Baby Hives (Urticaria)
The short answer
Hives are raised, red, itchy welts that can appear suddenly on your baby's skin. They are most often caused by a viral infection or an allergic reaction to food, medication, or an insect bite. While they can look alarming, hives are usually harmless and resolve on their own, though any breathing difficulty needs immediate emergency care.
By Age
What to expect by age
Hives in young infants are relatively uncommon but can occur. In this age group, they are most often triggered by a viral illness or, less commonly, a reaction to something in breast milk or formula. If your baby develops hives, watch closely for any signs of difficulty breathing, facial swelling, or persistent vomiting, and call your doctor promptly.
As babies begin eating solid foods, hives may appear as part of an allergic reaction to a new food. Common triggers include egg, milk, peanut, tree nuts, wheat, soy, fish, and shellfish. Hives that appear within minutes to a couple of hours after trying a new food should be reported to your pediatrician to discuss allergy testing.
Viral infections are the most common cause of hives in toddlers. It is very common for a child to develop hives during or shortly after a cold, stomach bug, or other viral illness. These viral-associated hives can come and go for days to weeks but are not dangerous. Antihistamines approved for your child's age can help with itching.
In this age group, hives can be triggered by infections, food, insect bites or stings, medications, or sometimes environmental exposures. If hives recur frequently, keeping a diary of foods, activities, and exposures before each episode can help identify patterns to discuss with your pediatrician.
What Should You Do?
When to take action
- A few scattered hives that appear during a viral illness and resolve within a day or two
- Hives that pop up, disappear, and move to different locations over the course of hours
- Mild hives that respond to an age-appropriate dose of antihistamine
- Individual hives that last less than 24 hours each, even if new ones keep appearing
- Hives appear within minutes to hours of trying a new food and you want to discuss allergy testing
- Hives are recurring frequently and you cannot identify the trigger
- Your baby is very uncomfortable from itching despite antihistamine use
- Hives persist for more than a week without a clear viral illness
- Your baby develops swelling of the lips, tongue, or face along with hives, which could indicate anaphylaxis -- call 911
- Your baby has any difficulty breathing, wheezing, or a hoarse cry along with hives -- call 911 immediately
- Your baby is vomiting repeatedly or seems limp or unusually drowsy after developing hives
Sources
Related Resources
Related Skin Concerns
Baby Acne (Neonatal Acne)
Baby acne is a very common, harmless condition that appears as small red or white bumps on your newborn's face, usually around 2-4 weeks of age. It is caused by maternal hormones still circulating in your baby's system and clears up on its own within a few weeks to months without any treatment.
Baby Blister on Lip from Nursing
A nursing blister (also called a suck callus) is a small, painless blister or thickened patch on your baby's upper lip caused by the friction of latching during breastfeeding or bottle feeding. It is completely harmless, does not hurt your baby, and does not need any treatment. These are very common in newborns and typically come and go in the early weeks.
Baby Chin Rash from Drooling
Drool rash is extremely common and appears as red, irritated, or slightly bumpy skin on the chin, cheeks, neck, and chest where drool sits. It is caused by the constant moisture and digestive enzymes in saliva irritating the skin. Keeping the area dry and applying a barrier like petroleum jelly before drool exposure is the most effective treatment.
Baby Dry Patches on Cheeks
Dry patches on your baby's cheeks are very common, especially during cold or dry weather. Baby skin is much thinner and more sensitive than adult skin and loses moisture easily. In most cases, regular application of a gentle, fragrance-free moisturizer is all that is needed. If patches are red, rough, or itchy, mild eczema may be the cause.
Baby Ingrown Toenail
Ingrown toenails are fairly common in babies and toddlers, especially on the big toe. Baby toenails are soft and can easily curve into the surrounding skin. Most mild cases improve with warm soaks and gentle care. If the toe becomes very red, swollen, or shows signs of infection, your pediatrician can help with treatment.
Baby Nail Peeling or Splitting
Peeling or splitting nails in babies are very common and usually harmless. Baby nails are extremely thin and soft, making them prone to peeling, especially from normal wear and moisture exposure. This typically improves as your child grows and their nails become stronger. Keep nails trimmed short and moisturize the nail area gently.