What does a runny nose look like in a baby and how can you recognize it?
Applies to age: 0–12 months
In short
A stuffy or runny nose is one of the symptoms of a cold, which builds up gradually over 2 to 3 days; in young children a cold may come with irritability, difficulty feeding and sleeping, and breathing through the mouth. Difficulty breathing in a child needs immediate medical help.
What is normal
All claims: international norm
- Cold symptoms build up gradually over 2 to 3 days.
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:
Cold symptoms come on gradually over 2 to 3 days.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- A stuffy or runny nose is one of the main symptoms of a cold.
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:
a blocked or runny nose
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- Cold symptoms may last longer in young children.
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:
Symptoms of a cold can last longer in young children.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- In young children a cold may come with irritability, difficulty feeding and sleeping, breathing through the mouth, and vomiting after coughing.
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:
They may also be irritable, have difficulty feeding and sleeping, breathe through their mouth, and get sick after coughing.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- Cold and flu symptoms are similar, but flu tends to be more severe.
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:
Cold and flu symptoms are similar, but flu tends to be more severe.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- Children often cough with a cold because of mucus running down the back of the throat.
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 often cough when they have a cold because of mucus trickling down the back of the throat.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- When a child eats, drinks and breathes normally and has no wheezing, a cough is usually not a reason to worry.
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:
If your child is feeding, drinking, eating and breathing normally and there's no wheezing, a cough is not usually anything to worry about.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
When to worry
All claims: international norm
- It is worth seeing a doctor when a parent is worried about a child's cold symptoms.
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:
you're worried about your child's cold symptoms
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · 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: 2026-10-09 · 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: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- Blue or gray skin, tongue or lips in a child 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:
your child's skin, tongue or lips are blue or grey
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- A floppy child who does not wake up or cannot stay awake 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 floppy and will not wake up or stay awake
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- Intensified shortness of breath is a situation in which an emergency medical team (ZRM) is called, using 112 (the emergency number in Poland) or 999 (the ambulance number in Poland), when life or health is at risk.
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: 2026-10-09 · license [3]
Polish original
Zadzwoń na 112 lub 999, jeśli zagrożone jest życie lub zdrowie.
NFZ i Akademia NFZ · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [3]
See a doctor
Some claims: international norm
Urgent medical assessment needed: international norm
- A cold in a child that is getting worse needs an 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 cold and it's getting worse
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- A child eating or feeding significantly less than usual needs an 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: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- A dry diaper for 12 hours or longer, or other signs of dehydration, need an 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: 2026-10-09 · 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: 2026-10-09 · license [2]
Polish original
Jeśli to niemożliwe - w terminie uzgodnionym z tobą.
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [2]
- Outside the opening hours of a POZ clinic, 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: 2026-10-09 · license [3]
- Among other things, people go to NiŚOZ when symptoms get worse and it is not possible to 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: 2026-10-09 · license [3]
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
- NHS (nhs.uk, Anglia)
- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/common-cold/
- https://www.nhs.uk/baby/health/colds-coughs-and-ear-infections-in-children/
- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bronchiolitis/
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. - 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.
- NFZ i Akademia NFZLicense: 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.