Baby Hives: Causes, What They Look Like and When to Call the Doctor
Hives in babies can look alarming, but they are often caused by a viral infection and clear on their own. Because infants cannot tell you how they feel, any hives with fussiness, vomiting or breathing changes should be checked quickly.
What Baby Hives Look Like
Raised pink or red welts, sometimes with pale centers, that appear and fade over hours and can move around the body. Babies may be fussy or scratch less obviously than older children. Some infants have ring-shaped welts; see urticaria multiforme.
Common Causes
- Viral infections, the most common trigger
- New foods, especially around the time solids are introduced
- Medicines such as antibiotics
- Insect bites
- Heat or friction
See also viral hives.
Safe Care at Home
- Call your pediatrician before giving any medicine to a baby.
- Use a cool, damp cloth on itchy areas.
- Dress your baby in loose cotton.
- Keep nails short.
- Note any new foods or medicines.
Never give over-the-counter antihistamines to infants without doctor guidance.
Baby Hives vs Other Rashes
Eczema is dry, scaly and persistent; heat rash is tiny pinpoint bumps; hives are raised welts that move. See hives vs rash.
When to Call 911
Call 911 or go to the emergency room right away if your child has hives along with trouble breathing, wheezing, swelling of the lips, tongue or face, repeated vomiting, unusual sleepiness or floppiness, pale or bluish skin, or seems seriously unwell. Hives in a young child can be a sign of a severe allergic reaction.
When to See a Doctor
See a doctor if your symptoms last more than a few days, keep coming back, cover large areas, or interfere with sleep or daily life. Dr. Tiffany Young and the Hives Treatment Center in San Francisco provide online and in-person care for baby hives.
Frequently Asked Questions About Baby Hives
Are baby hives an allergy?
Sometimes, but viruses are a more common cause.
How long do baby hives last?
Individual welts fade in hours; episodes may last days.
Can breastfed babies get hives?
Yes. Occasionally a food in mom’s diet is involved, but check with your pediatrician before dietary changes.
Get Relief for Your Hives
Your pediatrician can help find the cause of hives in a baby. Visit our hives treatment page to see the latest treatment options for your outbreak.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you think you are having a medical emergency, call 911.
