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Bronchiolitis is an infection that causes the small airways in your child’s lungs to become swollen. This can make it more difficult for your child to breathe.

  • Bronchiolitis affects children under the age of 2. It is caused by a virus, often the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).
  • The number of children with RSV is usually highest in winter but bronchiolitis can happen at any time of year.
  • Bronchiolitis usually causes cold like symptoms and mild breathing difficulty. Breathing may be faster than normal as well as noisy and your child may not be able to take their usual amount of milk by breast or bottle.
  • Your child may get a little worse each day until the 3rd or 4th day of their illness after which they are likely to start improving.
  • Most children get better on their own. There are no medical treatments that speed up recovery from bronchiolitis. Many children will continue to cough for a few weeks afterwards.

Some children, especially those under 6 weeks of age or young children with heart or lung problems, can develop worse breathing difficulty and may need to go to hospital for help supporting their breathing and feeding.

Please see Red-Amber-Green tables for advice on when and where to seek care for your child.

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When should you worry?

Newborn

NEWBORN

Contact your health visitor or GP if your baby is newborn and they…

  • Feel very stiff, for example:
    • Hold their arms and legs in the same position, such as always pulling their arm into their chest, or always crossing their legs 
    • Find it difficult to change their position on their own 
    • You may also find it difficult to move your baby’s arms or legs, making it tricky to change their nappy or clothes
  • Feel very floppy, or have floppy arms or legs when awake
  • Move their arms and legs in repetitive jerky movements, or writhing movements
  • Don’t have a Grasp Reflex (doesn’t grab your finger or small object when you put it in their hand)
  • Are often startling and you cannot understand why
  • Move one side of their body more than the other, for example:
    • Rarely moves one of their arms compared to the other arm
    • Rarely moves one leg compared to the other leg
    • When your baby startles, one side moves or looks different from the other

6-8 weeks 

6-8 WEEKS

Contact your health visitor or GP if your baby is 6-8 weeks and they…

  • Feel very stiff, for example:
    • Hold their arms and legs in the same position, such as always pulling their arm into their chest, or always crossing their legs 
    • Find it difficult to change their position on their own
    • You may also find it difficult to move your baby’s arms or legs, making it tricky to change their nappy or clothes
  • Feel very floppy, or have floppy arms or legs when awake
  • Move their arms and legs in repetitive jerky movements, or writhing movements
  • Have not started to bring both their hands to their face, or do not move their arms much
  • Keep their hands fisted, and you find it difficult to open their hands
  • Can’t lift their head when lying on their tummy
  • Move one side of their body more than the other, for example:
    • Mostly moves one arm or mostly brings one hand to their face
    • Rarely kicks or moves one leg compared to the other leg

2-3 months

2-3 MONTHS

Contact your health visitor or GP if your baby is 2-3 months and they…

  • Feel very stiff, for example:
    • Hold their arms and legs in the same position, such as always pulling their arm into their chest, or always crossing their legs
    • Find it difficult to change their position on their own
    • You may also find it difficult to move your baby’s arms or legs, making it tricky to change their nappy or clothes
  • Feel very floppy, or have floppy arms or legs when awake
  • Move their arms and legs in repetitive jerky movements, or writhing movements
  • Have not started to bring both their hands to their face, or do not move their arms much
  • Keep their hands fisted, and you find it difficult to open their hands
  • Can’t lift their head when lying on their tummy
  • Move one side of their body more than the other, for example:
    • Mostly moves one arm or mostly brings one hand to their face
    • Rarely kicks or moves one leg compared to the other leg

