Treating colds in newborns

Common cold in babies - Diagnosis and treatment

Diagnosis

If your baby is younger than 3 months of age, call his or her doctor early in the illness. In newborns, it's especially important to make sure that a more serious illness isn't present, especially if your baby has a fever.

In general, you don't need to see the doctor if your older baby has a common cold. If you have questions or if your baby's symptoms worsen or don't go away, it might be time to see the doctor.

Your baby's doctor can generally diagnose a common cold by your baby's signs and symptoms. If your doctor suspects your baby has a bacterial infection or other condition, he or she may order a chest X-ray or other tests to exclude other causes of your baby's symptoms.

Treatment

There's no cure for the common cold. Most cases of the common cold get better without treatment, usually within a week to 10 days, but a cough may linger for a week or more. Antibiotics don't work against cold viruses.

Try to make your baby more comfortable with measures such as making sure he or she drinks enough fluids, suctioning nasal mucus and keeping the air moist.

Over-the-counter (OTC) medications generally should be avoided in babies.

Fever-reducing medications

You can use OTC fever-reducing medications if a fever is making your child uncomfortable. However, these medications don't kill the cold virus. Fever is a part of your child's natural response to the virus, so it may help to allow your child to have a low-grade fever.

For treatment of fever or pain in children, consider giving your child infants' or children's over-the-counter fever and pain medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others). These are safer alternatives to aspirin.

For children younger than 3 months old, don't give acetaminophen until your baby has been seen by a doctor. Don't give ibuprofen to a child younger than 6 months old or to children who are vomiting constantly or are dehydrated. Use these medications for the shortest time. If you give your child a pain reliever, follow the dosing guidelines carefully. Call your doctor if you have questions about the right dosage for your baby.

Children and teenagers recovering from chickenpox or flu-like symptoms should never take aspirin. This is because aspirin has been linked to Reye's syndrome, a rare but potentially life-threatening condition, in such children.

Cough and cold medications

Cough and cold medications aren't safe for infants and young children. OTC cough and cold medicines don't treat the underlying cause of a child's cold and won't make it go away sooner ⸺ and they can be dangerous to your baby. Cough and cold medications have potentially serious side effects, including fatal overdoses in children younger than 2 years old.

Don't use over-the-counter medicines, except for fever reducers and pain relievers, to treat coughs and colds in children younger than 6 years old. Also consider avoiding use of these medicines for children younger than 12 years old.

Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic

From Mayo Clinic to your inbox

Sign up for free, and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID-19, plus expertise on managing health.

To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail.

Lifestyle and home remedies

Most often, you can treat an older baby's cold at home. To make your baby as comfortable as possible, try some of these suggestions:

• Offer plenty of fluids. Liquids are important to avoid dehydration. Formula or breast milk is the best choice. Encourage your baby to take in the usual amount of fluids. Extra fluids aren't necessary. If you're breastfeeding your baby, keep it up. Breast milk offers extra protection from cold-causing germs.

• Suction your baby's nose. Keep your baby's nasal passages clear with a rubber-bulb syringe. Squeeze the bulb syringe to expel the air. Then insert the tip of the bulb about 1/4 to 1/2 inch (about 6 to 12 millimeters) into your baby's nostril, pointing toward the back and side of the nose.

  Release the bulb, holding it in place while it suctions the mucus from your baby's nose. Remove the syringe from your baby's nostril and empty the contents onto a tissue by squeezing the bulb rapidly while holding the tip down. Repeat as often as needed for each nostril. Clean the bulb syringe with soap and water.

• Try nasal saline drops. Your baby's doctor may recommend saline nasal drops to moisten nasal passages and loosen thick nasal mucus. Look for these OTC drops in your local pharmacy. Apply saline nasal drops, wait for a short period, and then use a suction bulb to draw mucus out of each nostril.
• Moisten the air. Running a cool-water humidifier in your baby's room can ease nasal congestion. Change the water daily and follow the manufacturer's instructions for cleaning the unit.

Preparing for your appointment

If you need to see your baby's pediatrician or family doctor, here's some information to help you get ready for your baby's appointment.

