Raised, pink, itchy welts appear on your baby’s skin, sometimes moving from one place to another within hours. Hives, or urticaria, can look dramatic, but they are common and usually harmless. Understanding hives in babies helps you find the likely trigger, soothe the itch and recognise the rare signs of a serious allergic reaction.
Quick answer: hives in babies
- Looks like: raised pink or red welts, sometimes with pale centres, that come and go within hours.
- Most common trigger in babies: viral infections; also foods, medicines, insect bites, heat or cold.
- Usually settle within a few hours to a few days.
- Call emergency services if hives come with swelling of the lips or tongue, breathing difficulty or floppiness.
Common triggers
- Viral infections such as colds, often the most common cause in young children
- Foods: milk, egg, peanut, tree nuts, wheat, fish, sesame. See allergies in babies
- Medicines such as some antibiotics
- Insect bites and stings. See insect bites on babies
- Heat, cold, pressure or contact with certain plants or products
Soothing your baby
- Remove the trigger if you know it.
- Keep your baby cool and dressed in loose cotton.
- Use a cool compress or lukewarm bath to calm the itch.
- Keep nails short to prevent scratching.
- Ask your doctor or pharmacist before giving any antihistamine.
Keep a note
Write down what your baby ate, any medicines and recent illness, and take photos of the rash. This helps your doctor find the trigger.
Emergency signs of anaphylaxis
- swelling of the lips, tongue, face or throat
- wheezing, noisy breathing or difficulty breathing
- repeated vomiting after a food
- pale, floppy or unusually sleepy
If you see these signs, call emergency services immediately.
When to talk to your doctor
- hives after eating a new food, even without other symptoms
- hives with fever, or your baby seems unwell
- hives that last more than a few days or keep returning
- a rash that does not fade when pressed with a glass: seek urgent help. See baby rashes
Frequently asked questions
Are hives contagious?
No, although the virus causing them can be.
Can stress cause hives in babies?
It is rare in babies. Infections and allergies are much more common causes.
Should I stop the new food?
Yes, stop it and talk to your doctor before offering it again.
Sources
- NHS: Hives; Anaphylaxis
- American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org: Hives
- American Academy of Dermatology: Hives
This guide is general information, not medical advice. If your baby has signs of a severe reaction, call your local emergency number.