Health

Colds and coughs in children: what helps, and when should we get help?

Written by the Kids by Molliora editorial team, based on the sources below. Last updated: 5 November 2026

Short answer

A cold is an infection caused by viruses, so antibiotics do not help (1177, NHS, AAP). Most children feel better within one to two weeks (1177, NHS), but a cough after a cold can go on for several weeks (1177). Plenty to drink, rest and a raised head end of the bed help; drinking well is at least as effective as expectorant medicine (1177). Do not give honey to children under one (1177, AAP). Contact a health centre if a fever lasts more than four days, if breathing wheezes or whistles, or if a cough lasts more than four weeks without easing (1177). Call 112 if your child has difficulty breathing and blue lips (1177).

Question	What applies	Source
How often do children get colds?	10–15 colds a year is common in the first years of life. From about age 10, 5–10 a year, like adults. The AAP gives around 8–10 colds in the first two years.	1177, AAP
How long does a cold last?	Usually one to two weeks. Children often feel most ill for the first two days. The AAP says symptoms should fade slowly after 7–10 days.	1177, NHS, AAP
How long can the cough last?	Often several weeks after a cold (1177). The NHS says a cough usually clears up within 3–4 weeks.	1177, NHS
Do antibiotics help?	No. Colds are caused by viruses, and antibiotics do not work on viruses.	1177, NHS, AAP
Cough medicine?	Several studies show no proven effect of over-the-counter cough medicine (1177). Ask a doctor first if your child is under two or has asthma (1177). Sources set different age limits (see below).	1177, AAP, NHS
Honey for the cough?	Never under one year. From one year it may soothe; the AAP suggests 2–5 ml as needed. The NHS says the evidence is limited. Brush teeth afterwards.	1177, AAP, NHS
Back to school?	When your child has the energy for a whole day with the usual activities and has been fever-free for a day without fever-reducing medicine. A little runny nose or a mild cough is fine.	1177
When to call 112?	If your child has difficulty breathing and blue lips, or has got something stuck in the airways.	1177

What is a cold?

A cold is an infection in the upper airways, mainly the nose. Several hundred types of virus can cause it (1177). It spreads easily, especially in the first days, through small droplets when someone sneezes or coughs, and via hands and toys (1177). Germs from coughs and sneezes can live on hands and surfaces for 24 hours (NHS).

Common symptoms: blocked or runny nose, sneezing, a mild headache, fever, a mild cough and a sore or irritated throat (1177). The NHS also lists a hoarse voice and feeling tired.
Snot changes colour: it is clear at first and then gets thicker, and can be grey, yellow or green (1177). Yellow or green mucus does not necessarily mean a bacterial infection (AAP).
Cold or flu? A cold comes on gradually and mainly affects the nose and throat. Flu comes on quickly, within a few hours, and usually makes you exhausted and too unwell to carry on as normal (NHS).

Why does the cough hang on?

Coughing is part of the body's defence: it clears away what irritates the airways, so it should not be suppressed unnecessarily (1177). The cough can carry on after the cold has gone because the airways are still sensitive (1177).

More coughing when active: children who move around a lot may cough more without it meaning they are ill again (1177).
Things that irritate: smoke from fires and tobacco, vaping, pets, strong smells and cooking can irritate the airways (1177). Keep your child away from smoky places, because smoke makes a cough worse (1177).
Long-lasting cough: a cough that goes on for more than four weeks often has a cause other than an infection, for example asthma (1177).
Sudden, violent cough: this can mean your child has got something stuck in the throat (1177).

The 1177 advice on coughs is written for children up to about 12 years.

