Cold and flu season is every parent’s dreaded time of year—one day your little one is full of energy, and the next, they’re sniffling, coughing, and glued to the couch under a mountain of tissues. While we can’t always prevent the inevitable, we can be prepared.
Having the right products on hand can make a world of difference when it comes to soothing symptoms, promoting rest, and keeping kids as comfortable as possible. From gentle fever reducers to must-have humidifiers and congestion relief remedies, we’ve rounded up 15 essentials that will help you survive the season with a little less stress and a lot more comfort for your kiddo.
Zarbee's Soothing Chest Rub
$6.98
from
Colds can cause stuffy noses or coughing. This particular rub from Zarbee’s is made with eucalyptus, lavender, and beeswax to help with breathing in a safe way.
Lolleez Organic Throat Soothing Pops
During cold and flu season, it’s not uncommon for kids to have sore throats. Soothe their itchy or scratchy throats with Lolleez organic throat soothing pops. Made with pectin and organic honey, these lollipops provide soothing relief (and the watermelon, strawberry, and orange mango flavors are irresistible).
Digital Thermometer
Thermometers are a must. They can be a good indicator of how a kid is feeling when LO might not be able to communicate it. This high-tech one can get the numbers instantaneously.
Throat Spray
There’s nothing worse than waking up with a sore throat. Having throat spray handy can help let everyone get some more sleep (both mom and kid). It’ll keep the kid comfortable until the doctor visit.
Nose Wipes
Starting at
$8.04
from
Runny noses mean lots of tissues. For some reason, kids tend to use one whole tissue per nose wipe, which can result in lots of tissues wasted and a sore nose and lip. Avoid that with gentle saline nose wipes like these.
Reusable Straws
Whether a child has the flu, sniffles, or sore throat, having the energy or pain tolerance to drink normally can be tough. Straws can make it easy to swallow and even drink while lying down.
Medicine Spoon
It’s hard to give babies and toddlers medicine as it is, let alone in a regular spoon that can easily spill. But if it’s in one of these easy-to-measure spoons, life will be a whole lot less messy.
Mucinex Children's Multi-Symptom Day/Night Liquid
Speaking of stuffy noses, Mucinex is a good thing to have in the medicine cabinet for both kids and adults. This children’s version comes with double-duty liquids. One helps cold symptoms for the daytime and another for at night. Because colds don’t care what time it is.
Baby Nasal Aspirator
Blowing noses isn’t always easy with little ones. Suck out their congestion as much as possible with a nasal aspirator.
Vicks 1.2 Gallon Filter-Free Cool Mist Humidifier
Soothe coughs and help decongest stuffy chests and noses with a cool mist humidifier. This one can last for up to 33 hours and fills medium-sized rooms efficiently.
Vicks BabyRub
OK, so we couldn’t miss having Vicks “baby rub” on the list. The regular version has been a remedy for cold relief for many years, but the company recently made a version formulated for babies aged 3 months and older.
Cooling Fever Pads
Parents know when their kids are burning up, whether by a thermometer or back-of-hand touch. Cooling pads like these can provide relief to a feverish body fighting off infection.
Soothing Vapor Bath
Sick babies take baths, too. Make it count with a body wash from Johnson’s that doubles as a stuffy nose clearer. It’s made especially, and safely, for them.
Kleenex On-The-Go Facial Tissues
Tissue boxes work well at home, but they’re hard to carry on-the-go. Stock up on travel tissues to be ready for sneezes and runny noses in the car or at the doctor.
Alcohol-Free Hand Sanitizer Wipes
And the one thing we can’t avoid about colds are the germs. Minimize the fam’s exposure to germs as much as possible by sanitizing everyone’s hands frequently.
Disclaimer: The advice on CafeMom.com is not a substitute for consultation with a medical professional or treatment for a specific condition. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem without consulting a qualified professional. Please contact your health care provider with questions and concerns.
*Psst: if you choose to purchase an item from this post, CafeMom.com may receive a small cut. Each item and price is up to date at the time of publication; however, an item may be sold out or the price may be different at a later date.
