Kissed 11 months old with cold sore

[Katherina198819]

I am so worried. I kissed my 11 month old’s cheek this morning, and a few minutes later I noticed something felt weird on my lips. I ran to the mirror and saw a huge cold sore. I quickly washed my baby’s face, but I’m so worried. I don’t think my cold sore touched his lips, but I can’t be sure. I’m terrified.
If he did get infected, how long would it take for symptoms to show? Has anyone’s baby ever had a cold sore this young?

Doctors only tend to worry about the cold sore virus in babies under 3 months (and mostly only in babies under a month) unless your baby has a severe underlying health problem. It would also be quite hard for the virus to infect via the skin of the cheek.

Do you worry about your baby's health a lot generally?

Babies over 6 months are less at risk of serious issues relating to cold sores so your baby being 11 months is a positive thing. It can spread from a kiss anywhere if the virus makes its way to a port of entry but it's way less likely. Chances are low but no one can say impossible. Incubation period varies something like 2-20 days so you can monitor just in case.
@OtterMummy2024 why do these threads always have the underhanded comments suggesting OP suffers from anxiety over baby's health? No one wants their baby to catch HSV-1, doesn't mean she's worrying a lot.

I have the same problem OP. I’ve only ever had 1 cold sore in my life, 5 years ago so I’d stopped worrying about them. I kissed my 8 month old last night when I put him to bed and woke up this morning with a cold sore 😩

I’m also terrified he’s accidentally going to touch it because he’s constantly grabbing at my face. I’ve bought Compeed patches to cover it and some face masks for when I need to cuddle him but I’m still so anxious

@OtterMummy2024 I usually don't. He is a healthy and happy baby. But he started nursery 2 months ago and he has been sick 3 times since (high temperature). So I'm worried his immune system is weak at the moment.

@Upinthetreetops
Exactly! I'm not overly anxious, but I think cold sore is serious - even if a baby doesn't get poorly, he will have it for life and will come back over and over again.
Also, my husband's had it when he was a small child, and he still remembers how poorly he was with it - and he was definitely much older than my 11 months old.

@polkadotpixie I'm sorry! It's so stressful! But if it helps, I did kiss my children a lot before getting a cold sore the next day. I know they say it can be contagious even days before, but thankfully, they never got it like that.
I'm worrying today as it's a huge, open, sore cold sore, so it's definitely contagious 😔

How is you little one now OP?

My mum kissed my toddler with a cold sore yesterday so I am also worrying at the moment!

OP did you have it when you were pregnant with him? If so he may have some protection from your antibodies so is less likely to catch it. Fingers crossed for you.

My little one is doing well! He’s going to be 16 months old now and has never gotten a cold sore (yet), even though both my husband and I have had them again.

I’m not sure if it’s because my cold sore didn’t come into contact with his lips, or if I just got lucky and his immune system was strong at the time—but I’m so glad he didn’t catch it!

Sorry OP I didn't realise this was an old thread. I'm so glad your son is doing well ❤️