But add an illness or broken bones to the mix, and it takes the stress levels to another level. It is, after all, heartbreaking to see your child suffer, and even scarier when you don’t know what to do. Take your worries away and be prepared for any first-aid or immediate relief for your baby/ child by stocking up on some must-have medicines...

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Common Cold And Cough

There’s a reason it’s called the ‘common’ cold - did you know that it’s absolutely normal for a child to have eight or more colds per year? And once your littles go to school, it could even be more as they are constantly in close contact with other sniffling children! 

While it might not be a life-shattering illness, a cold that refuses to leave is definitely very irritating for a number of reasons. Babies get stuffy noses and often gasp for breath, toddlers find it difficult to sleep at night, older kids get irritable and refuse to eat… and it’s just not pleasant for anyone, parents included!

What’s worse is that the cold has to run its course in which time it will progress to include a cough as well, which only makes it more difficult for children to sleep. But certain things can provide relief so make sure you have them in your medicine cabinet. 

• Saline nose drops can help loosen the dried snot and relieve a stuffy nose 

• Chest rubs such as Vicks Vaporub also provide relief to congested noses and chests 

• Eucalyptus oil can be added to boiling water; inhaling the steam helps clear the nose and throat

Fever

Children get a fever quite often as well. It could be because of an infection or the side-effect of another illness such as a tummy bug. Sometimes children also get a fever after their vaccination shots or when teething. Keeping a fever medicine for kids in your medicine cabinet is a must. Of course, it makes sense to also keep a thermometer at hand to keep a check on your child’s fever. 

First-Aid Kit

Children - especially smaller kids - are accident prone and nothing is more important than having a first-aid kit at the ready. Stock it with antiseptic cream, bandages, gauze, cleansing wipes, a cream containing hydrocortisone for skin rashes, insect bite/ itch relieving cream, a painkiller such a paracetamol and a thermometer. 

It’s also important to know what to do in case your baby or toddler is choking. Either read up on the internet and be prepared or do a first-aid course on the same. 

Miscellaneous Items

Other things that could come in handy are a teething gel (if your baby is teething), allergy or hay-fever medicines (if your child is prone to allergies) or extra inhalers and asthma pumps if your child has asthma.