How to Treat a Baby's Runny Nose

• A temperature over 102°F in a child of any age
• They are excessively tired or irritable
• They are having trouble breathing (flared nostrils, fast breathing)
• Their lips or nails turn blue

Dr. Segura adds that children with a cold and nasal congestion may also develop a bacterial ear infection. “Suppose a child develops a fever (temperature higher than 100.4°F or 38°C) after the first three days of cold symptoms along with fussiness, ear pulling, irritability, and crying while lying down. In that case, an ear infection may be to blame,” she says. 

In terms of a fever, you should also give a health care provider a call if your little one is still acting fairly sick even after a fever is brought down, the fever lasts longer than 24 hours in children younger than 2 years old, or if it lasts more than three days (72 hours) in children 2 years of age or older. 

The Bottom Line 

Remember, a long-lasting runny nose in children can be common! 

“Sometimes, kids seem like they have a runny nose all winter long,” says Dr. Segura. “The reason is that the symptoms of a cold are usually worst during the first 10 to 14 days. It is also not unusual for a child to develop a second cold as the symptoms of the first cold are resolving; this can make it seem as if the child has a single cold that lasts for weeks or even months, especially during the fall and winter.”

Even more commonly, says Dr. Wawrin, children aren't great at blowing their noses and a lot of the mucus is swallowed, which can be irritating to the stomach. Always contact a health care provider if you are unsure whether your child’s runny nose is something more serious such as RSV, especially if you have a newborn or infant. 

Lastly, be sure to stock up on tissues during the winter months—you can never have too many! Runny noses may be a sticky, uncomfortable part of being a kid, but most of the time, they resolve on their own.