3-4 months

3-4 MONTHS

Contact your health visitor or GP if your baby is 3-4 months and they…

  • Have lost skills which they could do before
  • Feel very stiff, for example:
    • Hold their arms and legs in the same position, such as always pulling their arm to their chest, or always crossing their legs
    • Find it difficult to change their position on their own
    • You find it difficult to move your baby’s arms or legs, making it tricky to change their nappy or clothes
  • Feel very floppy when awake
  • Prefer to keep their arms by their sides. For example, they do not reach for things, or do not bring their hands together over their face or tummy
  • Move their arms or legs in repetitive, jerky, or strange ways
  • Still need you to support their head, or can’t lift their head when lying on their tummy 
  • Have very tight fists and it’s hard to open their hand
  • Move one side of their body more than the other, for example:
    • Rarely use one of their arms to pick up toys 
    • Rarely kick one leg compared to the other

4-6 months

4-6 MONTHS

Contact your health visitor or GP if your baby is 4-6 months and they…

  • Have lost skills which they could do before
  • Feel very stiff, for example:
    • Hold their arms and legs in the same position, such as always pulling their arm to their chest, or always crossing their legs
    • Find it difficult to change their position on their own
    • You find it difficult to move your baby’s arms or legs, making it tricky to change their nappy or clothes
  • Feel very floppy when they are awake
  • Move their arms or legs in repetitive, jerky, or strange ways
  • Move one side of their body more than the other, for example:
    • Rarely use one of their arms to pick up toys 
    • Rarely kick one leg compared to the other
  • Are unable to roll, or can roll in one direction but not the other
  • Find it difficult to reach their arms out. For example, they do not reach for toys
  • Still have their early reflexes, like the startle reflex and grasp reflex
  • Keep their legs flat when lying on their back. For example, they do not bring their feet to their chest
  • Still need you to support their head

6-9 months

6-9 MONTHS

Contact your health visitor or GP if your baby is 6-9 months and they…

  • Have lost skills which they could do before
  • Feel very stiff, for example:
    • Hold their arms and legs in the same position, such as always pulling their arm to their chest, or always crossing their legs
    • Find it difficult to change their position on their own
    • You find it difficult to move your baby’s arms or legs, making it tricky to change their nappy or clothes
  • Feel very floppy when they are awake
  • Move their arms or legs in repetitive, jerky or strange ways
  • Move one side of their body more than the other, for example:
    • Rarely use one of their arms to pick up toys, or eat and drink
    • Rarely kick one leg compared to the other
  • Can’t sit without support. For example, they lean on their hand, or, when they sit, their back is very curved
  • Still have their early reflexes, like the startle reflex and grasp reflex
  • Keep their legs flat when lying on their back, for example, do not bring their feet to their chest
  • Still need you to support their head
  • Still need you to help turn their head when lying on their back
  • Can’t crawl, or find it hard, for example, drags one of their legs behind them
  • Find it difficult to stand, for example:
    • Can’t stand with support 
    • Doesn’t try to pull themselves up to stand
  • Can’t move a toy from one hand to the other
  • Doesn’t use both hands to hold larger things

9-12 months

9-12 MONTHS

Contact your health visitor or GP if your baby is 9-12 months and they…

  • Have lost skills which they could do before
  • Feel very stiff, for example:
    • Hold their arms and legs in the same position, such as always pulling their arm to their chest, or always crossing their legs
    • Find it difficult to change their position on their own 
    • You find it difficult to move your baby’s arms or legs, making it tricky to change their nappy or clothes
  • Feel very floppy when they are awake
  • Move their arms and legs in repetitive, jerky, or strange ways
  • Use one side of their body more than the other, for example:
    • Lean to the side when they sit
    • Use one arm to pull to stand more than the other
    • Rarely use one of their arms to pick up toys, or eat and drink. 
    • Rarely kick one leg compared to the other 
  • Find it difficult to sit, for example:
    • Only sit with support
    • Lean on their hand when sitting
    • When they sit their back is very curved
  • Can’t move a toy from one hand to the other
  • Don’t use both hands to hold larger things
  • Don’t point to objects
  • Can’t crawl, or find it hard, for example, drags one leg behind them
  • Find it difficult to stand, for example:
    • Can’t pull themselves up to stand
    • Find it hard to pull themselves up. For example, they only use their arms and don’t push with their legs
    • Can’t stand with support

