Guide to Getting Ready for Baby: Medicine Chest

If you're getting ready for baby, the Boy Scout motto of "Be Prepared" is not just a motto, it's words to live by. And you don't have to be a pessimist to recognize that children inevitably require a well-stocked medicine chest or kit. While some of the items will hopefully not be necessary at first, you will certainly need them as baby turns into toddler (bandaids!). You probably already have several items somewhere; some will be appropriate for baby and some might not be, so read below for details. If you don't already have a "medicine chest" in an easily accessible child-safe place, now is the time to make and stash it - I keep mine at the top of my linens closet right next to the bathroom, which is where all booboos get fixed. It is a good idea to keep your kit near soap and water, as so many childhood mishaps need a ready supply of both. A good medicine chest will have enough space for all your stuff, hopefully with some organization built in. I've seen fishing tackle boxes, diaper bags, beauty kits, and they all worked for their owners. Find what works for you.

The items listed below are separated into two categories: Must Have and Good to Have on Hand. Since each child and each parent are unique, you may find some items indispensible for your child while your best friend never uses or needs it. The Must Have list is for items that every child will need at some point. The Good to Have list is for items that can become necessary but you can wait on buying them if you like. Getting ready for babies can be expensive. One more note before getting started: Since keeping medications straight can be challenging, the active ingredient is listed with the brand name following in ().

"Must Have"

* Fever Medication. Some notes before listing specific kinds - recent research has shown that alternating acetaminophen with iboprofen results in better fever management than using either alone. Do not use them at the same time! Use one, wait the 3-4 hours usually recommended before another dose, and then use the other. Dosages for children are by weight, not age, so an adult medication can be used if the proper amount for the child's body weight is calculated. Consult a doctor for this, as overdosing on pain relievers is the biggest cause of liver damage in North America. Also, fevers are very common in children as they are the body's prime defensive weapon against illness. Serious consideration should be given as to whether or not medicating a fever is even necessary. There are good resources online to check when a child's fever needs a doctor, medication or nothing except comfort measures. And finally, never ever give a child ASA (acetylsalicylic acid, Aspirin) as it can cause Reye's syndrome.

- Acetaminophen or Paracetamol (Tylenol, Tempra, Panadol, etc) is a pain reliever and a fever reducer. It's derived from coal tar, of all things.

- Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) is also a pain reliever and fever reducer, and it can help reduce inflammation (it's used for arthritis). It's a NSAID which probably means nothing to most people, but if you have to avoid NSAID's because of adverse interactions with other medications it's good to keep in mind. This wouldn't affect most children.

* Medication spoon - this item is really great to have on hand, although many children's medications come with one built in.

* Thermometer to measure body temperature. You can use a digital one but make sure that if you're getting the kind specially for rectal use that you get *child* sized! And remember, never insert it beyond an inch (1") - measuring from the last joint of your pinkie should be a good indicator. There are also forehead strips that are non-invasive as well as ear thermometers on the market but these are less precise.

* Bandaids and bandages, various sizes. Be careful that they're not too cute, or you'll be going through boxes at a time as your kid(s) suddenly develops "owies" everywhere!

* Antibiotic ointment - this is good to put on owies before the bandage. Some bandaids come with antibiotics built in, but if you use ointment you can simply buy normal bandaids.

* Sterilizing solution - rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide or Bactine all work. I like Bactine since it's what I grew up with and it's sprayable; my spouse prefers the bubbling action of hydrogen peroxide. Choose your favorite. In a pinch, soap and water will do.

* Bulb syringe - this is for suctioning out noses and/or ears. I've used mine sporadically overall, but regularly with 2 of my 4 children, so it's included on the "Must Have" list here.

* Tweezers

* Fingernail clippers, child-sized; even infants get sharp nails and they can scratch themselves (or you!) pretty badly if not kept trimmed.

* First aid manual. The Internet is a great resource, but it's good to have a hard copy for emergencies that's easy to read (panic does not lend itself to clarity of mind!).

* Epi-pen if necessary. These are only for individuals whose allergic reactions to something can become life-threatening.

"Good to Have on Hand"

* Other medications. You'll probably develop quite the supply after a few family illnesses. I like to buy my medicines separate; one just for coughs, one just for fevers, etc, so that I can treat symptoms more precisely. Most mixtures are safe, just make sure not to combine them with anything that doubles dosages of a particular drug.

- Benzocaine (Orajel, etc) is a topical pain reliever. I find it useful for teething and things like wasp stings.

- Phenylephrine hydrochloride (Triaminic, NeoCitran, Theraflu, Robitussin, Sudafed, etc) is in cold and cough medications as it is a decongestant. It also raises blood pressure. There are some concerns that it's not even effective, although it's being marketed as a substitute for Pseudoephedrine after that drug became regulated because of its use in manufacturing meth.

- Dextromethorphan hydrobromide (Triaminic, etc) is an anti-coughing drug. Avoid using for children with allergy problems. Its effectiveness is also in question, and to top it off, larger doses have psychedelic effects since it works on the brain! It's not that surprising, actually, since the best anti-cough agent out there is Codeine. Obviously codeine is such a powerful drug that it's not recommended for children. And that brings us to...

- Theobromine (chocolate!). Yes, that's right, chocolate. Now there's a medicine I can easily take! Research has shown that besides its normal effects as a diuretic, vasodilator and stimulant, theobromine suppresses coughs by reducing that tickle at the back of the throat (as opposed to the previous two medications, which act on the brain's cough center itself). 50g of dark chocolate should do the trick, and it almost certainly won't hurt. So add a dark chocolate bar to the medicine chest!

- Simethicone (Little Tummies, Maalox, etc) is a gas treatment drug that helps us burp it out. It's not a colic treatment though.

- Gripe water can be made at home or bought in the store under various names. It usually contains ginger, dill, fennel and chamomile - licorice pickle juice is what we call it. It also helps with gas, and it's virtually harmless.

* Cotton balls

* Saline spray or drops to rinse eyes or wounds out if you don't want to use water or don't have clean water on hand - this might be a good thing to put in your car's first aid kit (and you have one of those...right??).

* Electrolyte powder or solution (Pedialyte) to give to little ones when they are losing a lot of fluids to vomiting and/or diarrhea. You can make your own with water, salt and a little fruit juice. More details can be found here.

* Creams and lotions

- Zinc oxide cream is a barrier lotion for diaper rash or to prevent sunburn.

- Petroleum jelly is another barrier cream for diaper rash, or to keep germs out of a scrape or burn (and it really is better than butter).

- Sunscreen - make sure the SPF is high enough.

- Calamine lotion is the standard for poison ivy treatment, but it also helps with things like chicken pox.

- Afterbite or Tiger Balm - both work to help reduce the itchiness associated with bug bites.

- Insect repellent - make sure you get child-safe DEET containing repellent or use a DEET alternative like Skin-So-Soft.

- Glycerin suppositories for extreme constipation.

Whew! You made it! After making up your super kit, you should feel ready to take on whatever life with baby throws at you. And a word of advice if you're feeling nervous about becoming a parent: Look at your hands. They are the chosen instruments of God to care for this new life you're waiting for and just as no one else in the whole world has hands like yours, no other person in the whole world can take care of your baby like you can. With these tools in your medicine chest, your child will be in the BEST hands possible.