Every new mommy is in the same boat when her baby is first born. She is terrified of germs that may come in contact with her little bundle of joy. While there is nothing, short of putting your child in a plastic bubble, that will keep him them away from germs completely there are a few things you can do to help keep your baby healthy and safe.

• Immunizations aren't complete until the baby is about 2 months old. It is important you make sure everyone that comes in contact with your baby, or your baby's binkies, bottle, and toys washes or

sanitizes their hands frequently. When my daughter was just 7 weeks old, we went to the store. There was a darling older woman who was admiring my beautiful girl. It was a little awkward, at first, but I pulled out my travel-sized hand sanitizer. I told her I was more than happy to let her see the baby, but asked her nicely if she wouldn't mind using some of the hand sanitizer. After all, it was cold and flu season. As awkward as I felt, I knew my baby's health was more important than a few brief prickly moments. To my delight, the woman agreed, took some hand sanitizer, then proceeded to commend me for being such a caring mother. She completely understood my concern, having been a mother herself. As much as you don't want to be the "mean lady with the hand sanitizer," everyone will understand, and no one will be offended by your requesting she wash or sanitize her hands.

Wash your baby's belongings frequently

Blankets, binkies, bottles, toys, and clothes all carry germs. After you go to the store, or anywhere else, it is a good idea to throw the blanket into the wash, and give binkies and bottles a good cleaning. Anything that can carry germs needs to be washed often.

Keep your baby's hands clean

One of the first things a baby discovers in this big world is her cute little hands. Then, the first thing she'll do is stick them in her mouth. This is the fastest way to spread germs. People will want to see his cute fingers, and hold those darling little hands. Make sure you are washing his hands, too. A simple baby wipe will do the trick.

keep your baby home

Try to keep your baby home as much as possible in the first few weeks of his precious life. There are germs everywhere. With immunizations not being complete for another 8 weeks, the best thing you can do is keep your baby warm, clean and safe in your own home. When you do go out, make sure you have hand sanitizer, baby wipes, and anything else you can think of that minimizes your baby's exposure to germs. I always took an extra blanket or two when I went out. One to put over the car seat so the wind and germs couldn't get to her and I would leave one in the car, just in case another one fell on the floor of the store. The last thing I wanted was for my little nugget to be cuddling up to 180 different germs that were now residing on her blanket due to a surprise drop on the supermarket floor.

get immunized

yourself

One of the most important things you can do is get immunized

yourself. Ask those who are around the baby often, like grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins to make sure they are current on their immunizations, especially the TDaP shot.

Overall, just be smart about things. Keep things clean and sterilized, and love your baby as much as you can, for they do grow all together way too quickly.