Advertisement

What causes baby hives, and when should you call the doctor?

Hives are swollen spots on your baby that may make them itchy and irritable. Here's how they happen and what to do if your baby has hives.

baby sitting in diaper with areas of pink skin
Photo credit: iStock.com / princessdlaf

What are hives?

If you notice raised bumps, blotches, or welts on your baby, they might be hives. Hives can vary in size, and they can be itchy and uncomfortable for your baby.

On brown or black skin, hives may appear as slightly darker or lighter spots, or they may be the same color as the skin. On light skin, hives are typically red or pink.

Advertisement | page continues below

Also called urticaria, these pesky spots can last as little as a few hours or as long as a month or more – it depends on your child and what's causing the hives.

What causes hives in babies?

Hives are a common symptom of an allergic reaction, but they can also be caused by viral infections. They tend to develop within two hours of exposure to an irritant.

Hives can be caused by allergic reactions to:

  • Food or drink. The most common food allergies in babies are milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, wheat, fish, and shellfish. People can also be allergic to some food additives and preservatives. Some babies develop hives just from coming into contact with certain foods – for example, when the juice from a strawberry gets on their skin.
  • Medications, including penicillin, sulfa drugs, aspirin, and ibuprofen. Some eye and ear drops, laxatives, or other non-prescription medications can also cause hives.
  • Animals, dust, molds, and pollen. If your baby has an allergy to cats, for example, they may break out in hives when they touch a cat. A baby may even develop hives in reaction to an allergen, like pollen, in the air.
  • Scented products. If your baby has sensitive skin, contact with some scented products like shampoo, soap, laundry detergent, and lotion may cause hives.
  • Latex.
  • Insect bites and stings. If your baby is allergic to bees, fire ants, or other insects, they could develop hives in reaction to being stung or bitten.

But hives aren't always triggered by allergies. Other causes of hives include:

  • Infections including respiratory viruses (such as colds), other viral infections, strep throat, and urinary tract infections. These hives usually last for a week or two.
  • Cold temperatures. Hives can show up after a sudden change in temperature, such as when your baby's skin warms up after being cold.
  • Sunlight. Hives caused by exposure to sunlight usually develop within one to three minutes.

Sometimes, though, you might not be able to figure out what caused the hives.

Advertisement | page continues below

How can you treat your baby's hives?

Hives often clear up on their own within a few days. If your baby isn't uncomfortable, don't worry about treating the hives. But if your baby seems itchy, you can help them get relief with:

  • A cool bath (if the hives are from an allergic reaction to something that touched your baby's skin, this can also help rinse away the allergen)
  • Cool compresses (such as a washcloth soaked in cool water)
  • Over the-counter "cooling" lotions
  • Loose clothing

Keep your baby's nails trimmed short so they can't aggravate hives by scratching them.

When should you call the doctor?

Call 911 immediately if your baby has wheezing or shortness of breath, swelling in the face or tongue, or if they pass out. These can be a sign of anaphylactic shock, a potentially fatal allergic reaction.

Any time your baby has a rash and seems itchy or uncomfortable, it's a good idea to call your healthcare provider, especially if you're giving your child a medication for the first time.

Advertisement | page continues below

Even if the hives don't bother your child, talk with a healthcare provider if the hives last longer than a week or keep happening and you can't figure out why. They may want to run some blood or allergy tests, or have you keep a food journal, to get to the bottom of the issue.

Track your pregnancy on our free #1 pregnancy & baby app
phone with BabyCenter app

BabyCenter's editorial team is committed to providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information in the world. When creating and updating content, we rely on credible sources: respected health organizations, professional groups of doctors and other experts, and published studies in peer-reviewed journals. We believe you should always know the source of the information you're seeing. Learn more about our editorial and medical review policies.

American Academy of Dermatology. 2021. Hives.  https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/hives-overviewOpens a new window [Accessed February 2024]

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. 2020. Hives. https://www.chop.edu/conditions-diseases/hivesOpens a new window [Accessed February 2024]

Nemours Foundation. 2021. Hives (Urticaria). https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/hives.htmlOpens a new window [Accessed February 2024]

Shin, M. and Lee, S. 2017. Prevalence and Causes of Childhood Urticaria. Allergy, asthma & immunology research, 9(3), 189-190. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5352569/Opens a new window [Accessed February 2024]

Society for Pediatric Dermatology. 2018. Patient Perspectives: What are hives? (PDF) https://pedsderm.net/site/assets/files/1028/spd_hives_color_web.pdfOpens a new window [Accessed February 2024]

Amanda Krupa

Amanda Krupa, MSc is a nationally-recognized medical writer, editor, and content strategist.

Advertisement