Shingles are infective only by direct contact. If the baby does not get into direct contact with the lesions, he cannot get infected. What if he does? Shingles occurs only when you have had previous chicken pox, which means the mother undoubtedly has high antibody titers, especially now that she has a new infection, which would raise her antibody titers, and possibly increase anti infective factors in her milk. The baby is protected as well by placentally transmitted antibodies. Jack Newman, MD, FRCPC