A Game-Changer for Infant Health: What Parents Need to Know About RSV Prevention

Published September 23, 2025

When you’re a parent, especially a first-time one, your world changes overnight. Suddenly, everything becomes a potential danger. You sanitize every surface, obsess over bottle temperatures, and Google every sneeze. But for all the precautions, some of the biggest threats are the ones you can’t see coming.

RSV is one of them.

Most parents in Singapore haven’t even heard of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) until it’s too late. And yet, RSV is one of the leading causes¹ of infant hospitalisation. It’s the most common cause of bronchiolitis² and pneumonia³ in babies. And in severe cases, it can lead to oxygen support, ICU stays, and days or weeks of emotional turmoil for families.

The scariest part? RSV often masquerades as a mild cold⁴ at first. A little cough, some sniffles. You think it’s nothing serious. But within hours, a baby’s condition can take a terrifying turn.

If you’ve never heard of RSV, you’re not alone. But that needs to change.

Because now, for the first time, there’s a way to help prevent it (for all infants) in their most vulnerable first year of life.

So why has RSV stayed under the radar for so long? And more importantly, what can you do right now to protect your baby from it?

Not Just Another Cold

RSV might present like a typical cold at first—runny nose, coughing, sneezing. But in infants, especially those under six months, it can escalate into something much more severe. Think wheezing, difficulty breathing, refusal to feed, or even the need for oxygen support in the hospital.

RSV happens all year round in tropical climates like Singapore⁵. It’s a real threat. Almost all children will have had an RSV infection by their second birthday, and for many, the first encounter can be frighteningly serious.

RSV and Its Link to Bronchiolitis and Pneumonia

Source: Freepik

What makes RSV particularly dangerous is its link to bronchiolitis² (inflammation of the small airways in the lungs) and pneumonia³. These are not just buzzwords. They’re conditions that can make breathing extremely difficult for your child.

And unlike older kids or adults, infants don’t always have the immune system to fight these infections off easily. The result? Difficulty feeding, low oxygen levels, and hospital admissions. In severe cases, babies may even need intensive care.

“Two years ago, my oldest son, Leonardo, was hospitalised with pneumonia caused by RSV. He spent five days in the hospital, struggling to breathe, and even after he recovered, he had breathing issues for a year. It was a terrifying experience, and I never want any parent to go through the same fear and helplessness,” said Asta, a Singapore-based UGC creator and mother of five.

 

 

 

 

 

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First-Time Parent? Here’s What You Need to Know About RSV

If you’re navigating the world of diapers, swaddles, and sleepless nights, RSV might feel like one more thing to stress about. But knowing the facts is the first step toward peace of mind.

Here’s what matters:

• RSV is extremely common and often misunderstood.

• It can lead to serious complications in babies, especially those under one year old.

• Speak to your healthcare professional about preventive measures, including immunization recommendations for infants.

How RSV Affects Everyday Family Life

Beyond the medical stats, RSV takes an emotional toll. Watching your child struggle to breathe is a nightmare no parent wants to live through. The hospital visits, the worry, the missed workdays—it adds up.

And for many parents, especially those with limited childcare support, it’s more than just a health concern, it’s a disruption to the entire family ecosystem. Grandparents step in. Siblings are sidelined. Jobs are impacted. The emotional and financial ripple effects of a preventable illness are real.

That’s why preventing RSV isn’t just a health decision; it’s a family decision. It gives you the confidence to enjoy those precious early months without the constant fear of what a simple cough might mean.

Prevention is the New Protection

Source: iStock

You read the labels. You Google the ingredients. You check forums, join parenting groups, and ask a million questions at your child’s doctor’s appointment. You’re not paranoid—you’re prepared. And when it comes to RSV, that mindset could make all the difference.

RSV prevention isn’t just a concern for medically vulnerable or premature babies. It’s something every parent—yes, every parent—should think about. Why? Because RSV doesn’t discriminate. Even healthy, full-term babies can land in the hospital due to complications. But here’s the empowering part: there’s now a lot you can do.

