Nothing pulls on a mom's heart strings or stresses a mommy out quite like a sick baby. Make sure that you're prepared for this flu season by stocking up on these 20 essential items and for your sick baby or toddler:
Boogie Wipes are great for wiping the nose area without irritating the skin. They also come in a "Fresh Scent" (instead of the traditional "Grape Flavored Scent." My little one seems to prefer the fresh scent.
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| Boogie Wipes |
2. Cool Mist Humidifier
Link(s): Crane Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier (more colors available)
or Safety 1st Soothing Mist Ultrasonic Humidifier
Link(s): Crane Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier (more colors available)
or Safety 1st Soothing Mist Ultrasonic Humidifier
Cool mist humidifiers are the best. I have researched and experimented with very any of these pain-in-the-a** items, and I have narrowed it down to the two best humidifiers out there for babies (see my post on the Top 2 Humidifiers for Baby (Easy-to-Use) (2013). I've known a few people, including myself, who have been very disappointed with humidifiers bought in the stores. (They are either to loud, difficult to clean, or have some other idiosyncrasy).
3. Liquid Medication Dispensers
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| Baby Liquid Medication Syringes |
Having multiple Baby Medicine Syringes on hand is extremely helpful.
It's hard to have too many of these things with a toddler or baby in the house. Dispensers usually come in the box with each medication bottle that you purchase (for Infants medicine). Save them! Otherwise, you'll be forced to clean the dispenser after each use every single time. If you're supermom, then fine, clean it each time. If you're human like me, then you'll be incredibly tired, and distracted, when you have a sick baby. So clean it [tomorrow] and use a spare dispenser the next time.
4. Nipple Medication Dispenser
If your young infant needs medication, Nipple dispensers are fantastic for this. I prefer to use the Baby Medicine Syringes once my baby gets older - but the Nipple Medication Dispenser
was the only way my child would take medication when she was a newborn.
was the only way my child would take medication when she was a newborn. |
  Nosefrida Baby Nasal Aspirator |
I was reluctant to try the Nosefrida at first, but this boogie-sucking item is a must-have. It is fantastic. My child used to DESPISE the booger sucker (so much so that I even published Help! Baby HATES the Booger Sucker: Mommy Support Needed a separate blog post, seeking advise in my moment of booger-sucking desperation). Thanks to the readers at Mommy Mia Monologues, who suggested the Nosefrida to me, my child no longer fears booger sucking time (see How the Nosefrida Changed My Boogy Little Life).
Video of my daughter saying "ahhh" (in relief)
each time we use the Nosefrida...hilarious.
(and/or the hospital-grade Booger Sucker)
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| Booger Sucker (I drew a happy face on the thing because I wanted to daughter to like it so badly). |
There is no worse time to realize that your baby thermometer is out of batteries than when you have a sick, crying baby. Do not let this happen to you. Baby thermometer batteries (especially the Ear Thermometers) are usually those weird, round batteries - not your simple AAA or AA batteries - the digital thermometer batteries often require those circular kind of batteries that have weird names numeric descriptions to them, like the "CR-2032." Trying to figure out the type of battery your baby thermometer takes (not to mention, going to the store to buy the battery), while you have a sick baby or toddler will make you insanely stressed out. Buy your thermometers spare battery before your baby gets sick - keep spare batteries on hand.
7. Vick's Baby Rub
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| Vick's Baby Rub |
I put Vick's Baby Rub on baby's feet before bed when she is sick. If I am going to be near her, I rub it on her chest too. I do this after giving my little one a nice, long bath in a steamy bathroom. My little one is a big fan of the Vick's Baby Rub.
8. Tissues with Lotion
If your baby or toddler has a runny noise, chances are that you'll be wiping it a lot. Using tissues with lotion is a good idea because it helps soften the rubbing on baby's already raw skin.
Aquaphor Baby Healing Ointment and/or Vaseline are amazing for runny noses. Use these ointments to rub around your baby's chapped little nose and lips. When your little one has a cold, this can make the world of a difference to your baby. I swear my little one looks up and thanks me each time I rub this on her poor, chapped lips and nostrils when she is sick.
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| Vaseline |
10. Wet Ones, Antibacterial Wipes
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| Wet Ones Antibacterial Hand Wipes |
Load up on Wet Ones Antibacterial Hand Wipes
. 
