As a parent, you want the best and safest products for your baby, and luckily this mama understands that! Continue reading to find all of your medicine cabinet essentials.
1. Baby Tylenol (Acetominophen)
Baby Tylenol is used for a fever when your child’s pediatrician advises. This is essential to always have on hand just in case your baby gets a high fever that you can’t keep in a safe temperature range.
2. Medicine Cabinet Essentials: Baby Motrin (Ibuprofen)
Baby Motrin is similar to Tylenol but works for a bit longer. Baby Motrin lasts for 6-8 hours, and Baby Tylenol lasts about 6 hours, so you may choose one or the other based on preference.
3. Benadryl (Diphenhydramine)
I love Genexa Kids’ Diphenhydramine Allergy Liquid Medicine as it’s an organic dye and paraben-free liquid allergy medication for kids ages 6+, which is (in my opinion) necessary to have on hand.
However, diphenhydramine is not safe for babies under two years old. If your baby begins to have signs of an allergic reaction, call your child’s pediatric office and follow their advice.
Nevertheless, my family needs options on hand in case of an allergic reaction, as my previous allergic reactions to some bubble baths and hair products included symptoms of burning, hives, and anaphylaxis, a life-threatening symptom that includes constriction and tightening of the airways. Therefore, it’s vital to have adult and children’s allergy medication in our home, even though we go many years without needing to use it!
My daughter Keagan has not had an allergic reaction before to this day. I believe this is likely because we use non-toxic products. To learn more about the toxins my family and I try to avoid, check out:
4. Medicine Cabinet Essentials: Saline Drops
Saline drops can help loosen mucous, reduce swelling, and help your baby breathe more easily. A perfect product to have on hand for illnesses with congestion.
To use, remove the cap, then insert the tip into your baby’s nostril. Apply 2-3 drops per nostril, and use 2-3 times per day as needed.
5. Humidifier
No, this isn’t actually inside my medicine cabinet, but humidifiers are a must-have for babies and children (and adults, too!).
I use this 2.5L, quiet, and mist adjustable humidifier often for my daughter, but they’re the most beneficial for the winter season or while sick to add more moisture to the air, which can help reduce skin and throat dryness, as well as loosen mucous and open airways to allow for easier breathing.
Tip: Remember to use distilled water only in your humidifier.
6. Nail File & Clippers
Nail clippers or a nail file are, of course, essentials to have in your medicine cabinet for having a baby!
I have multiple baby clippers that are cheap and work fine. Still, after I accidentally cut my poor baby’s finger while cutting her nails, I felt so bad! So, I looked around and bought this Electric Baby Nail File/Trimmer, and it is the best.
Baby nails seem to grow so quickly, and this electric nail file allows you to trim them quickly and safely. The file is gentle and doesn’t hurt your baby’s skin but still is useful for cutting down their nails. It’s amazing!
7. Medicine Cabinet Essentials: Zarbees Naturals Chest Rub
Zarbee’s Naturals chest rub is essential to have in your medicine cabinet!
It is free of petroleum and menthol, making it non-toxic and baby-friendly. And if your baby is under 2 years old, ensure you’re buying their baby one as it has eucalyptus radiata which has been proven as safe for babies, unlike eucalyptus globulus.
I plan on always buying this chest rub for my entire family. It works fantastic and smells great! I highly recommend giving it a try for your baby, child, or yourself!
8. Medicine Cabinet Essentials: Digital Thermometer
I use the Vicks Speedread Digital Thermometer from Amazon, and it’s a great affordable option. It has never had an inaccurate reading since purchasing it, and my daughter enjoys seeing if the temperature is red, orange, or green to see how she’s doing.
9. Aloe Vera
This, along with my humidifier, isn’t technically inside my medicine cabinet because instead of using an aloe vera product, I use an actual aloe plant that I keep in my kitchen!
Aloe vera is a medicinal plant that is used to improve overall skin health.
It is well known for its anti-inflammatory properties, skin protection, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, antiseptic, and wound healing properties [1].
So basically, this is a great plant to have in your home! (Plus, it’s easy to keep alive)
If my daughter gets a little scratch or cut, I simply break off a part of my plant, use the gel on the inside for her wound, and then put a bandaid on it! It’s an easy and non-toxic replacement for antibiotic ointment.
Plus, it’s even better to have on hand because aloe works absolutely amazing on burns. It lowers the pain and swelling and helps it heal so much faster. You’ll be amazed if you haven’t tried this yet!
10. Oil-Based Diaper Ointment
Oil-based ointment for diaper areas is the best choice because they create a barrier that isn’t easily wiped away with new urine or stool.
Urine and stool are our body’s way of releasing toxins from our body, and urine is also really acidic on top of that. Therefore, both can lead to skin breakdown and irritation in babies.
Oil-based ointments really protect your baby’s sensitive skin from the stool and urine inside the diaper.
Maty’s All Natural Baby Ointment is my favorite out of all the natural baby ointments I have tried for my daughter. Plus, it’s super affordable!
