7 ways to help your child stay healthy at school

Whether it's a cough, nasty cold or an itchy rash, it's not uncommon for children to fall ill when they go back to school after the summer break. 

The experts have told us what's doing the rounds this autumn and how you can treat common complaints, including head lice and fevers. Plus, we give you tips to help boost the kids' immunity and keep them well. 

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1. Is it whooping cough or something else?

A cough isn't usually anything to worry about if your child is drinking, eating, breathing normally and isn't wheezing. Generally, the best course of action is pain relief such as Calpol plus plenty of rest and hydration.

Some coughs have distinct sounds, which may help you identify them:

• Whooping cough causes a tell-tale 'whoop' sound between coughs, with bouts that can go on for minutes, are worse at night and can make little ones vomit and struggle for breath. A child with whooping cough should be kept off school for 48 hours after starting antibiotics or three weeks from the start of their symptoms if not.
• RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) can cause a mild chest infection called bronchiolitis, typified by a 'wet' cough that sounds like a whistling wheeze. An RSV vaccine has now been introduced for pregnant women and those aged 75-79, plus children at high risk of serious illness may be given the injection, too.
• Croup is typified by a barking seal-like cough, along with a hoarse voice and a rasping sound when your child breathes in, and the symptoms of croup are often worse at night. It's most common between the ages of 6 months and 3 years, with symptoms typically getting better within 48 hours.

Whatever the cause of your child's cough, if it's lasting longer than expected, has gone onto their chest or you are at all worried, speak to your pharmacist or GP.

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2. Watch out for measles and other rashes

If you've spotted a rash on your child, read our guide to find out what rash it could be - there are lots of photos and descriptions to help you work out what you're dealing with and tips on what to do next.

Although most rashes are nothing to worry about, as the new school year begins experts are warning about measles, which is highly infectious and still circulating in many areas of the UK.

Dr Vanessa Saliba, consultant epidemiologist at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), says: 'It only takes one case to get into a school or nursery where many children are unprotected for numbers to suddenly surge.'

Last winter also saw a rise in the number of cases of hand, foot and mouth disease, a viral infection that can lead to symptoms including sore throat, high temperature and loss of appetite, followed by mouth ulcers and raised, blister-like sores on the feet and hands.

Contact NHS 111 if you're worried about a rash but ring 999 if your child has a rash that doesn't fade when a glass is pressed against it, has a stiff neck, is bothered by light, seems confused,  has a high temperature and has difficulty breathing, as it could be meningitis.

9 things every parent needs to know about chickenpox - we give you the facts including what it is, how it's spread and how to treat it

3. Check for head lice

Autumn months and key events such as going back to school and Halloween mean that all of us, including children, are spending more time cooped up indoors and huddling together - the perfect conditions for head lice to spread.

A child that has been infected will often be seen scratching their head a lot - in our 2024 survey of 2,389 parents with children under 12, around 60% said this was the first sign of head lice that they'd noticed.

When you inspect their scalp you'll then see small brown head lice and/or white specks called nits, which are the empty egg cases.

A variety of treatment types are available, including combing, herbal products and chemical products that suffocate the lice.

In our survey, 94% of parents said they'd used a medicated head lice solution to tackle the problem but, of those that didn't, 60% had used a conditioner and nit comb and 28% had used a herbal treatment such as tea tree oil.

Best nit and head lice treatments for 2024 - parents give their verdict on head lice brands such as Full Marks, Lyclear, Nitty Gritty, Nitwits and more

4. Keep a thermometer handy

The temperature of a baby or child is normally around 36.4°C, and a high temperature or fever is generally considered to be 38°C or above.

You may notice if your child has a high temperature if they're feeling hotter than usual when you touch their forehead, back or stomach, they feel sweaty or clammy or have flushed cheeks, but checking with a thermometer will let you know for certain.

Read our guide on how to take a baby or child's temperature for more tips and guidance.

Some of the most popular thermometers are infrared tympanic thermometers (ear thermometers) but you can also get infrared 'no touch' thermometers for use on the forehead, as well as digital oral thermometers. Old-fashioned mercury ones are no longer recommended.

Check out our reviews of digital thermometers to ensure you pick one that's accurate, easy to use and comfortable for your child

5. Give your child vitamin D

Vitamin D is essential for bone health and good immunity and is known as the 'sunshine vitamin' because the best source of it is the action of sunlight on our skin. 

However, it can be difficult for children and babies to get enough vitamin D from the sun, especially in winter, which is why a separate supplement is recommended.

The government advises vitamin D supplementation between October and early March but experts say there's no harm in giving the same dose - 400IU or 10 micrograms per day - to children in the spring and autumn months, too.

Shefalee Loth, Which? nutritionist, says: 'If your baby is on formula milk, they don't need a separate supplement as it contains vitamin D.'

Vitamin D for babies and children: everything you need to know

6. Have Calpol or other pain relief medication to hand

A children's formulation of ibuprofen or paracetamol can help to relieve symptoms of pain, sore throats, fevers and more. 

In our 2024 survey of 3,015 parents with children under 12, almost all (98%) told us they had used infant pain relief -  29% gave it as soon as their little ones started feeling unwell and in 35% of cases it started to ease pain within 21-30 minutes. 

Follow the dosage instructions and avoid giving children under 16 paracetamol and ibuprofen together.

Best painkillers: aspirin, ibuprofen or paracetamol? What works best for different ailments, and whether pricey formulations are really worth it

7. A healthy diet and plenty of water

Bahee Van de Bor, specialist paediatric dietitian and British Dietetic Association spokesperson, says: 'A healthy winter diet for kids should incorporate fruit and vegetables, which are rich in vitamin C to support immune function and help fight coughs and colds.'

She says vitamin A-rich foods also have a role in immunity, as well as iron and zinc.

Foods that contain vitamin A include cheese, eggs and oily fish, while iron can be found in fortified breakfast cereals, red meat and dried fruit such as dried apricots. Zinc is in dairy foods, bread and wheatgerm cereal products.

Good hydration also helps stave off tiredness and boosts concentration, so encourage your child to have 6-8 glasses of water daily, including when they're at school.

A water bottle they actually want to drink from may help. See our best kids' water bottles to find out how bottles from Smiggle, Amazon, Argos and Ion8 compare