Snuffles, sneezes and blocked noses: caring for a baby with a cold

Your baby sounds like a tiny snoring engine. Their nose is running, they sneeze mid-feed and pull away crossly, and nobody in the house slept well. Colds are very common in the first year, especially once older siblings bring germs home from school or your baby starts mixing with other children. Most are mild and pass on their own within a week or two. But a stuffy baby is still a miserable baby, and it helps to know how to ease things and what to watch for.

Why colds hit babies hard

Babies mostly breathe through their noses, especially while feeding. A blocked nose can make feeding slow and frustrating, and they cannot blow their noses yet. That is why a cold that would be a nuisance for you can feel like a big deal for them.

Easing a stuffy nose

• Saline drops. Salt-water nose drops from a pharmacy can loosen mucus before feeds. Ask your pharmacist which are suitable for your baby's age.
• Gentle wiping. Use a soft, damp cloth to wipe the nose. Ask your pharmacist about a gentle barrier cream if the skin around the nostrils gets sore.
• Steam nearby, not close. Sitting with your baby in a steamy bathroom after someone has had a shower can help. Never put your baby near hot water or a bowl of steaming water.
• Feeds little and often. Shorter, more frequent feeds may be easier while they cannot breathe well through the nose.
• Hold upright while awake. Cuddling your baby upright can be comforting.

For sleep, keep your baby flat on their back in a clear cot, even with a cold. Do not use pillows or raise the mattress. Over-the-counter cough and cold remedies are not recommended for babies; speak to your pharmacist or doctor before giving any medicine.

Watch for dehydration

When feeding is harder, babies can take in less fluid. Keep an eye out for:

• Fewer wet nappies than usual, or nappies that stay dry for many hours.
• Dark yellow, strong-smelling wee.
• A dry mouth or dry, cracked lips.
• A sunken soft spot on the top of the head.
• Few or no tears when crying.
• Being unusually sleepy, floppy or irritable.
• Cold hands and feet with pale or blotchy skin.

If you notice any of these, contact your doctor or an urgent advice service the same day. A baby who is very drowsy, floppy, or has had no wet nappy for a long time needs to be seen urgently.

When a cold needs a doctor

Most colds are mild, but some infections that start like a cold can affect the chest. Call your doctor or clinic if your baby:

• Is under 3 months and has a temperature of 38°C or higher, or is 3 to 6 months with a temperature of 39°C or higher.
• Is feeding much less than usual.
• Has a cough that is getting worse, or symptoms lasting more than about three weeks.
• Seems to have ear pain, such as pulling at an ear along with fever and distress.
• Just does not seem themselves and you are worried.

Get emergency help if your baby

• Is working hard to breathe: grunting, very fast breathing, the skin sucking in under or between the ribs, or flaring nostrils.
• Has pauses in their breathing.
• Has blue, grey or very pale lips, tongue or skin.
• Is floppy, very drowsy or hard to wake.
• Is not feeding at all, or shows serious signs of dehydration.

Looking after the whole household

Washing hands often, especially before feeds and after wiping noses, helps stop colds spreading. Ask visitors who are unwell to come another time, and keep your home smoke-free, which matters even more when little airways are irritated.

And look after yourself. A week of broken nights with a snuffly baby is draining. Take any help that is offered, rest when you can, and lower your expectations for the house.

Strength for a snuffly week

God's words through Isaiah are spoken straight into weary, worried hearts: “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness” (Isaiah 41:10). He is with you at the 3am feed, as you wipe yet another runny nose. You are not doing this alone.

A prayer for a poorly baby

Lord, ease my baby's breathing and help them feed and sleep. Strengthen me when I am tired and uphold me when I am worried. Show me clearly if we need more help, and bring healing to our home. Amen.