Going home after your visit
Bronchiolitis — advice for parents and carers
How to look after your baby at home, and the warning signs to watch for.
Your baby has bronchiolitis — a common viral chest infection in babies and young children. Most are mild and get better within about 2 weeks, though the cough can linger. It is often worst around days 3–5, so keep a close eye on them.
Your care details
To be completed by the team before you leave.
this Emergency Department your nearest A&E other:
none needed
Call 999 or go to A&E now if your baby has any of these
These are signs your baby may be seriously unwell and needs help straight away.
- Pauses in their breathing, or going blue, pale or grey
- Working hard to breathe — ribs or tummy sucking in
- Nostrils flaring, or grunting with each breath
- Too breathless to feed
- Far fewer wet nappies than usual (dehydration)
- Very drowsy, floppy, or hard to wake
- A high fever, or you are very worried
CALL 999 Trust your instincts — if your baby looks very unwell, get help now.
Caring for your baby
- Offer smaller feeds more often, and keep them upright while feeding.
- Clear a blocked nose with saline drops before feeds.
- You can give paracetamol if they are distressed or feverish — use the right one for their age.
- Keep them away from cigarette smoke.
- Antibiotics do not help — bronchiolitis is caused by a virus.
- Watch their feeding, wet nappies and breathing.
What is normal
These are common with bronchiolitis and usually nothing to worry about:
A coughA runny noseA mild feverNoisy/wheezy breathingFeeding a bit less
The cough can last up to 3 weeks as they get better.
Where to get help
999
Life-threatening emergency, or a red-flag symptom above
111
Urgent but not life-threatening, or you're not sure — call or visit 111.nhs.uk, 24/7
Your team
Use the department phone in Your care details above