It’s important to me to use petroleum and fragrance-free products on my daughter. (Check out Toxic Chemicals You Need To Avoid For Your Fertility here!
Also, remember: It’s no longer recommended to use cornstarch or baby powder. Both are easily inhaled by babies and cause damage to their lungs. Cornstarch also worsens rashes caused by Candida (yeast).
11. Probiotic Drops
Probiotics have been shown to be safe for infants. However, I only really recommend them as an option to my clients if they’re formula feeding because breastmilk already contains lots of probiotics. For things like excessive gas, reflux, or colic, I’d recommend finding the root of the problem and working on it with a lactation provider.
I had breastfeeding issues after my daughter due to a lack of breastfeeding support and education, which led to me formula feeding her, giving her bad tummy issues even after trying many different formulas. Therefore, I used probiotic drops, and I felt that they really helped her and minimized the amount of time she would cry. Additionally, with the lack of breastmilk, probiotics can be beneficial to improving babies’ gut health. Hence, in my case, probiotic drops were a necessity to have in my medicine cabinet.
I used Mommy’s Bliss Probiotic Drops because it contains Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GG, one of the most clinically studied probiotic strains shown to be beneficial for babies who cry more than normal [3].
12. Probiotic and Vitamin D Drops
If you’re already taking 6,400IUs of vitamin D supplements while breastfeeding, then your baby is receiving adequate amounts of vitamin D through your breastmilk [4]. However, if you are in neither of those positions, then I highly recommend this probiotic and vitamin D blend because it meets your baby’s recommended 400IUs of vitamin D!
And don’t forget about yourself, mama! It’s hard for any of us to get a sufficient amount of vitamin D outside of supplements. I use the NOW 5,000IUs of vitamin D3 daily. Plus, if you’re breastfeeding and you choose to get the vitamin D supplements I take, then it’s like you’re getting 2 for the price of 1 since you won’t need the baby drops as long as you try to take your supplement daily.
13. Baby Safety Swabs
Baby safety swabs (or q-tips) are amazing!
Although I don’t recommend them if your baby is almost a toddler now because it’s hard to reach as far as needed to properly clean their ears. But for young babies, I love them!
They start as a smaller end of a q-tip but then get wider, preventing you from accidentally going too far and hurting the baby’s ears.
14. Boogie Wipes
Boogie Wipes are made with saline, which I mentioned above can loosen mucous, reduce swelling, and clear the nasal cavity during your baby’s first cold.
I recommend getting their unscented boogie wipes to avoid added fragrance and potential irritation.
These wipes are also made with aloe, chamomile, and vitamin E to prevent dry and painful redness on your baby’s nostrils. These are an excellent alternative to normal tissues to keep your baby as comfortable as possible!
15. Natural Baby Cold Medicine
When choosing an all-natural cold and cough medicine for your baby, it’s essential to ensure it doesn’t contain honey.
Babies younger than 1-year-old should never be given honey. Clostridium bacteria causes infant botulism, which usually thrives in soil and dust but can also contaminate honey.
With alternatives like agave for direct infant use, it’s better to be safe, as infants are born with underdeveloped systems, including their gastrointestinal system.
My go-to natural medicine for babies is the Zarbee’s Baby Cold Medicine.
Or if your baby is 2 years+, then the Zarbee’s Children’s Cold Medicine.
Check out everything you need for your baby’s cold HERE: The Complete Guide to Your Baby’s First Cold
Also, are you interested in The Truth About Raw Honey During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding?
16. Other Miscellaneous Medicine Cabinet Essentials
More essentials for your baby’s medicine cabinet include:
- Band-aids
- 4×4 gauze
- Scissors (Only keep these in the medicine cabinet/case if it’s not accessible to any children)
- Medicine cup (come with medications)
- Oral Syringe for Liquid Medicine
- Rectal/axillary thermometer (I to have a separate one if I need to do rectal temperatures)
- NAIR for hair tourniquet remover. (Should not be used on an open wound, and only use a small amount when needed)
Questions or Comments on Medicine Cabinet Essentials for Baby?
What is your favorite must-have in your baby’s medicine cabinet? Let me know in the comments below!👇🏻
Talk soon, mama!
– Katelyn Lauren
Sources
[1] Hekmatpou D, Mehrabi F, Rahzani K, Aminiyan A. The Effect of Aloe Vera Clinical Trials on Prevention and Healing of Skin Wound: A Systematic Review. Iran J Med Sci. 2019;44(1):1-9.
[2] Probiotics- Nordic Naturals
[3] Koonce T, Mounsey A, Rowland K. Colicky baby? Here’s a surprising remedy. J Fam Pract. 2011;60(1):34-36.
[4] Hollis BW, Wagner CL, Howard CR, et al. Maternal Versus Infant Vitamin D Supplementation During Lactation: A Randomized Controlled Trial [published correction appears in Pediatrics. 2019 Jul;144(1):]. Pediatrics. 2015;136(4):625-634. doi:10.1542/peds.2015-1669
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DISCLAIMER: This post is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding you or your baby’s health. Please read my Medical Disclaimer for more info
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