What you can do

Make a list of:

• Symptoms you've noticed in your baby, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.
• Key personal information, such as whether your baby goes to child care or has otherwise been exposed to someone with a common cold. Include how many colds your baby has had, how long they lasted and whether your baby is exposed to secondhand smoke. It might help to make a note on your calendar the day you realize your baby has a cold.
• All medications, vitamins or supplements your baby is taking, including dosages.
• Questions to ask your doctor.

For a common cold, some questions to ask the doctor include:

• What is likely causing my baby's symptoms?
• Are there other possible causes?
• What tests are needed?
• What's the best course of action?
• My baby has other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
• Are there restrictions we need to follow?
• Are there over-the-counter medications that aren't safe for my child at this age?

Don't hesitate to ask other questions you have.

What to expect from your doctor

Your baby's doctor is likely to ask you questions, including:

• When did your baby's symptoms begin?
• Have they been continuous or occasional?
• How severe are they?
• What, if anything, seems to improve them?
• What, if anything, appears to worsen them?
• Has the nasal congestion caused your baby to eat or drink less?
• Is your baby having as many wet diapers as usual?
• Has there been a fever? If so, how high?
• Are your child's vaccinations up to date?
• Has your child taken antibiotics recently?

Your doctor will ask additional questions based on your responses and your baby's symptoms and needs. Preparing and anticipating questions will help you make the most of your time with the doctor.

By Mayo Clinic Staff

Related

Products & Services

What to Expect, Treatment, When to See a Doctor

We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission Here’s our process.

Healthline only shows you brands and products that we stand behind.

Our team thoroughly researches and evaluates the recommendations we make on our site. To establish that the product manufacturers addressed safety and efficacy standards, we:

• Evaluate ingredients and composition: Do they have the potential to cause harm?
• Fact-check all health claims: Do they align with the current body of scientific evidence?
• Assess the brand: Does it operate with integrity and adhere to industry best practices?

We do the research so you can find trusted products for your health and wellness.

Colds in newborns are common. However, while most colds are not cause for concern, it’s important to monitor symptoms closely and know when to seek treatment.

All babies are born with some immunity to illness. Even so, it takes time for their brand new immune systems to fully mature. This makes babies susceptible to viral infections, which cause colds.

There are over 200 types of viruses that can cause colds. Luckily, most of the colds your baby gets will help increase their immunity. Even so, their very first cold can be scary for parents.

A baby can catch a cold at any age or time of year. In fact, they may get as many as 8 to 10 a year in their first 2 years. If your little one is around older children, their chances of getting colds may increase.

Common colds in newborns aren’t dangerous, but they can quickly escalate into conditions that are, such as pneumonia or croup. Any illness in a baby under 3 months old is a reason to call their pediatrician, especially if they’re running a fever.

A stuffed or runny nose may be your first clue that your newborn has caught a cold. Their nasal discharge may start out as thin and clear, but turn thicker and yellowish-green in color over several days. This is normal, and doesn’t mean your baby’s cold is getting worse.

Other symptoms include:

• fussiness
• fever
• coughing, especially at night
• sneezing
• reduced appetite
• difficulty breastfeeding or taking a bottle due to nasal congestion
• trouble falling or staying asleep

Colds in newborns have some of the same symptoms as other illnesses, such as the flu, croup, and pneumonia. This can make diagnosis at home more stressful for parents.

Flu

If your newborn has the flu, they may have chills, vomiting, and diarrhea in addition to common cold symptoms. They may also have symptoms you can’t see and that they can’t tell you about, including headache, muscle or body aches, or sore throat.

Getting a flu shot every year can help keep you from getting sick and protect others around you, including your newborn.

Pneumonia

A cold can advance to pneumonia quickly. Symptoms may include:

• chills
• flushed skin
• sweating
• high fever
• vomiting
• worsening cough
• rapid breathing or difficulty breathing

Your baby may also develop a bluish tint to the lips or finger beds. This means your baby isn’t getting enough oxygen and should be taken to a hospital immediately.

Croup

If your baby’s cold escalates to croup, they may have difficulty breathing, hoarseness, and a barking cough. They may also have stridor, a type of high-pitched sound that occurs due to obstructed airflow.

