What to write down when your child is unwell

When a child is unwell, the days lose their edges. There are broken nights, a lot of cuddles, and by the fourth day you genuinely can't remember whether the temperature started on Monday or Tuesday. A few small notes make the picture clearer.

Most childhood colds run their course on their own over a week or so, and a cough can linger a while after the worst has passed. None of that is easy to track from memory while you're in the thick of it — which is exactly where a quick daily note earns its place.

What's worth writing down

The day it started, and the main things you're seeing — a cough, a blocked nose, a temperature — and whether they're easing or building. If you're taking their temperature, jot the readings. Note what they've taken and when. And keep half an eye on the ordinary things: are they drinking, eating a little, sleeping — and well enough to be themselves and play.

The shape of a week tells you far more than any single afternoon.

Trust your instincts

No note replaces the feeling that something isn't right. If your child seems to be getting worse rather than better, is hard to rouse, is struggling to breathe, isn't drinking, or you're simply worried, that's the moment to contact your doctor or practitioner or seek care — whatever the notes say. A record is there to help you describe things clearly, not to talk you out of acting.

For the visit

If you do go in to see a doctor or practitioner, bring a short timeline: when it started, how it's changed, and what you've given and when. It gives them the full picture in seconds — leaving the appointment for the things only they can answer.