This is an English rendering of a Polish public-health reference. The care paths it names (112, night and holiday care NiŚOZ, primary care POZ) are Polish. This is not medical advice.

PL

This is not medical advice Life-threatening emergency (Poland): 112

Home › Fever and symptoms of illness

How do you treat a runny nose in a baby (suctioning, medicines, home remedies)?

Applies to age: 0–12 months

In short

For a runny nose, drinking plenty of fluids and nose drops with a salt solution help; children under 6 should not be given over-the-counter cough and cold medicines unless a doctor or pharmacist advises it. Difficulty breathing needs immediate medical help.

Sources: NHS, Portal Pacjenta, NFZ i Akademia NFZChecked: Report an error

Do not do this

  • Dangerous Myth: “A child's stuffy nose is cleared by breathing in steam from a bowl of hot water”

    Why it is wrong. Children must not breathe in steam from a bowl of hot water because of the risk of scalding.
    Instead. Do not let a child breathe in steam from a bowl of hot water.
    Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)

    Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:

    do not let children breathe in steam from a bowl of hot water because of the risk of scalding

    NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-15 · license [1]

What is normal

All claims: international norm

  • Most colds in younger children go away within 2 weeks.
    Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)

    Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:

    Most colds in younger children get better within 2 weeks.

    NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-15 · license [1]

  • When a child has a cold, make sure they are given plenty of fluids.
    Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)

    Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:

    Make sure your child drinks plenty of fluids.

    NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-15 · license [1]

  • Nose drops with a salt solution (saline) help loosen dried mucus and reduce the feeling of a stuffy nose.
    Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)

    Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:

    Saline nose drops can help loosen dried snot and relieve a stuffy nose.

    NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-15 · license [1]

  • Children under 6 should not be given over-the-counter cough and cold medicines, including decongestants, unless a doctor or pharmacist advises it.
    Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)

    Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:

    Children under 6 should not have over-the-counter cough and cold remedies, including decongestants, unless advised to by a GP or pharmacist.

    NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-15 · license [1]

  • Children under 12 months are not given honey.
    Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)

    Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:

    Do not give honey to children under 12 months old.

    NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-15 · license [1]

  • Colds are caused by viruses, and antibiotics work only against bacterial infection.
    Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)

    Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:

    Antibiotics only work if you have a bacterial infection, but colds are caused by viruses.

    NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-15 · license [1]

When to worry

All claims: international norm

Worth discussing with a doctor:

  • When cold symptoms do not get better after 10 days, it is worth seeing a doctor.
    Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)

    Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:

    your cold symptoms do not get better after 10 days

    NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-15 · license [1]

ER / 112 (Poland)

Some claims: international norm

Immediate medical help needed: international norm

  • Difficulty breathing in a child (for example grunting, the belly sucking in under the ribs, or fast breathing) needs immediate medical help.
    Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)

    Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:

    your child is having difficulty breathing – you may notice grunting noises, their tummy sucking under their ribs or they may be breathing quickly

    NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-15 · license [1]

  • Pauses in a child's breathing need immediate medical help.
    Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)

    Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:

    there are pauses when your child breathes

    NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-15 · license [1]

  • Severe shortness of breath is a situation in which you call an emergency medical team (ZRM) at 112 (the emergency number in Poland) or 999 (the ambulance number in Poland).
    Source: NFZ i Akademia NFZ – show the quote

    Verbatim quote from the source:

    Polish original

    Wezwij zespół ratownictwa medycznego, jeśli ktoś w Twoim otoczeniu np. stracił przytomność, ma drgawki, zaburzenia rytmu serca, rozległe oparzenia, uporczywe wymioty – zwłaszcza z domieszką krwi, odczuwa nasiloną duszność lub ostry ból brzucha.

    NFZ i Akademia NFZ · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-15 · license [3]

    Polish original

    Zadzwoń na 112 lub 999, jeśli zagrożone jest życie lub zdrowie.