RSV

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a serious cause of respiratory infection that can affect people of all ages. But it is particularly serious for babies, because their airways are smaller.

Learn more about RSV in babies.

Bronchiolitis

Babies are frequently hospitalized with bronchiolitis, an inflammatory respiratory condition that affects the smallest air passages in the lungs (bronchioles). It’s the most common cause of hospitalization in preterm infants. Viral bronchiolitis is often caused by RSV.

Whooping cough

Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a type of respiratory infection that causes congestion, sneezing, and a severe cough. Though it can affect people of all ages, it can be very serious for babies under one year of age.

Getting vaccinated can help prevent caregivers from passing whooping cough to their newborn. Babies should also be vaccinated against whooping cough according to the routine vaccine schedule.

Another name for a common cold is a viral, upper respiratory infection. They aren’t caused by bacterial infections and don’t respond to antibiotics.

Your baby’s pediatrician may take a nasal swab to determine the cause of your baby’s symptoms. Blood tests may also be used to help rule out a bacterial infection.

Bacterial infections sometimes develop as complications from viral infections. They can also cause illnesses, such as pneumonia or ear infections.

Colds in newborns aren’t unusual. The viruses which cause them can live in the air and on hard surfaces for short periods of time. That makes it possible for transmission to occur with or without direct contact to someone who’s sick.

Babies who are around older children may be more likely to get colds. But even a trip to the pediatrician’s office, a cuddle with a loving adult, or a stroll to the store can expose your baby to germs.

Breastfed babies have more immunity than babies exclusively fed formula. This is because breastfeeding supplies antibodies, white blood cells, and enzymes to your baby, which help safeguard them from infection.

Breastfed babies have all, or part, of their mother’s immunity to the illnesses she has had or been exposed to. This doesn’t, however, mean breastfed babies are completely immune from colds.

A baby under 3 months old should be seen by a doctor if they have a cold. This will help rule out more serious conditions, and will also put your mind at ease.

Fever is one way your baby’s body works to fight off colds. Even so, a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher in a baby who’s under 3 months old warrants a call to the doctor.

You should also call your doctor if your older baby has a persistent fever or other symptoms.

No matter their age, a fever that persists for more than 5 days warrants a call to the doctor and likely a visit.

Keep an eye on all of your baby’s symptoms. They should see a doctor if they have any of the following symptoms:

• rash
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• persistent or croupy cough
• odd, unusual-sounding cry
• trouble breathing
• retractions — when the areas below and between the ribs and in the neck sink in with each attempt to inhale
• thick or bloody mucus from the nose or mouth
• fever for more than 5 days
• rubbing their ear, or other sign of physical discomfort or pain anywhere in their body
• signs of dehydration, such as not wetting as many diapers as they usually do
• refusal to nurse or take a bottle
• bluish tinge around nail pads or lips

You know your little one best. If they just don’t seem like themselves, call their pediatrician so you can rule out anything more serious than a cold. That’s what the doctor is there for.

In many cases, treatment for a cold involves taking steps to help ease symptoms and keep your baby comfortable.

This may include helping them stay hydrated, using a humidifier, or suctioning nasal mucus to clear up a stuffy nose.

Over-the-counter medications, including fever reducers and cold medications, should not be used unless directed by a doctor.

Treating a newborn cold at home

Home treatment for a newborn’s cold consists of helping them feel comfortable. Do’s and don’ts include:

Do’s

• Give plenty of liquids, including breast milk or formula (if your baby doesn’t take breast milk). A small amount of water may be offered to your baby if they’re over 6 months old.
• Suction out nasal mucus using saline drops and a suction bulb.
• Moisturize the air with a cool-mist humidifier. Keep in mind that hot-water humidifiers are not recommended and may pose a burning risk, especially to older, curious children.

Don’ts

• Antibiotics don’t work on viruses and shouldn’t be given as treatment for a cold.
• Over-the-counter (OTC) fever reducers, including Infants’ Tylenol, aren’t recommended for babies under 3 months unless directed by your baby’s doctor. Check with your pediatrician before giving any type of OTC medication to a baby under 1 year. These medications may also not be recommended for a baby who’s vomiting.
• Aspirin should never be given to a baby or child.
• Cough and cold medications aren’t recommended for children under 4 years.
• Vapor rubs, even those formulated for babies, can be irritating to airways. Don’t use these either on the skin or in a vaporizer for children under 2.
• Don’t let your baby sleep on their stomach, even if they have congestion.

