Thanks for opening this in meta, Jeremy.

I've amended the question to make it clearer that I'm not seeking medical advice, but rather experience from other parents who have dealt with the same issue.

I think we should be open to questions about first aid and minor childhood ailments, e.g. the scraped knee that Erica gives as an example.

I don't see any greater legal liability with those than with questions about  diet or home safety (for example), which could also lead to unfortunate consequences if the wrong advice were given (worst case: fatal e.g. choking on nuts, electrocution).

Also:

I'm not familiar with the SE way of doing things, but should it really be for us to try to guess what kind of issues might lead to problems with legal liability? Given that we're not lawyers. 

Doesn't SE have standard legal advice or policy on that? I'd kind of expect them to, in the same way that Wikipedia does.

To make the comparison with the DIY SE site: my understanding is that they consider some issues to be too dangerous for the amateur to undertake without professional assistance (I'm guessing mainly electricity and gas) but they don't refuse to respond to any question involving a hammer in case someone bangs their finger. 

**Summary**: 

- I'm not sure that there's all that much legal merit in the idea that all health issues (including minor ailments and first aid) are uniquely subject to liability problems. It would be better to have a lawyer's assessment rather than just guesses from all us non-lawyers.

- I agree that there are some issues (such as diagnosis of serious medical problems) which we should not be trying to give advice on - but I think that the line is currently being drawn in the wrong place. I don't think that minor childhood ailments and first aid need be barred.

- Nobody is forced to respond to a question if they don't feel happy doing so. If some people want to steer clear of bumps, scrapes and minor ailments then that's their privilege.