Nursing a sick child
NB: This article refers only to simple childhood illnesses. For anything more serious, we do not advise you to treat your child at home without seeking medical care. Please take your child to the doctor or day hospital for more serious illnesses.
Caring for a sick child is something all parents do at some stage. If your child is suffering from something mild like a simple cold, then you can nurse them back to health with the same methods that your own parents used when you were a child. When sick with cold, parents are encouraged to make sure that their children get plenty of bed rest and that they consume lots of fluids. Water is essential but soup is a good alternative during winter months.
Make sure your child is comfortable
Bed rest is the preferred way to recover from an illness. Ensure that your sick child is comfortable and, if it is winter, that they are warm enough. Children should be dressed in loose-fitting pyjamas that should be changed everyday.
Bed sheets should also be changed everyday since germs can survive in bedding. It is also a good idea to open the window, even if only for a short time, to allow fresh air to circulate throughout the room.
What to eat
When sick, children should stick to nourishing, easily digestible food. They should avoid sugary food or drinks since sugar weakens the immune system when a child is sick. The best options are water, soup and fruit.
Staying busy
Though they may be sick, children are encouraged to keep themselves occupied. Staying in bed may not be the most fun place for energetic children but it is a good place for them to take up reading or play a board game with their parents. They could also watch movies or play computer games if they wish.
Parents should be patient with their children when they are sick. According to WebMD, a young child can have as many as 12 colds a year.
School
Do not send your child to school with an infectious illness like cold or flu. They will pass on their illness to other children and teachers and this is undesirable. Keep them home until they are well again. If they are away from school for several days due to illness, the school may require an explanatory note from a doctor.
When your child returns to school, they will have missed a lot of work. Either visit or send a note to the class teacher, asking for exercises and worksheets that will help your child catch up. Work with your child until they are fully caught up with the work missed. If you neglect to do this, your child may fall and remain behind the rest of the class.
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Page last updated: 26 October 2010
