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It's Cold & Flu Season: Here's What to Order for Your Sick-Day Kit
October 2, 2024

It's Cold & Flu Season: Here's What to Order for Your Sick-Day Kit

Stock up on these basics now to prevent and fight the common illnesses of the season.

By Sara Gaynes Levy
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It's Cold & Flu Season: Here's What to Order for Your Sick-Day Kit.

Pumpkin spice is popping up everywhere, the days are getting shorter and you might be noticing a slight chill in the air, which means one thing: yep, cold and flu season is here. While we’d all love to, completely protecting your little ones (and yourself) from viruses this fall and winter is an all-but-impossible task.

But while you can’t stop anyone from getting sick, you can be prepared with an A+ cold-and-flu kit; the last thing you want is to be woken up in the middle of the night by a feverish baby and find out you’re out of pain meds for them.

So before the first illness strikes your house, click “add to cart” on these sick-season must-haves and get everything you’ll need for fevers, coughs, colds, upset tummies, and restless nights delivered right to you—no more midnight drugstore runs required. Pro tip: some of these items are HSA/FSA eligible!

Baby Cold & Flu Products

For your littlest one, these products will help detect, soothe and treat babies under 6 months (with some great stuff for the whole family—hello, humidifiers).

Canopy Humidifier Starter Set - Cream.

Canopy 
Humidifier Starter Set

When your baby is sick, there’s really not much you can do, unfortunately—they’re just too little for most cold and flu treatments. A good humidifier may help them get some more peaceful rest, at least.
Buy
Babylist$150.00
FridaBaby NoseFrida SnotSucker Saline Kit.

FridaBaby 
NoseFrida SnotSucker Saline Kit

For little ones that can’t blow their noses yet, this genius device allows you to, you guessed it, suck their snot out for them (but don’t worry, it’s not actually gross!).
Buy
Babylist$20.99
Amazon$16.97
Dreambaby Rapid Response Infrared Thermometer.

Dreambaby 
Rapid Response Infrared Thermometer

These are so handy to have on hand—you can even check your child’s temperature while they sleep without disturbing them.
Buy
Babylist$49.99
Amazon$49.99
Tylenol Infants Oral Suspension with 160 mg Acetaminophen.

Tylenol 
Infants Oral Suspension with 160 mg Acetaminophen

For babies 3 months and older, you can give them Tylenol to help with fever or pain. Just be sure to check with your baby’s doctor for dosage instructions.
Buy
amazon.com$9.99
Dr. Brown's Pacidose Medicine Dispenser, 0-6m, 6-18m.

Dr. Brown's 
Pacidose Medicine Dispenser, 0-6m, 6-18m

The traditional syringes and dosage cups that come with children’s medication are tricky to use when you have a baby. This handy devices is an easier way to administer medication for younger babies.
Buy
Babylist$10.99
Amazon$9.49
Target$9.49
Walmart$13.79
Boogie Wipes Saline Nose Wipes, 30 Count (3-Pack).

Boogie Wipes 
Saline Nose Wipes, 30 Count (3-Pack)

These face-safe wipes are made with saline solution, which helps to moisturize and unclog your baby’s nose (as best as possible, anyway!).
Buy
amazon.com$11.47
Wellements Feel Better Kit.

Wellements 
Feel Better Kit

This kit features an organic chest rub and two different medication-free cough syrups approved for babies under 2.
Buy
Babylist$31.99
Amazon$31.99
wellements.com$31.99
Boogie Micro-Mist Saline Inhaler - Green, 1.7 Oz.

Boogie 
Micro-Mist Saline Inhaler

This simply diffuses saline spray into the mask and lets the baby breathe it in to loosen up those boogies.
Buy
Babylist$21.99
Amazon$19.88
Target$19.99

Cold & Flu Medicine for Toddlers

Depending on your family’s ages, there’s a medication for each of them to soothe those symptoms. And many of our picks for babies—like the humidifier, Snotsucker and Boogie wipes—can work for toddlers and older kids (even you), too!

Vicks Children's VapoRub.

Vicks 
Children's VapoRub

Kids ages 2 and up can use this topical cream to help suppress their coughs.
Buy
amazon.com$7.47
Motrin Children's Oral Suspension 100mg Ibuprofen Medicine.

Motrin 
Children's Oral Suspension 100mg Ibuprofen Medicine

Motrin is an anti-inflammatory medication, so doctors like it as both a fever reducer + pain reliever (your kiddo should be at least 6 months to take it). FYI, “infant’s” and “children’s” Motrin are the same—one comes with a dropper, one with a cup.
Buy
amazon.com$10.30
Robitussin Children's Cough and Chest Congestion DM.

Robitussin 
Children's Cough and Chest Congestion DM

For kids 4 and older, this cough syrup can be really helpful.
Buy
amazon.com$6.99

Sick-Kit Essentials

These useful products can help you get through the worst illnesses with some relief.

