Every September brings the same little wave of sniffles, itchy heads and scraped knees. None of it is serious, but a bit of preparation saves you a mid week dash to the chemist.

Here is what we find families ask us about most as the new term starts, with straightforward advice you can act on today. If you are ever unsure about anything, call in and ask. That is what we are here for.

1. Head lice, before the notes come home

Head lice are a fact of school life and have nothing to do with cleanliness. They spread through head to head contact, which is exactly what happens in a busy classroom. Checking your child’s hair once a week with a fine tooth detection comb on wet, conditioned hair is the single most useful habit you can build. If you find live lice, treat with a clinically proven lotion or a wet combing method and check again after a week. There is no need to treat the whole family unless they are affected, and no need to keep a child home from school. You can read the HSE guidance on head lice here.

2. The first cold of term

Mixing with new classmates means meeting new germs, so a cold or two in the first month is completely normal and part of building immunity. For most children, rest, fluids and time are all that is needed. Paracetamol or ibuprofen suited to their age and weight can ease a fever or sore throat, and we are always happy to check the right dose with you. See a GP if a fever is very high, lasts more than a few days, or your child seems unusually unwell. The HSE has clear advice on the common cold.

3. Lunchboxes that actually get eaten

You do not need to overthink this. A good lunchbox has something from each of the main groups: a wholegrain like bread or a wrap, some protein like cheese, chicken or eggs, a piece of fruit and a vegetable they will genuinely eat, and water to drink. Keep sugary drinks and treats for now and then rather than every day. The Irish food safety body safefood has realistic lunchbox ideas on their healthy eating pages.

4. Allergies and asthma, refreshed for the year

If your child has asthma or hay fever, the return to school is a good moment to check you are set up. Make sure inhalers are in date and that the school has a copy of any action plan. Autumn brings its own triggers, from mould to the first cold snaps, so it is worth having reliever medicine to hand rather than scrambling for it later. If you are not sure whether an inhaler is still working or how to use the spacer properly, bring it in and we will go through it with you.

5. A small first aid kit at home

New shoes, new sports, new scrapes. A simple kit covers almost everything the first term throws at you: plasters in a few sizes, antiseptic wipes or cream, a bandage, a digital thermometer, and children’s paracetamol and ibuprofen. Keep it somewhere handy but out of little hands. That is genuinely most bumps and grazes sorted at home.

6. Getting sleep back on track

After a summer of late evenings, the early alarm is a shock to everyone. Shift bedtime earlier by fifteen minutes every few nights in the run up to term rather than all at once, keep screens out of the bedroom for the last hour, and hold wake up times steady even at weekends where you can. A well rested child copes far better with everything else on this list.

Have a question about any of this, or not sure what is right for your child’s age? Call into Laois Pharmacy in Portlaoise and one of our team will talk it through with you. No appointment needed.

This article is general health information, not medical advice. Always read the label on any medicine and speak to your GP or pharmacist about what is right for your child.