How to Treat a Baby's Runny Nose

It is never fun dealing with a baby's runny nose. Seeing your little one struggle with endless snot can be tough, but nonetheless, it is a common (and usually normal) part of being a tiny human. 

That said, it can be confusing to determine whether your baby’s runny nose is the result of a cold or allergies, or something a bit more troubling, such as RSV. Let’s take a look at the main causes of a runny nose in babies, how to tell the difference between common illnesses, their treatment options, and when to contact a health care provider. 

Causes of a Runny Nose in Babies

There are several reasons why a baby might come down with a runny nose, ranging from illnesses to allergies and more. “The main causes of runny nose in children are viral infections, bacterial infections, and environmental allergies,” says Nicole Wawrin, MD, a pediatrician at Weill Cornell Medicine. “Overwhelmingly, viral infections are the biggest culprits of a runny nose in children.”

Some of the most common viral infections in children include: 

• Cold and flu
• Sinus infections
• RSV (or respiratory syncytial virus)
• COVID-19

“To the frustration of many parents, young children may have a runny nose for months on end simply due to sequential viral infections,” adds Dr. Wawrin.

Allergies can also be the culprit behind your child’s runny nose. Florencia Segura, MD, FAAP, a board-certified pediatrician at Einstein Pediatrics, explains that seasonal allergies are more common in toddlers, and older children, rather than in babies. 

Is My Baby's Runny Nose a Cold, Flu, or Something Else?

If your little one’s nose is running, it can be hard to distinguish whether you’re dealing with the common cold, influenza (the flu), or another infection, such as COVID-19 or RSV.

“It can be very hard to distinguish which specific infection is the cause of a child's respiratory symptoms,” says Dr. Wawrin. “For example, children with COVID and flu can present very similarly with fever, cough and congestion, and fatigue. Generally, if a child is