09/15/2025
A great summary of bronchiolitis in babies (RSV is coming to town!)
Hate to say it, but bronchiolitis season is right around the corner. I'd love to potentially save you a trip to the doctor with the following info! 👶
If your baby less than 2 years old is battling cough, congestion, fever, rattling in the chest, and/or difficulty breathing... you are likely dealing with bronchiolitis.
Bronchiolitis is inflammation of the lower lungs caused by a VIRUS, much like the common cold. The #1 cause is RSV, but other viruses cause it too. You'll see COUGH, CONGESTION, and/or FEVER in your little ones less than 2 years old, especially throughout the fall and winter months. ❄️ Mucus runs plentiful, and noses get all plugged up. You may hear noisy breathing, wheezing, or feel “rattling” in the chest. Kids can have mucus-filled vomit and loose stools, too.
Your peanut may feel pretty miserable, but the cause is viral – antibiotics will NOT help. In fact, antibiotics may cause side-effects like diarrhea and yeast infection. 😞 Steroids, albuterol, and breathing treatments are not typically recommended either. The immune system has to do all of the work, and most kids pull through just fine without a trip to the doctor. So what can you do to ease the symptoms in the meantime!?
First use nasal saline drops or spray from your local drug store to break up the mucus. Drop/spray it into each nostril and let it sit for 30 seconds or so. Next, suction your baby’s nostrils one at a time. 👃 If using a suction bulb: First squeeze the bulb flat, then gently place into one nostril (while plugging the opposite nostril) and release the bulb to suck out the gunk. Don’t force the bulb too deep. I’d recommend suctioning at least every 2-4 hours, especially prior to feeding or sleeping. It will help them breathe much easier. For even better suction action, consider buying a suctioning device such as the NoseFrida.
Try putting a cool-mist humidifier a few feet from baby's crib to ease cough and congestion. 💨 Make sure to clean the humidifier out frequently to keep it germ-free.
Do NOT give cough medicine to children less than 6 years old – they are not approved for children this young. Plus, the cough is what prevents mucus from festering deep down in the lungs.
If your baby is having RESPIRATORY DISTRESS (flaring nostrils, bobbing of the head, sucking in between the ribs with each breath, turning blue, or breathing really fast), you need to get them to an emergency room, preferably a pediatric ER if within reasonable distance. If they simply look really sick, please bring them in. They may need fluids, oxygen, and/or breathing support. 🏥
Treat fevers if they are making your child uncomfortable. 🔥 Remember that a fever of 100.4F and above in a baby LESS than 3 months needs to be evaluated by a medical provider. However, beyond that age, fever is NOT the enemy – dehydration and respiratory distress are the enemies! Fever is simply the body’s natural way of ramping up the immune system. With that being said, it is worth a visit to the doctor's office for persistent fevers lasting longer than 4 days to rule out a secondary infection.
Speaking of dehydration, encourage plenty of fluids such as breast milk, formula, and Pedialyte – fluids are WAY more important than solid foods during times of illness. 🍼 Kids may go several days without eating solid food, and that’s actually okay as long as they’re staying hydrated. A great indicator of hydration status is urine output. If they can't drink enough fluid to urinate at LEAST 3 times per day, they need to be brought in.
You can prevent the spread of viral infections through diligent hand-washing, disinfecting hard surfaces, and avoiding sick friends and family. Try to steer clear of super crowded places and cigarette smoke. 🚭
Take-home message: When your baby is so congested that they can hardly eat or sleep, save yourself a trip to the germ-infested ER by keeping these at-home tips in mind!
