New parents often worry when their newborn shows signs of illness. Understanding common cold symptoms, knowing when to seek medical advice, and providing appropriate care can help.
Identifying Cold Symptoms
A stuffy or runny nose often signals a newborn’s first cold symptom. Nasal discharge may initially be clear and thin, then become thicker and yellowish-green over several days. This color change is normal and does not indicate a worsening condition or bacterial infection.
Newborns may also exhibit sneezing, a mild cough, and a slight decrease in appetite. Their feeding can become difficult due to nasal congestion, which might also disrupt their sleep patterns. Some infants might develop a low-grade fever, typically below 100.4°F (38°C), as their body works to fight off the viral infection.
Newborn cold symptoms can be subtle and differ from those in older children or adults. Observing changes in your baby’s usual behavior, feeding, or sleep provides early clues. Fussiness may also indicate your baby is unwell.
When to Contact a Doctor
Immediate medical attention is necessary if a newborn under 3 months old develops a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher. Any fever in this age group warrants an urgent call to a healthcare provider or emergency department visit, as it can indicate a serious underlying infection.
Signs of difficulty breathing are serious and require prompt medical evaluation. These include rapid breathing, flaring nostrils, grunting sounds with each breath, or chest retractions where skin pulls in between or below the ribs. Bluish lips or skin, indicating lack of oxygen, signals an emergency.
Other concerning symptoms include severe coughing, unusual lethargy, or unresponsiveness. Refusal to feed, especially if the baby misses multiple feedings, is another red flag. Watch for signs of dehydration, such as fewer wet diapers, no tears when crying, a dry mouth, or sunken eyes and a sunken soft spot on the head.
Distinguishing from Other Illnesses
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) can mimic a common cold but may lead to more severe respiratory distress, especially in infants. While both cause a runny nose, cough, and decreased appetite, RSV often involves wheezing and can progress to bronchiolitis or pneumonia.
Influenza, or the flu, typically presents with more severe, sudden symptoms, differentiating it from a common cold. Beyond typical cold symptoms, the flu can cause chills, body aches, significant fatigue, and sometimes vomiting or diarrhea. High fever is also more common and pronounced.
Allergies are uncommon in infants under one year of age, making a cold a more likely diagnosis for respiratory symptoms in newborns. Unlike colds, allergies do not cause fever or body aches. Allergic reactions might involve clear, watery nasal discharge, itchy or watery eyes, and symptoms that persist for weeks or months rather than the typical 10-14 days of a cold.
At-Home Comfort for Your Baby
Comforting a newborn with a cold focuses on easing symptoms and supporting recovery. Using saline nasal drops or spray can help thin mucus and moisten nasal passages, making it easier to clear congestion. Following this, a nasal aspirator, such as a bulb syringe or a manual aspirator, can gently remove the loosened mucus from your baby’s nose.
Running a cool-mist humidifier in the baby’s room can add moisture to the air, which helps soothe irritated nasal passages and reduce mucus thickness. It is important to use a cool-mist humidifier rather than a warm-mist one to avoid any burn risk. Always ensure the humidifier is cleaned regularly to prevent the growth of mold and bacteria.
Ensuring adequate hydration is also important, so offer frequent feedings of breast milk or formula. Keeping the baby in a slightly upright position during and after feedings can help with congestion and make it easier for them to swallow. It is crucial to remember that over-the-counter cold and cough medicines are not safe for infants and should never be given.