can Siblings Visit?
Once mother and baby are discharged into a home environment, sibling introductions are wonderful and encouraged. We are happy to advise on safe ways to introduce a new baby to older siblings — ask any of our midwives or paediatric nurses.

Watoto Chini ya Umri wa Miaka 10 Hawaruhusiwi
Tunasema hivi kwa upole lakini kwa uwazi: usalama wa mama na mtoto wako mchanga ni kipaumbele chetu.

📞 Call us: 0722 570 363 | 🌐 www.motherandchild.hospital
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