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Protect Your Baby from Cronobacter

October 23, 2024 Infant

A germ you’ve probably never heard of could be very dangerous to your baby.

Cronobacter is a common germ found in many places—the yard, kitchen, and living room, just to name a few. It can get into our homes from our shoes or hands and can spread as we touch countertops and utensils. Cronobacter can also be found in dry foods like powdered infant formula and can contaminate breast pumps and other dry surfaces.

Should You Be Concerned About Cronobacter?

Although Cronobacter infection is rare, it can be life-threatening. It’s most dangerous for babies less than 2 months old, babies born prematurely, and babies who have weakened immune systems.

Cronobacter can make babies very sick. For babies under 12 months, symptoms include:

  • Fever
  • Poor feeding
  • Excessive crying
  • Very low energy
  • Seizures
  • Grunting breaths
  • Abnormal body movements

If your baby shows any of these symptoms, take them to a doctor right away. If left untreated, Cronobacter infections can lead to dangerous problems, like:

  • Bloodstream infections (sepsis)
  • Meningitis
  • Swelling of the lining around the brain and spinal cord
  • Serious, long-term brain problems

How Can You Protect Your Baby from Cronobacter?

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Breastfeed if you can. Even if you can only breastfeed for a few months, it can help protect your baby from getting sick.

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If your baby is at high-risk, and you cannot breastfeed, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends using ready-to-feed infant formula. WIC may require a prescription from your healthcare provider to allow ready-to-feed formula. Contact WIC to learn more.

Safely prepare formula and store breastmilk. No matter your baby’s age, it’s important to make food safety a priority:

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Always wash hands with soap and water for 20 seconds before preparing stored breast milk or formula. If water isn’t available, use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

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Clean and sanitize countertops and work surfaces that may touch bottles, nipples, or breast pump parts. Use a disinfecting wipe or paper towel with a cleaning solution.

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Clean and sanitize nipples, rings, bottles, and breast pump parts in the dishwasher or a clean wash basin after every feeding. Don’t wash in the kitchen sink as it can have germs. Let everything air dry and store in a clean, protected area.

When shopping for formula, make sure it will not expire soon, and is not dented or rusted. Store unopened formula in a cool place. If you use powdered formula:

  • Keep it dry by putting the top on right away after using it.
  • Have completely dry hands when scooping out formula.
  • Make sure the scoop is dry before putting it back into the container.
  • Keep the lid clean; do not put the lid face down on the counter.

Extra Steps to Take if Your Baby is at High Risk

If preparing powdered or concentrated formula, boil the water you’ll use and let it cool for 5 minutes before mixing with the formula. If there is a “do not boil” alert, or you cannot boil the water, use bottled water instead. Follow the formula label instructions for mixing. Always measure the water first, and then add the formula. Before offering to your baby, let it cool so it doesn’t burn their mouth.

Mom feeding Daughter

Sanitizing is an extra step after washing bottles, nipples, and pumps to make sure all germs are killed. Feeding items should be sanitized once daily for high-risk babies. Also sanitize the things you use to wash feeding items like the bottle brush and basin.

Wash equipment in the dishwasher with a heat dry or sanitize setting, or boil items in a covered pot of water for 5 minutes. Remove items with clean tongs and cool on a clean cloth or paper towel.

If boiling or using a dishwasher is not an option, use a diluted bleach solution. In a clean basin (only used for washing infant feeding items) mix 2 teaspoons of unscented bleach with 1 gallon of water (16 cups) or 1 teaspoon with 8 cups of water. Put all items underwater and soak for at least 2 minutes. Squeeze the solution through nipple holes. Remove with clean tongs and place on a clean, unused dish towel or paper towel in an area protected from dust and dirt. Air dry thoroughly before storing. There is no need to rinse the items or use a towel to dry.

Taking extra steps to keep things clean may take a little longer, but it’s worth it to keep your baby safe.

To learn more about Cronobacter, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/cronobacter/about/index.html

REFERENCES:

How to Clean, Sanitize and Store Infant Feeding Items Frequently Asked Questions. CDC. April 16, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/hygiene/faq/index.html

Infant Formula Preparation and Storage.
https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/infantandtoddlernutrition/formula-feeding/infant-formula-preparation-and-storage.html

Protect Your Baby from Cronobacter.
https://www.cdc.gov/cronobacter/pdf/cronobacter-prevention-infographic-html.pdf

Cronobacter sakazakii
https://www.fda.gov/food/foodborne-pathogens/cronobacter-sakazakii

https://www.hhs.texas.gov/sites/default/files/documents/doing-business-with-hhs/provider-portal/wic/foods/tx-wic-formulary.pdf

Author: Bridget Swinney MS, RDN, LD

Feeding a 6-7 Month Old

Feed solids with a spoon and from a bowl, never from a bottle.

Feeding a 10-12 Month Old

Breast milk is the most important source of nutrition for your baby, even after you start offering solid foods.

Feeding a 8-9 Month Old

Feed solids with a spoon. Never put cereal in a bottle.

Tips

Mom new born home

Breast milk and formula feeding:

Around 2-3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months of age, babies may experience a growth spurt when they feed more often.

As they grow babies can hold more milk, so feedings may become further apart and take less time.

To prevent choking, always hold your baby when feeding. Never prop up a bottle to feed.

Start offering whole milk when your baby is one year old.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and that breastfeeding continue for at least 12 months and beyond.

feeding solid foods

Feeding solid foods:

Wait to offer solid foods until your baby:

  • Can sit up and hold up their own head.
  • Opens their mouth when they see food.
  • Can close their lips around a spoon.

To prevent choking, always hold your baby when feeding. Never prop up a bottle to feed.

Try one new food at a time. Wait 5 days before trying another new food to watch for allergies. Food allergies may include wheezing, rash, or diarrhea.

Introduce peanut butter around 6 months. Spread a small, thin smear of peanut butter or nut butter thinly on a cracker.  Watch your baby for any reaction for the next 2 hours.

Babies under one year should NOT have honey due to the risk of botulism. Also, babies should not have foods that can cause choking like nuts or whole grapes.

All babies are different. Talk with WIC or your baby’s healthcare provider about your baby’s needs.

Feeding Cues

Feeding a 4-5 Month Old

Before teeth come in, wipe gums with a soft, clean wash cloth after each feeding, especially before bed.

Feeding a 0-3 Month Old

Newborns have tiny tummies and need to be fed often. In the first few weeks, you may need to wake your baby to feed if they sleep longer than 4 hours.

Growth Spurts

Many babies are fussy during a growth spurt and will want to nurse longer and more often. This is called cluster feeding. This is your baby’s way of helping you increase your milk supply so that you can keep up with their needs. Remember, the more your baby nurses, the more milk your body makes.

Growth spurts can happen at any time, and every baby is different.

They often happen at these ages:

two-three-weeks

2 to 3 Weeks

6 Weeks

three-months

3 Months

six-months

6 Months

What foods can I get?

Authorized Food List
Authorized Food List

Where can I shop?