March 2019 Moms
lovesclimbing
member
Product spotlight: health/medical items
lovesclimbing
member
First aid kits, nasal aspirators, thermometers, baby CPR, baby medications and vitamins, moisturizers, etc.
Let's talk about items to have on hand to keep baby in good health.
For STM+s, what did you use or not use? What are items that are necessary vs. things that aren't? What do you want an opinion on?
Let's talk about items to have on hand to keep baby in good health.
For STM+s, what did you use or not use? What are items that are necessary vs. things that aren't? What do you want an opinion on?
Re: Product spotlight: health/medical items
My favorite product ever is the nose frida. I admit I refused to use it for the first try because I was afraid, but it is amazing. It just *works*.
Eta: I also love the fridababy nail clippers and the file that comes with that @chocolatelemons mentioned below, but I will throw a caution out that those suckers are sharp!
Married: 2012
BFP #1 Sept 2014, MMC Dec 2014 | BFP #2 May 2015, DD Jan 2016
We always had a bottle of infant Tylenol in case of a fever and Motrin for when the baby is older. We have a rectal thermometer since those are most accurate and an ear one for when the baby is sleeping.
We dont use moisturizers aside from aquafor for chapped faces/ dry skin. You also need a good pair of nail clippers. We went with Fridababy but I’ve heard good things about the electric filing ones if you’re worried about cutting baby’s skin.
We had baby Tylenol on hand, but I've only used it once, and I didn't even want to then but the person I was with bought a bottle specifically and was kind of pushy about it. I wish I hadn't. I don't consider myself super crunchy, but I am on that side of the spectrum, I suppose, and I believe fevers are the bodies natural way of fighting infection. So, unless it gets dangerously high, I prefer to let a fever run its course, bring it down naturally with cool baths and such, and refrain from any medications to bring it down artificially.
I've used an Aveeno body lotion on my daughter's legs. She had really dry skin there for awhile. I've used coconut oil on her face for some dry skin but am going to ask about the skin thing at her next well baby check.
We have a regular thermometer and an ear/forehead one. Sometimes I wonder if the forehead thing is actually all that accurate. I'm a bit dubious.
Nail clippers, I just use our regular ones. Sometimes she fusses and fights it, but frequently she'll be chill and be interested and only tug her hand or foot occasionally. Just depends. I didn't feel we needed anything especially for her.
When they’re really little, I wait until they’re sleeping.
ETA: corrected weird spellings from using the buggy mobile app.
We use the tiny baby clippers with a shield/magnifying lens. My LO always asks me to clip her nails lol so no problems there. My husband has said, “God, no, I can’t clip her nails! Most terrifying thing ever!” Hahaha.
I use natural products or as close to it, such as Honest Company. She broke out in a torso rash every time we used Burt’s Bees baby wash/bubble bath. It smellls so delicious like honey but it was bought out by Clorox so I don’t believe it’s truly natural anymore.
For moisturizing we use oils and salves, such as Australian natural brands that use paw-paw oil. Aden & Anais made a great one called mum + bun paw paw cream but it got discontinued. I used it on LO at every diaper change & she only ever got one diaper rash, plus I used it on my own face & lips, hands, feet, legs. Need to find an equivalent replacement.
The one thing I'll swear by is a humidifier. It works miracles for a stuffy baby!!!!
We tried gripe water, but it didn’t seem to do much for him, unfortunately.
We found suction worked best in conjunction with saline spray to loosen the gunk, and prefer the spray to the drops.
We have baby nail clippers (don't remember the brand) but I think the brand matters less than being able to do it while they're calm. Do bring them to the hospital because DD came out with talons. That was the first thing I did when we got her home. I used to let her take one nap a week on my chest so that I could trim her nails while she was sleeping. And you WILL most likely accidentally nick their finger. It happens to everyone. Don't feel too bad.
We have a Braun forehead thermometer, although I agree with PP that I often doubt it's accuracy. I haven't found a good replacement yet and most of the time I could feel she had a fever before it registered on the thermo, so it was mostly just to check the severity.
I love our humidifier and am registered for another one so in the winter when it's dry I can have on by the crib and in my daughter's room. I'd say go all out and get the big ugly honeywell ones. We had one of the little ones and the tank doesn't last all night, created so much vapor it left DD's sheets cold and wet and didn't have a filter. This is the one we got after that one, although I remember it being $50: https://www.amazon.com/Honeywell-HCM350W-Germ-Humidifier-White/dp/B002QAYJPO/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1538487238&sr=8-3&keywords=honeywell+humidifier
We use Johnson's baby soap and just regular Cetaphil lotion. I think that's everything. We didn't need many medications beside tylenol for teething. We used the Little Remedies brand because they have a convenient syringe top.
