Children’s Health

Fever in Children

A fever is a high temperature. As a general rule, a temperature of 38ºC (100.4ºF) or above is a fever.

Website: www.nhs.uk/conditions/feverchildren

Fever In Children leaflet

Children's Eczema

An NHS nurse was asked what advice they’d give to parents of children with Eczema – and this is what they said.

Coughs in Children leaflet

M-Thrive

M-Thrive is a community emotional health and wellbeing services for children and young people.

See the M-Thrive Leaflet for more information.

Kath Locke Centre, 123 Moss Lane East, Hulme, Manchester M15 5DD

Telephone: 0161 455 0211 ext 811

Email: mthrive.central@mft.nhs

Children’s Centres

There are a number of children’s centres across Manchester that offer a variety of friendly activities, events, help and support to families of children aged 0 to 5 years with advice on parenting, local childcare options and access to specialist services for families, baby massage sessions, breastfeeding support, stay and play opportunities.

Find your nearest children’s centre

Bronchiolitis

Bronchiolitis is a common chest infection in young children. It usually occurs in children under 12 months of age. To find out more about the signs and symptoms and how to manage it:

Bronchiolitis leaflet – Central Manchester Children’s Hospital

Child vaccinations (immunisations)

One of the most important things that a parent can do for their child is to make sure that they have all their routine childhood vaccinations. Please talk to your GP, Practice Nurse, or Health Visitor if you have any questions or worries about vaccinations.

Most of the routine childhood vaccinations are given at the practice by the Practice Nurse. Please bring your child’s Red Book when you come to an appointment. Children in Manchester are also routinely offered the BCG vaccination shortly after birth to protect against tuberculosis – you will be invited by the Health Visitor service for this.

See the NHS Vaccination Schedule

Manchester Choose Well information

Vaccine Knowledge Project

Common childhood illnesses

All children experience common illnesses like coughs, colds and chickenpox and having a fever is often a normal part of this.

Treating your child’s illness yourself or with advice and medicines from your local pharmacy can often be the easiest and quickest way to help your child feel better. Be prepared by keeping at home what you need, for example paracetamol, a digital thermometer and plasters.

Antibiotics are not needed for every illness and using them unnecessarily means they are less likely to work when we need them and could expose your child to side effects.

Chicken Pox

Diarrhoea and vomiting

Hand Foot and Mouth Disease

Headlice

Slapped Cheek Syndrome

Childhood illness visual guide

Find out more about for your baby or child

Coughs in Children

This leaflet contains information about how to look after a child who has a cough (not due to asthma).

Coughs in Children leaflet

Infant Feeding

All babies feed differently and all will have their different habits and patterns. This is why it’s quite difficult to say what is normal this leaflet contains an explanation of the main sorts of feeding problems and what they mean.

Instant Feeding leaflet (PDF)

Full Early Feeding and Allergy Prevention Guidance for Parents

Summary Early Feeding and Allergy Prevention Guidance

BSACI Website on Early Feeding

Nutrition for Infants and Children

A great resource page with information about diet for infants and children, including weaning information, weaning for a vegetarian baby, and for babies and toddlers using an Asian Diet.

Website: www.lnds.nhs.uk

Is my child too ill for school?

When your child is unwell, it can be hard deciding whether to keep them off school. These simple guidelines should help.

Website: www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Yourchildatschool

Early Help

Every family has its ups and downs. Being a parent is hard work and there is nothing to be ashamed of in asking for help. Manchester’s Early Help service could help in a number of ways. Just talk to your GP, Health Visitor or other professional working with your family for a referral, or view the following information.

Could you do with extra support?

Early Help For Parents & Young People Services Directory

Health Visitors

Manchester Health Visiting Service offers comprehensive advice and support to parents and carers of children from pre-birth to four and a half years. A health visitor is a registered nurse or midwife with specialist additional qualifications in child, family and public health who offers a range of advice and information on feeding, parenting skills, sleeping and healthy eating and a whole lot more.

Facebook: @MFThealthvisiting

Website: www.mft.nhs.uk