How to Prevent Catching CMV From a Toddler During Pregnancy

Yes, it is possible to catch cytomegalovirus (CMV) from a toddler while you are pregnant, but simple changes to your daily habits can help reduce your risk. Young children are an important source of CMV exposure because they can release (or “shed”) the virus in their saliva and urine ^[1]. Because CMV is so common, some exposure is unavoidable, and catching it is never a sign that you did something wrong. By adjusting how you share affection and food, and practicing careful hand hygiene, you can actively protect your pregnancy.

Why Toddlers Are an Important Source of CMV

CMV is extremely common in young children. If a toddler catches CMV, they usually experience mild symptoms or no symptoms at all, but their bodies can continue to shed the virus.

• Variable shedding rates: In one survey of daycare centers, 40% of the children were actively shedding CMV in their saliva, though shedding rates vary considerably by age and setting ^[2]. Another study found that viral shedding in the general child population peaks around 3 years of age ^[3].
• Duration of shedding: After a child is infected, the virus can remain present in their saliva for many months ^[4]. In some children, the virus can be shed in their urine for years ^[5].
• Mother-child transmission: Research tracking mothers and infants found an association between higher viral amounts in a child’s saliva and an increased risk of the mother catching the virus ^[6].

What You Do Not Need to Do

You do not need to isolate yourself from your toddler or stop showing them affection ^[1]. Ordinary cuddling, bathing, and holding your child are safe. The goal is simply to minimize direct contact with their saliva and urine.

Actionable Steps to Reduce Risk

Because CMV is spread through bodily fluids, adopt the following evidence-based habits:

• Rethink how you kiss: Avoid kissing your toddler on the lips or mouth, as this directly transfers saliva ^[7]. Instead, give kisses on the forehead, the top of the head, or give them a big hug ^[8].
• Stop sharing food and drinks: Do not share cups, straws, utensils, or half-eaten food with your toddler ^[7]. Avoid putting their pacifier in your mouth to clean it ^[9].
• Wash your hands thoroughly: Wash your hands with soap and water for about 20 seconds after tasks that expose you to urine or mucus ^[10]. This is especially important after changing diapers, assisting with potty training, wiping a runny nose, cleaning up drool, or handling toys covered in saliva ^[9].

Can Hygiene Really Help?

While these behavioral changes cannot guarantee total protection, evidence shows they can meaningfully lower your risk. In one study of pregnant women who were at risk of catching CMV, those who received detailed hygiene counseling had an infection rate of 1.2%, compared to 7.6% in a comparison group of women who did not receive the counseling ^[11]. Practicing these habits is a practical way to lower your chances of catching the virus.

Understanding the Risks of Infection

If you catch CMV for the very first time during pregnancy (a primary infection), there is approximately a 30% to 50% chance that the virus will be passed to the fetus ^[12][7]. However, fetal infection does not always mean the baby will have health problems; many babies born with congenital CMV have no symptoms at all. The risk of transmission and the severity of effects depend on the trimester in which you are infected ^[13]. If you had CMV before you became pregnant, you already have antibodies. This prior immunity greatly lowers—but does not completely eliminate—the risk of passing the virus to the baby through a reinfection or reactivation ^[14][7].

Symptoms, Testing, and Next Steps

Most adults who catch CMV have no symptoms at all. When symptoms do occur, they are usually mild and non-specific, resembling a “mono-like illness” with fatigue, a mild fever, sore throat, or swollen glands. Because you cannot rely on symptoms to know if you have CMV, you should contact your obstetric clinician if you are concerned about a recent exposure or illness.

Routine blood screening for CMV in all asymptomatic pregnant people is not universally recommended because test results can be difficult to interpret. If your doctor does order a blood test:

• IgG antibodies indicate that you have had a CMV infection at some point in your life, but cannot tell exactly when.
• IgM antibodies can appear during a recent infection, but they can also remain elevated for months or appear for other reasons.

Your doctor may use an IgG avidity test to help date the infection, or refer you to a maternal-fetal medicine specialist for an ultrasound or diagnostic testing. A positive maternal blood test does not automatically mean the fetus is infected. Do not try to self-diagnose; always rely on your prenatal care team to interpret your results and guide your next steps.