ETA: I recommend dye free for any medications if only because if they end up spitting up while it's in their stomach it doesn't stain clothes, sheets, blankets, etc red or purple.
Love:
crane humidifier - doubles as DS night light these days. Quiet, relatively easy to clean and great when your LO is sick.
Took infant CPR and First Aid and definitely recommend it. Planning to drag DH to a refresher course, hopefully with kid CPR too.
Have infant Tylenol on hand. Our pediatrician gave us a dosing instructions sheet at the first appointment. Way better to have it than to be freaking out at that first fever and have to run to the store. And +1 on @meggyme ‘s recommendation of buying dye free - we have a stain or two from DS fighting it and spitting it up.
Burt’s Bees baby unscented wash - DS has super sensitive skin and this didn’t bother him. As @novelblessings said we got some J&J that we never used. We’ve also used Aveeno without issues.
If you or your SO has sensitive skin, I’d suggest getting a free&clear baby detergent (or just using the kind that works for you, I just use the same F&C detergent on all our clothes). DS has super sensitive skin and it reacted a bit to the scented detergent my MIL used on some of his clothes.
Meh:
Temporal thermometer - it’s ok, the one I have isn’t the most accurate. Will give you a deferent temp with every swipe.
Grab a ton of the bulb suckers from the hospital. The one we got in our first aid kit was trash. And I actually have a favorite that I brought home from the hospital, it seems to work better that all the others.
Didn’t use:
Baby nail trimmer - I think I only used those once (trimming those tiny nails is terrifying). His baby nails were pretty soft, so I mostly just caught an edge and flaked off the length. Once he was older, I just used my nail trimmers, they worked better.
Edited to fix tag.
I love our nose frida. I couldn't find it a few weeks ago and used a regular bulb on DD. Never again. Since she's bigger now, she tried to wrestle away, and she got a nose bleed. I cried, she didn't, haha.
The Vick's thermometer is my favorite. It is very fast, and sometimes I let sit for a bit to "warm up". Target also has thermometer covers that are nice, and alcohol pads to sanitize. DD does not like thermometers, so I use underarm when she's asleep, and rectal if she is awake. When they do the temporal scanner at the Dr, it's always like 97. When I take it before I go to the Dr to confirm a fever, it's always at least 100.4 or over which is a fever.
Definitely agree with the fragrance and dye free laundry detergent.
Love our humidifiers and I need to get ours up and going. It's getting to be flu season, and humidity and the flu do not get along, according to a recent study. Also my nasal passages are dry as a desert. My face too.
This is not popular, but I'll go ahead and confess, haha. DD's nails were so tiny and transparent, they were hard to see. I just bit hers off for the first few months because I could feel them better with my mouth than I could see them.
I always had/have Tylenol and ibuprofen on hand just in case. I had all the gripe water, etc. but we never needed it but a handful of times when she was gassy.
As for things moms might need for a bit - take the sitz bath home from the hospital with you. Take the squeeze bottle. Witch hazel pads for hemorrhoids are also nice for hemorrhoids, if you have them, or for post-birth healing (witch hazel typically is anti-inflammatory, and soothing). The Dermoplast spray with the blue lid is awesome because it's a numbing spray. The freezing pads from the hospital are great as well. After going to the restroom, a good rinse with the squeeze bottle or a sitz bath, followed with spray, and a pad (either freezing variety or normal) with witch hazel pads on them were a godsend. I also brought a couple incontinence sheets with me from the hospital because I didn't want to accidentally leak on the bed, couch, etc. I didn't do it last time, but I think this time around I want to try Depends or something, haha. There were times when my body was like, time to pee! and I could barely make it to the restroom without piddling a little bit. Also, do your Kegels, haha.
Married: 2012
BFP #1 Sept 2014, MMC Dec 2014 | BFP #2 May 2015, DD Jan 2016
We use aveeno or babyganics soap. There is some thoughts that J&J contains cancer causing ingredients.
Many people swear by nosefrieda, I haven't used it though. Boogie wipes are a must though for babies and toddlers with colds.
I use a file on tiny babies, then just regular clippers.
We use probiotics, it really helps prevent diaper rashes. We just add a scoop to a daycare bottle.
I know it's not something you need for awhile (6 months) but research sunscreens. Look for one that EWG recommends.
Sorry I went on for a bit. this is my third baby so I've tried a bunch of stuff.
That said, I totally trust that brand and am sure they make it pretty fool proof.
Married: 2012
BFP #1 Sept 2014, MMC Dec 2014 | BFP #2 May 2015, DD Jan 2016