Parent and Baby

Keep these items on hand to provide baby the best at-home care. Items on the list below can help you deal with almost any minor medical situation. Keep them together in a handy location.

• thermometer-ear or rectal
• rubbing alcohol
• cotton balls and cotton swabs
• premoistened baby wipes
• diaper-rash cream
• baby medication to reduce pain and relieve fever (ask your pediatrician for suggestions)
• cool-mist humidifier (don’t use a steam humidifier with a baby)
• dropper or oral syringe to measure accurately any liquid medication you must give baby (a kitchen teaspoon is not an accurate measurement)
• electrolyte solution, to use if baby has diarrhea (ask your pediatrician for suggestions)
• nasal syringe for clearing nasal congestion