What helps at home

Plenty to drink: water, squash or cool tea, whatever your child likes. Drinks make mucus less sticky and easier to cough up, and warm drinks can soothe the throat. Drinking well is at least as effective as expectorant medicine (1177). Children with a fever need to drink more than usual (1177).
Rest: rest and fluids help the body recover (NHS, AAP).
Raise the head end of the bed: put extra pillows under the mattress so they do not slip away (1177). Sleeping with the head higher reduces swelling in the nose (1177).
Saline nose drops: they thin mucus and can be used as much and as long as needed (1177). They are sold at pharmacies, and the AAP also recommends them.
Decongestant nasal spray: only for a limited time, because longer use can make the nose more blocked. 1177 says no more than ten days in a row; the NHS says no more than a week. Different products are approved from different ages, so read the pack and ask a pharmacist (1177).
Warm steam, safely: sitting in the bathroom with a hot shower running can ease a blocked nose. Never let children breathe steam from a bowl of hot water, because of the risk of scalding (NHS).
Pain and fever relief: fever helps the body fight the virus, so there is no need to treat it if your child is otherwise fine. Over-the-counter medicine can help if your child is miserable or cannot settle, at the dose on the pack (1177). Read more in our fever guide.
Supplements: there is little evidence that vitamin C, echinacea or garlic prevent colds or help you get better faster (NHS).

Cough medicine and honey: sources differ

Cough medicine: according to several studies, over-the-counter cough medicines have no proven effect, although some people feel they help (1177). Do not give cough medicine to children under two, or to children with asthma, without first asking a doctor (1177). The AAP says over-the-counter cough and cold medicine is not recommended under four, should only be used at ages 4–6 if a doctor recommends it, and can be used from six by following the pack. The NHS says some cough medicines should not be given to children under 12.
Honey: never give honey to a child under one (1177, AAP, NHS). For children aged one and older, the AAP suggests 2–5 ml of honey as needed and says research shows it works better than shop-bought cough syrups for night-time coughing. The NHS says the evidence for honey is limited. 1177 says honey is sometimes recommended and reminds you to brush your child's teeth, because honey can cause tooth decay.
In short: for a school-age child, drinks and honey are a reasonable first step. Ask a pharmacist before buying cough medicine, and follow the age limit on the pack.

Stopping the spread, and going back to school

Wash hands often, yours and your child's, before and after every meal (1177).
Sneeze into the elbow instead of straight out or into the hand (1177, AAP). Use tissues and throw them away quickly (NHS).
Keep hands away from the nose and eyes, where viruses most easily get in (1177). Do not share towels, cups or toys with someone who has a cold (NHS).
Go outdoors, also in winter: viruses spread more easily indoors (1177).
No smoke at home: children who breathe in tobacco smoke get more airway infections (1177).
Back to school: when your child has the energy for a whole day with the usual activities and has been fever-free for a day without fever-reducing medicine. A little runny nose or a mild cough is fine (1177). Read more in our guide on sick days and school.

The flu vaccine does not prevent colds (NHS).

Try this week

Teach everyone at home to sneeze and cough into the elbow, and practise it together (1177, AAP).
Put a pillow under the head end of the mattress before bedtime when your child has a night-time cough (1177).
Check the age limit and the dose on any nose spray or cough medicine you already have at home, before anyone is ill.

When to get help

Most children with a cold do not need care, because it passes on its own (1177). What matters most is how your child is otherwise, not just the cough (1177). Call 1177 for advice on symptoms and where to seek care.

Contact a health centre or out-of-hours clinic as soon as possible if your child (1177):

has had a fever for more than four days, or has had a cough with fever for more than four days
gets a fever again after a couple of fever-free days
gets new symptoms from the ears, throat, airways or sinuses
wheezes or whistles when breathing

Contact a health centre if a cough has lasted more than four weeks and does not seem to be easing (1177). The NHS sets this limit at three weeks. If you are worried about your child, get advice (NHS).

Seek care at once at a health centre or out-of-hours clinic, or at A&E if they are closed, if your child has a cough and (1177):

seems very ill, for example is less responsive than usual, uninterested in what is going on, or does not have the energy to eat
has difficulty swallowing their saliva and is drooling

Call 112 at once if your child has difficulty breathing and blue lips, or has got something stuck in the airways (1177).