You're going to be wiping off a lot of snot and boogers. Keep your hands clean so you don't get sick yourself.
11. Saline Spray, for Babies
Link: Saline Nasal Mist (Baby)
Using Saline Nasal Mist, Baby gets the gunk out and works wonders when coupled with either your booger sucker or the Nosefrida Baby Nasal Aspirator (see my post !!!!!!!!!!)
My child despises Saline Spray, but it is completely necessary when they have a cold. It gets the gunk out of there, and can help to prevent pneumonia from building up in your baby's chest.
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| Saline Nasal Mist (Baby) |
Using Saline Nasal Mist, Baby gets the gunk out and works wonders when coupled with either your booger sucker or the Nosefrida Baby Nasal Aspirator (see my post !!!!!!!!!!)My child despises Saline Spray, but it is completely necessary when they have a cold. It gets the gunk out of there, and can help to prevent pneumonia from building up in your baby's chest.
12. Pedialyte
Link: Pedialyte
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| Pedialyte |
You definitely always want Pedialyte
a stock of this in your pantry. I mix just a little bit of Pedialyte in her sippy cup with water - she is more than happy to keep the liquids down.
13. Chicken Soup
Chicken Noodle Soup - Great for older babies, and sick mommies.
14. Baby Food Pouches
15. Dole Mandarin Orange Cups
Dole Mandarin in 100% Fruit Juice is great for toddlers with colds. The new version (2012) of these fruit cups doesn't contain syrup or any artificial sweeteners (just fruit juice 100%).
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| Dole Mandarin in 100% Fruit Juice |
Dole Mandarin in 100% Fruit Juice is great for toddlers with colds. The new version (2012) of these fruit cups doesn't contain syrup or any artificial sweeteners (just fruit juice 100%).
16. Medication Dosage Information Sheet
Talk to the pediatrician and fill this out ahead of time.
Keep an all-inclusive list of the medications that your baby can take, and make photocopies of it for your child's daycare provider, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and keep one in the diaper bag as well. Be sure to ask your pediatrician about this prior to your child getting sick - because waiting for your pediatrician to call you back when your child is miserably sick can make minutes feel like hours. Make sure to pair the dosage information with the milligrams (mg.), as some medications of the same type come in different strengths. Make sure you jot down your child's age and weight, along with the dosage (mg.) information as well.
17. Stock up on Medications.
Check with your pediatricians about medications that your child can take (e.g., Tylenol, IB Profin, Benadryl, etc.)
18. Don't Forget About the "B.R.A.T. Diet"
(Banana, Rice, Applesauce, Toast)
19. Photo Copies Operating Manuals for Each Baby Thermometer You Own
Not all thermometers are created equal! You have your forehead thermometers, versus ear thermometers, versus anal thermometers versus under-arm thermometers...what classifies a "fever" is different on each device! It's not as simple as 98.6 degrees!
Keep photocopies of your thermometer's manual in every bag that you use for your baby (diaper bags, tote bags, gym bags, etc.). Ear thermometers and forehead thermometers have different temperature ranges as to what qualifies as a "fever"; for example, a temperature reading of 98.6 degrees on some "forehead thermometers" can actually mean that your baby has a fever of possibly 100+degrees. These devices vary significantly. (Anal temperature readings are the most accurate, but I like to use that method only once I suspect a temperature with my forehead and ear thermometers.
20. A steamy bathKeep photocopies of your thermometer's manual in every bag that you use for your baby (diaper bags, tote bags, gym bags, etc.). Ear thermometers and forehead thermometers have different temperature ranges as to what qualifies as a "fever"; for example, a temperature reading of 98.6 degrees on some "forehead thermometers" can actually mean that your baby has a fever of possibly 100+degrees. These devices vary significantly. (Anal temperature readings are the most accurate, but I like to use that method only once I suspect a temperature with my forehead and ear thermometers.
Even though this may not qualify as a "product," a steamy bath can do wonders for a congested baby or toddler. I like to steam up my bathroom before I give my little one a bath when she is congested. It helps every time.
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| Top Sick Baby Products |
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Great timimg! Very good tips.
ReplyDeleteThanks Yunnie! These were helpful for my little one whose had an ongoing cold for about 3 weeks now.
ReplyDelete