Preparing Your Baby’s First Health Care Kit

Little kids get sick all the time. If your baby is going to daycare, they are also more likely to catch many different illnesses that will keep them home. This post will help you prepare the items and remedies to have on hand for those runny noses and coughs so your little one can feel better in no time.

I’ve also included some helpful links to government and accredited healthcare research so you are aware of the age appropriate treatments for your sick baby.

Note that I am not a healthcare professional, and some remedies are homeopathic. Please speak to your pediatrician or a family doctor before trying any medication. You can also call the 8-1-1 line in BC to speak to a registered nurse. I’ve done a few telehealth consults and it’s MUCH better than going to the emergency for not-so-dire situations.

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Tip for EXPECTING moms:

Sign up for Amazon Baby Registry and pop these health care items in there. You’ll get a Baby Registry completion discount, extended return periods and be able to have everything ready before your new bundle of joy arrives.

Fevers

The scariest time for me is when my daughter spikes a high fever. As a first time mom, I wasn’t sure what I could give her to help the fever go down quickly. A close mom friend of mine mentioned that her young son had fever seizures from spiking a fever quickly. If you or your husband had a history of fever seizures as a child (6 months – 5 years old), read up on it so you know what to expect in the chance it happens.

For children age 11 and under, HealthLink BC has an information webpage with all the information you would want to know on the topic of fevers, home remedies, prevention and preparing for a doctor’s appointment.

An important note to mention here about fevers is that the temperature varies depending on how you take it. Children also tend to run HIGHER FEVERS than adults. You can read about how to take body temperatures properly here. The most common ways to measure a fever is:

• In the ear
• In the armpit
• Under the tongue (oral)
• In the rectum
• Forehead – this is supposedly the least accurate, but can be used from 3 months and older easily.

Thermometer

• Ear thermometer: I use this for my daughter since it is intuitive to use and has age divided from 0-3 months, 3-36 months and 36+ months.
• Oral, underarm or resactal thermometer: much more affordable option and I like to have backups of the ear thermometer in case it doesn’t work for any reason.

Cold Compress

• Cooling patch: peel and stick to the forehead. It works really well to cool down the forehead temperature and has a slight medicated smell.
• Ice bag: I use this in conjunction with the cooling patch. This quickly lowers the head temperature. This one is my tried and true brand available also at Shoppers Drug Mart, but so much more affordable on Amazon. No leaks and comfortable for kids and adults.

Tylenol/Advil

• Infant Tylenol (Acetaminophen): make sure to get the liquid syringe type, measure the dose by WEIGHT and not just age. Speak to your child’s doctor before administering.
• Infant Advil (Ibuprophen): make sure to get the liquid syringe type, measure the dose by WEIGHT and not just age. Speak to your child’s doctor before administering.

Colds/ Runny Nose / Congestion / Cough

• Nosefrida snot sucker: sounds gross in theory but works wonders. There is a hygiene filter stopper, people! Make sure that’s in there nice and good before you go to town with the snot sucker. You’ll be amazed how much snot comes out of that tiny little nose. I would recommend using the saline spray first then suck.
• Saline Spray Mist: 100% natural sourced seawater. It helps with stuffy nose and lubricating the nose for easier suction with the Nosefrida. I DON’T recommend the single use vials when your baby is young since you’ll probably get the saline anywhere BUT inside the nostrils.
• Oogie bear nose and ear cleaner: I don’t personally use this for earwax. I find this really easy to use to get those pesky boogers stuck in those tiny little nostrils. The 2 pack also comes with a case!
• Cool Air/Warm Air humidifier: cold air humidifiers are recommended for children for safety, but warm air humidifiers disperse less potential mineral buildup and the growth of bacterial and molds. I use this large one that is top-filling, and didn’t want to invest in another one for warm air should we need to use it in the winter. It has so many functional settings and you can set the humidity levels higher for when your child is sick.

Natural Remedies

• Boiron Coryzalia Cold: homeopathic medicine used for nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing for 1 month – 11 years. These are individually packaged in sterile, drinkable vials. I started giving her this after her first cold closer to 1 year old and it seemed to have calmed down the symptoms. My daughter likes to take this medicine and has no problem with drinking from the vial.
• Chest rub: I looked at many options that is natural and safe with a mild smell for those coughs that never seem to go away. This applies pretty much just like a lotion and has a cooling effect. This is recommended for infants 3 months and up. For kids older than 2 years old, you may be more open to trying the more stronger options. Consult your physician.
• Boiron Stodal Cough: homeopathic honey cough syrup. Suitable from 1 year old – 11 years old. Note honey is toxic for children under 12 months so please be careful. It seems to lessen her cough, though not eliminate it completely which is expected. Most other cough syrups aren’t suitable for children under 6 years old.

