The 24 hour drug store is a wonderful thing, but when its the middle of the night and your baby is crying because of gas or teething pain, the last thing you want to do is get into the car and drive to the store. Do future you a big favour and pick up this list of baby medicine cabinet essentials then breathe easy knowing you're prepared for almost any discomfort your baby may experience. Add in a nice basket or box, and this would make a thoughtful (and practical) baby shower gift for a new mother just starting out.
*The items in red are helpful to keep in the diaper bag as well as the home medicine kit.
*The items in red are helpful to keep in the diaper bag as well as the home medicine kit.
20 Essential Items for your Infant Medicine Cabinet
- Digital Thermometer
- Baby liquid acetaminophen like Tylenol and dosing chart (ibuprofen only if baby is 6 months or older)
- Saline drops (to loosen mucus) and a nasal aspirator (also known as a “bulb syringe”) for stuffy noses.
- Tweezers (for splinters)
- Gripe water / anti-gas drops
- Electrolyte solution / rehydration fluid such as Pedialyte (for after vomiting or diarrhea)
- Diaper rash cream
- Medicine dropper or syringe
- Cotton balls (for applying lotions and for disinfecting supplies with rubbing alcohol)
- Humidifier
- Baby nail clippers or a small nail file
- Topical calamine lotion or hydro-cortisone cream (for bug bites)
- Antibacterial ointment such as Polysporin or Neosporin (for cuts and scratches)
- Cold compress (for bumps and bruises) / heating pad (for aches)
- Vicks VapoRub
- Baby safe sunscreen / insect repellent (after 6 months)
- Baby Anbesol or Oragel and a teething ring in the freezer
- Vasoline or baby oil (for sore dry skin)
- Mild soap without perfumes or irritants (for cleaning skins around scrapes and scratches)
- First aid manual / phone numbers for emergency help and poison control centres (FYI: Ontario Poison Control = 1-800-268-9017)
Keep in mind that the bathroom is not the most ideal place to keep your baby first aid kit, because of the moisture in the air. Aim to keep these items in a place that is easily accessible to you (to deal with 2 am fevers or stuffy noses) but is completely out of reach of your baby. For example, in a clearly labelled basket on the top shelf of your linen closet. Also, since the goal is to have everything at hand, buy replacement jars of lotions etc, before you run out of the current jar.
As a final note: Trust your instincts, you can prepare for almost any eventuality, but if you feel like something isn't right, or a symptom is severe, contact your doctor immediately. It is better to be safe than sorry.
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