What do you keep on hand so you’re ready?
by Rachel Sarah
Filed under Kids, Tips & Advice
Just like you, we’re carefully monitoring the flu vaccine updates.
And we know how it feels to be sick — and even more challenging, to be sick at the same time as your children!
When New Single Dad wrote recently about getting caught off-guard and undersupplied when his little guy got sick — it was yet another reminder.
Dr. Leah and I have been buzzing back and forth about worries raised by single parents about preparing for a possible flu outbreak.
You all know the issues surrounding possible school closures — and the warnings about staying home from work if you’re sick.
– When it comes to kids, remembering the basics DOES seem to help:
– Remind your kids to wash their hands (again!) and “please scrub that soap around.” (Did you know that it’s the friction of the hands not necessarily the soap itself that kills germs? We were surprised, too.)
– Serve your kids healthy, nutritious foods.
– Make sure they get enough sleep.
– And our favorite: when your kids sneeze, remind them to sneeze “like an elephant” (yes, into the crooks of their elbows, instead of their hands.)
We know that you understand. If your child comes down with a fever all of a sudden, and you don’t have a thermometer or anything OTC that you need — yikes!
That’s why we’re hoping you can give this New Single Dad some advice.
What do you keep on hand so that you’re prepared when your kids (or you!) get sick?
A bottle of Ginger Ale?
Chewable Vitamin C?
Chicken soup?
(Photo courtesy of Becca Dorstek)
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Twitter @ http://crazycomputerdad.blogspot.com
I keep children’s cold medicines on hand for coughs, fevers, nasal, and chest congestion. I keep orange juice, clear fluids, and tea. I keep them up high and out of reach. I have two types of thermometers. I also keep children’s benadryl, peptobismol, and antacids. Basically pharmacy of dad. Fiber one bars are good for lower intestinal slow downs.
crazycomputerdad´s last blog ..Just wondering…
I got caught with nothing in my house about 3 years ago when my daughter was just about 2. She came down with a high fever and I didn’t know what to do. I needed crackers and Ginger Ale. I was lucky enough to be able to see my neighbor and asked him if he would get me some at the corner store. Thank goodness for that. Since then I have kept crackers, Ginger ale, soup and yes a carpet cleaner on hand. I had the meds I needed since I though a head about all of that but back then I never thought about the food I might need if my daughter gets sick. I now check my supply each time I head to the store. I also keep a good supply of Gatorade in the cabinet to drink and to make gatorade ice cubes with. These really help with upset tummies. I also found that emergency C a powdered drink mix helps my 4 year old not get a cold if I start her on it when she first starts showing signs of not feeling well. I started using this emergency C last winter and we didn’t have one sick day at all last winter. Now my daughter will ask for this drink when she starts feeling off.
Crazycomputerdad: Wow! You’ve got it covered.
Heather Kirk: Speaking of carpet cleaners . . .did you know that club soda works well to get out the smell and stain when someone gets “sick”?
Twitter @ http://www.threeunder4whatwasithinking.blogspot.com
Frozen orange juice always. It nevers goes bad. Medication of course. Clumping kitty litter, even though we don’t own a cat… it works GREAT for cleaning up throw up. It clumps right up, covers the smell and then I have an old spatchula to pick it up with and throw it out.
My medication cuboard is always pretty stack with supplies about this time of the year. It only takes one time of having a sick child and having to go out to the store for mama’s to learn to keep things on hand.
Jolene´s last blog ..Just need to get this off my chest.
Twitter @ http://tsquest.blogspot.com
I wrote a post about my own wellness arsenal last month.
I do need to keep the ginger ale and crackers on hand! I keep candied ginger available though. Does that count?
T´s last blog ..Blogging my BFF, Hardheaded men & Gratitude
Twitter @ http://www.threeunder4whatwasithinking.blogspot.com
Vinegar works wonders for getting out stains if your child has drank a red or orange colored juice.
Jolene´s last blog ..Just need to get this off my chest.
Twitter @ BigLittleWolf
Chicken soup, OJ, crackers, aspirin… and probably not enough of those other things. GREAT reminder, as I’m headed out to the supermarket.
BigLittleWolf´s last blog ..Teen Party Planner, the Mad Hatter, Down the Rabbit Hole
BigLittleWolf: We’re glad this was a timely reminder. Chicken soup heads the list for so many of us!
Jolene: You’re a genius! That’s a use for cat litter that never occurred to us. Makes a terrible job just a bit less terrible. And vinegar works on stains, too. Good to know. It’s amazing how much experience all of us have with “cleaning up” when kids are sick.
I had to invest in a carpet cleaning when my child NAILED myself and over half my living room carpet. At that time I didn’t have a carpet clean and had to call a friend to come over while I went out to rent one. There was just no way I could clean up the mess without one. It was EVERYWHERE including from hair to feet on me. I was playing with my daughter on the floor when she let it go. I won’t forget that day every so along with what I keep in the kitchen I also keep my carpet cleaner outside my back door. Oh and I use vinegar in my carpet cleaner it works great.
I found the tube popsicles at my grocery store made out of gatorade instead of the sugary stuff. I keep those in the freezer because it helps cool off when you have a fever and provides electrolytes. Take a look and see if they have them in your store.
My favorite “sick” drink is ginger ale (with real ginger) and orange juice. It always makes me feel better.
I need to restock, but those “Head On” things really seem to help. They are a cool gel pad that my daughter loves to put on her forehead or back of her neck.
I also keep Eucalyptus oil on hand. My daughter takes showers now, so when we are stuffy, I put a few drops in the bottom of the shower. She gets it all steamy and it helps to clear her sinuses. You can do the same by putting a couple of drops in a boiling cup of water and putting a towel over your head while it steams.
I also keep ramen noodles for sick day emergencies. For some reason it works well. The noodles are bland enough that they don’t upset tummies and I don’t use the entire packet of seasoning so the salt isn’t so bad.
Twitter @ swatibharteey
Hi
I keep Vicks (there’s nothing better to stop a nighttime cough),Pediacare Cold (one formula that covers fever, one formula for just the cough), cough drops, lots of band-aids, and a chocolate chip cookie mix!
- Swati
Swati Bharteey´s last blog ..Talk to Your Kids About Working and Why It’s Important (Secret 5: Balancing Work and Single Motherhood
Swati Bharteey: Chocolate chips cookies can cure – no question.
chai_girl: My kids loved ramen noodles when they were sick, too. And I used to hold back on the seasoning just like you do. Nothing beats “real” ginger ale.