Infants have narrow noses and small chests — a simple cold can strain them, the classic example being winter viral bronchiolitis, starting as a snuffle then heaviest on days three and four. Your golden skill: telling true effort from innocent noise.

In short — what to do

  1. Clear the nose with saline drops and a suction bulb before feeds and sleep — the greatest gift to a snuffly infant.
  2. Shorter, more frequent feeds, and watch the nappies (wet = hydrated).
  3. Always sleep on the back, and an absolute smoking ban in the home.
  4. No cough or cold medicines for infants — unsafe and useless.

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Watch the bare chest and count the breaths — and film what worries you for the doctor
Watch the bare chest and count the breaths — and film what worries you for the doctor
The full details

Read the signs on the body

  • Retractions: skin pulling in between ribs, below the breastbone, or above the collarbones with each breath.
  • Nostril flaring and grunting with each breath out.
  • Very fast breathing that persists (above 60/min in a young infant) — count for 30 seconds while calm.
  • Broken feeding: letting go of breast/bottle to catch breath — an early, important effort sign.
  • Colour: pallor or blueness around the lips = maximum alarm.

Home care (mild cases)

  1. Clear the nose with saline drops and a suction bulb before feeds and sleep — the greatest gift to a snuffly infant.
  2. Shorter, more frequent feeds, and watch the nappies (wet = hydrated).
  3. Always sleep on the back, and an absolute smoking ban in the home.
  4. No cough or cold medicines for infants — unsafe and useless.

ER immediately (998) if

  • Any pause in breathing even seconds, or blue lips.
  • Clear retractions with grunting, or persistent breathing above 60–70.
  • Complete feed refusal or dry nappies, or unusual floppiness.
  • An infant under 3 months with fever ≥38° — a fixed rule without exception.

One moment

Film your infant's bare chest with your phone when worried — a 15-second video of the retractions and breathing is worth a thousand descriptions to a doctor's ear, and sometimes settles the decision remotely.

This content is for general health education only and is not medical advice. Always seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional. In an emergency, call 998.

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