If your baby displays any cold or flu symptoms and she's younger than 3 months, you need to take her in to see her pediatrician. For older children, a case of the cold or seasonal flu, while it will likely merit staying home from school, probably won't require a doctor's attention. You can consult your pediatrician about OTC medication for cold and flu symptoms, or about flu antivirals, but the alternative treatments can be administered by you at home.

However, if your child is showing any signs of breathing difficulties, persistent or high fever (100.4ºF for babies under 2 months, 101.1ºF for babies 3 to 6 months, and 103ºF for children over 6 months), cough or runny nose, ear pain, lips or nails turning blue, or excessive fatigue or crankiness, you need to take him to the pediatrician.