Kids Common Cold Survival Stash

When The Common Cold Comes Around…

With back to school and indoor autumn weather comes more germs and sickness.  And with my kids’ history (allergies, asthma, and ear infections ‘R Us), the common cold can develop into so much more if left untreated.  So when we were invited by B-Inspired Mama sponsor SayAhh! to share about how we handle cold season in our home, I realized it was that time of year again to make sure our cold season medicine stash is stocked and ready.  Here’s a peek inside…

This is a product-provided, sponsored conversation that contains affiliate links.  All opinions, text and experiences are my own.  Please see my disclosure policy.

Our Common Cold Survival Stash

• Soft Tissues – Notice I preceded the word tissues with soft!  It is VITAL that you choose soft tissues for your kids.  It’s hard enough for me to get my kids to wipe their noses with soft tissues nevertheless scratchy uncomfortable ones.  It’s worth spending a little more if necessary to get the tissue brand that your kids like and will use.
• Hand Sanitizer – While we try not to over-use it, we encourage our tissue-averse kids to use hand sanitizer when they’re sick.
• A Kid-Friendly Thermometer – There are lots of kid-friendly thermometers to choose from; from temple touch to forehead to ear.  You’ll know what’s easiest for you and your kids.  We’ve tried them all, but generally get the best results with the good old oral or underarm digital thermometer.
• Cold Remedies and Fever Reducers – This one depends entirely on the age of your kids and your doctor’s suggestion.  But we usually always have children’s acetaminophen on hand for reducing fevers and aches.
• Medicine Cups & Spoons – We try to keep a variety of medicine cups and spoons on hand since our kids have liked different types over the years.
• Throat Lozenges – My kids prefer Vitamin C Drops, but again, there are lots of throat lozenge options for you to choose from.  Consult with your doctor or pharmacist to know what’s best for your family.
• Freezy Pops – Okay, so these obviously aren’t in our medicine box, but are always in our freezer during cold season.  Freezy Pops and Popsicles feel good on kids’ sore throats and are a great way to get fluids in sick kids, too.
• Herbal Tea – This is a new one for our cold survival box.  I love warm tea when I have a cold or sore throat, and I recently discovered a kids’ tea that might be another way to soothe the kids’ sore throats and get fluids in them when sick.
• Lip Balm & A Dry Skin Protectant – I like to keep a few fun lip balms handy for my kids’ chapped lips and Aquaphor for sore chapped noses.
• A Cool Mist Humidifier – I have been bad about keeping this going throughout past cold seasons, but I know it helps when I do remember to.  So I’m checking and prepping our cool mist humidifier now – before we need it – to have it ready to go this year.  Adding humidity to dry Autumn and Winter air seems to ease my kids’ coughs and prevent dry skin.
• SayAhh! Sore Throat Home Exam Aid – Here’s another newbie to our survival box.  And I’m really excited about this one.  Let me tell you about it…

The Sore Throat Tool I Wish I Had Sooner!

The SayAhh! Sore Throat Home Exam Aid is a handy tool that helps you easily check a child’s sore throat.  If you want to get fancy, it’s a “patented, scientifically-designed oral retractor” that helps you hold your child’s tongue down so you can use the included mini flashlight to get a better peek at your child’s sore throat.  It’s safe for kids six years and older and perfect for anyone with a strong gag reflex as it’s specifically designed to hold the tongue down without inducing gagging.

My favorite part: the exam aid comes with a chart with medical-grade illustrations and descriptions of six common throat ailments (strep throat, coxsackie, mononucleosis, etc.) to help you better report to your doctor to determine if a visit to the office is necessary.  SayAhh! also has a helpful health management program at its website (www.sayahh.com) and a new SayAhh! Exam Guide App (available in the Apple App Store and coming soon to Google Play) in case you loose the chart, too.  I have a feeling that we could have prevented a few office visits (and wasted co-pays) had we had the SayAhh! Sore Throat Home Exam Aid sooner!

Want to Add SayAhh! to Your Common Cold Survival Stash, Too?

Save $1.00 on your purchase of the new SayAhh! Sore Throat Home Exam Aid with my special promo code “mom430”. PLUS, get FREE SHIPPING if you purchase by November 1, 2015!  That’s a great deal!  Purchase online here: http://sayahh.com/purchase.html.  And make sure to follow SayAhh! on Facebook, too. 

More Cold Season Tips from B-Inspired Mama:

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Now through November 1st, get free shipping when you purchase the new SayAhh! Sore Throat Home Exam Aid online at http://sayahh.com/purchase.html!

This is a product-provided, sponsored conversation that contains affiliate links. All opinions, text and experiences are my own.