Product Spotlight: Health and Safety

bserena · July 2020

This is a place for FTMs to ask questions about, S+TMs to share their prior experience with, and everyone to share what they're eyeing in the world of maternity, baby and postpartum products. Each week we'll spotlight a new category of product to help streamline and make it easier to refer back. This week we're discussing health and safety products!

Please use the prompts below to try to share as much relevant info as you can in a format that is easy for those reading to navigate and respond to.

For S+TMs:

Individual (e.g., lifestyle) factors that might influence your choice:
Favorite health and safety products:
Link/picture:
Cost (either actual dollar amount, or just $, $$, $$$, etc.):
What you like and don't like about it:
Are there any health and safety products you don't have but are considering? Why?:
Are there any health and safety products you've tried that you absolutely hate? Why?:
Additional thoughts on health and safety products?:

For FTMs:

Health and safety products you're interested in:
Link/picture:
Cost (either actual dollar amount, or just $, $$, $$$, etc.):
Any questions for S+TMs?:

To view past Product Spotlights or the upcoming schedule, see

here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Aqb8MGEYn0PQtTuPg16w7-ypItLmVIMNyU5AteGqodM/edit?usp=sharing

bserena · July 2020

Hey everyone

My FTM questions:

1. Did you do a lot of childproofing before baby came home or did you wait until they started moving/crawling/etc.?
2. What are some health/care products you reccommend? Like I have seen lots of people say gripe water is a must, any other tips like that would be much appreciated! Syringes? Medicines? First aid type things?

surlyjaneausten · July 2020

@bserena we waited until he could crawl before we put up gates. We put in the outlet covers around the same time. My pediatrician said no to gripe water because it’s not FDA regulated but I know a lot of people use it and swear by it. We used gas drops a lot to help with tummy aches. Baby Motrin was also frequently used for teething and colds. A humidifier and snot sucker for colds and a wedge to prop them up. But honestly for the first colds when he was so little I just pretty much ended up holding and nursing him like 24/7, the other stuff came into play later on.

mtengl · July 2020

@bserena we had gates from the start because of the dogs so we can section them off, but the rest we baby proofed as we went.
We never used gripe water, but we had baby Tylenol until we could use baby Motrin. We did keep Mylicon on hand for gas relief. Also we loved the Frieda snot sucker and still use it. Other than that not too much else on hand.

lurvleybunchococonuts · July 2020

@bserena +1 to never using gripe water with DD. I def want to get a temple/ear thermometer this time around. We tend to keep infant tylenol on hand until LO is big enough for motrin. Most of the time tylenol and motrin will come with the medicine syringes. DD always did really good with them but you can get a pacifier style one which some people swear by. We didn't do baby gates/baby cupboard locks/etc until she was mobile. Once toddler aged they are a must have though. Belly rubs and bicycle legs always were most effective for DD with gas. Oh, and baby nail clippers are give or take needed. I've always used regular nail clippers. A lot of people swear by the nose frida, we just used the nasal bulb aspirator which the hospital actually provided one to us.

crizz13 · July 2020

We didn't baby proof anything before our girls were mobile except for anchoring the big furniture as we set up the nursery.

Baby tylenol, a nose Frida (seriously, looks gross but the only thing that works - the syringes do nothing), a rectal thermometer for when they're really little and then an ear one (the temporal ones never work for us), baby nail clippers.

ksd20 · July 2020

STM here
We got a 3 in 1 thermometer (rectal with cover -most accurate, armpit for a quick check, mouth). Frida snot sucker worked better for us than the bulb. Also a humidifier has been helpful.

I bought gripe water and only used it once without much effect. We've also rarely used tylenol but have it on hand.

Baby proofing is an ongoing process haha. We covered outlets once he started crawling and have used gates intermittently. Recently added cabinet door/drawer locks and a regular door lock for the pull handle into the garage.

We're not there yet but it's good to be familiar with infant choking/CPR. Once food is introduced it seems more often than not parents need to do a finger sweep or back blows so it's good to know ahead of time.

windywoman · July 2020

We didn't baby proof anything until DS could crawl. It is definitely an ongoing process like others have said. Each stage brings more things that need to be covered/locked. t also depends on the kid too. My BF didn't need to babyproof much for her first. Her second was a whole other story. She got into everything!

I swear by Gripe Water! Maybe it is just in my head but I used it all the time because DS was super gassy in the first couple of months.

I hate the temporal thermometers. I feel like it is so hard to get an actual correct reading.I do rectal and
occasionally armpit. Since DS is getting older I plan on getting an ear one soon.

Baby nail clippers and do them while they sleep! When they are tiny tiny if it makes you super nervous to cut them just bite them. I did that for the first couple of weeks because i was terrified of cutting DS.

I just learned this not too long ago that since 2011 Infant and Children's Tylenol are the same thing. They have the same concentration = 160 mg/5ml. The only differences are that 1. Infant's is more expensive and 2. Infant's comes with a syringe. (https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/05/27/726327937/tylenol-for-infants-and-children-is-the-same-why-does-1-cost-3-times-more)

DS had pneumonia twice in the past year and various other respiratory illnesses as well as being diagnosed with asthma. Our doctor said to pay attention when using a cool mist humidifier because it could make his coughing worse and that he might be better with warm mist. He always seemed to do better if I steamed up the bathroom and sat in there with with him for a while or put him in his bouncer while I showered. I think it depends on the kid and on the illness.

dumbledoredies · July 2020

@windywoman yes, it really depends on the kid!

DS is 2.5 and our house is barely baby proofed. I've done outlet covers and locked a few cabinets but otherwise everything is normal 😬 he's just never been the type of kid to get into things and if I tell him no, dont touch that then he's always been good about listening. We went 2.5 years with our wine glasses and whiskey glasses sitting out at his level and just taught him that he wasnt allowed to touch it! That obviously wouldnt work with every kid.

We used gas drops and they seemed to work very well! +1 to the nose frieda and getting a humidifier.

Another thing to note that I didnt know as a FTM and found out at DS' first doctors appointment once born was that his doctor recommended vitamin D drops while I was breastfeeding. I dont remember if it has to do with living in Michigan in the winter and not getting enough of it or what that's all about. I also have a friend though who didnt give it because she didn't want baby to get anything but breastmilk so I'm not sure how important it is! But I gave it to DS and will give it to this baby if it's still recommended so you may want to have some on hand just in case.

windywoman · July 2020

@dumbledoredies I was also told to give DS Vitamin D drops as well if exclusively BFing. But I had to supplement with formula so I ended up not doing it. But, I agree if you plan to BF only having some on hand is a great idea!

hedgepig · July 2020

@dumbledoredies No one ever mentioned Vitamin D drops to me and I didn't even know they were a thing until DS was over a year... oops! I will be sure to ask this time! He was a spring baby though and we were outside a lot, so I am sure he got plenty.

dumbledoredies · July 2020

@hedgepig that may be the difference! DS was born at the end of October so right at the beginning of winter. There was zero sun for him to get for the first 5-6 months of his life lol.

Want a personalized experience?

Product Spotlight: Health and Safety

Re: Product Spotlight: Health and Safety

Choose Another Board

Search Boards