Symtrail
Children's medicine log: track every dose
At 3am, with two tired adults taking turns, "did you give her something at midnight?" is a hard question. A medicine log makes it an easy one.
Updated · 5 min read
In short: for every dose, write down the date, time, medicine, amount and who gave it — straight away, not later. Keep one shared log per child in a single place. Check the log, and the packet instructions, before every dose.
Why a written log beats memory
Mistakes with children's medicines are rarely about not knowing the dose. They happen because nobody's sure when the last one was, or because two people each think the other one didn't give it. A log fixes that in a way good intentions can't, particularly when:
- more than one adult is looking after the child — parents, grandparents, a childminder;
- your child is taking more than one medicine at once;
- it's the middle of the night and everyone is exhausted;
- a course needs to be finished, like a week of antibiotics, and missed doses are easy to lose track of.
What to record for each dose
- Date and exact time. Not "evening" — "19:40".
- Medicine name, as on the packet, including the strength if there's more than one version.
- Amount given — "5 ml", "1 tablet".
- Who gave it. This is the column that prevents doubles.
- Notes — "took with food", "spat some out", "sick 10 minutes later". If something like that happens, check with a pharmacist or doctor before giving more.
If your doctor has advised you to use two different medicines, the log is the easiest way to keep track of which was given when. Follow the plan your doctor or pharmacist gave you; the log just records what happened.
Printable medicine chart
One sheet per child. Keep it with the medicines, along with a pen.
Medicine log
| Date | Time | Medicine | Amount | Given by | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Always follow the packet instructions or your pharmacist's or doctor's advice on doses. This chart is for keeping a record only. symtrail.com
A medicine log on your phone
A paper sheet is good. A log on your phone is with you at the pharmacy, at the doctor's and at grandma's house — and it can remind you.
- Log a dose in a couple of taps. Set a default dose for each medicine so you're not typing it at 3am.
- See the dose history at a glance, for each child separately.
- Set a reminder for the next dose. Reminders are scheduled on the phone itself — no account, no server.
- See doses next to temperatures and symptoms on one timeline, which is what the doctor will want to see. See our fever log guide for that side of things.
This guide is about keeping a record. It doesn't tell you which medicine to give, how much or how often — always follow the packet instructions or advice from a pharmacist or doctor. If you think your child has had too much of a medicine, contact a doctor, a poison information service or your local emergency number straight away.
Questions
Common questions
What should a children's medicine log include?
For each dose: the date, the exact time, the medicine's name, the amount given, and who gave it. A notes column for anything relevant — taken with food, spat half out, vomited soon after — is useful too.
How do I keep track if two of us are giving medicine?
Use a single shared record that lives in one place — a sheet on the fridge, or one phone — and write each dose down immediately, along with who gave it. Two separate memories are how double doses happen.
Can a medicine log tell me how much to give or when?
No. Dosing should come from the packet instructions, your pharmacist or your doctor. A log records what was actually given, so you can check it against those instructions.
Can Symtrail remind me when the next dose is due?
Yes. When you log a medicine you can set a reminder for the time you choose. Reminders are scheduled on your phone itself — nothing is sent to a server.
Keep reading
More guides for parents
Get a reminder for the next dose, too
Symtrail is a free symptom, temperature and medicine diary for your child. No account, works offline, and nothing you log ever leaves your phone.
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