When your child is sick, it’s hard to know what actually matters.
 
As a pediatric ER nurse and mom, I created this guide to help parents decide when a child truly needs the emergency room, when urgent care is appropriate, and when it’s safe to monitor at home.
 
This guide is designed to reduce panic, provide clarity, and help you make calm, confident decisions — especially during stressful moments.
 
What’s included inside:
• ER vs urgent care decision guidance
• A calm nurse checklist to assess your child at home
• Medication dosing charts (acetaminophen & ibuprofen)
• Red flags for when medication is not enough
• Fever myths vs facts
• Nurse insights parents often aren’t told
 
This guide is for:
• Parents of babies and young children
• Caregivers who want clarity, not fear
• Anyone who’s ever Googled symptoms at 2am
• Parents who don't wanna expose their kiddo to every illness in the ER, but don't know what else to do
 
Created by a pediatric ER nurse, and mom 
 
This guide is for educational purposes only and does not replace medical advice or emergency care.