Diapering

• Diaper rash cream: if you are looking for diaper rash cream that has a truly clean ingredient list that is ALSO effective, get this. You can check the ingredients with the ThinkDirty app and it’s one of the only ones that has a “1/10” risk rating. Most others start with 3 (more toxic). I find that the consistency of this is perfect – spreads easily enough without rubbing off completely. Isn’t sticky and doesn’t have an overpowering smell. My daughter rarely had to use this because we were diligent with diaper changes and using the multipurpose ointment when she was 0-6 months old. But any time we needed to use it, the rash went away within 1 day. We are still on the same tube we got from day 1. You can also buy this in person at Wholefoods.
• Multipurpose ointment: this is a vaseline alternative. Petroleum free. Vaseline has a risk rating of 5/10 on the ThinkDirty app, whereas this ointment has “0/10” perfectly clean and non-toxic rating. I used this religiously when my daughter was a newborn 0-6 months each time we changed her diaper because I didn’t want her to get a diaper rash. This also works for those chapped noses that has been through too many tissues and wiping! I apply this on any areas that are dry and it protects and moistures these sensitive areas well. A tub lasts A LONG TIME. I’m only on my second tub and my daughter is almost 2!

Grooming

• Nail file: I’ll be honest, I cannot imagine clipping those tiny newborn nails with even a baby nail clipper. I swear by this nail file set and I think all moms should have this in their arsenal. It has different heads for different “stages” 0-3 months, 3-6 months, 6-12 months, and 12 months+. You can buy replacement heads if they get worn down. Painless for your infant and gentle on your mama heart.
• Face cream: I swear by this brand because of how truly clean it is. There is a difference between the face cream and the body lotion! The face cream absorbs quicker and has a lighter consistency than the body cream. My daughter doesn’t have any skin issues/flare ups at all and it could be thanks to this cream! I used the sensitive care version when she was 0-6 months. You can also purchase this at Wholefoods.
• Body lotion: same brand as the face cream, and by far the best in terms of actually moisturizing and absorbing into the skin. Very gentle smell and it WORKS! My daughter would occasionally have dry patches but this clears it right up. If you have a sensitive skin baby, look into the sensitive care version. This is also sold at Wholefoods.
• DermaFrida bath silicone brush: I used this religiously when my daughter was a newborn and she didn’t have any cradle cap at all. The key is to use this silicone brush in the bath, and ALSO use a soft bristle brush outside of the bath, then moisturize around the hairline! Cradle caps are built up dead skin cells so it will take diligent care to prevent it.
• Tangle Teezer: once my daughter grew out her hair, the baby brush set no longer did the trick. Her hair is extremely soft and fine with natural curls, so this has been the best option I found to keep her fragile hair brushed. So many fun colours to choose from!

Mosquito Bites / Bug Repllent

• Insect and mosquito repellant: this one is safe for younger children and even infants over 6 months. However, the official website states that for babies “6 months – 2 years old, do not apply more than once a day. Avoid application on hands.” For children 2 – 12 years old, it is not recommended to apply more than 3 times day. I would say use it sparingly. I spray it on my own hands and tap it into the back of my daughter’s neck, behind her ears, behind her knees and joints/meaty areas.
• Mosquito treatment: this is a Japanese mosquito bite treatment, has consistency of liquid. It comes in a very cute and easy to apply bottle. Safe for infants 3 months and older, no smell, and works very well for itchy skin. Worked really well on my daughter after she got eaten alive by mosquitos this summer. You can find this at your local T&T for Canadian moms!

This post was all about helping you prepare for your baby’s first health care essentials. From fevers to constant runny noses to grooming and mosquito bites, you’re fully covered with this list. If you’ve been looking for homeopathic remedies for cold in babies or cold medicine for infants, you have options here.

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Having most of these items ready in your nursery before your newborn arrives will save you a lot of sleepless nights and late trips to the convenience store! (Tip: Add them to your Amazon Baby Registry!) You don’t want to be rummaging through toxic and ineffective solutions at the store with a crying baby waiting. I hope you feel more ready for if your baby is not feeling well.

If I’ve missed anything in this health care kit recommendation, please leave a comment and share it with a fellow mom.