Important note

If your child has COVID-19, it can be a worrying time for you, and it is important to note that most children with COVID-19 will have a mild illness.

Caring for your child at home

The below link from Healthify/He Puna Waiora has useful info about caring for your child with COVID-19 at home, and when to ask for help if you are concerned about your child’s condition.

Read more on how to care for your child if they get COVID-19

Healthify He Puna Waiora

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Independent and reliable health information and resources (formerly Health Navigator)

Guidance for parents and caregivers of tamariki with COVID-19

Here's a useful COVID-19 information sheet from the Ministry of Health for parents and caregivers of tamariki with COVID-19.

Video from Starship Children's Emergency Department

If you’d rather watch a video, check out the recording below from Starship Children's Emergency Department doctor Emily who has some advice about:

  • common and less common COVID-19 symptoms
  • how to care for your child with COVID-19 at home
  • when to see a doctor.

Breastfeeding and COVID-19

Breastfeeding provides an added level of protection from COVID-19 and other illnesses for your baby. Most often, babies who are breastfed remain healthy even when their parents or other family members are unwell with an infectious illness.

Considering the many benefits of breastfeeding, you should continue to breastfeed if you have COVID-19, while applying all the necessary precautions.

As well as making sure that you and all of your family are fully vaccinated and boosted, you should:

  • wash your hands before and after contact with your baby (including feeding, nappy change, playing and holding)
  • clean/disinfect any surfaces you touch
  • wear a surgical face mask
  • ensure you cough or sneeze into your elbow or a tissue which you discard immediately, then clean your hands again.

There’s more COVID-19 breastfeeding advice on the official government COVID-19 website (under 'Monitor and manage your symptoms')

Breastfeeding advice for women who have a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19

Ministry of Health

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The Government's principal advisor on health and disability: improving, promoting and protecting the health of New Zealanders.