5 Cold and Flu Season Essentials for Parents with Babies
Medication is not recommended for very young children. These non-medicinal products are the must-haves to get parents through flu and cold season.
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Author
Goji Research Team
Date Posted
January 5, 2022
Seeing your kid get sick and figuring out how to care for them through it can be incredibly scary and stressful. You play the guessing game about whether it’s COVID or just allergies, you go down a terrifying rabbit hole online… We’ve all been there.
Regardless of the diagnosis, you want to be as prepared as you can to help your little one feel better as quickly as possible. Sickness always comes out of nowhere and can linger as family members pass it around. We’ve compiled a list of cold and flu season essentials to help you and your little one manage through it. Feeling prepared can ease parental stress, clearing emotional space for you to be present and calm for those healing cuddles.
Here are the essentials:
1. Nasal aspirator (used with saline and wipes)
Was it also a shock to you that babies and toddlers don’t just know how to blow their noses? Nose aspirators are an absolute lifesaver when your kiddo is congested. Keep in mind, there are different styles of aspirators; traditional bulb, battery-operated, and manual suction. We love the Nose Frida by FridaBaby. We found it to be most effective that is also safe for all ages. You also get more control over how much or how little suction you would like to use. We also recommended using a saline spray along with the nasal aspirator to help soften and break down the mucus before using the aspirator to remove it. Boogie wipes are also great to have on hand to gently clean your kiddo’s face without scrubbing it raw.
2. Two types of thermometers
We recommended having two kinds of thermometers on hand. Having a light up no-touch thermometer for easy quick readings, especially for late-night readings, will allow you to take your child’s temp without waking them up. But since no-touch thermometers are not as accurate, we also recommend having a traditional thermometer when you need very precise readings. If you have an infant, your traditional should be a rectal thermometer. Here is a great article about how to safely get a rectal temperature.
3. Fever cooling pads
Fever pads are a great way to get relief for your little one without requiring them to sit still to apply a traditional cold compress. They last up to 8 hours with no refrigeration needed. If you’ve ever felt your arm go numb holding a cold compress to your child’s head, you see why these are a no-brainer.
4. Humidifiers
Humidifiers are the underrated MVPs of cold and flu season. They relieve symptoms of congestion, cough, sore throat, asthma, and dry skin. They also reduce the risk of allergies. There is a huge variety of humidifiers, so consider your family’s needs. There are so many sizes, designs and features; cool or warm mist and extra perks like nightlights.
5. Air purifiers
Air purifiers are a smart and practical tool for prevention. Purifiers are great year-round to clean your home's air from dust, allergens, odors and harmful chemicals. Choose an air purifier based on the square feet of your home or room and keep in mind that some are noisy and not great for the bedroom.
At Goji, we don’t research medication, but we recommend you check your family’s cold and flu medication expiration dates to make sure they are current and safe for small children. We also recommend the common-sense safeguard of annual flu shots for the whole family, to help lessen the severity of symptoms and recovery time if you do contract the flu.
Sometimes, the best products for “most people” won’t work for you and your family's specific needs. If you have a question about the products above or to request more personalized cold and flu recommendations from our researchers, sign up for free below for personalized help from our research team.
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