Paediatric nurse Chris Newland has explained why it may seem like your toddler is constantly battling a cough and runny nose – and when to take immediate action
17:03, 26 Oct 2026Updated 17:52, 26 Oct 2026
It may seem like one cold after the other right now(Image: Getty Images)
If you have a little one at nursery – you’ll know all too well how often a virus sneaks into your household. It can be frustrating to overcome an illness, only to go through the entire process again a few days later.
It happens frequently among youngsters who have developing immune systems and still learning to recognise hundreds of new viruses. That said, if you have a child in nursery it feels almost like every other day there’s another bug in the house. Now a paediatric nurse revealed why it seems that way – and when to address it.
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Always trust your instincts and seek professional help if something isn’t right(Image: Getty Images)
Chris Newland, a paediatric advanced nurse practitioner working in primary care, shared the advice with his 7,000 followers. He said: “Is your toddler at nursery and it feels like they just permanently have a cough and a snotty nose?
“Well, here’s what might be going on and when to get checked… So your toddler’s at nursery and they’re just getting one cold after another. This is actually a really common story I hear from parents at my clinic.
“And when you think about it, you’ve got these tiny people running around, mixing together at nursery, having a grand old time, covering themselves and each other in snot, spit and mucus.
“So partially, this is their immune system experiencing these viruses for the first time. And research suggests that children this age typically can get around a dozen colds a year, which is why it feels like they’re just getting one cold after the other.”
Content cannot be displayed without consentHow long does a typical cold last?
According to the health expert, a typical cold could last roughly between seven to 10 days, with a cough and runny nose frequently being the primary symptoms.
While the runny nose may clear up, the cough might carry on lingering for up to a fortnight longer, and just like that you’re dealing with a snotty child once more, indicating a fresh virus has taken hold.
He said NHS advice states most coughs should clear within three to four weeks. If they’re eating, drinking and playing as normal, then there’s nothing to really worry about.
However, if it carries on longer than three weeks and keeps coming back, then it’s time to act. He continued: “[If] the cough just keeps coming back, it’s frequently waking them up at night or making them vomit. They just don’t seem right in themselves. They’re not growing or putting on weight as you would expect or you just have concerns.
“And you can always call 111 for advice if you’re worried. A baby under six months of age, if they have a cough, any difficulty in feeding, you’re going to have a low threshold for getting them checked over by your GP or getting urgent advice from 111.”
Chris urged parents to act immediately if they spot any difficulty in their toddler’s breathing or notice discolouration around the lips and sucking in at the throat, between the ribs or below the area.
Calling it a “medical emergency,” he advised parents to call an ambulance and get them to the emergency department without any delay.
“Most importantly, you know your child better, if you feel there’s something not quite right, get them checked over,” he concluded.
As a parent, it’s crucial to always trust your instincts. If you feel like something isn’t right, or your child is behaving any differently, see professional advice urgently.
You can ring 111 for advice, or 999 if it’s an emergency. Alternatively, take them to A&E for urgent care.