How many colds a year in babies under one is "normal"?

[AlexandraN]

Hi all,

just need a quick reality check here. DS is almost 9 months and has a cold now (runny nose, cough, no fever, eats, laughs and plays as usual). He also had a similar cold before at ~ 7 months old, for about 3 days.

It does not bother me or any health professionals I asked, but my mil is very concerned (or should I rather say absolutely mental) over it. Apparently none of her 5 children have got cold, ever (and all started talking in full sentences at 6 months, ran a marathon at 7 months and got their (first) nobel prize at 12 months). DH starts fights with me over it as he believes she knows better, I have been even accused of negligence.

Maybe I am too careless about it? So the question is: how many times did your little one have cold before 12 months? Is this recurrent cold after 2 months something to be worried about?

I am sure I read somewhere that they get on average 5 colds before they are one? Could be dreaming that but 2 certainly isn't abnormal. If anything I would say it's very good going!

I think mine had none/ small sniffle but nothing major.

However they don't attend nursery or many groups before one as we travelled a lot so not a huge amount of socialisation with other babies/ children at that point

DH starts fights with me over it as he believes she knows better, I have been even accused of negligence

I know you didn't post in relationships, but love, that's not right. He should not be accusing you of negligence and saying his mother is right - about something he clearly knows nothing about.

Colds - perfectly normal for some babies, not so common in others. A lot depends on their daily routines, who else lives in the house etc Babies with older brothers and sisters bringing manky germs home from pre-school/school often give the baby one cold after another! It's life and just a 'wee bit annoying' to have a snotty baby, it's not a big deal.

I'm worried they are making such a big deal out of it, ganging up on you and blaming you :(

Only on their second cold at 9 months? Wow, what a lovely healthy sounding baby.

The problem's not with your dc. But you mil sound bonkers. And your dh should be supporting you, not her.

By the way, once they hit nursery the average seems to be a cold about 10 times a year, so your interfering family won't know what's hit them.

Every other week was normal here... I swear DD had two months where we only had a non-snotty nose for about three days.

I am clearly neglectful. :) It's amazing DD has survived, hit all her milestones and is a perfectly happy little being.

Ignore the MIL and tell your DH to stop being an idiot.

We had about three colds before six months; poor old winter baby. I'm pretty sure they weren't due to our negligence.

A cold that is easily got over, and doesn't seem to affect him sounds like an indicator of a healthy baby.

Your husband and mother-in-law are silly.

The average child gets between 6 and 12 colds a year, and adults get 2 or 3 a year.
200 different viruses cause cold symptoms so not surprising really!

DD had one a month from 2 months.

DD is 9 months and has had a couple of sniffly episodes but nothing bad. She's about to start nursery though and from experience of DS it will be cold after cold after cold. 'Tis normal life. Don't worry!