How to cope when your breastfed baby has a cold

by Cordelia Uys, NCT Breastfeeding Counsellor, December 2022

A while ago, a member of the Facebook group NWL Breastfeeding posted about her exclusively breastfed 4-month-old baby boy having a cold. Breastfeeding a baby with a cold can be particularly challenging because it’s very hard for a child to suckle at the breast if their nose is blocked.

 

This is what she wrote:

“My  4-month-old seems to have a cold, he is sneezing with increased frequency and has a cough. About 4 days ago, he started throwing up a lot of milk after breastfeeds. His temperature went up on Sunday, so I took him to the GP on Monday; he still had a temperature and was still vomiting.  The GP said the vomiting is probably happening because of him swallowing the mucus from the cold, which is irritating his tummy, causing his to vomit mucus mixed with milk.

He is mostly fine in himself, just extra irritable when tired and crying quite dramatically. He was weighed yesterday, and his weight gain is fine. He's weeing lots, he only poos every few days now (which I know can be normal in an older baby). The GP said to try feeding little and often but if not hungry, my boy is not interested at all so that doesn't work.

I'm not feeling too well myself, I'm worried that he is unwell, and I'm just exhausted from constantly changing clothes and bedding that is covered in slimy sick!! Any advice please?”

 

This was the response from the admin team:

“We’re sorry you are going through this, it’s tough when your little one has mucus affecting his feeding and making him vomit.

When a baby has a cold and temperature, the recommendation is to continue offering the breast responsively. In fact, little and often tends to work well for babies if they’re vomiting. Breastmilk will provide your baby with lots of antibodies that will help him fight the virus. It also contains painkilling properties, which will give relief if he has a sore throat, or painful cough:

https://kellymom.com/bf/can-i-breastfeed/illness-surgery/baby-illness/

And when a mother is feeling unwell, the recommendation is for her to continue breastfeeding, if she possibly can:

 https://kellymom.com/bf/can-i-breastfeed/illness-surgery/mom-illness/

 

Here’s an NHS link about how to care for a baby with a temperature:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/health/how-to-take-your-babys-temperature/

You can usually look after your baby or child at home when they have a high temperature. Make sure you give them plenty of drinks, to avoid dehydration. If you're breastfeeding, offer your baby plenty of feeds.

Always contact a GP or call 111 if:

  • your child has other signs of illness, such as a rash, as well as a high temperature

  • your baby's temperature is 38C or higher if they're under 3 months old

  • your baby's temperature is 39C or higher if they're 3 to 6 months old 

If you need to speak to someone outside normal surgery hours, you can call your GP surgery's out-of-hours service (if they have one) or NHS 111.

Here’s more information about what to do if your baby has a high temperature: 

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/fever-in-children/

Here are some home remedies you can try for both you and your baby:

  • Before a feed, shut the door to the bathroom and sit in there for a while with the hot water running from the shower or bath tap. The steam will help to loosen the mucus. This will help you too if you have a cold.

  • After spending some time in the steaming bathroom, you can use a saline spray or saline nose drops. These will help clear your baby’s airways.

  • Use a snot extractor. If you’re squeamish, don’t worry, the devise sucks in the snot, not you. Read the instructions regarding how to clean it, so it works each time; it’s a life saver.

  • Feed your baby as upright as possible. Sitting almost upright can really help when a baby is full of mucus. See this article on the baby led position: https://www.cordeliauys.co.uk/in-praise-of-the-babyled-breastfeeding-position

  • You might find a Calpol plug-in works well at night; it can be used from 12 weeks.

  •  Rubbing a little Snufflebabe vapour rub on your baby’s chest before bed should help him breathe better. 

(The above remedies will help even if a baby’s nose isn’t running.)

  • Finally, for you: if normally tolerated, have some paracetamol, which is compatible with breastfeeding, and some honey and lemon in hot water, so if you’re coming down with something you feel a bit better.


N.B. Breastfeeding mothers must avoid taking any decongestant tablets, powders, or drinks as these can significantly decrease milk supply. Well-known examples of medications which contain a decongestant are Lemsip and Sudafed.

https://www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/decongestants/#:~:text=It%20is%20recommended%20that%20breastfeeding,wakefulness%20nor%20reduce%20milk%20supply.

Products that can help when babies have a cold:

With thanks to Cina Escudero for the photos of her daughter.