Other treatments for colds

There are no other treatments for an infant’s cold except the passage of time. The best thing you can do is make sure that you or another caring adult stays close by to provide comfort. This will help your baby relax and get the rest they need.

Shop for saline drops and humidifiers online.

The average cold may last as long as 10 to 14 days. This includes the period of time when babies don’t display many symptoms but are contagious, as well as the period of time when they’re starting to act normally but still have crusty noses and nasal discharge.

Breastfeeding your baby can help boost their immunity. Even small amounts of breast milk supplemented with formula can help. This is especially true of antibody-rich colostrum, the first type of breast milk you produce when your baby is born.

You can’t keep your baby in a hermetically sealed environment. But you can help avoid exposure to some germs using the following guidelines:

• Wash your hands often and ask visitors to do the same.
• Avoid contact with people who are ill, and wipe down surfaces that have been touched by people who are coughing or sneezing.
• Ask people who come into contact with your baby to cough or sneeze into their elbows, rather than into their hands.
• If possible, limit your baby’s contact with older children.
• Make sure the adults and children around your newborn are current on their pertussis vaccine and have received the flu shot.

Colds are caused by viruses and are common in newborns. Even breastfed babies get colds, although their immunity is greater than babies who aren’t breastfed.

Colds aren’t serious, but they can turn into more serious illnesses. It’s important to have your pediatrician look at your baby if they have a cold and are under 3 months old — especially if they’re running a fever or have other symptoms.

Don’t hesitate to make this phone call! Your baby’s doctor will be happy to help rule out more serious conditions and put your mind at ease.

A cold in a child: how to treat it correctly

Many parents are ready for the fact that babies will catch common, including seasonal infections, which is typical for childhood. Some parents study the methods of treating ARVI and colds in advance, read about it from experienced mothers in blogs and diaries, consult with doctors they know, and watch medical programs. But even despite the fact that the child's body from birth has a powerful immune system, this protection is imperfect. Therefore, no matter how informed the mother is, when the child becomes ill, she has a lot of questions that require qualified answers. nine0005
What is ARI and SARS
Most often, children are faced with acute respiratory diseases, abbreviated as acute respiratory infections or colds. This is especially evident when visiting children's groups, where they come into contact with other kids, and actually exchange various pathogens. The mothers of "kindergarten" children are very familiar with the phrase: "We go for 2 days, then 2 weeks - on sick leave."
A cold can be both viral and bacterial, even fungal and of a different nature, in 70-80% of cases it is of a viral nature. It is impossible to establish the origin of a cold with accuracy on a pediatric examination, as well as “by eye” to distinguish one infection from another. However, there are certain signs that indicate the action of viruses, harmful bacteria and other pathogens. For example, nasal mucus is indicative of an acute respiratory viral infection, which usually begins with mild malaise, decreased appetite, moodiness, and sleep disturbance in a child. This is a prodromal period, it lasts from several hours to 1-2 days. And such a viral infection as the flu begins acutely, immediately with a very high temperature, intoxication, there is almost no prodromal period, dry cough appears in the late stages of the disease. Often SARS passes with catarrhal symptoms: nasal congestion, change in tone of voice, "circles", "blue" under the eyes, runny nose, discharge from the nose, cough, sore throat and swallowing. nine0007 What to do?
First of all, you need to remember that parents should not panic if the child has a fever and other unpleasant symptoms of a cold. Any mood of the mother is transmitted to the baby. A cold with a competent approach is simply MUST pass in 5-7 days without complications. And it is important to know that the treatment of a cold is complex, which includes the main drugs - antiviral, antibacterial, etc., as well as symptomatic therapy. You should not rely on just one medicine as a panacea, a magic pill from advertising or the advice of a pharmacy worker. nine0007 How to treat?
Antivirals. There is a lot of misinformation about antivirals now. They are credited with mythical side effects and actions. If this comes from a doctor, then he must provide data confirming his point of view in official sources, which are state medical institutions, major scientific journals.