Disclaimer [ENGLISH]
Disclaimer: This material is for educational purposes only. You, the reader, assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it. It is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, nor does it replace the advice or counsel of a doctor or health care professional. Reference to a specific commercial product or service does not imply endorsement or recommendation of that product or service by CPCMG.
How do I keep my child hydrated?
- Infants: breastmilk and formula are best
- Pedialyte may be recommended by your child’s provider
- Toddlers: water and pedialyte are best
- Other options: 100% fruit juices, high water content fruit and veggies
- School aged children and older: water, Pedialyte, electrolyte drinks
- Other options: 100% fruit juices, high water content fruit and veggies
- Popsicles (under adult supervision)
- Other options: 100% fruit juices, high water content fruit and veggies
How do I manage my child’s fever?
- Fever is one way that the body fights off infection
- Your child’s provider may recommend medication such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen. See Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen dosage tables.
- If your child seems uncomfortable, treating the fever is helpful
- If your child seems comfortable with the fever, allow the fever to run it’s course
- You can place cool compresses on your child’s body
- Have your child take a bath in lukewarm water
- Help your child avoid hot environments
- Allow your child to rest as needed
How do I help with my child’s nasal congestion?
- Infants: nasal saline with suctioning
- Toddlers: nasal saline with suctioning
- School aged children: nasal saline spray or rinses
- Teens: nasal saline and sinus rinses (one common brand name is Neti Pot)
How do I help with my child’s cough?
- Oral over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold medicines can cause serious harm to young children.
- The risks of using these medicines can be more harmful than helpful
- Research has shown that honey is better than store-bought cough syrups at reducing how often coughing happens and how bad coughing is at night.
- If your child’s cough is worse when they are sleeping, run a humidifier in the room they sleep in.
Infants (less than 1 year old):
- Reminder: no honey under 1 year of age
- Over-the-counter cough and cold medicine is not recommended, but agave-based medications can be tried if desired for babies 6 months and older
- Nasal saline spray or drops followed by nasal suction prior to feeding and sleep
- Age approved Vapor rub applied to chest
Toddlers (ages 1 to 3 years):
- Over-the-counter cough and cold medicine is not recommended, but honey-based medications can be tried if desired
- Age-approved vapor rub
- Nasal saline spray or drops followed by nasal suction prior to feeding and sleep
Ages 4 to 6 years:
Cough medicine should be used only if recommended by your child's doctor.
- Vapor rub
- Cough drops
- Honey – can be mixed in warm fluids, yogurt, or given plain on a spoon
- Nasal saline spray
After age 6:
Cough medicines are safe to use. Just be sure to follow the instructions on the package about the right amount of medication to give.
- Some cough medications also contain acetaminophen or ibuprofen, so parents must be careful with giving additional doses of these medications.
- Vapor rub
- Cough drops
- Honey – can be mixed in warm fluids, yogurt, or given plain in a spoon
- Nasal saline spray
- Inhalers or nebulizer treatments if prescribed and advised by your child’s provider
How do I help with my child’s sore throat?
- Offer Tylenol or ibuprofen (as guided by your child’s provider). See Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen dosage tables.
- Encourage hydration. You can try both warm and cold beverages to see what helps your child more.
- Toddlers: honey in a warm liquid or an agave-based cough medicine might help soothe the throat
- School aged and teens: cough drops, honey in a warm liquid, salt water gargles
How do I help with my child’s muscle aches?
- Acetaminophen or ibuprofen as age appropriate. See Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen dosage tables.
- Luke-warm baths
- Epsom salt baths
- Massaging the muscles
- School aged children and teens can use menthol rubs for sore muscles if desired
How do I help with my child’s vomiting?
- Keeping your child hydrated is key
- Infants and toddlers: Pedialyte is a good option
- School aged children and teens: Gatorade, Powerade, electrolyte drinks are a good option
- Encourage small sips every 5 to 10 minutes as tolerated
- As your child is tolerating fluids, you can advance to foods such as soups and crackers, light meal items
- If your child has abdominal pain, acetaminophen is best. See Acetaminophen dosage table.
- Avoid spicy and high fat foods until fully recovered
How do I help with my child’s diarrhea?
- Top priority is keeping your child hydrated
- Encourage your child to eat a healthy well-balanced diet. There is no need to follow the “BRAT” diet.
- Avoid spicy, high fat foods and fruit juices
- Yogurt or probiotics may be helpful. They help replace good gut bacteria.
- If you notice an increase in diarrhea with dairy, avoid dairy until fully recovered. This might take 1-2 weeks.
- Do not give your child any anti-diarrheal medication
- If your child has abdominal pain, acetaminophen is the best option. See Acetaminophen dosage table.
- If your child has blood in the diarrhea or diarrhea has continued for 14 days (about 2 weeks), please contact your child’s provider
When to contact your doctor:
- Your child is getting worse or not improving
- Your child has any trouble breathing
- Your child is urinating less than 3 times in a 24-hour period
- Your child has blood in their vomit or stool
- Your child has fever for 5 days in a row, or their fever had gone away for 1-2 days and then returned.
- You are concerned about any changes in your child’s symptoms
This publication was adapted from information within American Academy of Pediatrics Patient Education Handouts, UpToDate Guidelines and Healthychildren.org
Reviewed by: TT D.O, AR D.O. | 08/2023