Cold & Cough Essentials for Toddlers
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When flu and cold season hits, it hits us hard. Since we have a toddler and a preschooler at the moment, it feels like our family is sick every other week. This is why I like to stay prepared with some of my favorite little kid, sick day supplies. You never know when a virus is going to hit the family and be passed around for weeks, so why not just stock up on what you’ll need for your average cold? That way you don’t need to make last minute runs to the store. So, without further ado, here are some supplies that you’ll need in order to get through the cold and flu season with young children.
Nasal Suction
You’ve probably already heard of the device called the Nose Frida, that allows you to suck nasal secretions out of your kids’ noses without getting secretions in your mouth. As gross as that sounds, it actually works, and secretions really do not get in your mouth! You’d be surprised by how difficult it can be for some toddlers to learn how to copy “blowing your nose,” so I’ve found that this tool has been a lifesaver, even after infancy. I still try to teach my 2 year old how to blow her nose into a tissue, but having a suction can really help when you’re in the thick of a cold virus and the nose blowing skill is still under development. You’ll want to make sure you have extra filters on hand as well, just to keep things working optimally and stay sanitary. I also suggest calling your doctor’s office for recommendations on suctioning, because there is such a thing as over suctioning. You’ll need to find a balance between keeping their airway clear and not irritating their sensitive nares.
Saline Drops
I always like to have a small bottle of saline spray or drops on hand because toddler nasal secretions and boogers get crusty. Sometimes, the secretion can get so thick that it becomes hard to suction out. We usually use the Little Remedies Saline Drops, but any saline drop meant for nasal secretions should work. You don’t need a lot, just a drop per nostril usually does the trick to soften crusty boogers in our house. Follow a drop of saline up with a quick suction with your nose Frida and you’ll see how much secretions are actually hiding in their noses!
Washcloths
I already have a ton of washcloths available for baths and washing faces, but I love having some soft ones on hand for when my kids are sick too. Typically, one of the first things that I do if they develop a fever is try to cool them down with a cool compress to the forehead. They are also nice to have handy just to keep your child clean. When they have a runny nose, snot can get everywhere and all over their faces or arms. A quick wipe down with a soft, moist washcloth just keeps everything hygienic and protects their skin.
A Good Thermometer
I don’t think that you need anything too fancy, just a working, reliable thermometer. We personally use the Safety 1st digital thermometer. I use it under the arm for my kids and I feel like it has never steered me wrong so far. Not only does it give me a reading fairly quickly, it feels soft and bendy, so when I have to really wedge it into my kids’ underarms, I don’t think it pokes them too hard or feels too uncomfortable. This is what works for our family, but getting a temperature on a squirmy child is no easy feat, so get a thermometer that works for your family!
Humidifier
There isn’t a lot that you can do for coughs in children this young, but you can use a humid air! I learned first hand that humid air makes a difference in the frequency of coughing spells for my children. While everyone is awake during the day, you can provide humid air by letting the shower run and sitting in a humid bathroom, or just give your child a nice warm bath. Another way your child can breathe in humid air all day is by simply using a humidifier. Running a humidifier at bedtime can give your child relief from coughing spells and allow your child to sleep better through the night. We currently have the older version of the Crane Droplet Ultrasonic Humidifier, but they have since come out with a newer version.
Vaseline
My mom used this product on me as a child. It was great for protecting the skin under your nostrils from getting rubbed raw from constantly wiping with tissues. I feel like it also moisturizes and provides a barrier between your child’s skin and their nasal secretions that may be sitting on top of the skin for too long. Not only does this work to protect skin under your nose, it can be helpful to have on hand for potential nose bleeds that can occur with colds. Sometimes, just a thin layer of Vaseline applied to the inner nares can help keep that delicate skin moisturized to help prevent recurring nose bleeds due to irritation from the common cold or dry air.
Tissues with Lotion
We stock up on tissues with lotion because between suctioning, our kids’ noses still run like faucets. Spending a little extra to get the Kleenex with lotion, ensures that with our frequent nose wipes, we’re still being gentle with their delicate skin.
Favorite Drinks
This will be different for everyone, but we like to stock up on our kids’ favorite drinks during cold and flu season. It is so important for your child to maintain good hydration while they are sick. Proper hydration also helps to keep secretions thin and easier to suction out. Having their favorite drinks available just makes keeping hydrated easier when they are not feeling well. You can also try to encourage hydration by offering food with higher water content like fruits, popsicles, or a lukewarm soup.
Children’s Tylenol
Sometimes it’s hard for a child to rest and feel comfortable if they have a fever that isn’t lowered with a cool compress. In this case, it’s nice to have Children’s Tylenol available at home, with a dose approved by your child’s pediatrician. Although Children’s Tylenol comes with its own tiny measuring cup, I would still be prepared with an oral medicine syringe, just in case your child does not want to drink the medicine from the tiny cup.
Hand Sanitizer
I love to have Purell hand sanitizer available for myself when one of my kids is sick. With how often you feel like you need to wash your hands after wiping noses and covering coughs, having a bottle of hand sanitizer nearby is a lifesaver. Though it is unavoidable at times, catching a cold when you’re busy taking care of sick children is the last thing you want. So I can’t stress this enough, sanitize your hands!
Unfortunately, small children tend to catch colds and coughs frequently, but are too young for most over-the-counter medications. The good news is that most children recover just fine with simple comfort measures at home. Though this supply list helps to support your child as they recover from their cold at home, I still recommend trusting your intuition. You know your child best and will know if it is time to call your child’s doctor. However, with these sick day supplies, I hope you feel more prepared to take care of your little ones when they are feeling under the weather!
