Common Cold in Babies – Symptoms and Causes

Overview

The common cold is a viral infection that affects a baby’s nose and throat. Signs like a stuffy nose or runny nose are typical symptoms.

Babies get colds more often than adults because they haven’t built up immunity to many infections yet. Most babies have six to eight colds in their first year. Being in daycare can increase this number.

Several items can help manage your baby’s cold symptoms:

• Humidifiers keep air moist, which may reduce congestion
• Nasal aspirators (bulb syringes) gently remove mucus from baby’s nose
• Saline nose drops help loosen thick nasal secretions
• Infant fever reducers (follow dosing instructions carefully)
• Elevated sleep surfaces can help drainage (only for older babies, following safety guidelines)

For cold treatment, focus on easing symptoms by offering plenty of fluids and keeping nasal passages clear.

Signs of a Cold in Babies

Babies with colds often show a stuffy or runny nose first. The discharge may be clear at first but can become thicker and change to yellow or green over time.

Other common symptoms include:

• Fever
• Sneezing and coughing
• Poor appetite
• Fussiness or irritability
• Sleep problems
• Difficulty feeding due to nasal congestion

These symptoms usually develop gradually and can last 7-10 days. Most babies recover from colds without complications, but it’s important to watch for signs that might require medical attention.

When to See a Doctor

Most baby colds clear up on their own within 10-14 days as your baby’s immune system develops. However, certain situations require medical attention.

For babies under 3 months:

• Contact your doctor early in any illness
• Newborns need careful evaluation, especially with fever

Call your doctor if your baby (3 months or older):

• Shows signs of dehydration (fewer wet diapers)
• Has a temperature above 100.4°F (38°C)
• Appears to have ear pain or unusual irritability
• Develops red eyes or yellow/green eye discharge
• Has breathing difficulties or wheezing
• Has a persistent cough
• Shows thick, green nasal discharge for several days
• Displays concerning symptoms like unusual crying or feeding problems

Seek immediate medical help if your baby:

• Refuses to drink fluids or breastfeed
• Coughs hard enough to cause vomiting or skin color changes
• Coughs up blood-tinged mucus
• Has difficulty breathing or bluish lips
• Shows unusual lethargy or sleepiness

Causes

The common cold happens when viruses infect the upper respiratory tract, including the nose and throat. Over 200 different viruses can cause colds, with rhinoviruses being the most common type.

Cold viruses enter a baby’s body through the eyes, nose, or mouth. Once infected by a specific virus, babies typically develop immunity to that particular virus.

However, because so many different viruses cause colds, babies often experience multiple colds each year.

Babies can catch cold viruses in three main ways:

• Through the Air: When an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks, they can release virus particles directly into the air that a baby breathes.
• Direct Contact: If someone with a cold touches a baby’s hand, the virus can transfer to the baby, who may then touch their eyes, nose, or mouth.
• Contaminated Surfaces: Cold viruses can survive on surfaces like toys for two hours or longer, making it possible for babies to pick up the virus by touching these objects.

Some viruses don’t create lasting immunity, which explains why children and adults continue to experience colds throughout their lives, even from viruses they’ve previously encountered.

Risk Factors

Babies face several factors that increase their chances of catching common colds:

Developing Immune System

Infants naturally have a higher risk because their immune systems haven’t encountered many viruses yet. Without previous exposure, babies haven’t built up resistance to these common germs.

Contact with Others

Being around other children significantly raises cold risk. Young children often forget to:

• Wash hands regularly
• Cover sneezes and coughs
• Follow other hygiene practices

Even brief contact with anyone who has a cold can pass the virus to a baby.

Seasonal Patterns

While colds can occur in any season, they happen most frequently from autumn through late spring. During these cooler months, cold viruses tend to spread more easily among people.

Complications

Common colds sometimes lead to other health problems. These issues may need medical attention beyond what’s needed for a simple cold.

Ear infections happen when germs move into the space behind the eardrum. This is the most frequent complication of colds.

Colds can cause wheezing in all children. For those with asthma, a cold might make breathing problems worse.

When a cold doesn’t go away, it might develop into sinusitis. This infection affects the sinus cavities around your nose.

Several more serious conditions can start from a common cold:

• Pneumonia (lung infection)
• Bronchiolitis (small airway inflammation)
• Croup (causes barking cough)

Prevention

Protecting infants and children from catching a cold requires simple but effective strategies. No vaccine exists for the common cold, so prevention focuses on practical approaches.

Keep your infant isolated from sick individuals. For newborns especially, limit visitors who show symptoms of illness. Consider avoiding crowded places and public transportation during the early months.

Wash your hands properly before interacting with your baby. Use soap and water for at least 20 seconds. When soap isn’t available, use hand sanitizer with 60% alcohol or higher.

Help children understand why hand washing matters, and avoid touching your face with unwashed hands.

Regularly clean items your baby uses. Disinfect toys, pacifiers, and surfaces that people touch often, particularly when someone nearby has cold symptoms.

Practice good respiratory hygiene. Use tissues when coughing or sneezing, then throw them away immediately and wash your hands. If you can’t reach a tissue, direct coughs and sneezes into your elbow, followed by hand washing.

Research childcare facilities carefully. Choose centers with strict cleanliness practices and clear policies about keeping sick children home.

Preventive Actions Checklist:

• Limit exposure to sick people
• Wash hands frequently
• Clean toys and surfaces regularly
• Cover coughs and sneezes
• Choose childcare with good health policies