Child not feeling well? When your medicine cabinet is well stocked, the cure is just a moment away.
It’s 11:05 p.m. The pharmacy just closed. The kids are all sleeping. Except for the one who’s coughing and coughing and just can’t stop. He could really use some cough medicine, but there’s just no practical way to make it happen.
Has something like this happened to your family? We’ve put together a list of (mostly) over the counter medications and first aid items that are good to have on hand for times like these.
Infants’ Tylenol and Children’s Tylenol For fever and pain.
Infants’ Motrin and Children’s Motrin Also for fever and pain. Some doctors prefer ibuprofen; the effects of ibuprofen last longer than those of acetaminophen.
Children’s Delsym This is the best over the counter cough suppressant that doctors recommend.
Benadryl and Children’s Benadryl These can be helpful to quell those allergic reactions.
Pepto Bismol The antidote for upset stomach and nausea.
Dramamine Kids The go-to for motion sickness-related nausea.
Children’s Claritin The must for those who suffer from seasonal allergies.
Gentian Violet The fastest way to get rid of thrush.
AZO Urinary Pain This is the best relief you can get before heading to a doctor, or stopping pain before it gets worse.
AZO UTI Test Strips For those with a tendency to UTI infections, this could be your first check before heading to the pediatrician.
Reese’s Pinworm Medicine Pinworm symptoms tend to show up in the night, so you’ll want to be able to treat them right away.
Ace bandage Wrap a sore limb after a fall if you can’t get to a doctor right away. Sometimes that extra attention is all that’s needed to magically mend the injury.
After Bite Mosquito bites can keep kids from falling asleep. This will help take a bit of the itch away.
Bacitraycin Make sure to be prepared for all cuts and scrapes.
Oxaflacin (pink eye drops). This is a prescription medication. Along with croup medication, your pediatrician might recommend keeping this on hand if your children have a tendency to these conditions. Nebulizer solutions can also be important in some households.
A couple of homeopathic remedies we also like to have on hand are Herbal Power Wound Care and Arnica tablets and gel.
If you have a wood deck or if your children tend to get splinters in the summertime, Splinter-Out is useful. School nurses keep this on hand and it’s the most painless way to remove a splinter.
Oh! Make sure to get some of these disposable medicine cups, too! And make sure to check out our medicine dose tracking hack!
Now tell us – what’s in your medicine cabinet? What do you always make sure to have in the house?
What’s the best way to teach kids to swallow pills?
I bought a pack of tic tacs and we went through almost the entire pack. By the end my son (finally) mastered swallowing pills. You can either start with the tic tax on the tongue and then swallow it with drop of water or I like to start with a drop of water, add the tic tac and swallow them both. Hatzloche!
place the pill on a teaspoon with applesauce (or something similar) after 1 or 2 tries the child usually swallows it.
I would add Gatorade or Powerade for staying hydrated and hydrocortisone for itchy rashes! Another thing I like is the patches that heat up once opened (think a big hottie lol ). Great for sore muscles and stiff necks.
Bandaids!! All sizes. And Bactine for scrapes and cuts. And Tums and Gas X.
Interestingly enough my pediatrician doesn’t recommend kids Tylenol. She says it’s “like candy” aka ineffective.
A good ear thermometer is something worth investing in. It’s the most accurate ( my pediatrician uses the same one!) and helps you stay on top of your child’s fever.
Which one is a good one?
A cream for minor burns is also a must and a nasal spray for when they can’t fall asleep because of a stuffy nose.
Braun digital ear thermometer
Would love to see a post of someone’s natural remedies medicine cabinet!
I can start with mine:
Calendula ointment by Boiron. Amazing for just anything skin related
Green clay for those bad diaper rashes
Onions to make an “onion muff” when a child wakes up in middle of the night with an ear infection
ParaGuard by Zahler for pin worms
We use all that you listed plus:
Activated charcoal / Arsenicum 30c for anything stomach related
Arnica Gel or pellets for all pain, muscle aches, headaches
Nutrasporin for cuts, scrapes
Olive leaf immune booster when sick
Elderberry syrup immune booster when sick
Vitamin c and d immune boosters when sick
Manuka honey immune booster, sore throat, skin infection
Peppermint essential oil diluted for headaches
Oregano essential oil diluted for sore throat and ear infection
Tylenol depletes glutathione so we stay away from that
Any other tried and true recommendations for pinworms? The Reese’s is so gross and we treat the whole family when we suspect something is going on…
TIA!
I’m looking for a better tasting kosher option as well.
FYI Motrin should not be given to babies under 6 months. Ask your doctor…
Tylenol suppositories for babies and kids!!! Life changer!