How to treat your newborn’s cold

Although your newborn comes complete with your antibodies – and breastfeeding will ensure she gets even more of these – her immune system is still very underdeveloped.

The fact there are so many cold viruses circulating at any one time makes your newborn particularly vulnerable, as she won’t have any antibodies to cold viruses that you haven’t yourself had. You may find she gets cold after cold, especially if she is born during the winter months, when cold viruses proliferate and central heating dries out the mucous membranes in her nose, making it easier for viruses to take hold. Sessions with your health visitor increase the risk, since they expose your newborn to other babies and toddlers who may be harbouring germs.

What are the symptoms?

Initially your newborn may just seem ‘off’ – restless and irritable. It’s possible she also may have a low-grade fever. More obvious symptoms will develop fairly quickly and may include coughing, sneezing, watery eyes and a runny or congested nose. If your newborn has a runny nose the discharge will start out clear but will thicken and turn grey or even yellowish-green as her cold progresses. And because a newborn’s nasal passages are so narrow, it doesn’t take much swelling and mucus to result in a stuffy nose.

It’s vital that you keep a close eye on your newborn for any complications that may develop from a cold. Dehydration is a risk if she is off her feeds – signs include light nappies, as these indicate she isn’t passing as much urine as usually, and any urine she does pass may be darker and have a strong odour. The soft spot (fontanelle) on top of her head may also appear to be sunken. Dehydration is a medical emergency in newborns so if you think your baby is displaying signs, call your doctor straightaway or take your baby to the local Accident & Emergency department.

Colds can also develop into more serious respiratory tract infections such as respiratory syncytial virus and pneumonia. If your baby’s condition suddenly seems to worsen, her fever rises, or her cough becomes more severe and she starts to wheeze, call your doctor.

Treatment

Call your doctor to find out how best you can treat your newborn’s symptoms, especially if she has a fever, as this can be dangerous in a newborn. Avoid giving your baby cough and cold medications or any other medications without your doctor’s recommendation as these aren’t always suitable for babies under three months of age and an accidental overdose can be lethal. In any case, your baby’s cough is there for a reason: to help clear mucus from her airways.

There are several things you can do to ease your baby’s symptoms and help her feel better:

Use saline nose drops to thin the mucus if her nose is blocked – your doctor or pharmacist can recommend one (never use over-the-counter nasal decongestants on your baby as these contain strong drugs). It’s a good idea to clear your newborn’s nose in this way just before feeds, as a blocked nose can interfere with her ability to feed.
Clear her nose with a rubber suction bulb after softening any buildup of mucus with saline if congestion is disturbing her sleep. Ask your doctor or health visitor to show you how to use the bulb – you don’t need to insert it right into your newborn’s nose: place it just inside your baby’s nostril and slowly release the bulb to draw out any mucus.
Use a humidifier in your newborn’s room, to moisten the air and help to keep her nasal passages hydrated. If you don’t have a humidifier a bowl of water placed near a heat source, such as a radiator, will do the trick (if you have an older child ensure it’s well out of his reach).
If the outside of her nose is sore from discharge, gently rub a tiny smear of petroleum jelly on it to soothe the area.
Add a few drops of eucalyptus oil to her bathwater to help ease her breathing.
Keep offering her plenty of breast or formula milk – even if she isn’t finishing her feeds, every little bit will help to avoid dehydration.

If at any time your newborn’s temperature rises above 38°C (100°F), call your doctor.

Prevention

Simple hygiene can help protect your baby from frequent colds. Wash your hand often (and hers too) and before you handle your newborn. Hand sanitizers are also proven to help prevent the transmission of colds, although you should use an alcohol-based gel. Wash your baby’s toys in the dishwasher if possible, or sterilise them using sterilising tablets and cold water (thoroughly rinse them afterwards). If your newborn uses a dummy, sterilise it in the steriliser along with her bottles if she’s bottlefed, or by placing it in a pan of boiling water and leaving it to simmer for five minutes.

Avoid exposing your baby to anyone who has a cold, and take particular precautions if you have an older child who is exposed to viruses at nursery or school. Try to teach your older child how to sneeze into a tissue and then throw it in the trash, or cough or sneeze into the crook of his arm (not the palm of his hand, as this means the germs can be passed on).

The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.

Last Modified: 14/11/2008