Cold and Flu Season Essentials

It is officially cold and flu season (and RSV season, and Coxsackievirus season, and COVID season, and stomach bug season…) and our family’s been hit. I am sure we’re not the only household that’s battling this year’s slew of illnesses and I want to share what I’ve found helpful to get our preschooler on the mend.

Last year we were hit with every virus imaginable and I am trying my hardest to avoid a situation like that this year (especially now that I am pregnant) but the reality is that kids in school get sick. A lot. I decided to write out my family’s cold and flu season essentials in case it’s helpful to any other parent out here. As I always say, I am by no means any kind of medical professional, but these are just things that are working for us. So, in addition to the fire cider we’ve been drinking, and the gallons of chicken soup I’ve been making, here are our essentials list:

The Vicks Filtered Cool Moisture Humidifier & VapoPads Refills

If our Vicks Filtered Cool Moisture Humidifier broke tonight you’d find me in line at the nearest Target trying to buy another ASAP. I purchased one after doing a little research and it significantly improved my son’s sleeping while he was fighting RSV. I really like that it has two speeds, and I genuinely notice a breathable difference in the room. I also love that it can hold the VapoPads. It’s like having a cool mist of Vicks VapoRub filter through the room all night and we loved it.

Frida to the Rescue!

I have never used a Frida Baby or Mom product that I didn’t love and wouldn’t recommend. Not only is everything Frida makes the best quality, but it all works. The Frida Baby FeverFrida Cool Pads are great when fevers strike. We’ve ben using them since my son was a wee baby, and he’s a preschooler now and they still work great. I really like that they stick in place and won’t move around. We also love the Frida Bath Bombs. They’re great for an evening bath to wind down. Lastly, we have been loving the Breathefrida Vapor Wipes. Not only can they be used on the nose for easy breathing, but they can also be rubbed on the chest.

I didn’t feature it here officially, but if you have smaller children, the Frida Snot Sucker is a classic! My son is a little too old for it now, but we used it all the time when he was younger.

A Little Help from Zarbee’s

Zarbee’s Kid’s Cough + Mucus Daytime and Nighttime Syrup works great for our son. Just last night he had a coughing fit right as he was going to bed and I gave him a dose and within minutes the cough subsided. He also seems to take it very easily? I think it tastes decent compared to other medicines because I don’t have to fight him much to take it.

We also love the Zarbee’s Chest Rub. This is another product we’ve used since our son was very little and it’s a staple in our medicine cabinet.

The Only Food Our Son Will Eat…

When you’re sick, even the thought of food is sometimes repulsive. However, a little food is necessary to keep medicine down when fevers are high. These Earth’s Best Organic Crunchin’ Crackers were a lifesaver. Haha, our kid literally ate three boxes over the course of a few days. Not only are they organic, but they are gentle on the stomach and he loves that they’re shaped like his favorite Sesame Street characters.

Some Extra Basics for Your Sick Day Kit

Lastly, in addition to all the “fun” things in your sick day kit, a few basics are also necessary. We’ve used the Braun Thermoscan Ear Thermometer since our son was a baby and it still works great. It’s also good to have a stockpile of tissues on hand, as well as an absurd amount of coffee readily available.

Without Further Ado…

These are my cold and flu season essentials. I wish you all a healthy and safe cold and flu season! As always let me know if something works for your family that I don’t have down here. I am always open to suggestions!