2 months

Your Baby By Two Months

Social/Emotional Milestones

  • Calms down when spoken to or picked up
  • Looks at your face
  • Seems happy to see you when you walk up to her
  • Smiles when you talk to or smile at her

Language/Communication Milestones

  • Makes sounds other than crying
  • Reacts to loud sounds

Cognitive Milestones (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

  • Watches you as you move
  • Looks at a toy for several seconds

Movement/Physical Development Milestones

  • Holds head up when on tummy
  • Moves both arms and both legs
  • Opens hands briefly

4 months

Your Baby By Four Months

Social/Emotional Milestones

  • Smiles on his own to get your attention
  • Chuckles (not yet a full laugh) when you try to make him laugh
  • Looks at you, moves, or makes sounds to get or keep your attention

Language/Communication Milestones

  • Makes sounds like “oooo”, “aahh” (cooing)
  • Makes sounds back when you talk to him
  • Turns head towards the sound of your voice

Cognitive Milestones (learning, thinking, problem-solving

  • If hungry, opens mouth when he sees breast or bottle
  • Looks at her hands with interest

Movement/Physical Development Milestones

  • Holds head steady without support when you are holding him
  • Holds a toy when you put it in his hand
  • Uses his arm to swing at toys
  • Brings hands to mouth
  • Pushes up onto elbows/forearms when on tummy

6 months

Your Baby By Six Months

Social/Emotional Milestones

  • Knows familiar people
  • Likes to look at self in a mirror
  • Laughs

Language/Communication Milestones

  • Takes turns making sounds with you
  • Blows “raspberries” (sticks tongue out and blows)
  • Makes squealing noises

Cognitive Milestones (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

  • Puts things in her mouth to explore them
  • Reaches to grab a toy she wants
  • Closes lips to show she doesn’t want more food

Movement/Physical Development Milestones

  • Rolls from tummy to back
  • Pushes up with straight arms when on tummy
  • Leans on hands to support herself when sitting

9 months

Your Baby By Nine Months

Social/Emotional Milestones

  • Is shy, clingy, or fearful around strangers
  • Shows several facial expressions, like happy, sad, angry, and surprised
  • Looks when you call her name
  • Reacts when you leave (looks, reaches for you, or cries)
  • Smiles or laughs when you play peek-a-boo

Language/Communication Milestones

  • Makes a lot of different sounds like “mamamama” and “bababababa”
  • Lifts arms up to be picked up

Cognitive Milestones (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

  • Looks for objects when dropped out of sight (like his spoon or toy)
  • Bangs two things together

Movement/Physical Development Milestones

  • Gets to a sitting position by herself
  • Moves things from one hand to her other hand
  • Uses fingers to “rake” food towards himself
  • Sits without support

1 year

Your Baby By One Year

Social/Emotional Milestones

  • Plays games with you, like pat-a-cake

Language/Communication Milestones

  • Waves “bye-bye”
  • Calls a parent “mama” or “dada” or another special name
  • Understands “no” (pauses briefly or stops when you say it)

Cognitive Milestones (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

  • Puts something in a container, like a block in a cup
  • Looks for things he sees you hide, like a toy under a blanket

Movement/Physical Development Milestones

  • Pulls up to stand
  • Walks, holding on to furniture
  • Drinks from a cup without a lid, as you hold it
  • Picks things up between thumb and pointer finger, like small bits of food
RED
RED

If your child has any of the following:

  • Breathing very fast or breathing that stops or pauses
  • Makes a grunting noise every time they breathe out
  • A harsh noise as they breathe in (stridor) present all of the time (even when they are not upset)
  • Becomes pale, blue, mottled and / or unusually cold to touch
  • Difficult to wake up, very sleepy or confused
  • Weak, high-pitched, continuous cry or can’t be settled
  • Has a fit (seizure)
  • Is under 3 months old with temperature more than 38°C or under 36°C (unless fever in the 48 hours following vaccinations and no other red or amber features)
  • Has a rash that does not go away with pressure (the glass test)

