For a 10-month-old with a cold, the best things you can offer are saline nose drops, gentle suction, plenty of breast milk or formula, and a cool mist humidifier. Over-the-counter cough and cold medicines are not safe at this age. Most infant colds clear up on their own within 10 to 14 days, and your job is to keep your baby comfortable and hydrated while the virus runs its course.
Why Cold Medicine Is Off Limits
The FDA does not recommend over-the-counter cough and cold medicines for children younger than 2 because they can cause serious, potentially life-threatening side effects. Manufacturers have voluntarily added labels stating these products should not be used in children under 4. That includes decongestants, cough suppressants, antihistamines, and combination cold products. Homeopathic cough and cold products aren’t a safe workaround either. The FDA has found no proven benefits and warns against giving them to children under 4.
Clearing a Stuffy Nose
Congestion is usually the most miserable part of a cold for a baby who can’t blow their own nose. Saline nose drops paired with a bulb syringe are the most effective tool you have. Lay your baby on their back, put 3 to 4 drops of saline into each nostril, and hold their head back for about a minute to let the saline thin the mucus. Then squeeze the air out of the bulb syringe, gently place the tip into one nostril, and release the bulb to pull the mucus out. Repeat on the other side.
Try to do this before feedings rather than after, since suctioning on a full stomach can cause vomiting. Limit suctioning to no more than 4 times a day so you don’t irritate the delicate lining of your baby’s nose. Many parents find it most helpful before naps, bedtime, and meals.
Keeping Your Baby Hydrated
Breast milk or formula is the best fluid for a 10-month-old with a cold. You don’t need to push extra fluids beyond what your baby normally takes, but encourage them to drink their usual amount. Shorter, more frequent feedings sometimes work better than full ones when a baby is congested and fussy. If you’re breastfeeding, keep it up. Breast milk contains antibodies that offer extra protection against the germs causing the cold.
At 10 months, your baby may also be drinking small amounts of water with meals. That’s fine to continue, but breast milk or formula should remain the primary source of hydration.
Using a Humidifier Safely
Adding moisture to the air can help loosen mucus and make breathing easier. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a cool mist humidifier rather than a warm steam vaporizer, because vaporizers can cause burns if a child gets too close to the steam or knocks over the device. Place the humidifier near your baby’s crib but out of reach, and clean it regularly to prevent mold and bacteria buildup in the tank.
Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen for Fever
If your baby has a fever or seems to be in pain, infant acetaminophen or infant ibuprofen can help. Both are generally safe for babies over 6 months old, but dosing for children under 2 should be guided by your pediatrician. The correct dose is based on your baby’s weight, not age, and getting it wrong can be harmful. Call your doctor’s office for the right amount before giving either medication.
Ibuprofen can be given every 6 to 8 hours, no more than 4 times in 24 hours. Never give both medications at the same time without specific instructions from your pediatrician, and never give aspirin to an infant.
What Not to Give
Honey is a popular home remedy for coughs in older children and adults, but it is not safe for any baby under 12 months. Honey can contain spores of Clostridium botulinum, the bacteria that causes infant botulism. In studied cases, the bacteria type in the honey exactly matched the type that made the baby sick. This applies to all forms of honey, including raw, pasteurized, and honey found in baked goods or cough syrups.
Also skip vapor rubs unless your pediatrician specifically recommends a version formulated for infants. Products designed for adults can irritate a baby’s airways.
What a Normal Cold Looks Like
The first signs are usually a stuffy or runny nose with clear mucus. Over the next few days, the mucus often thickens and turns yellow or green. This color change is a normal part of the immune response and doesn’t automatically mean your baby has a bacterial infection. Mild coughing, low-grade fever, fussiness, and poor sleep are all common. Symptoms typically peak around days 3 to 5, then gradually improve. An uncomplicated cold should resolve within 10 to 14 days.
Signs That Need Medical Attention
Most colds don’t require a doctor visit, but a few warning signs mean you should call your pediatrician promptly. A fever above 100.4°F (38°C) that lasts more than one day in a baby between 6 and 24 months old warrants a call.
Watch your baby’s breathing closely. Three specific signs suggest your baby is working too hard to breathe:
- Retractions: the skin pulls in below the neck or under the breastbone with each breath
- Nasal flaring: the nostrils spread wide open during breathing
- Grunting: a small grunt sound with each exhale, which is the body’s attempt to keep the lungs inflated
Any of these signs, along with refusal to drink fluids, fewer wet diapers than usual, or symptoms that worsen after a week instead of improving, are reasons to get your baby seen.