Breastfeeding and skin contact promote a baby's short- and long-term health. But mothers with COVID-19 have received conflicting guidance regarding the safety of such practices. Now, a preliminary study offers some heartening results.

A small observational study of 120 babies born to 116 mothers with COVID-19 has found no virus transmission after two weeks of breastfeeding.

The children stayed in their mothers' rooms in enclosed cribs six feet apart. The mothers wore surgical masks while handling their babies and followed frequent hand- and breast-washing procedures.

The researchers, who published their results in the journal Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, said the small sample size does not support any firm conclusions and called for larger, more rigorous studies.

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