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Being a parent is a difficult job. Ensuring your child’s health takes dedication, persistence, and skill. This page will provide information to prevent illness and ways to assess and take care of your child when they become ill or injured. This information is meant to be educational, a guide to care at home. For specific guidance about your child, please contact your health care provider or school nurse.
Prevention
Prevention
Preventing illness and injury is the first step in maintaining the health of your child. The Child Safety Page provides valuable information. By arming your child with good habits and seeing a health care provider regularly, many illnesses can be prevented.
Handwashing
Handwashing
Handwashing is the single best way to prevent illness. Teach your child when and how to properly wash their hands.
Teach your child to wash their hands:
Before, during, and after preparing food
Before eating food
Before and after caring for someone at home who is sick with vomiting or diarrhea
Before and after treating a cut or wound
After using the toilet
After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet.
After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste
After handling pet food or pet treats
After touching garbage
Covering Coughs and Sneezes
Covering Coughs and Sneezes
Teach your child to cover coughs and sneezes to prevent the spread of germs.
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing
Throw the tissue directly into the trash.
If no tissue is available, cough or sneeze into the elbow, not the hands.
Wash hands after blowing nose, coughing, or sneezing.
Toilet Training
Toilet Training
Learning to use the toilet independently is a big step for children and a stressful time for parents. Knowing when your child is ready to toilet train depends on multiple variables. A child should be able to indicate their wants and needs with words and be able to sit on and off from a potty chair. For more information , click below:
Hygiene
Hygiene
Children ages 6-11 should bath at least 1 to 2 times per week or
When they get dirty (playing in the dirt, mud)
After using a pool, or any other body of water
If they are sweaty or have body odor
Or as directed by a health care provider
Children over the age of 12 should bath daily and wash their face 2 times per day or:
After sports
After sweating heavily
After using a pool, or any other body of water
Dental Care
Dental Care
Teaching proper teeth brushing early is so important. Make sure your child is using the correct amount of toothpaste, is brushing properly. Supervision is key to better brushing. Regular dental care is an important aspect of health promotion.
Sleep
Sleep
Children 3-5 years old should get 10-13 hours of sleep per day, and children 6-12 years old should get 9-12 hours per day.
Here are some tips to prepare your child for school with proper sleep:
Create a bedtime routine to include a time that gives your child enough hours of sleep.
Turn screens off 30 minutes before bedtime
Do not allow screens in the bedroom.
Regular Well Visits: Health Care Providers
Regular Well Visits: Health Care Providers
An important part of making sure a child is healthy, is to make sure to see a pediatric health care provider and the dentist on a regular basis, not just when a child has a problem.
Caring for Your Child When They are Ill
Caring for Your Child When They are Ill
Even with the best prevention strategies, children still get ill. It is important for parents to recognize and listen to their child about how they are feeling.
Fever
Fever
Checking your child’s temperature is an important part of taking care of them when they are ill. A fever is not an illness, but a sign of the body’s response to an illness. Signs and symptoms that your child might have a fever are:
Complaints of a headache.
Loss of appetite
Lack of energy
Complaints of back or neck pain
A kiss on the forehead or feeling the forehead with a hand can give an indication that a child has a higher temperature. This method, often called tactile method, is not enough to give an accurate measurement. Using a digital thermometer is needed to confirm a temperature reading.
A fever is defined as:
measured orally (in the mouth): 100°F (37.8°C)
measured rectally (in the bottom): 100.4°F (38°C)
measured in an axillary position (under the arm): 99°F (37.2°C)
Using a Thermometer
Using a Thermometer
Thermometers are simple to use: Below are different types of thermometers.
The forehead thermometer is placed on the forehead
The ear thermometer is placed at the entrance of the ear.
The oral thermometer is placed under the tongue in the deepest area.
Here is a video that shows the correct way to take a temperature using different types of thermometers.
Here is a video that reviews when you should call your healthcare provider when your child has a fever.
Here is a video that reviews when you should go seek Emergency Care for a child with a fever.
Runny Noses and Coughs
Runny Noses and Coughs
The common cold is a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract. Children can get several of these types of illness every year.
Runny noses and coughs can be a sign of a slight cold or seasonal allergies. Many viral illnesses cause these symptoms without the presence of a fever. Click here for more advice about managing colds.
Coughs are common during childhood illness. A cough can sound alarming but often times, isn’t a serious condition. Click here for more advice on coughs.
Ear Aches
Ear Aches
Ear pain is common in children, especially after having a viral illness affecting the upper respiratory tract, or the common cold. It is important to monitor your child’s temperature when they complain of pain in the ear. Click here to learn more about ear aches.
Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhea
Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhea
Children with gastroenteritis, or “the stomach flu” have two major symptoms. Those symptoms are vomiting and diarrhea. Most of the children who have vomiting and diarrhea do not have a fever. Your child’s temperature must be checked during this time. Click here for more advice about gastroenteritis.
Dehydration
Dehydration
Dehydration occurs when a person loses fluids faster than they can be taken in. This happens during prolonged periods of vomiting, diarrhea, or when the body cannot function normally. Click here to learn treatment for dehydration.
Abdominal Discomfort
Abdominal Discomfort
Abdominal discomfort is common and can be caused by a number of reasons.
Constipation, or having fewer bowel movements than usual, is common and rarely serious.
Click here to learn more about constipation.
Gas pain is often a cause of abdominal discomfort.
Click here to learn more about gas pain.
Intestinal viruses may cause abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Click here to learn more about intestinal viruses.
Emotional upset can cause abdominal discomfort.
Click here to learn about physical response to emotions.
Nose Bleeds
Nose Bleeds
Nose bleeds are common in children and can be stopped by following a few easy steps. Click here to learn about nose bleeds.
Injuries
Injuries
Cuts and Abrasions
Broken Bones
When a child suffers an injury, it is often difficult to know whether they have broken a bone. More information about this can found by clicking here.
Bug Bites
Most bug bites and stings will heal over time, and do not require any further action. Recommendations for treatment may include
Wash the area with soap and water
Apply ice for 15 minutes
Use hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion (not recommended for children 2 and younger)
Bee Stings
Bee stings hurt and there is concern that a child could have an allergic reaction.
Wash the area with soap and water
If the stinger is still present, remove the stinger with a clean pair of tweezers
Apply ice
Observe for signs of allergic reaction that may need immediate attention. Signs of allergic reaction are listed here.
Medication Use in Children
Medication Use in Children
Medications play an important role in keeping your child comfortable while sick, and as is the case with antibiotics, combating the bacterial infection. Safe and proper use of medication is top priority for parents.
Medications work best if given correctly
(the RIGHT dose, at the RIGHT time, and the RIGHT way)
DO NOT USE STANDARD SPOONS THAT ARE USED FOR EATING. Use proper measuring devices.
Learn about your child’s medication. The more you know about the medication, the safer you will be.
Ask questions of the doctor and pharmacist.
Name and purpose of the medication
How much, or dose, should be given to your child
How often should the medication be given
How long should the medication be given
What the medication looks like
Know any interactions with foods or other medications
Ask about any side effects to watch for
Ask what to do if your child vomits after taking a medication
Ask when to call the Health Care Provider
Giving Medication to Your Child
Click Here for Instructions on Proper Measurement of Medications
Acetaminophen (Tylenol), Ibuprofen (Motrin), and Naproxen (Aleve) can be harmful to your child if not given properly.
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