    NFZ i Akademia NFZ · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-15 · license [3]

See a doctor

Some claims: international norm

Urgent medical assessment needed: international norm

  • When a child under 2 has a cold that is getting worse, this needs urgent medical assessment.
    Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)

    Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:

    Bronchiolitis is a common chest infection that affects babies and children under 2.

    NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-15 · license [1]

    your child has had a cold and it's getting worse

    NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-15 · license [1]

  • A child eating or feeding much less than usual needs urgent medical assessment.
    Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)

    Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:

    your child is feeding or eating much less than normal

    NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-15 · license [1]

  • A diaper that has been dry for 12 hours or longer, or other signs of dehydration, need urgent medical assessment.
    Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)

    Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:

    your child has had a dry nappy for 12 hours or more, or shows other signs of dehydration

    NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-15 · license [1]

  • When a child under 2 has cold symptoms and the parent is worried about the child's condition, this needs urgent medical assessment.
    Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)

    Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:

    Bronchiolitis is a common chest infection that affects babies and children under 2.

    NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-15 · license [1]

    you're worried about your child

    NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-15 · license [1]

  • A sick person who comes to a primary care (POZ) clinic should get an appointment on the day of the request, or, if that is not possible, at a time agreed with them.
    Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote

    Verbatim quote from the source:

    Polish original

    Jeśli przyjdziesz chory do przychodni, powinieneś uzyskać wizytę w dniu zgłoszenia.

    Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-15 · license [2]

    Polish original

    Jeśli to niemożliwe - w terminie uzgodnionym z tobą.

    Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-15 · license [2]

  • After the primary care (POZ) clinic's working hours, medical help is provided by night and holiday care (NiŚOZ).
    Source: NFZ i Akademia NFZ – show the quote

    Verbatim quote from the source:

    Polish original

    Nocna i świąteczna opieka zdrowotna to pomoc lekarska po godzinach pracy przychodni POZ.

    NFZ i Akademia NFZ · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-15 · license [3]

  • People go to night and holiday care (NiŚOZ), including when symptoms get worse and they cannot wait until morning.
    Source: NFZ i Akademia NFZ – show the quote

    Verbatim quote from the source:

    Polish original

    objawy się nasilą i nie możesz czekać do rana

    NFZ i Akademia NFZ · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-15 · license [3]

Myths

  • False Myth: “A child's cold (runny nose, cough) needs an antibiotic”

    Why it is wrong. Antibiotics will not relieve cold symptoms or speed up recovery; they work only against bacterial infection, and colds are caused by viruses.
    Instead. Do not give an antibiotic for a cold, because it will not relieve symptoms or speed up recovery.
    Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)

    Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:

    GPs do not recommend antibiotics for colds because they will not relieve your symptoms or speed up your recovery.

    NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-15 · license [1]

    Antibiotics only work if you have a bacterial infection, but colds are caused by viruses.

    NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-15 · license [1]

international norm “International norm” next to a section heading means its claims come from a non-Polish source, because no Polish source in our registry covers this topic. When this applies to only some of the claims, the foreign ones carry the same label next to their source.

International norm

“International norm” next to a section heading means its claims come from a non-Polish source, because no Polish source in our registry covers this topic. When this applies to only some of the claims, the foreign ones carry the same label next to their source.

Sources

  1. NHS (nhs.uk, Anglia)
    License: Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: NHS (nhs.uk, Anglia). Content summarized and translated by the editors; changed relative to the original. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. The summary is ours and is not attributed to the NHS.
  2. Portal Pacjenta (pacjent.gov.pl)
    License: CC BY 3.0 PL. Source: Portal Pacjenta (pacjent.gov.pl). Content summarized and translated by the editors; changed relative to the original.
  3. NFZ i Akademia NFZ
    License: Treści NFZ – wykorzystanie ze wskazaniem źródła, bez obrotu komercyjnego. Source: NFZ i Akademia NFZ. Content summarized and translated by the editors; changed relative to the original.

See an error or outdated information? Report an error in this answer. Answer checked against the sources on October 15, 2026.

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