Where to Start When the Kids Are Sick
It’s 2 AM, and your child wakes up burning with fever. Their little body feels extra warm, and suddenly, your brain is racing - Should I give them medicine? Is this serious? Should I wait and see?
These moments can feel overwhelming, but the good news is, there’s a simple approach that helps you stay calm and make the best decisions for your child’s health. Let’s walk through the first few steps I recommend taking when illness strikes.
1. Assess Before You React
When your child suddenly spikes a fever or wakes up coughing, it’s easy to panic. Your mind races with worst-case scenarios - What if this gets worse? Should I be doing something now? Am I missing something serious?
But in that moment, the most important thing you can do is pause and assess. Fear can cloud your judgment, making a mild illness feel overwhelming. Instead of reacting from stress and uncertainty, take a breath and ask yourself:
+ What symptoms are actually present? Fever? Cough? Vomiting?
+ How does my child seem overall? Are they alert and responsive?
+ Are they breathing comfortably? Any signs of distress?
+ Are they staying hydrated? Urine output? Dry lips or sunken eyes?
It’s normal to feel anxious when your child is sick, but you don’t have to navigate this alone. Let my calm, experienced voice walk you through what’s really happening—so you can make informed decisions, not fear-driven ones.
That’s why I created Let Me Feel Your Forehead - a simple, practical checklist to help you clear the mental fog, focus on what matters, and decide your next steps with confidence.
And if you want to feel even more prepared, my on-demand webinar, What to Do When the Kids Are Sick, will walk you through this process step by step.
💻 Watch the free webinar anytime→
2. Avoid These Common Mistakes
When a child is sick, it’s natural to want to do something immediately - but sometimes, our instincts lead us toward quick fixes that don’t actually help. Many of the modern habits around illness don’t support healing and can even make recovery harder.
Here are the most common mistakes I see moms make when their kids are sick:
Instantly Reaching for Tylenol
Fever isn’t the enemy - it’s the body’s natural way of fighting infection. When we lower a fever too quickly, we interfere with the body’s ability to do its job. Tylenol also makes it harder to assess how sick your child actually is, since it suppresses symptoms rather than resolving the illness. So our kid may seem “fine” and even “back to themselves” after taking Tylenol, but their body is still doing the major work of fighting off an illness.
Better approach: Instead of focusing on lowering the fever, support the body with hydration, rest, and nutrients to help it do what it’s designed to do.
Instantly Outsourcing Care
Many moms don’t realize how much they can do at home, so their first response is to rush to the doctor or urgent care. While medical care is absolutely necessary in some cases, most common childhood illnesses - fevers, colds, ear infections, stomach bugs - have many effective home treatments.
Better approach: Have a repertoire of home remedies you know well so you feel confident handling everyday illnesses at home. Then, you’ll know when you really do need outside care.
Using Antibiotics Too Quickly (or Unnecessarily)
If you go to the doctor, antibiotics are often prescribed by default - even when they aren’t actually needed. The problem? Overuse of antibiotics weakens the gut microbiome, which is the foundation of immune health. Many kids who frequently take antibiotics end up stuck in a cycle of recurrent infections - example, the kid with on and off ear infections all winter long.
Better approach: Not all infections need antibiotics! Before using them, ask:
+ Is this a viral or bacterial infection? Antibiotics don’t help viruses.
+ Are there other options? Could we try something else first, before opting for the antibiotic?
+ What are the risks vs. benefits? If they are truly necessary, use probiotics lavishly to help restore gut health afterward.
Not Trusting Yourself
Moms today don’t have the generational wisdom that used to be passed down. We’re bombarded with contradictory advice online, and it’s easy to feel unsure or afraid when our kids get sick.
But when you have the right information and tools, you can trust yourself and feel confident taking care of your family.
Better approach: Learn what to do at home, what remedies actually work, and how to assess symptoms confidently.
That’s exactly why I created my free webinar, What to Do When the Kids Are Sick!
💻 Watch the webinar & get my free checklist here→
3. Reach for Your Toolbox
Every professional has a toolbox. A carpenter doesn’t use just one tool to build a house, and a chef doesn’t rely on a single ingredient. Healing is no different!
Moms need their own natural medicine toolbox - a collection of tried and true remedies, strategies, and knowledge that allows them to respond to illness with confidence.
Think of it this way:
A mechanic doesn’t panic when a car breaks down—they reach for the right tool.
A midwife doesn’t stress when a labor slows—they know which techniques to try.
A mom with a well-stocked natural medicine toolbox feels calm when her child gets sick - because she knows where to start and what to do next.
The key is having the right tools before you need them - so you’re not scrambling when illness hits.
4. What’s in Your Natural Health Toolbox?
Your toolbox should include a variety of approaches that work together to support healing:
Nutrition & Hydration – Foods that support recovery, like homemade broths and electrolyte drinks.
Supplements – Things like Calcium Lactate for fevers, probiotics for gut health, and elderberry for immune support.
Homeopathy – Gentle remedies like Natrum Mur for post-nasal drip or Hepar Sulph for thick mucus.
Herbs – Elderberry, echinacea, and chamomile are some of my favorites.
Essential Oils – Eucalyptus for congestion, lavender for relaxation, and tea tree for immune support.
A well-stocked natural medicine chest allows you to treat illnesses effectively at home while knowing when to seek additional care.
Watch the Webinar for More
Want to dive deeper into how to handle fevers, congestion, and other common childhood illnesses?
In my free, on-demand webinar, What to Do When the Kids Are Sick, I’ll walk you through:
How to confidently assess symptoms (without panic-relying on Dr. Google)
When to treat at home vs. when to seek extra support or medical care
A breakdown of my favorite tools for treating illness naturally
My favorite go-to remedies for fevers
📥 Plus, when you sign up, you’ll get my free “Let Me Feel Your Forehead” ebook!
When the next fever or cough appears, you won’t have to scramble - you’ll know exactly where to start.
Wishing you health and confidence!
