Sick-day at-home checklist (baby or toddler)

This is a home-operations checklist for mild illness days — not a diagnosis tool. Fever rules, breathing concerns, and medicines depend on age and history. Confirm thresholds and any medicine (what, whether, how much) with your pediatrician or pharmacist. No dosing amounts appear here on purpose.

If you think it is an emergency, call emergency services. For everything short of that, your pediatric office sets the thresholds — ask them what they want to hear about, and keep the answer somewhere you can find it.

Checklist

Triage first

• Note age, main symptoms, and when they started
• Measure temperature with your usual thermometer; write the number and method
• Check breathing: comfortable vs working hard (ribs pulling in, nostrils flaring, persistent rapid breathing)
• Check alertness and whether the child can be woken to interact as usual for their age
• Count recent wet diapers / urine output vs a normal day
• If you are unsure whether this is a sick day or something more, call the office rather than working through this list

Knowing who to call

• Save the pediatric office's daytime and after-hours numbers in both phones
• Ask the office which symptoms they want to hear about at this age, and write their answer down
• Save Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222
• Write down what they tell you before hanging up, then follow it

Home comfort and tracking

• Set a rest space with dim light, tissues, and a trash bag within reach
• Stage extra sheets/onesies for sweat or spit-up changes
• Offer fluids appropriate for age (breastmilk/formula for infants; clinician-guided fluids for older kids)
• Keep the room comfortably cool; avoid overbundling a feverish child
• Log temperatures, fluids in, and wet diapers / bathroom trips
• Note new symptoms (rash, ear-pulling, cough change) with times
• Photograph a rash in daylight if you may call later (helpful for clinicians; not a diagnosis)

Medicines and household logistics

• Call clinician or pharmacist before giving any fever reducer or cold product — especially under age 6 for many OTC cold meds
• Use only products they confirm for this child's age and weight; follow their dosing instructions
• Check expiration dates on anything already in the cabinet
• Cancel daycare/school per their exclusion policy; notify caregivers (if applicable)
• Arrange adult coverage for the day; protect overnight staffing if two adults share care
• Message work with a realistic return estimate; update when clearer

End-of-day reset

• Decide overnight watch rules (when to wake the other adult)
• Restock the night station (fluids, thermometer, phone charger, clean clothes)
• Recheck: breathing comfortable, still making wet diapers, more alert than worse?
• If worse overnight, call after-hours rather than waiting for morning