Pure Enrichment PureRelief XL Heating Pad.

Pure Enrichment 
PureRelief XL Heating Pad

When you’re down for the count, it’s so nice to cozy up with a hot water bottle—bonus points that this one comes in so many fun colors to cheer you up when you’re not feeling so hot.
Buy
amazon.com$34.99
Kleenex Facial Tissues, 4 Cube Boxes.

Kleenex 
Facial Tissues, 4 Cube Boxes

Because you can never have enough tissue, you can also sign up for Amazon’s “Subscribe & Save” to save a bit of money!
Buy
amazon.com$7.79
Clorox Disinfecting Wipes (3-Pack).

Clorox 
Disinfecting Wipes (3-Pack)

For when one kid comes home sick, and you’re clinging to hope it won’t spread, Clorox wipes to the rescue.
Buy
amazon.com$11.87
LotFancy Hot Cold Gel Ice Packs.

LotFancy 
Hot Cold Gel Ice Packs

Fevers can bring chills or sweats—prepare for both with a cold pad/heating pad you can use to help your little one be a more comfortable temperature.
Buy
amazon.com$9.99
CLOUDBERG 24 Pack Blue Emesis Bags.

CLOUDBERG 
24 Pack Blue Emesis Bags

While colds and flu don’t usually cause vomiting, a good sick preparedness kit should still have a stash of these on hand (they’re also nice to keep in your car or take traveling in case of motion sickness.
Buy
amazon.com$9.99
Pedialyte AdvancedCare Electrolyte Solution with PreActiv Prebiotics.

Pedialyte 
AdvancedCare Electrolyte Solution with PreActiv Prebiotics

Dehydration can make illnesses worse! Help everyone in the family stay hydrated–Pedialyte for them, and a powdered mix like Liquid IV for you.
Buy
amazon.com$17.02

Cold & Flu Prevention

While getting sick may feel inevitable, there are a few things you can stock to try to prevent getting sick in the first place.

Purell Advanced Hand Sanitizer Naturals with Plant Based Alcohol (6-Pack).

Purell 
Advanced Hand Sanitizer Naturals with Plant Based Alcohol...

When sick season strikes, keep hand sanitizer everywhere: your bag, the kitchen, the bathroom, the car…these mini-sizes make having multiple sanitizers more manageable.
Buy
amazon.com$13.99
Zarbee's Elderberry Gummies for Kids with Vitamin C; Zinc & Elderberry.

Zarbee's 
Elderberry Gummies for Kids with Vitamin C; Zinc & Elderb...

Some people swear by elderberry for its purported immune-boosting benefits—if you want to give it a shot in your kids’ routine, it’s worth a try.
Buy
amazon.com$4.97
Purell Advanced Hand Sanitizer Naturals with Plant Based Alcohol (6-Pack).

Purell 
Advanced Hand Sanitizer Naturals with Plant Based Alcohol...

When sick season strikes, keep hand sanitizer everywhere: your bag, the kitchen, the bathroom, the car…these mini-sizes make having multiple sanitizers more manageable.
Buy
amazon.com$13.99
Airborne 1000mg Vitamin C with Zinc.

Airborne 
1000mg Vitamin C with Zinc

Others like the vitamin-C-based drink tablets, which may also help support your immunity.
Buy
amazon.com$7.37
NATURELO Whole Food Multivitamin + Immune Blend with Elderberry & Mushrooms.

NATURELO 
Whole Food Multivitamin + Immune Blend with Elderberry & ...

If you’re taking a multi anyway, maybe switch your sick-season one up for an immune-support formula—this one has mushrooms and elderberry in addition to being a complete multivitamin, and has 1100+ five-star reviews.
Buy
amazon.com$26.05
Zicam Cold Remedy Zinc Rapidmelts.

Zicam 
Cold Remedy Zinc Rapidmelts

Lots of folks also like zinc-based Zicam, which may shorten colds—take it at the first sign and hope for the best.
Buy
amazon.com$10.98
Amazon Premium Disposable Blue Face Mask - 100 Masks.

Amazon 
Premium Disposable Blue Face Mask - 100 Masks

There aren’t many tried-and-true ways to prevent yourself from getting sick if someone around you is already down for the count, but a mask is one of them.
Buy
amazon.com$9.99

Sara Gaynes Levy

Freelance writer

Sara Gaynes Levy is a writer and editor specializing in women’s health, culture, wellness and parenting.

This information is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only. We do not accept any responsibility for any liability, loss or risk, personal or otherwise, incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, from any information or advice contained here. Babylist may earn compensation from affiliate links in this content. Learn more about how we write Babylist content and review products, as well as the Babylist Health Advisory Board.
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