General educational guidance. Not clinician-reviewed or a substitute for individual medical advice.
If your child seems seriously unwell, seek urgent local medical help. This guide is a starting point for finding reliable advice, not a symptom checker.
Help comes before browsing
If your child seems seriously unwell, seek urgent local medical help. This guide is a starting point for finding reliable advice, not a symptom checker.
When little ones feel unwell
Common concerns, gentle comfort, and knowing when to get help.
For a blocked nose, ask a pharmacist or clinician about infant saline drops. Continue usual milk feeds and seek advice if feeding drops or breathing changes.
Fever: when to get help
A temperature of 38°C or more under 3 months, or 39°C or more at 3–6 months, needs urgent medical advice. Do not assume fever is teething.
Other common concerns
Vomiting or diarrhoea can cause dehydration. Ask a clinician or pharmacist about suitable oral rehydration solution; continue milk feeds for babies. Seek prompt help for fewer wet nappies or much less urine, inability to keep fluids down, blood, or unusual drowsiness.
Emergency signs
Get emergency help for difficult breathing, blue or grey lips, a child who is hard to wake, a first seizure, or a rash that does not fade when pressed. Use your local emergency number.
Medicines & remedies
This guide does not diagnose or prescribe. Ask a pharmacist or clinician before giving medicines; follow age and weight instructions. Never give aspirin under 16 or honey under 1. Avoid steam inhalation and unproven herbal or essential-oil remedies.
Explore this stage →When little ones feel unwell
Common concerns, gentle comfort, and knowing when to get help.
For a blocked nose, ask a pharmacist or clinician about infant saline drops. Continue usual milk feeds and seek advice if feeding drops or breathing changes.
Fever: when to get help
Contact a clinician for fever lasting 5 days, dehydration, worsening illness, or if you are worried. Watch how your child is breathing, drinking, and responding.
Other common concerns
Vomiting or diarrhoea can cause dehydration. Ask a clinician or pharmacist about suitable oral rehydration solution; continue milk feeds for babies. Seek prompt help for fewer wet nappies or much less urine, inability to keep fluids down, blood, or unusual drowsiness.
Emergency signs
Get emergency help for difficult breathing, blue or grey lips, a child who is hard to wake, a first seizure, or a rash that does not fade when pressed. Use your local emergency number.
Medicines & remedies
This guide does not diagnose or prescribe. Ask a pharmacist or clinician before giving medicines; follow age and weight instructions. Never give aspirin under 16 or honey under 1. Avoid steam inhalation and unproven herbal or essential-oil remedies.
Explore this stage →When little ones feel unwell
Common concerns, gentle comfort, and knowing when to get help.
For a mild cold, encourage fluids and rest. Saline nasal drops may help a blocked nose. A warm, not hot, honey drink may soothe a cough only in children over 1 year.
Fever: when to get help
Contact a clinician for fever lasting 5 days, dehydration, worsening illness, or if you are worried. Watch how your child is breathing, drinking, and responding.
Other common concerns
Vomiting or diarrhoea can cause dehydration. Ask a clinician or pharmacist about suitable oral rehydration solution; continue milk feeds for babies. Seek prompt help for fewer wet nappies or much less urine, inability to keep fluids down, blood, or unusual drowsiness.
Emergency signs
Get emergency help for difficult breathing, blue or grey lips, a child who is hard to wake, a first seizure, or a rash that does not fade when pressed. Use your local emergency number.
Medicines & remedies
This guide does not diagnose or prescribe. Ask a pharmacist or clinician before giving medicines; follow age and weight instructions. Never give aspirin under 16 or honey under 1. Avoid steam inhalation and unproven herbal or essential-oil remedies.
Explore this stage →When little ones feel unwell
Common concerns, gentle comfort, and knowing when to get help.
For a mild cold, encourage fluids and rest. Saline nasal drops may help a blocked nose. A warm, not hot, honey drink may soothe a cough only in children over 1 year.
Fever: when to get help
Contact a clinician for fever lasting 5 days, dehydration, worsening illness, or if you are worried. Watch how your child is breathing, drinking, and responding.
Other common concerns
Vomiting or diarrhoea can cause dehydration. Ask a clinician or pharmacist about suitable oral rehydration solution; continue milk feeds for babies. Seek prompt help for fewer wet nappies or much less urine, inability to keep fluids down, blood, or unusual drowsiness.
Emergency signs
Get emergency help for difficult breathing, blue or grey lips, a child who is hard to wake, a first seizure, or a rash that does not fade when pressed. Use your local emergency number.
Medicines & remedies
This guide does not diagnose or prescribe. Ask a pharmacist or clinician before giving medicines; follow age and weight instructions. Never give aspirin under 16 or honey under 1. Avoid steam inhalation and unproven herbal or essential-oil remedies.
Explore this stage →When little ones feel unwell
Common concerns, gentle comfort, and knowing when to get help.
For a mild cold, encourage fluids and rest. Saline nasal drops may help a blocked nose. A warm, not hot, honey drink may soothe a cough only in children over 1 year.
Fever: when to get help
Contact a clinician for fever lasting 5 days, dehydration, worsening illness, or if you are worried. Watch how your child is breathing, drinking, and responding.
Other common concerns
Vomiting or diarrhoea can cause dehydration. Ask a clinician or pharmacist about suitable oral rehydration solution; continue milk feeds for babies. Seek prompt help for fewer wet nappies or much less urine, inability to keep fluids down, blood, or unusual drowsiness.
Emergency signs
Get emergency help for difficult breathing, blue or grey lips, a child who is hard to wake, a first seizure, or a rash that does not fade when pressed. Use your local emergency number.
Medicines & remedies
This guide does not diagnose or prescribe. Ask a pharmacist or clinician before giving medicines; follow age and weight instructions. Never give aspirin under 16 or honey under 1. Avoid steam inhalation and unproven herbal or essential-oil remedies.
Explore this stage →When little ones feel unwell
Common concerns, gentle comfort, and knowing when to get help.
For a mild cold, encourage fluids and rest. Saline nasal drops may help a blocked nose. A warm, not hot, honey drink may soothe a cough only in children over 1 year.
Fever: when to get help
Contact a clinician for fever lasting 5 days, dehydration, worsening illness, or if you are worried. Watch how your child is breathing, drinking, and responding.
Other common concerns
Vomiting or diarrhoea can cause dehydration. Ask a clinician or pharmacist about suitable oral rehydration solution; continue milk feeds for babies. Seek prompt help for fewer wet nappies or much less urine, inability to keep fluids down, blood, or unusual drowsiness.
Emergency signs
Get emergency help for difficult breathing, blue or grey lips, a child who is hard to wake, a first seizure, or a rash that does not fade when pressed. Use your local emergency number.
Medicines & remedies
This guide does not diagnose or prescribe. Ask a pharmacist or clinician before giving medicines; follow age and weight instructions. Never give aspirin under 16 or honey under 1. Avoid steam inhalation and unproven herbal or essential-oil remedies.
Explore this stage →Sources and further reading
A question parents ask
Can this page tell me which illness my child has?
No. Similar symptoms can have different causes. A clinician can assess the child’s age, history and condition; a general article cannot do that.