5 Simple Ways to Prevent RSV (That Actually Work)

1. Wash your hands like a pro. We know you’ve heard this a million times. But here’s the thing: washing your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap is still one of the most effective ways to stop RSV (and countless other viruses) in their tracks¹.
2. Hands off that face. It’s a habit that’s hard to break, but trust us—it matters. RSV can enter your body through the eyes, nose, or mouth. Keeping your hands away from your face (and your baby’s!) is a small move that makes a big difference¹.
3. Disinfect like you mean it. Those toys, pacifiers, high chairs, and playmats? They can carry germs long after they’ve been sneezed on. Wipe down high-touch surfaces regularly⁶.
4. Be the person who stays home when sick. If you’re under the weather, skip the social plans. Staying home helps protect not just your baby, but other vulnerable little ones out there too. On the flip side, if you are out and about and spot someone in the crowd who’s coughing or sniffling, keep your baby at a safe distance⁶.
5. Immunize your baby against RSV. This helps keep them safe and protected against the complications that come with RSV¹. Effective prevention for RSV is available.

So yes, you can babyproof against RSV. You can take action today to reduce your baby’s risk tomorrow. And best of all, you don’t have to do it alone. Your paediatrician can walk you through every step.

Prevention isn’t about fear. It’s about empowerment. It’s about knowing your options and feeling confident that you’re doing everything in your power to keep your family healthy.

Because let’s face it, being a modern parent is hard enough. But with the right information and a few smart steps, RSV doesn’t have to be something you fear.

‘Together Against RSV’

You’ve made it to the end of this article—which means you’re exactly the kind of parent this message was meant for. You want to be informed. You want to be prepared. And most importantly, you want to do everything possible to keep your baby safe.

That’s what Together Against RSV is all about.

Sanofi, in collaboration with theAsianparent and the Singapore Paediatric Society, is on a mission to put RSV on every parent’s radar. Because for too long, this virus has been flying under the radar—causing stress, fear, and hospitalisations that could have been prevented.

Now, that’s changing. And you’re part of that change.

Because let’s be real: being a parent is already a full-time job. You shouldn’t also have to play detective when it comes to something as serious as RSV. You deserve real solutions and they’re finally here.

So do what you do best: ask questions, get informed, and advocate for your little one.

• Talk to your paediatrician.
• Ask about RSV and the recommended immunization options available.
• Share what you’ve learned with your parent circle.
• Bookmark this page: TogetherAgainstRSV.sg

You’re not in this alone. We’re in this together. Let’s protect our little ones—starting today, so they can breathe easy tomorrow, and every day after that.

Visit: www.TogetherAgainstRSV.sg

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Footnotes & references

RSV = respiratory syncytial virus.

¹ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025, July). Clinical overview of RSV infection in infants and children. CDC.

² CDC. RSV in Infants and Young Children

³ Baraldi E, Checcucci Lisi G, Costantino C, Heinrichs JH, Manzoni P, Riccò M, Roberts M, Vassilouthis N. RSV disease in infants and young children: Can we see a brighter future? Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2022 Nov 30;18(4):2079322. doi: 10.1080/21645515.2022.2079322. Epub 2022 Jun 20.

4 American Lung Association. RSV symptoms, causes & risk factors. www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/rsv/symptoms-diagnosis

⁵ Tan KWJ, Yung CF, Maiwald M, Saffari SE, Thoon KC, Chong CY. Respiratory viral infections in hospitalised paediatric patients in the tropics. J Paediatr Child Health. 2021;57(4):559–565. doi:10.1111/jpc.15267

⁶ Parents.com. (2025, January 17). 6 Pediatric Specialists Tell Us How to Prevent RSV. https://www.parents.com/6-pediatric-specialists-tell-us-how-to-prevent-rsv-8775653

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