Here’s how to easily detect cold symptoms and help your child recover quickly.
Infants and young children often experience runny noses and coughs. In their initial year, babies may contract eight or more colds, particularly if they attend daycare or have older siblings in school, especially during the cold and flu season.
Whether it’s your baby’s initial sniffle or what appears to be the umpteenth, understanding the situation and knowing how to assist your child can be perplexing. Learn how to manage your baby’s cold and determine when it’s necessary to consult your pediatrician.
Baby cold symptoms
Observing your baby’s appearance and behavior can provide valuable insights. If your baby exhibits a runny nose, cough, and perhaps a slight fever, yet continues to play and eat normally, it is likely a cold rather than the flu, allergies, or another ailment.
Common cold symptoms include:
- Runny nose with clear mucus that may become thicker and change color to gray, yellow, or green
- Congestion
- Mild cough
- Low-grade fever (though not always present)
If your baby is younger than 3 months old, call your doctor at the first sign of illness or any time they have a rectal temperature of 100.4 or higher.
How long do colds last in babies?
Cold symptoms in babies usually reach their peak on the second or third day and then gradually subside over a period of 10 days to two weeks.
Should your baby experience cold symptoms persisting beyond a couple of weeks or if their condition worsens instead of improving after a few days, it is advisable to contact the doctor.
Remedies to ease baby cold symptoms
No medication can expedite the recovery from a virus, but you can enhance your baby’s comfort and prevent the infection from worsening. Consider the following safe home remedies and adhere to certain guidelines:
- Ensure your baby stays well-hydrated by offering more frequent feedings of breast milk or formula for those aged 1 and younger. Babies aged 6 months and above can also have warm water, broth, soup, or chamomile tea. Avoid giving water or other liquids to babies under 6 months old unless advised by your doctor.
- Encourage ample sleep and rest for your child, making them as comfortable as possible before bedtime, even though it might be challenging for a sick baby to sleep soundly.
- Clear your baby’s stuffy nose using a nasal aspirator or bulb syringe with saline drops.
- Consult your doctor about administering infant acetaminophen (for those at least 3 months old) or ibuprofen (for those at least 6 months old) if your baby appears uncomfortable or unusually fussy.
- Use a cool mist vaporizer or humidifier in your baby’s bedroom, or provide a steamy bathroom bath. Moist air can help loosen mucus in nasal passages.
Don’ts:
- Avoid giving over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold medicines to babies and kids under age 4, as per the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). These medicines may pose safety risks and lack evidence of effectiveness in children.
- Refrain from giving your baby honey before they turn 1 year old, as it can put them at risk for infant botulism, despite its common recommendation for cough relief.
- Do not use a pillow or sleep positioner to prop up your baby to alleviate congestion. Adhere to safe sleep guidelines to minimize the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and suffocation. Always place your baby on a firm, flat surface, avoiding inclines.
When should I call the doctor about my baby’s cold?
For infants under 3 months of age, contact the doctor under the following circumstances:
- At the first indication of illness.
- If your baby’s rectal temperature reaches 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.
For babies aged 3 months or older, consult the doctor if your baby exhibits cold symptoms along with any of the following:
- For infants between 3 and 6 months, a rectal temperature of 101 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.
- For infants 6 months and older, a rectal temperature of 103 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.
- Symptoms that either worsen or fail to improve after a week.
- Persistent dry, hacking cough or severe cough.
- Lethargy.
- Unusual crankiness or fussiness.
- Poor appetite.
- Vomiting.
- Diarrhea.
Additionally, contact the doctor if your baby experiences:
- Signs of dehydration, such as going more than six hours without a wet diaper.
- Signs of an ear infection, like ear tugging or ear drainage.
- Symptoms of pink eye (conjunctivitis), including redness in one or both eyes and the lower rim of either eyelid, accompanied by a thick discharge.
- Any symptoms or behavior that causes concern, even if not explicitly mentioned above.
In situations where your baby shows signs of respiratory distress, seek immediate medical attention (consult the doctor, call 911, or visit the ER) if your baby:
- Turns blue.
- Breathes rapidly (more than 60 breaths a minute).
- Exhibits head bobbing with breathing.
- Demonstrates rhythmic grunting with breathing.
- Displays flaring nostrils during breathing.
- Sucks in the skin above the collarbone or between or below the ribs.
- Experiences whistling, coughing, or wheezing with breaths.
- Shows sunken fontanels (the soft spots on your baby’s head).
Emergency Alert
If your baby is unresponsive, lacks engagement, or exhibits indications of severe dehydration, seek immediate medical attention (call 911 or go to the ER).
Why does my baby get so many colds?
Babies frequently experience colds due to their underdeveloped immune systems, which makes them more susceptible to illnesses. The common cold can be caused by over 200 different viruses, and a child builds immunity to these viruses one at a time.
As your baby explores and touches various objects, their hands can easily come into contact with cold viruses. Close contact with someone who has a cold increases the risk of exposure. Your baby may become ill when they touch their contaminated fingers to their mouth, nose, or eyes, or by inhaling air after being around someone who coughs, sneezes, or talks.
The likelihood of your baby getting sick is higher during the fall and winter months, as cold viruses are more prevalent during this time. Additionally, increased indoor activities during colder weather create an environment where viruses can spread more easily.
To minimize your baby’s exposure to germs and enhance their defenses, adopt good health habits:
- Emphasize hand-washing for family members and friends, especially before handling your baby, changing diapers, or preparing food.
- Avoid contact with sick individuals as much as possible.
- Encourage proper coughing and sneezing etiquette among family members, using tissues or the crook of their arm.
- Maintain hydration through frequent breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, and later, providing a small amount of water when introducing solids (avoid fruit juice for children under 1).
- Keep your baby’s toys and pacifiers clean, especially if others handle them.
- Steer clear of secondhand smoke, as exposure increases the risk of upper-respiratory problems. Breastfeed for as long as possible, as breast milk antibodies offer protection against various germs.
- Ensure your baby’s vaccinations are up to date, as although they won’t prevent colds, they can guard against more severe infections.
