Staph in Babies and Newborns: Signs Parents Should Know

How babies come into contact with staph

Staph is one of the most common bacteria on people. About 30% of people carry it in their nose, and most never have a problem.¹ That means your baby will meet staph through ordinary cuddles and care. In most cases, nothing comes of it.

Young children are more at risk from some staph problems, in part because their immune systems are still developing.⁵ And because babies can’t tell you how they feel, small changes in their skin, temperature and feeding are the clues. It’s also why pediatricians want to hear about any fever in a baby 3 months or younger right away.²

Fever in babies: the number to know

For babies, a fever is a rectal temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher.² A rectal reading is the most reliable way to check a young baby. Feeling the forehead and using temperature strips aren’t accurate, and ear thermometers aren’t recommended for babies under 6 months.²

If your baby is 3 months old or younger and has a rectal temperature of 100.4°F or higher, call your pediatrician right away, even if your baby seems fine otherwise.² Don’t wait to see if it goes down on its own, and don’t give fever medicine unless the pediatrician tells you to.

Skin signs to watch

Staph can cause several skin infections in babies and young children:⁴

• Impetigo: blisters or sores, often on the face around the nose, mouth or ears.
• Cellulitis: skin that is red, swollen, warm and tender, and that can spread into deeper layers.
• Abscesses: pockets of pus under the skin.

Any rash that appears suddenly, blisters or looks infected is worth a call, especially if your baby also has a fever.⁶ For more on crusty or blistered sores, see our guide to impetigo.

The belly button stump

In newborns, the umbilical cord stump can become infected. This is called omphalitis, and staph is its most common cause.³ It’s rare in the U.S., affecting fewer than 1 in 100 babies.³

A healthy stump changes color from yellow-green to brown to black and usually falls off within about three weeks.³ Call your baby’s doctor right away if you notice:³

• Redness or discoloration spreading onto the skin around the stump
• Hard or thickened skin around it
• Yellow or bad-smelling fluid leaking from it
• Your baby crying when the area is touched
• Bleeding that doesn’t stop, or a stump still attached after three weeks

Scalded skin syndrome

Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome, or SSSS, happens when certain staph strains release toxins that loosen the bonds holding the layers of skin together.⁵ It’s most common in children under 6.⁵ It often begins with a single staph skin infection, frequently in the diaper area.⁴

At first, a child may seem to have a cold or stomach bug, with fever, tiredness, sore throat or vomiting. About a day later, a painful red rash appears, followed by blisters and skin that peels away, sometimes with only light pressure.^4,5 This needs emergency care.⁵ With prompt hospital treatment, most children recover fully, usually without scarring.⁵

When to see a doctor

Call your pediatrician right away if your baby:

• Is 3 months or younger with a rectal temperature of 100.4°F or higher²
• Has a rash that appears suddenly, blisters or looks infected, especially with a fever⁶
• Has redness, swelling or discharge around the belly button^3,6
• Misses two or more feedings in a row or eats poorly⁶
• Is sleeping more than usual or is hard to wake⁶
• Has fewer wet diapers than usual⁶

Call 911 or go to the emergency room if your baby has trouble breathing, has a seizure, has skin that looks blue, purple or gray, or is unusually hard to wake or respond to you.⁶ Go right away for skin that is blistering and peeling, too.⁵ Never squeeze or drain a bump on a baby’s skin, and don’t try home remedies. Let your pediatrician decide on treatment.

Everyday ways to protect your baby

• Wash your hands before feeding, bathing or changing your baby, and ask visitors to do the same.
• Keep anyone with a skin infection, boil or open sore from close contact with your baby until it heals.⁵
• Don’t share towels or washcloths between family members.¹
• Care for the cord stump the way your baby’s care team showed you.
• Keep your pediatrician’s after-hours number where every caregiver can find it.

If you’re still expecting, our guide to staph and pregnancy covers what to watch for before and after delivery. Above all, trust your instincts. If your baby seems off to you, a call to the pediatrician is never a wasted call.