Common childhood illnesses and wellbeing.
If your baby or child is ill
It's very common for babies and children to be ill. The best option could be to treat your sick child at home.
If you suspect it's a more serious illness, it's important to get medical attention as soon as possible.
Find out how to spot signs of serious illness: Is your baby or toddler seriously ill?
If you're worried about your baby or child's health:
- call 111 to describe the symptoms and get NHS expert advice
- visit your local pharmacist for advice
- make an urgent, same-day appointment with your GP, urgent appointments should always be available for babies and children under 5
- take your baby or child to a local walk-in clinic or A&E in an emergency
- read NHS advice about looking after a sick child
- read about a wide range of illness and symptoms on the NHS website
See Which health service should I use? for more information.
See Baby and child health for information on registering your child with a GP and how to keep children healthy.
Vaccination in infancy
Vaccination (immunisation) is the best way to protect babies, children and adults from a range of serious and sometimes fatal diseases. It gives the most effective protection for the whole community.
Most immunisations happen in infancy. Babies who are vaccinated continue to be protected beyond childhood, into adulthood.
Speak to your GP if you think you or your child have missed any vaccinations.
Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) and the MMR vaccine
Measles is circulating in Bristol and we're at risk of an outbreak of this dangerous disease due to low MMR vaccination rates.
Measles spreads very easily among those who are unvaccinated, especially in nurseries and schools. It can be a very unpleasant illness and in some children can be very serious and lead to hospitalisation. In rare cases it can cause death. Vaccines are our best line of defence against diseases like measles and help stop outbreaks.
We're calling on all parents and guardians to make sure their children are up to date with their 2 MMR doses. To see if your child is up to date with their MMR vaccines, check your child's personal child health record (PCHR), known as the red book, or contact your GP practice.
It's never too late to catch up. The MMR vaccine is free on the NHS, whatever your age. If you or your child has missed one or both doses, contact your GP.
Let's talk about MMR video
Let's talk about MMR features young people addressing the questions and concerns Somali people aged 17 to 30 told us they have about the MMR vaccine. In Bristol, MMR vaccination rates are particularly low in the Somali, Eastern European and Chinese communities, and in areas of high deprivation.
Local services
See Which health service should I use? for information about local health services and advice about how to get care in the quickest way.
Maternity services support women and their families during pregnancy, labour and birth. See North Bristol NHS Trust Maternity Services and University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust Maternity Services.
Health visitors support families during a child's early years.
The Community Children's Health Partnership (CCHP) provides a range of community child health services in Bristol.
Information about services for children with additional needs and disabilities.
MMR vaccine information on the Healthier Together website, in English and Somali.
National resources
Start for Life: NHS help and advice during pregnancy, birth and parenthood.
Health for Under 5s: NHS advice for happy, healthy under 5s.
Lullaby Trust Baby Check App: 19 simple checks that parents can do if their baby is showing signs of illness.
HANDi app: NHS advice and support for parents and carers when a child is unwell.
Advice about what to have in a medicine cabinet for children.