Tips for when your baby has a cold

Snotty noses, a blocked nose and a baby who drinks and sleeps less well. When your baby has a cold, you mostly want your little one to feel better soon. Here you can read how to recognise a cold, what you can do at home and when it is better to call your GP.

How do you recognise a cold in your baby?

A cold is caused by a virus. You often notice it from a runny or blocked nose, sneezing, coughing, watery eyes and sometimes a slightly raised temperature. Many babies are also clingier, cry more or drink less than usual.

Babies catch colds more often in autumn and winter. Six to ten times a year is quite normal, especially if your baby goes to daycare.

How long does a cold last in a baby?

The worst is usually over after one to two weeks. The first days are often the hardest, and a cough can linger for a while afterwards. Nothing makes a cold go away faster. But you can help your baby feel more comfortable.

What can you do about a blocked nose?

Babies mainly breathe through their nose. When it is blocked, drinking and sleeping become harder.

• Saline drops: a few drops of saline for babies (from the chemist or pharmacy) make the mucus a little thinner. Ask there which drops suit your baby's age.
• Clearing the nose: with a nasal aspirator you gently remove the mucus. Do it mainly just before a feed or sleep; a few times a day is usually enough. Prefer not to suck yourself? The electric nose cleaner gently does it for you at the push of a button. Handy in the middle of the night when you only have two hands. Not sure whether to choose a regular or an electric one? Read the difference between a regular and an electric nose cleaner.
• Sticky eyes: wipe them clean with cotton wool and lukewarm, cooled boiled water. Work from the nose outwards and use a clean piece of cotton wool for each eye.

How do you help your baby with a cold drink and sleep better?

• Give smaller feeds more often. With a blocked nose, your baby drinks more slowly and needs to pause more often. Wondering whether your baby is getting enough? Read how much milk your baby roughly needs.
• Let in fresh air. Air the bedroom well and keep it at around 15 to 18 degrees, even when your baby is ill.
• Keep the cot empty. Do not put pillows or rolled-up towels in or under the mattress. Safe sleeping remains important when your baby has a cold.
• Be careful with rubs. Do not use products with menthol, eucalyptus or camphor on your baby without checking with your GP or pharmacist.
• Comfort helps. Extra cuddles, gentle rocking or a pacifier can help your baby relax. You will find more ideas in our tips to comfort your crying baby and our tips for when your baby won't sleep in the evening.

When should you call the GP?

Call your GP, or the out-of-hours service in the evening and at weekends, if your baby:

• is younger than 3 months and has a temperature of 38 degrees or higher;
• is short of breath, breathes fast or wheezes, or the skin between the ribs pulls in when breathing;
• drinks poorly or has clearly fewer wet nappies;
• is drowsy, floppy or hard to wake;
• has not improved after two weeks or is getting worse.

Above all: trust your instincts. If in doubt, just call. For less urgent questions, you can also go to your child health clinic.

A cold is annoying, but it almost always passes by itself. A clean nose, rest and lots of cuddles already go a long way.

Frequently asked questions

Is a cold dangerous for my baby?

Usually not. A cold almost always passes by itself. Do watch out for shortness of breath, poor drinking, drowsiness and fever in babies younger than 3 months. Then call your GP.

How often can I clean my baby's nose?

Do it when your baby is bothered by it, especially just before a feed and sleep. A few times a day is usually enough.

Can my baby with a cold go to daycare?

That depends on how your baby feels and on the rules of the daycare. Most daycares prefer to keep your baby at home if they have a fever. Check with your daycare.