Medicine Cabinet Essentials for Baby

With an infant, new parents should always be prepared. You never know when you might face fever, bruises, bumps and unpredictable health problems. Read on to learn how you should prepare the medicine cabinet for your child and what should you include in it.Being a new parent means you need to deal with lot of baby ailments and therefore the first and foremost watchword for a new parent is to ‘be prepared’. With a well stocked medicine cabinet you can deal with fever, rashes, common cold, upset stomach and many more ailments without rushing to the doctor even during odd hours. Not only this, you will also be able to handle the normal and usual skin problems of your child.When you prepare the medicine cabinet for your child, make sure that it is out of reach of others, yet portable and within your reach. Some of you might think that since you have a 24 hours drug store within walking distance from your house, you do not need to do this. Well, rushing to the store during odd hours or when your child is hurt or sick will be the last thing you would prefer doing. In this articleThermometerAntibiotics and Pain Relievers for InfantsNasal Drops for InfantsMedicinal DispenserAntibiotic CreamHumidifierOral Rehydration Solution (ORS)Cotton SwabsMedicine Syringe or DropperBaby Medicine Cabinet Must-Haves Have a quick look at the baby’s medicine cabinet must-haves. Make sure that all the medicines kept in the medicine cabinet of your baby are prescribed by your baby’s paediatrician.ThermometerAlthough a lot of new and advanced types of thermometers are available in the market, it is good to go with the old fashioned rectal thermometer as it is the most reliable one that gives accurate reading.Antibiotics and Pain Relievers for InfantsSometimes you have no other choice than giving a pain reliever to the child. Ibuprofen or acetaminophen, it is best to keep the one which is prescribed by your baby’s paediatrician in your medicine cabinet. You must also make sure that you give the dosage as prescribed by the paediatrician.Nasal Drops for InfantsAt times your infant may get uneasy with a stuffy nose. Use of nasal drops will give him or her great relief. Just keep in mind that do not give it most often and give it only when the child is extremely uneasy.Medicinal DispenserEven though many companies provide dispenser with any kind of syrups made for infants, it is good to keep one with you so that you save yourself from potential risks of dosage mistakes.Antibiotic CreamBabies are susceptible to many kinds of rashes and bruises. An antibiotic cream which is prescribed by your childs pediatrician will be handy and offer immediate relief to your child. Make sure you read the manufacturer’s instructions and apply accordingly.HumidifierSince an infant is prone to cold very easily, a humidifier will help relieve the child of cold symptoms. Also, the over-the-counter medicines for cough and cold are not safe for infants and toddlers.Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS)Infants suffer from diarrhoea often and a rehydration solution will be of good assistance. However, consulting your paediatrician will be better if things do not get under control with one or two doses.Cotton SwabsCotton balls dipped in antiseptic liquid should be kept in an airtight container so that if there is any cut or injury, you can get it disinfected immediately. Medicine Syringe or DropperTo ensure you give your child the right amount of medicine, you should have a medicine syringe or dropper that measure in teaspoons and millilitres are best to avoid medicine overdose.Avoid giving your infant medicines like aspirin, anti-nausea medicines, any medication that has been prescribed for someone else or chewable medicines. Check the expiry date of the medicine before you give and also measure the dose carefully. If your child has cough or cold and you are giving the prescribed medicine, do not give additional acetaminophen.What are the essentials in a medicine cabinet for a baby? How to keep baby’s medicine cabinet up-to-date? Which medicines should be carried while travelling with an infant? Discuss here.