Yes, babies can get COVID-19; watch symptoms closely, follow CDC care steps, and seek urgent help for breathing or dehydration signs.
You searched, can a baby get covid-19? You’re not alone. Many parents ask this during the first sniffle, the first fever, or after an exposure. A baby can catch the virus that causes COVID-19, and most do well with home care and close observation. The guide below explains symptoms, testing, day-by-day care, and when to call the pediatrician or head to the ER.
What This Means For Parents
Infants meet many germs in the first year. SARS-CoV-2 is one of several respiratory viruses in circulation. Even young babies can be infected through tiny droplets and hands that touch eyes, nose, or mouth. Close contact during feeding or rocking is a common route. Mild cases often look like a routine cold. Severe cases are uncommon, yet every caregiver should know the danger signs and the current return-to-routine rules.
Can A Baby Get COVID-19? Symptoms, Risks, And Fast Facts
This section gives the core details in one glance while you contact your pediatrician for tailored advice.
| Topic | What Parents Should Know | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Can babies get it? | Yes. Even newborns can be infected after contact with an infected person. | Sets care steps in motion right away. |
| Typical symptoms | Runny nose, cough, fever, poor feeding, fussiness, sleep changes. | Most cases are mild and look like a cold. |
| Emergency signs | Fast breathing, ribs pulling in, blue lips, won’t wake, no wet diapers, signs of dehydration. | Needs urgent care immediately. |
| Testing | Nasal swab antigen or PCR; ask your pediatrician about the best option and timing. | Confirms the cause and guides care. |
| Isolation/return | Stay home while sick; return when symptoms improve for 24 hours and any fever is gone without medicine. | Lowers spread to others at home and daycare. |
| Higher risk groups | Preterm infants; babies with lung, heart, or immune conditions. | Lower threshold for medical review. |
| Mask rules | Never place a mask on a child under 2 years. | Avoids suffocation risk. |
How Babies Catch COVID-19
Most infections come from an adult or older child in the household who was recently sick or exposed. The virus tends to spread most during the first few days of illness, yet shedding can start a day before symptoms. Good handwashing, opening windows, and staying home while sick cut down spread inside the house. Keep high-touch surfaces clean, share towels less, and wash hands before every feed.
Can Babies Get Covid-19? Age-By-Age Signs
Newborn To 3 Months
Young infants may show subtle signs: poor feeding, less interest in waking for feeds, fast breathing, or a low-grade fever. Call your pediatrician for any fever at this age. Dehydration can come on fast, so track wet diapers and alertness. A sleepy baby who won’t rouse for feeds needs urgent assessment.
Four To Six Months
Cough and runny nose are common. Fever appears in some cases. Sleep may be choppy. Many babies still take bottles or breastfeed well, yet some need smaller, more frequent feeds to keep fluids up. If a baby coughs to the point of vomiting, ask for a check.
Seven To Twelve Months
Expect a cold-like picture: nasal congestion, cough, fussiness, and a day or two of fever. Appetite and play may dip. Watch breathing effort and hydration. Ear infections can show up during or after a viral week, so plan a follow-up chat if pain or fever returns after a quiet day.
Day-By-Day Home Care For Mild Illness
This plan supports comfort and safety while you stay in touch with your baby’s clinician.
Day 0–1: First Symptoms Or Exposure
- Check temperature with a reliable thermometer. In infants under 3 months, any fever deserves a prompt call.
- Start gentle nasal saline and suction before feeds and sleep.
- Offer frequent breast or bottle feeds to maintain hydration.
- Keep the sick caregiver masked if possible; open windows for fresher air.
Day 2–3: Monitoring And Comfort
- Re-assess breathing. Look for flaring nostrils, ribs pulling in, grunting, or fast rate.
- Use fever reducers only if advised for your baby’s age and weight.
- Continue nasal care and extra fluids. Short, upright cuddles can ease congestion.
Day 4–5: Recheck And Plan
- If symptoms are improving and fever is gone for 24 hours without medicine, you can resume normal routines with added precautions for five days.
- If symptoms are not improving, call your pediatrician for a fresh look.
