What to do if your child has measles

Common childhood illnesses are measles, German measles and Roseola, which is sometimes called baby measles. Our baby expert, Jenni Johnson, tells you what to do if your little one falls ill….

Generally most children will get Roseola, many will get German measles and because of effective immunizing most won’t get Measles. There is no treatment for a virus so if the temperature responds to Panado or equivalent and your child is drinking fluids and not lethargic you can just watch your little one without needing further treatment.

Jenni shares her other top tips for this week: 

- Children like to help. Let your child wash produce, set the table, toss the salad, sprinkle cheese or spices. Make your child aware of the effort it takes to prepare a healthy meal, let him/her respect and understand the value of it.

- I see some libraries are holding holiday workshops. Phone your library and see what they have organised.

- Young children operate in the here and now so they find the idea of another baby coming along almost impossible to grasp. A toddler will however notice their mother’s introspection and change in energy levels. To help your little one cope with these changes, try and stick to his routine as much as possible. If you are the one who has always for example bathed your little one, ease into someone else doing it very slowly.

- Strawberries are quick growing and great to eat. Take your children and a few of their friends to a nursery; let them choose their edible plant and spend a busy, environmentally friendly, educational morning without spending too much money.

* Catch Jenni on-air every day just after 10am with her tip of the day.

Jenni Johnson, our resident ‘Baby Whisperer’, has been a practicing child-care practitioner for 15 years, and owns a busy ante and post natal clinic in Durban.

At Jenni’s ante and post natal clinic in Durban, parents are taught a system that gives them structure and routine to the baby and childhood years. Jenni has a nursing background. She’s a registered nurse, midwife, psychiatric nurse and a practicing child-care practitioner for the past 15 years. Jenni’s online clinic, can be accessed online via www.jennisays.com. For appointments, e-mail [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter via @JenniSays or on Facebook by 'liking' The Berea Baby Clinic.