Kids get sick, which means that families get sick. It’s an unfortunate fact of life, but there are products out there to make it a little easier on children and their parents.
Aside from the essential over-the-counter medicines, like acetaminophen and ibuprofen, there are five other things we always keep on hand in our house:
Carmex Lip Balm
This may sound silly to be on a list of my favorite cold and flu products, but I find it to be a must-have. In the winter, indoor air tends to be dry, and little lips get chapped and painful. Add a runny nose, and you have one uncomfortable little one. There are a boatload of lip balm options out there, but I like Carmex for two major reasons. First, the price is right. With a family of five, affordability is a must. You should have a separate tube for each member of the family, to cut down on spreading germs, so at about $1.50 a piece, this is a great value. Second, the menthol is good for both the decongestant factor and soothing sore lips.
Boogie Wipes
If you haven’t seen these, they’re pretty neat. They’re a lot like baby wipes, but the moisture is from natural saline, so it feels good when it touches your little guy’s tender nose. Dry tissues are abrasive and regular wipes usually have ingredients in them that can irritate delicate, chapped skin. My kids don’t squirm away when I use Boogie Wipes. I love, love, love them.
Organic B.R.A.T. feel-better drink
This is another relatively new product that works along the same line as the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce and toast) for soothing sick stomachs. The thing I like about this is that it’s a drink. It’s much easier to get my little guys to drink a tummy-calming liquid than to eat rice and toast.
Pedialyte
Another cold and flu time drink we keep around is Pedialyte. If your child has lost a lot of liquids through vomiting and diarrhea, then it’s extremely important to help him rehydrate. Pedialyte is easy on a child’s stomach and replaces lost liquids and electrolytes.
Johnson’s Soothing Vapor Bath
I add this vapor bath solution to their bathwater just like bubble bath, but it has menthol in it to help clear any cold-related congestion. I’ve tried generic brands of vapor baths and haven’t liked them nearly as much as the Johnson’s brand. My boys skin isn’t irritated, they always feel better, and their skin is always soft and satiny after their bath.
I cringe at the thought of cold and flu season every year, but pretending like it might not happen is pretty unrealistic. To cut costs, I gradually stock up on these supplies before the winter months hit to keep costs low and to avoid having to buy everything at once when someone starts to sniffle.
Are there any must-haves you keep on hand during cold and flu season?
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