Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 4: Making a sick child feel comfortable
• Part 2 of 4: Feeding a sick child
• Part 3 of 4: Treating a sick child at home
• Part 4 of 4: See a doctor

Having a sick child is a stressful and upsetting experience. Your child may have a hard time getting comfortable and in pain while you wonder if it's time to call the doctor. If you have a sick child at home, there are a number of things you can do to make sure your child is comfortable and getting better.

To step

Part 1 of 4: Making a sick child feel comfortable

1. Provide emotional support. Being sick is uncomfortable and your child may be concerned or upset by how he or she is feeling. It can help if you give your child some extra attention and care. For example, you can:
   • Sit with your child.
   • Read to your child from a book.
   • Sing to your child.
   • Hold your child's hand.
   • Hold your baby in your arms.
2. Raise your child's or baby's head. A cough can get worse if your child is lying flat on his or her back. To keep your child's head up, try placing a book or towel under the mattress of your baby's crib or under the legs on the head side of the crib or bed.
   • You can also give your child an extra pillow or use a wedge-shaped pillow to help your child stay upright.
3. Turn on a humidifier. Dry air can make a cough or sore throat feel worse. Try using a humidifier or a fresh mist spray to keep the air in your child's room moist. This can help reduce the coughing or constipation and discomfort.
   • Make sure to change the water in your humidifier regularly.
   • Wash the humidifier according to the manufacturer's instructions to prevent mold from growing in it.
4. Provide a peaceful environment. Keep your home as quiet and peaceful as possible to make it easier for your child to rest. Stimulation from television or computers blocks sleep and your child needs as much rest as possible, so you may want to consider removing devices from your child's bedroom, or at least reducing your child's use.
5. Keep your home at a comfortable temperature. Your child may feel hot or cold depending on the illness, so adjusting the temperature in your home can help your child feel more comfortable. It can help to keep your home between 18 and 21 degrees Celsius, but you can also adjust this temperature if your child is too cold or too hot.
   • For example, if your child complains that he or she is too cold, you can turn up the heating. If your child complains that he or she is too hot, turn on an air conditioner or fan.

Part 2 of 4: Feeding a sick child

1. Give your child plenty of clear liquids. Dehydration can make things worse when your child is sick. Prevent your child from dehydration by ensuring that your child drinks regularly. Offer your child:
   • Water
   • Ice creams
   • ginger lemonade
   • Dilute fruit juice
   • Electrolyte-fortified drinks
2. Give foods that are easy to digest. Provide your child with nutritious foods that will not upset their stomach. The choice of food may depend on your child's symptoms. Good options are:
   • Salty crackers
   • Bananas
   • Apple sauce
   • Toast
   • Cooked cereals
   • Mashed potatoes
3. Give your child chicken soup. While it won't cure your child, hot chicken soup helps with cold and flu symptoms by thinning mucus and acting as an anti-inflammatory. There are several recipes for making your own chicken soup, although many of the commercial ones work well.

Part 3 of 4: Treating a sick child at home

1. Give your child plenty of rest. Encourage your child to go to sleep as often as he or she wants. Read your child a story or have your child listen to an audiobook to make it easier to fall asleep. Your child needs as much rest as he can get.
2. Use over-the-counter medications in moderation. If you decide to give medications, try to stick to a product, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, rather than alternate medications or give combinations of medications. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about which medications may be appropriate for your child.
   • Do not give ibuprofen to a child under one year old.
   • Do not give cold and cough medicines to a child under 4 years old, and preferably not until they are at least 8 years old. These drugs can cause life-threatening side effects and have not yet been shown to be very effective.
   • Do not give toddlers, children or teenagers acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) as it can cause a rare but serious disease called Reye's syndrome.
3. Encourage your child to gargle with warm salt water. Add a quarter teaspoon of table salt to 200 ml of lukewarm water. Have your child gargle and spit out the salt water when he's done. Gargling with salt water can help relieve a sore throat.
   • For younger children or for nasal congestion, you can also use salt water (saline) nose drops or sprays. You can make your own salt water spray or buy one from the drugstore. In babies you can use a nasal pear to empty the nose after using the drops.
4. Keep your home free of irritants. Do not smoke around your child and avoid wearing very strong perfumes. Postpone activities such as painting or cleaning. The fumes can irritate your child's throat and lungs and make his illness worse.
5. Air your child's room. Every now and then, open the windows in your child's room to keep the air fresh. Do this while your child is busy in the bathroom so that he does not get cold. Provide your child with extra blankets if necessary.

Part 4 of 4: See a doctor

1. Determine if your child has the flu. Take symptoms of influenza virus infection seriously. It is a potentially dangerous disease that often develops suddenly. Contact your child's doctor if you think your child has the flu, especially if your child is under 2 years old and has medical problems such as asthma. Symptoms of the flu are:
   • High fever and / or chills
   • Cough
   • Sore throat
   • Running nose
   • Body or muscle pain
   • Headache
   • Fatigue and / or weakness
   • Diarrhea and / or vomiting
2. Take your child's temperature. Check to see if your child feels chills, a heated appearance, sweats, or very hot if you don't have a thermometer.
3. Ask your child if he or she is in pain. Ask your child how much pain he or she is in and where the pain is. You could also apply gentle pressure to the area your child is complaining about to get a sense of the severity of the pain.
4. Watch for signs of serious illness. Pay careful attention to signs that your child should see a medical professional immediately. These are:
   • Fever in a child less than three months old
   • Severe headache or stiff neck
   • Changes in breathing pattern, especially difficulty breathing
   • Changes in skin color, such as looking very pale, reddish, or bluish
   • Child who refuses to drink or no longer urinates
   • No tears when he cries
   • Severe or continuous vomiting
   • Child is difficult to wake up or is unresponsive
   • Child is unusually calm and inactive
   • Signs of extreme irritation or pain
   • Pain or pressure in the chest or stomach
   • Sudden or persistent dizziness
   • Confusion
   • Flu-like symptoms that get better at first, but then get worse
5. Visit your pharmacy. Talk to your pharmacy if you are unsure whether your child should see a doctor. She or he can help determine if your child's symptoms require medical attention and advise on medication if needed.
   • You can also call your doctor, as there is almost always someone available to help you decide what to do and provide advice at home.