What to Do When Your Baby Has a Sore Throat

Some at-home measures that can help ease your baby’s sore throat include using a humidifier, gentle suction, or chilled liquids. If these approaches don’t provide relief, your pediatrician may suggest additional treatment options.

It’s the middle of the night and your infant is fussy, seems to be having trouble feeding and swallowing, and their cry sounds hoarse or scratchy. You suspect a sore throat and worry it might be something more serious, such as strep throat or tonsillitis.

Sore or scratchy throats in infants are seldom an immediate medical emergency, but they can be unsettling for both new and experienced caregivers. The first step is to monitor your baby’s symptoms closely.

Tell your baby’s pediatrician about all the symptoms you’re seeing. Providing a complete picture will help the clinician decide whether your baby needs to be seen in person or can be cared for at home with rest.

when to Seek emergency helpSeek urgent medical attention right away if your baby is struggling to breathe or swallow.

Frequent reasons babies develop a sore throat

There are several common reasons a baby might have a sore throat.

Common cold

Viral infections like the common cold are a frequent cause of sore throats in infants. Typical cold signs include a runny or congested nose, which often accompany throat discomfort.

As their immune systems mature, infants can experience up to seven colds  in their first year.

If you think your baby has a cold, consider keeping them home from daycare if:

• They have a fever. A common guideline—and the policy at many childcare centers—is to keep your baby home while febrile and for 24 hours after the fever resolves.
• They appear very uncomfortable. If your baby is unusually inconsolable or not their normal self, it’s sensible to keep them home.

If your child attends daycare, check the facility’s policies, as they may have additional rules about when to keep children home.

Tonsillitis

Babies can develop tonsillitis, which is inflammation of the tonsils, most often from a viral infection.

If your infant has tonsillitis, they may be reluctant to feed and could:

• have trouble swallowing
• drool more than usual
• have a fever
• produce a hoarse or scratchy cry

Your pediatrician might recommend infant acetaminophen or ibuprofen for discomfort or fever. If your baby has started solids, offer soft, easy-to-swallow foods.

Use the same daycare exclusion guidelines as you would for a cold when deciding whether to keep your child home.

Hand, foot, and mouth disease

Hand, foot, and mouth disease, caused by several viruses, commonly affects children under 5. Symptoms can include fever, sore throat, and painful mouth lesions, which may make swallowing difficult.

You may also notice a rash with red bumps and blisters on the hands, feet, mouth, or buttocks.

Treatment is typically supportive: fluids, rest, and infant acetaminophen or ibuprofen for fever or pain as advised by your pediatrician.

This illness is highly contagious. Keep your child out of daycare until the rash heals, which can take 7–10 days. Even if they seem better after a few days, they may still spread the virus until lesions have resolved.

Strep throat

Strep throat is a bacterial form of tonsillitis. Although it’s uncommon in children younger than 3, it remains a possible cause of throat pain.

Signs of strep in infants may include fever, very red tonsils, and swollen lymph nodes in the neck.

If you suspect strep throat, contact your pediatrician. They can perform a throat swab or culture and prescribe antibiotics when appropriate.

When to contact your baby’s pediatrician

If your baby is under 3 months, call the pediatrician at the first indication of a sore throat—such as refusing feeds or persistent fussiness after feeding. Newborns and very young infants have immature immune systems, so their clinician may want to assess or monitor them.

If your baby is older than 3 months, call the pediatrician if they have a sore or scratchy throat plus any of the following:

• a temperature over 100.4°F (38°C)
• a persistent cough
• An unusual or concerning cry
• fewer wet diapers than normal
• signs of ear pain
• a rash on the hands, mouth, torso, or buttocks

Your pediatrician can advise whether your baby should be seen in person or managed at home with rest and remedies, and how long they might need to be excluded from childcare.

Always get emergency medical care right away if your baby is having trouble swallowing or breathing, or if they have excessive drooling, which could signal swallowing difficulty.

How to care for a baby’s sore throat at home

Several home strategies may ease throat discomfort for an infant.

Humidifier

Using a cool-mist humidifier in the nursery can help relieve throat irritation and ease breathing if your baby’s nose is blocked.

Place the humidifier out of your baby’s reach but close enough for the room to benefit. Avoid hot-steam vaporizers, which can cause burns. Clean and dry the unit daily to prevent mold or bacterial growth, which could make your child sicker.

You can use a humidifier while symptoms persist, and check with your pediatrician if there’s no improvement after several days.

Shop for cool-mist humidifiers online.

Suction (for ages 3 months to 1 year)

Infants can’t blow their noses, so using a bulb suction device can remove nasal mucus. Saline drops can loosen secretions to make suctioning easier and more effective.

Shop for infant suction bulbs online.

Frozen liquids (for older infants)

If your baby is already eating solids, you might offer a frozen treat to soothe the throat, such as frozen formula or breast milk in a baby Popsicle mold. Supervise closely to ensure they don’t choke.

Shop for infant Popsicle molds online.

Can I give my baby honey water?

Do not give honey to babies under 1 year. Honey can cause infant botulism, so avoid honey water or any honey-containing remedies for infants.

Will my baby need medication?

Treatment depends on the cause. For sore throats from viral colds, medication is often unnecessary unless there’s a fever.

Keep your baby comfortable with a cool-mist humidifier and offer frequent breast milk or formula to maintain hydration until symptoms improve.

If a bacterial infection like strep is diagnosed, the pediatrician may prescribe antibiotics.

Is over-the-counter medicine safe for babies?

OTC cold and cough medicines are not recommended for infants; they don’t cure viral symptoms and can sometimes cause harm.

The exception is fever management: for babies over 3 months, ask your pediatrician about using acetaminophen or ibuprofen and the correct dosing.

Is Benadryl safe to help my baby sleep?

Only use diphenhydramine (Benadryl ) if it’s specifically recommended by your pediatrician. It’s generally not considered safe for infants.

Recovery timeline

When the cause is a cold, most babies recover within 7–10 days. Recovery may take a bit longer with hand, foot, and mouth disease, tonsillitis, or strep throat.

Keep your pediatrician apprised of your baby’s progress and contact them if symptoms don’t improve after several days.

Ways to reduce the risk of future sore throats

While you can’t prevent every sore throat—especially those due to colds—these steps can lower the chance of your baby getting sick:

• limit contact with people who have cold or throat symptoms
• avoid crowded public transport or gatherings with a newborn when possible
• clean your baby’s toys and pacifiers frequently
• wash your hands before handling or feeding your baby

Adults can catch colds from infants, so practice good hand hygiene and teach household members to cough or sneeze into their elbow or into a tissue that’s immediately discarded.

For related guidance on symptoms in infants, you might also find information about sore throat and diarrhea together helpful, and for home remedies see notes on apple cider vinegar for a sore throat.

The bottom line

Monitor your baby’s symptoms and inform the pediatrician. They can advise whether an office visit is needed or if home care and rest are appropriate.

Most babies recover within 7–10 days, though you may need to keep them home from childcare for part of that time—check with the daycare and your pediatrician about how long. Once fully recovered, your baby can resume normal activities, from stroller walks to playing with siblings.