Colds are extremely common in children, especially during the fall and winter months. For parents, it can sometimes feel like one cold ends and another begins a few days later.

That happens because many different viruses can cause cold-like symptoms, and young children are still building immunity to them. Most colds are mild and improve on their own, but knowing what to watch for can help you keep your child comfortable and recognize when it may be time to see a healthcare provider.

What Causes a Cold?

The common cold is a viral infection that mainly affects the nose and throat.

There are many viruses that can cause cold symptoms, which is why children can become sick several times throughout the year. Colds also tend to spread more easily when people are spending more time indoors and in close contact with one another.

Colds are caused by viruses; antibiotics do not treat the common cold. Antibiotics are intended for bacterial infections and are only prescribed when a healthcare provider determines they are necessary.

How Do Colds Spread?

Cold viruses can spread very easily, particularly in homes, schools and childcare settings.

Children may become infected after being in close contact with someone who is sick or after touching contaminated objects and then touching their eyes, nose or mouth. Coughing and sneezing can also release respiratory droplets that carry viruses.

Simple habits such as regular handwashing, covering coughs and sneezes, and avoiding the sharing of cups or utensils can help reduce the spread of respiratory infections.

The Government of Canada recommends measures such as staying home when sick, cleaning frequently touched surfaces and practicing good hand hygiene to help reduce the transmission of respiratory illnesses.

Common Cold Symptoms in Children

Cold symptoms are not exactly the same for every child, but they often include:

  • Runny or stuffy nose
  • Sneezing
  • Cough
  • Sore or irritated throat
  • Mild fever
  • Headache
  • Reduced appetite
  • Tiredness or irritability

Symptoms often develop gradually rather than appearing all at once.

Most viral respiratory infections improve with time and supportive care. Some symptoms, especially coughing or nasal congestion, may linger even after your child is beginning to feel better.

Cold, Flu or Another Respiratory Infection?

A cold is generally mild, but several respiratory illnesses can produce similar symptoms.

Influenza, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), for example, can all cause symptoms such as coughing, fever and congestion.

RSV is particularly important to watch for in babies and young children because it can sometimes lead to more significant breathing problems. The Public Health Agency of Canada notes that most RSV infections are mild and resolve within one to two weeks, but certain infants and young children may be at greater risk of complications.

If your child appears unusually unwell or their symptoms seem more severe than a typical cold, it is worth having them assessed.

How to Help Your Child Feel Better

There is no instant cure for the common cold, so care usually focuses on keeping your child comfortable while their body fights the infection.

Encourage plenty of fluids

Make sure your child continues drinking regularly.

Water, milk and other age-appropriate fluids can help prevent dehydration. Younger children may prefer smaller amounts offered more frequently.

If your baby or child is refusing fluids or producing noticeably fewer wet diapers or trips to the bathroom, this may be a sign of dehydration and should be discussed with a healthcare provider.

Give them time to rest

Children may need more sleep or quiet time while they are sick.

They do not necessarily need to stay in bed throughout the day if they feel well enough to play, but avoiding strenuous activity and allowing extra rest can help them recover.

Help with nasal congestion

A stuffy nose can make sleeping, eating and feeding more difficult.

Saline nasal drops or sprays can help loosen mucus. For babies, gentle nasal suction may sometimes be useful, particularly before feeding or sleeping.

Keeping the air comfortably humid can also make a dry or irritated nose and throat feel better.

Managing Fever and Discomfort

A fever is part of the body's normal immune response to infection. Treatment is usually aimed at helping your child feel more comfortable rather than simply lowering the temperature.

Acetaminophen may be appropriate for fever or discomfort in some children. Health Canada recommends checking the product carefully and following the correct dose based on your child's weight or age. Parents should also make sure they are not giving more than one medication containing acetaminophen at the same time.

If you're unsure about the correct medication or dosage for your child, ask a physician or pharmacist before giving it.

Should Children Take Cough and Cold Medicine?

Parents should be especially careful with over-the-counter cough and cold medications.

Health Canada advises that non-prescription cough and cold medications containing certain ingredients should not be given to children younger than six years old. This recommendation is based on limited evidence that these medicines are helpful in young children, along with concerns about incorrect dosing, overdose and potentially serious side effects.

Before giving any cough or cold medication to your child, read the product label carefully and make sure it is appropriate for their age.

Also check the active ingredients. Different products can sometimes contain the same medication, which can accidentally lead to a child receiving more than the recommended amount.

Do Antibiotics Help With a Cold?

Antibiotics don't treat the viruses that cause the common cold.

In most cases, a child with a cold will recover without antibiotics. A healthcare provider may prescribe antibiotics if they diagnose a bacterial infection that has developed separately, but antibiotics should not be used simply because a child has a cough, runny nose or congestion.

Using antibiotics only when they are medically necessary is important because unnecessary antibiotic use contributes to antibiotic resistance.

When Should You Take Your Child to a Doctor?

Most colds can be managed safely at home, but some symptoms should be assessed by a healthcare professional.

Consider seeking medical attention if your child:

  • Is having difficulty breathing
  • Is breathing much faster than normal
  • Is wheezing or working hard to breathe
  • Has bluish or grey lips or skin
  • Is extremely tired, difficult to wake or unusually inactive
  • Is not drinking enough fluids
  • Shows signs of dehydration
  • Has a fever that concerns you or continues longer than expected
  • Develops significant ear pain
  • Has symptoms that are becoming worse rather than improving
  • Has a cough that is severe or persistent
  • Has symptoms lasting longer than expected without improvement

Difficulty breathing requires prompt medical attention. The Government of Canada advises calling 911 when immediate medical assistance is required.

Pay Extra Attention to Babies

Babies can become unwell more quickly than older children, so respiratory symptoms in young infants deserve additional attention.

A stuffy nose may make feeding difficult, and babies cannot tell you when they are struggling to breathe or feeling significantly worse.

Seek medical advice promptly if a baby:

  • Has difficulty breathing
  • Is feeding much less than usual
  • Is unusually sleepy or difficult to wake
  • Is vomiting repeatedly
  • Has signs of dehydration
  • Develops a fever, particularly at a very young age

When it comes to newborns and young infants, it is better to have concerning symptoms assessed sooner rather than waiting for them to become more severe.

How Can You Reduce the Spread of Colds?

It is almost impossible to prevent every cold, especially once children attend school or daycare. However, families can still reduce the chance of infections spreading.

Encourage children to:

  • Wash their hands regularly with soap and water
  • Cough or sneeze into their elbow
  • Use tissues and throw them away after use
  • Avoid sharing cups, bottles and utensils
  • Avoid touching their face unnecessarily
  • Stay home when they are feeling unwell

Parents can also regularly clean frequently touched surfaces and toys, especially when someone in the household is sick.

The Public Health Agency of Canada also recommends limiting close contact with people who are at higher risk of severe respiratory illness when someone is sick.

When You're Unsure, Get Your Child Checked

Most childhood colds improve with rest, fluids and a little time.

Still, parents should trust their instincts. If your child's symptoms seem unusual, are getting worse, or you are concerned about their breathing, fever, hydration or overall behaviour, a medical assessment can provide reassurance and help determine whether something other than a simple cold is going on.

At MedCare Clinics, our physicians can assess common childhood illnesses, including coughs, colds, fevers, sore throats and other respiratory symptoms.

Trusted Canadian Resources

For more information about children's medication safety and respiratory illnesses, you can visit:

This article is for general educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment from a qualified healthcare professional.

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