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Sick kid survival kit: From congestion and pain relief to boredom busters

It’s officially cold and flu season; are you stocked up on the essentials?

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With the school year in full swing and the weather dipping down into cooler temperatures, sick kiddos are inevitable. Are you prepared?

When your child is home sick, the last thing you want to do is drag them to the store for supplies as their fever rages. From managing symptoms to providing comfort, having the right essentials on hand can make all the difference. Whether it’s a simple cold, the flu, or another common childhood illness, this list will help you stay prepared and make your little one’s time at home as easy as possible. Here are the top essentials every parent should have ready when their child is feeling under the weather.

Is there a must-have in your medicine cabinet we missed? Let us know; send an email to editor@corrections1.com and share your sick kid hacks.

Pain relief
Whether your little one has an upset stomach, a high fever or endless congestion, there are ways to get relief. Check out this roundup of pain relief solutions for the most common childhood ailments.
  • 50% less sugar
  • Boosts immunity with vitamin D, elderberry, zinc and wildflower honey
  • Immediate physical cooling relief
  • Skin-safe gel pad can be cut to any size to be applied to forehead or other body part
Congestion relief
There’s nothing more distressing for young children than to be unable to breathe through their nose. This collection of products offers soothing, satisfying relief to ease their discomfort and allow for healing rest.
  • Emits a waterless, menthol-scented vapor
  • Adjustable vapor control
  • Distributes natural, sterile saline along the upper respiratory tract
  • Portable, ready-to-use and can be used with or without the face mask
  • Soothing non-medicated Vicks vapors in an easy to use patch
  • Contains a blend of eucalyptus and essential oils + scents of menthol & camphor
  • Soothing bath vapors for sick day comfort
  • Beat sick day blues with fizzing fun during bath time
Essential sick day gear
How long has it been since you upgraded your thermometer? Is the popcorn bowl still pulling double duty as a vomit bucket? Don’t enter cold and flu season ill-prepared; stock up on these essentials and give your medicine cabinet a needed update.
  • Can hold 34 ounces
  • Heavy duty, portable, and easy to use
  • Delivers a 10-second quick read with memory that stores up to 10 previous readings
  • Large, backlit display for nighttime temp checks
  • Produces an accurate temperature reading in under 8 seconds
  • Track fever and symptoms for all family members with the optional Kinsa app
  • Non-contact technology For safe and hygienic use
  • Temperature notification via gentle vibration instead of beeping
  • Built-in straw allows for easy drip-drinking while keeping hands clean
  • Dishwasher safe
  • Lightweight; suitable for all seasons
  • Made of premium flannel fabric
  • Can be used to serve meals or for coloring books and crayons
  • Slot available for propping up tablets or smartphones
Boredom busters
Even sick kiddos get bored, but keeping them in bed is critical for healing. Consider these options when your little one spikes a fever but is grumbling about having to remain under the covers.
  • 10.1" 1080p Full HD display
  • includes:
    • comprehensive parental controls
    • 1 year of Amazon Kids+
    • a kid-proof case
    • a 2-year worry-free guarantee.
  • Watch movies, series, and originals from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic and more
  • Unlimited viewing starting at $7.99/month
  • Stream thousands of movies and TV shows
  • Rent new releases and discover old classics
  • Features mazes, matching games, connect-the-dots, coloring pages, word searches, quizzes, and more
  • 220 pages
  • Comes with 230 games already loaded to handheld device
  • Up to 5 hours of gaming on a fully-charged battery

Rachel Engel is an award-winning journalist and the senior editor of FireRescue1.com and EMS1.com. In addition to her regular editing duties, Engel seeks to tell the heroic, human stories of first responders and the importance of their work. She earned her bachelor’s degree in communications from Cameron University in Lawton, Oklahoma, and began her career as a freelance writer, focusing on government and military issues. Engel joined Lexipol in 2015 and has since reported on issues related to public safety. Engel lives in Wichita, Kansas. She can be reached via email.