There’s something deeply unsettling about hearing your baby sneeze for the first time. It often starts with what seems like a harmless cough or a runny nose. Before you know it, your little one is restless, struggling to breathe comfortably, and barely able to feed. If you’re a first-time mum, the experience can be both confusing and frightening.
As mothers, especially in those early postpartum months, we are wired to respond to every sound, every expression, every change in our baby’s body. A cold may seem like a small thing to outsiders, but to you, the one holding your baby through the night, watching their chest rise and fall, it doesn’t feel small at all.
This blog is written for the mum who is wondering what is normal, what to do, and when to be concerned. Whether you’re pacing your room at midnight or reading this with a baby resting on your chest, you deserve honest, and practical answers.
What Causes Colds in Babies?
Newborns and infants have immature immune systems. Their bodies are still learning how to fight infections, which is why colds are quite common in the first year of life. These colds are usually caused by viruses that spread through droplets in the air, surfaces, or direct contact.
In Nigeria, our weather patterns and dust levels make it even easier for babies to pick up these common viruses. Whether it’s harmattan season or the rainy months, congestion and catarrh seem to find their way into every home.
Most of the time, baby colds are not dangerous. They are simply the body’s way of building immunity, but knowing how to respond is what makes all the difference.
Signs Your Baby Has a Cold
Here are some of the most common symptoms of a baby cold:
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Sneezing
- Mild cough
- Low-grade fever
- Irritability or fussiness
- Difficulty feeding or sleeping due to nasal congestion
These signs usually show up gradually and can last from a few days to about a week. What matters most is how your baby is coping through it.
What You Can Do to Ease Your Baby’s Cold
As mums, we always want to do something to make things better, and the good news is, there are gentle ways to support your baby through a cold. These steps are safe, practical, and suitable for the Nigerian context.
1. Clear the nose gently
I didn’t say you should use your mouth over your baby’s nose like our mothers did o, the hygienic thing is to use a rubber nasal bulb or aspirator to remove mucus from your baby’s nose. This helps them breathe and feed more comfortably. Saline drops can also loosen thick mucus before suctioning.
2. Keep the air moist
Steam from a warm bath or a bowl of hot water in the room can help reduce congestion. If you have a humidifier, use it to keep the room air comfortable.
3. Feed more often, little by little
Even if your baby is not feeding as much, continue offering breast milk or formula in smaller, more frequent sessions. Breast milk in particular has antibodies that support healing.
4. Keep your baby lightly dressed
Avoid overdressing or swaddling too tightly. A hot or sweaty baby may become more irritable, especially if they have a fever. Dress them in soft, breathable clothes and monitor their temperature.
5. Hold your baby often
Your baby may want to be held more than usual. Skin-to-skin contact and gentle rocking can offer comfort and help them feel safe, which is just as healing as any medicine.
When to See a Doctor
While most baby colds can be managed at home, there are signs you should never ignore:
- Your baby is under three months and has a fever
- Baby refuses to feed for more than four to six hours
- Breathing becomes fast, noisy, or laboured
- The cold lasts longer than ten days with no signs of improvement
- Your baby is unusually sleepy, unresponsive, or very irritable
- You just have a strong feeling something is not right. Trust that instinct, t is better to check early than to delay and wish you had.
What to Avoid
In this our blessed country Nigeria, there is often pressure to try Agbo, home remedies or quick fixes. While these suggestions usually come from a place of love, some of them are unsafe for babies.
Please avoid:
- Robb, Aboniki, menthol balms, or heat rubs on your baby’s chest or nose
- Over-the-counter cough syrups not prescribed by a doctor
- Agbo (herbal mixtures) or concoctions, even if they are “natural”
- Honey, ginger, garlic, or lime in any form for babies under one year
- Overdressing the baby to force a sweat
- Forcing food or milk when baby is not ready
Stick to gentle, safe, and medically approved care. Your baby’s body is still learning, and less is often more.
A Word of Encouragement to a 5 Star Mum
If your baby is currently sick, I want to speak directly to your heart. You may feel helpless, but you are not powerless. You are already doing the most important thing, being there. You don’t have to know everything. You don’t have to get it perfect. You are allowed to rest, to ask for help, and to take it one hour at a time.
Many of us have stood where you are, and we made it through, you will too.
Listen to the Podcast: Handling Baby’s First Cold
If you prefer to listen on the go or just want to hear this topic in a more personal tone, we’ve recorded an entire episode just for you on the 5StarMums Podcast.
In that episode, we go deeper into real-life experiences, signs to watch for, and gentle reassurances that you may not find on Google. Search “Handling Baby’s First Cold: Tips and Tricks” on Spotify or click here to listen now. It may be the comfort you didn’t know you needed today.
Final Thoughts
Handling your baby’s first cold is one of those quiet, behind-the-scenes moments in motherhood that no one claps for, but it matters. It grows your confidence, it strengthens your bond, it reminds you that you are learning and loving at the same time.
And here’s the best part, the next time, you’ll feel a little less afraid, a little more steady, because you’ve walked this path before.
“Don’t go through mumming alone.”
FK Jesuyode
Founder, 5StarMums
