10 Genius Mom Hacks to Try When Kids Are Sick

Nothing brings out the mom MacGyver in all of us like a sick kid. Whether the little ones are feverish, coughing, or crying over a boo boo, it's in our DNA to make them feel better by any means possible. And that's led moms to come up with some incredibly ingenious solutions for a whole range of medical woes. Ever heard of life hacks? Introducing medical hacks … ways to make the kiddos feel better with things we all have around the house.

Child gets sick in the middle of the night when there are no pharmacies open? Or maybe the kid is burning up and a mom needs a fix ASAP. Perhaps a parent wants to make the medicine cabinet well stocked and ready for the next round of sickness. Well, we found some truly helpful tips and tricks for the parent who needs to attend to a medical emergency in a snap. From mixing up homemade "Pedialyte" to nixing nausea with household items, check out these amazingly genius hacks for moms to never feel at a loss with sick kids ever again. 

Take a look at our favorite, easy medical hacks for the moms who want to be prepared in any scenario. One might be surprised how easy it is to make the perfect first aid kit.

DIY Medical Dosage Tracking Chart

Woman hand pouring medication or antipyretic syrup from bottle to spoon. healthcare, people and medicine concept.
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Remembering to give the kiddos their meds at the right time is just one more task on your crowded to-do list that can easily fall through the cracks. To banish medical momnesia, try writing directly on the medicine bottle to create a DIY medical dosing tracking chart.

Homemade Heat Pack

Boy using cherry pits heating pad. Cherry stone thermal pillows, cherry pit filled pillow - natural heat pack. Alternative medicine and therapy, pit sack for spa massage, chiropractic care
Iryna Mylinska/iStock

Make your own homemade heat pack out of old fabric and dried corn kernels (or rice or flax seeds) — great for muscle aches or growing pains!

Homemade 'Pedialyte'

baby girl blonde in home interior , drinking apple juice
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It's 3 a.m. and your kids are sick — vomiting, diarrhea, the works. It's too late to hit the drug store for some Pedialyte … so whip up some homemade Pedialyte instead. All the ingredients for this rehydrating beverage are in your own home; while recipes abound online, this one from 100 Days of Real Food has been vetted by a pediatrician.

Bug Bite Cream

Bananas
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Here's an ancient Chinese secret: rub the inside of a banana peel on bug bites to stop swelling and itching fast when you don't have any anti-histamine cream on hand.

Homemade Cough Drops

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LorAnn Oils and Flavors

If you've got a kiddo who treats cough drops like candy, it can get expensive. Skip the bags of store drops and make your own. This recipe for homemade losenges from LorAnn Oils and Flavors is homeopathic, can be made on the stove-top or in a microwave, and you can use fun molds like teddy bears that'll get kids happy to pop them in. You can also make lollipops!

More from The Stir: 9 Natural Ways to Stop Coughing in Kids

'Boo Boo' Bunny Ice Pack

pink bath towel rolls
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What better way is there to make any bump, scrape, or owie feel better than a boo boo bunny? It's just a wet washcloth placed in the fridge (so it's cheap!) but Toys in the Dryer's DIY makes for a cuddly friend to help ease their discomfort.

Alcohol Swab for Nausea

Summit cross of the Schafberg in Austria
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While suffering morning sickness, Cara at Like Mom and Apple Pie learned a life-saving trick from a nurse: inhale the fumes from an alcohol swab to alleviate nausea. She uses it on her kids all the time, especially for motion sickness in the car — a much better option than Dramamine if you like to avoid medicating your kids.

The Vicks Vaporub Foot Trick

Vicks vaporub package box and bottle
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Maybe you've tried rubbing Vicks Vaporub on your child's chest to ease congestion and coughing, but Cara at Like Mom And Apple Pie (and many other moms!) swear by this lesser-known trick: rub Vaporub on their feet, then cover with thick socks.

Maxi-pad Ice Pack

Women's personal hygiene items: pads and liners
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Yup, those feminine napkins you reach for when you get your period does double-duty as a great DIY ice pack. According to pain specialist Amy Baxter, MD, you just run it under a cold running faucet for a cool compress, or you can freeze it for lower temperatures.

Marshmallows for a Sore Throat

A close-up shot of marshmallows
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For kids (or adults for that matter), being sick won't seem half so bad if that means they get to eat a marshmallow to soothe a sore throat. In fact, marshmallow is actually an herb used to relieve scratchy throats for thousands of years because it contains a gummy substance called mucilage, which forms a slick gel that can coat surfaces and relieve irritation. Odds are, the marshmallows you buy at the store today probably don't contain this magic herb, but they do contain gelatin, which can also coat and soothe a sore throat, too.

*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.