You need urgent help

Go to the nearest Hospital Emergency (A&E) Department or phone 999 - consider using ‘What 3 words’ to best describe location to ambulance service

AMBER
AMBER

If your child has any of the following:

  • Working hard to breathe, drawing in of the muscles below the ribs 
  • A harsh noise as they breathe in (stridor) only when upset
  • Dry skin, lips or tongue
  • Not had a wee or wet nappy in last 8 hours
  • Poor feeding in babies (less than half of their usual amount)
  • Irritable (Unable to settle them with toys, TV, food or hugs even after their fever has come down)
  • Is 3-6 months old with temperature 39oC or above (unless fever in the 48 hours following vaccinations and no other red or amber features)
  • Temperature of 38oC or above for more than 5 days or shivering with fever(rigors)
  • Temperature less than 36°C in those over 3 months
  • Getting worse and I am still worried

You need to contact a doctor or nurse today.

Please contact your GP surgery or call NHS 111 - dial 111.

If symptoms persist for 4 hours or more and you have not been able to speak to either a member of staff from your GP practice or to NHS 111 staff, recheck that your child has not developed any red features.

AMBER
AMBER
Green
Green

If your child has none of the above

  • Watch them closely for any change and look out for any red or amber symptoms
  • Additional advice is also available for families for help cope with crying in otherwise well babies
  • If your child has a long term condition or disability and you are worried please contact your regular team or follow any plans that they have given you.

Self care

Continue providing your child’s care at home. If you are still concerned about your baby, speak to your health visitor, local pharmacist or call NHS 111– dial 111

For parents from ethnic minority groups, you can contact the Barnado's Boloh advisors who can provide practical advice and support in many different languages. Call 0800 151 2605 or visit our web chat function.

Self care and Prevention

What can you do?
  • Most babies and children can be safely cared for at home.
  • Bronchiolitis can get worse before it starts to get better. Babies and children are often most poorly on day 5 of the illness then start to get better. 
  • Keep a close eye on your baby's breathing and feeding. If you have any new concerns, please look at our red/amber/green table again.
  • If your child is not feeding as normal, offer smaller feeds more often.
  • Children with bronchiolitis may have some distress and discomfort. You may wish to give either Paracetamol or Ibuprofen to make them feel better (Paracetamol can be given from 2 months of age). Please read and follow the instructions on the medicine container.
  • Bronchiolitis is caused by a virus so antibiotics generally don’t help. 
  • Keep your baby’s sleep surface flat. Do not incline, tilt or prop the mattress, cot or baby unless advised by a health care professional.
  • Avoid co-sleeping with your baby if they are unwell with bronchiolitis or a respiratory tract infection. For more information, see our safe sleeping page.
  • Avoid exposure to tobacco smoke which makes their breathing worse. Remember that smoke stays on your clothes even if you smoke outside.
  • If you would like help to give up smoking you can get information and advice from your local GP surgery or by calling the National Stop Smoking Helpline Tel: 0300 123 1044 from 7am to 11pm every day. 
How long does bronchiolitis last?

Babies are usually unwell for 5 to 10 days. Most will get better within two weeks. Babies may still have a cough for up to 4 weeks afterwards and this is completely normal.

Your child can go back to nursery as soon as you feel they are well enough. Bronchiolitis does not normally cause long term problems for your child.

Video Showcase

Bronchiolitis - English

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Bronchiolitis - Gujarati

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Bronchiolitis - Polish

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Bronchiolitis - Punjabi

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Bronchiolitis - Urdu

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Bronchiolitis - Bengali

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Bronchiolitis Advice

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