Runny nose in a 2-month-old baby

A young baby's narrow nasal passages can become noisy or drippy with a small amount of mucus. A common cold can present with a runny nose, sneezing, mild cough, or fussiness. Irritants such as smoke, perfume, dust, and very dry air can also aggravate the nose. Mucus colour alone does not identify the cause or show that antibiotics are needed. Pay closer attention to how your baby breathes, feeds, wakes, and produces wet nappies than to the appearance of the mucus.

Use plain saline nose drops to loosen secretions, then gently wipe the nostrils or use a baby nasal aspirator if mucus is interfering with feeding. Suction briefly and gently because frequent suction can irritate the lining of the nose. Clearing the nose shortly before a feed may make sucking easier. Offer the usual breastfeeds or formula feeds and allow pauses if your baby needs to catch their breath. Keep the home free of tobacco smoke, incense, aerosols, and strong fragrances.

Put your baby to sleep flat on their back on a firm, clear sleep surface. Do not prop up the mattress or use pillows. Avoid cold remedies, decongestant drops, vapour rubs, essential oils, and antibiotics unless a clinician who has assessed your baby specifically recommends them.

Seek urgent medical help if your baby has a fever, pauses in breathing, blue or grey lips, grunting, ribs pulling in with each breath, or is difficult to wake. Prompt assessment is also needed if feeds are much smaller than usual, the baby cannot coordinate sucking and breathing, vomits repeatedly, or has noticeably fewer wet nappies. Because babies of this age can become unwell quickly, contact a clinician the same day if you are worried by a change in breathing, feeding, alertness, or behaviour, even when the nose seems to be the main problem.

Be ready to explain when the discharge began, whether anyone at home is ill, how feeds and wet nappies have changed, and whether you have noticed cough, fever, rash, vomiting, or noisy breathing. Ask the clinician to demonstrate safe saline use and suction if you are unsure. Mention premature birth, heart or lung problems, or any recent contact with an unwell person because these details can affect the assessment.