I have four kids, two of which are in school. Kindergarten, actually. Which means they are ALWAYS sick.
Always.
Have you heard that kids have more germs than dogs? Accurate.
On day two of Kindergarten, my twins woke up with hand, foot, and mouth disease. Day 2! And then it went through the entire household for 1-2 weeks. It takes a while for those blisters to heal and they are contagious until they do!
With that being said, as a nurse practitioner and a mother to four, there are 8 things I keep on hand at ALL times to make life a little easier with frequent illnesses.
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Children’s Tylenol and Motrin.(#ad) I buy in bulk and never regret it. All 4 of my kids, plus my husband, had Flu A this year and we went through bottle after bottle of these! Every 4-6 hours for Tylenol and 6-8 hours for Motrin, like clockwork, I did my rounds and medication passes all hours of the night. It was an exhausting week, but it would have been a lot worse if I hadn’t been prepared. Print a copy of my dosage sheet for fever medications HERE.
NoseFrida. (#ad) We have just about outgrown the need for this but, if you have a baby, you NEED this. Basically, it’s a snot sucker. It helps to clear the airway so the baby can breathe through its nose and still nurse/feed. You will find there are several different options.
Thermometer. This is a no-brainer but, I’ll admit, there was a time when I needed one and did not have a working thermometer. I am not a fan of the forehead thermometers. I know they have been used a lot since COVID, but I have found that most aren’t consistent or accurate. I prefer an oral, digital thermometer. (#ad)
Puke buckets. Some of the best advice I have received, in regard to illness, from a family member was to use Halloween treat buckets as puke buckets. Of course, make sure they don’t have a hole in the bottom, but pure genius. I now keep these $1 buckets by each of my children’s beds as a precaution. It saves me having to use my kitchen bowls and saves me having to clean up a nasty mess. Empty, rinse, repeat. These are also great to keep in the car if you have a little one that gets car sick! If space is tight, THESE (#ad) puke bags are small and disposable. They are very similar to what I have used in the clinic for my patients.
Pediatlyte popsicles (#ad). Tell me you’re a mom in healthcare without telling me you’re a mom in healthcare. Right? These are awesome! Amazon is SO much cheaper than our local Walgreens! One thing I have always preached to my patients and their parents, is fluids are more important that eating when you have a stomach bug. Stay hydrated! My kids love these and ask for them when they are ill. And there have been days that it was all they could keep down.
Pediatylte Electrolyte Solution (#ad). So, I actually even recommend this to adults over Gatorade when needing to hydrate because Gatorade has so much sugar and sodium (salt). I don’t recommend this because of flavor (I actually think it tastes disgusting), but in the past I have mixed it with a small amount of apple juice to get my kids to drink it—AND IT WORKED! They now make an “Unflavored” option, which I have never tried but plan to purchase in the future.
Microwavable Rice-filled Heat Pads (#ad). THESE ARE AWESOME! If your child has ever woken you up in the middle of the night with an ear ache, you know how helpless you can feel. Trying to relieve the pain until you can get him or her to the pediatrician can be a daunting task. These can give <temporary> relief so quickly! Faster than even Motrin or Tylenol! It also works great on soothing sinus pain and migraines!
Amish Origins Cream. (#ad) This is very similar to Vick’s Vapor Rub, just not as well known. If you compare ingredients, you’ll notice they have similar ingredients, but the ratios are different. Personally, I prefer this over Vick’s because I have seen better results with myself and my children. To help with a cough, rub a little on the sole of each foot and cover with a sock, then rub a generous amount on the back and chest. My oldest daughter HATES the smell but can’t deny that it has helped her rest countless nights when the coughing just wouldn’t stop with modern medicine.
This sums up my short list of items I keep on hand for illness in our household. I always recommend consulting with your doctor before using the medications, creams, and oral rehydration solutions mentioned, as there are some illnesses/disorders in which they may be contraindicated (not recommended).
If you are reading this because you or your little one(s) is sick, I hope and pray you feel better and heal quickly! If your family is healthy, but looking to be prepared when illness hits, I hope these suggestions help you!