Babies get sick more easily than adults because their immune systems haven’t fully developed. They tend to contract illnesses more often and more severely than older children and adults. Babies can also suffer from allergies, and it can be difficult for new parents to tell if their baby is sick or simply experiencing allergies. Babies can’t tell you what the problem is, so it’s up to the parents to read the signs and figure it out for themselves. Check out this guide on how to tell if a baby has a cold or allergies.
Symptoms of an illness
Usually, babies under the age of 12 months haven’t yet developed allergies, so most symptoms will point toward a cold, which tends to exhibit symptoms more severe than those of allergies. If your baby experiences congestion, a fever, or fatigue, they probably have some sort of illness. A fever rules out allergies, since allergic reactions don’t cause fevers in children. Watch your child closely for any developments or worsening symptoms—if your baby has a fever for more than three days or if mild symptoms begin to worsen, call your pediatrician to rule out something more severe.
Symptoms of allergies
Learning how to identify the signs of seasonal allergies in your infant can be a difficult task, but knowing the most common symptoms is a great start. Babies can be allergic to a wide range of things, but the most common allergens are dust, animal dander, and outdoor elements such as pollen and grasses. These can cause itchy and watery eyes, which you can tell your baby has if they’re rubbing their eyes or if their eyes appear red. Allergies can also cause a runny nose, which you’ll also be able to notice. Cough and mild congestion are also common symptoms of allergies. If your baby has a slight cough or some mild congestion, they may be suffering from allergies. However, if the congestion is moderate or severe, it may be a sign of an illness. You may be able to relieve your baby’s discomfort with a nasal aspirator, but if you’re unsure of the best course of treatment for congestion, don’t hesitate to call your child’s pediatrician for more information.
Using these ways to tell if your baby has a cold or allergies can be tricky, but you’re not alone in your search for answers. Your child’s pediatrician is a great resource—call with any concerns or questions you may have to get the most accurate information available on any illnesses or potential allergies from which your baby may be suffering.
Such a worry when your baby is ill. Interesting post.
Nice post. This will be helpful to new moms out there who are struggling to figure out why their little ones are not comfortable or sick. Thanks for sharing.
This is so informative
That’s good to know. So far my kids seem like no allergy but knowing somethibg useful is always great! Thanks.
Very informative! It’s actually very difficult to keep calm when the baby is sick
Although I have no experience, I can only imagine how stressful it might be to experience when baby is ill. Thank you for sharing such an informative and valuable information!
Such a helpful post during a very stressful time! So hard to know with little ones.
A sick baby is so stressful. It is hard to know what to do. I am not one to run to the Dr but when they were little I did err on the side of caution and opted for the Dr
Very helpful post! Gotta share this to my friends who always get crazy when their babies are sick. 🙂
This can be a tough one! I often ask friends who have allergies, if they are feeling the effects of allergens. That is definitely helpful so that I know, since only my youngest child has allergies.
Tough one! Thanks for sharing this informative piece.
This is great advice on telling the difference between a cold and allergies! Thank you for this information!
Really informative post. Especially in the current climate. Thanks for this.
Nasal aspirator and Little Noses Saline solution are lifesavers when babies have yucky nose.
This is a great topic of discussion. Our oldest has terrible allergies, and I swore it was just a bad cold.
I wish I knew about blogging when my daughters were little, so much information now, for thee new moms.
Baby illness is always such a struggle. So stressful for the parents too!
It’s a tough when they’re little. Thank you for this great information!
Valuable information that will help moms greatly.
love this topic! every single one of them is such an important guide especially for moms. Thanks so much for sharing
This is very timely. My cousin’s baby is a bit unwell. I will share this with her.
Wonderful tips on how to tell if a baby has allergies or not. It is important to treat allergies early.
This article is really helpful and I will take note of this.
Wish I had this information when my son was a baby. I was always worried and it ended up being allergies.
This was very informative. It’s definitely a challenge to tell them apart sometimes. Thanks for sharing.
It always felt interesting for me to study the baby language. I’ve watched a few videos as well. This is an interesting read.
This will be very useful to everybody out there who are nursing a baby. Great things to share
I had an absolutely horrible cold a few months ago and nothing worked! Until I took an antihistamine one day and it was all completely gone! Allergies can be a scary thing.