CDC’s unified respiratory virus steps outline the “stay home until improving for 24 hours, then add precautions for five days” approach; review the current language on the CDC respiratory virus page.
Testing Babies For COVID-19
Testing confirms the cause and may affect isolation rules or treatment. Many families use an antigen test for a fast answer, then a PCR if the first test is negative but symptoms match. Swabbing a tiny nose is awkward, so let your clinician show you the right technique. If the test is negative yet the baby looks worse, act on the baby, not the strip, and seek care.
Timing Tips
- Best window: within the first three days of symptoms for antigen tests; PCR detects virus a bit earlier and longer.
- After a known exposure, test the baby at the first symptoms. If all are well, you can test about day three and repeat later if symptoms start.
Feeding, Masks, And Practical Precautions
Breastfeeding is encouraged when a caregiver has COVID-19. Wash hands, wear a mask near the baby if the caregiver is sick, and clean pumps and bottles well. Guidance on the CDC breastfeeding special circumstances page backs continued feeding with simple precautions. Never place a mask on a child under age 2.
Vaccines And Babies: What Parents Should Know
COVID-19 vaccines are available for children starting at 6 months of age. Schedules can shift by season, so your pediatric team can confirm the current product and dose count. The goal is to cut the odds of severe disease and hospitalization. Families with preterm infants or babies with heart, lung, or immune problems should ask about timing and any extra doses. See CDC’s 2025–2026 vaccination guidance for the latest schedule details.
| Age | Current Approach | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6–11 months | Eligible for seasonal vaccine series per yearly guidance. | Brand and dose count vary by season. |
| 12–35 months | Eligible; product and dose count set by the season. | Ask about spacing with other shots. |
| 36–59 months | Eligible; follow the season’s schedule. | Clinic can review prior doses. |
| 5–11 years | Eligible; follow the season’s schedule. | Dose strength differs from adult. |
| Special risk | May need extra doses per clinician. | Preterm birth or complex conditions. |
For general vaccine basics and seasonal updates for families, CDC’s staying up to date page lists age cutoffs and timing and links to the child schedule.
When Care Shouldn’t Wait
Go to urgent care or the ER right away for any of the following:
- Blue or gray lips or face.
- Pauses in breathing, grunting, ribs pulling in, or fast breathing.
- Refuses to feed for multiple hours or shows no tears when crying.
- No wet diapers for eight hours, or very dark urine.
- Lethargy, hard to wake, or unusual confusion.
- Seizure, stiff neck, or a rash that spreads quickly.
- Fever under 3 months old, or any fever that worries you.
Cleaning, Air, And Household Tips
Fresh air helps. Crack windows, run a HEPA-type purifier if you have one, and space out play when multiple kids are sick at once. Keep bottles and pacifiers separate. Wash hands before every feed and after diaper changes. Wipe high-touch spots like crib rails and doorknobs. Skip scent diffusers that can irritate tiny airways.
Recovery And Follow-Through
Most infants bounce back within a week. Cough can linger a bit longer. Plan a routine well-visit after recovery to check growth and hearing if the illness was rough. If feeding slipped, add one extra feed each day for a few days and watch diaper counts rise back to normal.
Can A Baby Get COVID-19? Doctor-Ready Checklist
Use this list before you message or visit the pediatrician. It saves time and helps the team triage well.
Symptoms And Timeline
- Start date and time of first symptoms.
- Highest temperature, how measured, and medicines given with dose.
- Feeding amounts and number of wet diapers in the last 24 hours.
- Breathing pattern: any flaring, grunting, or belly pulling in.
- Any known exposure and the dates of contact.
Home Setup
- Room with good airflow and a clean, safe sleep space.
- Thermometer, bulb or electric nasal suction, saline drops, and a humidifier.
- Backup caregivers in case the primary adult becomes ill.
Testing And Follow-Up
- Antigen test result and time taken; note any PCR pending.
- Plan a check-in call if symptoms linger past a week or if new fever appears after improvement.
Two reminders before you close this page: can a baby get covid-19? Yes. Your calm, stepwise plan makes a real difference. If anything looks off, act early and call the pediatrician.