Sick day tracking

What you'll learn

Sick days are stressful because decisions pile up while sleep drops. Parents worry about missing a sign, caregivers juggle dosing, and pediatric advisors want clear data. This guide gives you a calm, repeatable way to track symptoms, med timing, hydration, and red flags so you know what to do and when.

• How to set up a one-page sick log that every caregiver can read at a glance.
• Hydration and feeding adjustments to keep babies safe during illness.
• Fever, breathing, and behavior signs that should prompt a call to your pediatrician.
• Medication timing, dosing basics, and reminders without math errors.
• Room setup and comfort strategies that soothe without masking red flags.

Build a simple sick log

One sheet or one shared note beats scattered texts. Pediatric advisors and urgent care teams rely on clear timelines. Use columns for time, temp, meds, fluids, diapers, symptoms, and notes.

• Time/Temp: Note the method (axillary, rectal) and exact time.
• Meds: Name, dose (mg/mL and mL given), time, and who gave it. Keep weight-based dosing from your pediatrician handy.
• Fluids/feeds: Breast/bottle ounces, nursing minutes per side, or sips of oral rehydration solution.
• Diapers: Wet/dirty counts; note color/consistency and any mucus or blood.
• Symptoms: Cough, congestion, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, behavior (alert, fussy, lethargic).

Post the log on the fridge and sync to your phone. Every caregiver updates the same log—no duplicate meds.

Hydration and feeding

Hydration protects babies most during illness. Offer smaller, more frequent feeds to avoid vomiting. If bottle-feeding, pace slowly and burp often. For breastfed babies, nurse on demand; illness often increases comfort feeds. If vomiting or diarrhea, your pediatrician may recommend oral rehydration solution—offer tiny sips or teaspoons every few minutes.

• Watch diaper counts: aim for 5–6 wets in 24 hours after the newborn period; fewer can signal dehydration.
• If solids have started, keep foods bland and easy—bananas, oatmeal, applesauce; pause new foods and allergens until well.
• Track intake in the log so you can spot drops early.

Fever basics and when to worry

Fever is a body response, not always an emergency. What matters: age, behavior, and associated symptoms. Use a reliable thermometer; rectal is most accurate for infants.

• Call urgently: Any fever in babies under 3 months; fever with lethargy, difficulty breathing, blue/gray lips, seizure, or dehydration signs.
• Call pediatrician: Fever lasting more than 24 hours in infants 3–6 months, more than 72 hours in older infants, or if the child seems very unwell regardless of number.
• Comfort care: Dress lightly, offer fluids, and use pediatrician-guided dosing for acetaminophen/ibuprofen (if age-appropriate).

Breathing checks

Caregivers are often first to spot breathing changes. Check for:

• Fast breathing for age, belly pulling in, or ribs visibly sucking in (retractions).
• Nasal flaring, grunting, or head bobbing in infants.
• Color changes: blue/gray lips or tongue—this is an emergency.

If you see these, seek medical care immediately. Note timing in the log.

Medication safety

Only give meds approved by your pediatrician for your baby’s age and weight. Double-check concentration (mg/mL) and use the syringe that came with the medicine. Alternate meds only if your pediatrician instructs it. Set timers on your phone for dosing intervals and for rechecking temperature or symptoms.

Comfort measures that do not hide red flags

• Cool mist humidifier, nasal saline with a gentle aspirator for congestion.
• Elevate the head of the sleep surface? No—keep the crib flat for safety; hold upright before sleep instead.
• Contact naps are okay if you stay awake; white noise can help everyone rest.
• Light layers; avoid over-bundling with a fever.

Caregiver alignment

When multiple adults are involved, assign roles: one “primary” tracks the log and dosing; one “comfort” focuses on soothing and feeds; one “runner” handles supplies and pharmacy. Swap roles every few hours to prevent burnout. Share the red-flag list out loud so no one hesitates to call.

When to seek care—quick reference

• Under 3 months with any fever.
• Struggling to breathe, grunting, retractions, or color change.
• Fewer than 5–6 wet diapers in 24 hours after newborn stage.
• Persistent vomiting, no fluids staying down, signs of dehydration (no tears, dry mouth, sunken fontanelle).
• Seizure, unusual lethargy, or unresponsiveness.

After-hours and urgent care prep

Keep a go-bag: thermometer, meds list with doses, insurance card, extra diapers/wipes, change of clothes, and the sick log. Take a photo of the log before leaving. In the waiting room, share the timing of meds and last fluids first—that speeds care.

Mental health on sick days

Sick days drain parents and caregivers. Eat and hydrate yourselves; take turns resting. A 10-minute outside break can reset your nervous system. Accept help—meal drop-offs, a friend doing laundry, or someone holding the baby while you nap.

Quick steps

Use this five-step plan on any sick day:

1. Start the log: time/temp, meds, fluids, diapers, symptoms—one source of truth.
2. Hydrate often: small, frequent feeds; track wet diapers (aim 5–6+/24h after newborn stage).
3. Comfort safely: humidifier, saline, upright cuddles; flat sleep surface and age-appropriate meds only.
4. Set timers: dosing intervals, temp rechecks, and reminders to drink/nap for caregivers.
5. Know red flags: breathing issues, low intake/diapers, persistent fever/vomiting—call or seek care fast.