Temporary Substitution Guide for Baby Must Haves

In every parent's busy schedule, there comes a time when you run out of something that you need for your baby and there is not an extra on hand. Every parent has run out of an item that baby needs and how do they cope? The parent or caregiver has to substitute or "make do" with what items are available for use on baby.

Over the years, I have found a few items that come in really handy when I run out of necessities. Some necessities have substitutes that you probably already have on hand. If you cannot get to a store immediately, substitutions and stand-by products are a necessity. Here is a substitution guide for some of baby's must haves.

Hopefully as a parent, you have judged how much food your baby will need until the next time you go to the store. If baby has an irregular appetite one day and eats all of his or her food you need to be prepared. Luckily, adult food can be substituted for baby food as long as there are not too many spices and as long as the food is mashed to baby food consistency. One of the easiest foods to substitute for baby food is mashed potatoes, or bananas. Both easily imitate baby food consistencies.

Two items that are often needed at our house for substitution is baby wash and baby shampoo. Baby wash is going to be the gentlest soap to baby's skin. This is also the claim of baby shampoo. Baby wash can be used in baby's hair if you have mistakenly run out of baby shampoo. To substitute baby wash you can use soap that you use for yourself. If you are worried about baby's sensitive skin put a drop on a cloth and lather it up. Then, wash baby.

If baby is allergic, put baby in water and call the doctor. Chances are good if you are using the soap and baby is not sneezing around you, or having difficulty breathing baby will not be allergic to the soap. If the soap dries out baby's skin, use baby lotion to ease the itch. This is only a temporary substitution so these situations should not be a problem and will probably not occur.

One of the worst feelings in the world is to be in a restroom changing a dirty diaper and finding out all your baby wipes have dried up and you do not have any more with you. If you are lucky the restroom you are in will have regular paper towels. You can wet paper towels and use them as baby wipes. It is always best to check your diaper bag before you go out to make sure you have everything and the wipes did not somehow dry up.

Desitin is a baby product that most parents use religiously and others use only on an as needed basis. However you use Desitin, there may come a time that you do not have any on hand. This can be a problem if you do not have a substitution.

Desitin is best known to be used for preventing and treating baby rash. If you are using Desitin as a preventive and run out, you may want to use baby powder instead. Baby powder isn't as effective, but as long as you change your baby's diaper as soon as possible there will not be a problem. You can also use petroleum jelly to prevent diaper rash. It is just as effective as Desitin for keeping wetness away, it does not have any healing power though.

What if you are using the Desitin to treat diaper rash? What can you use in its place? Baby powder, although not as effective a treatment, does have some properties of medicine to heal diaper rash. If it is a rash that is brand new, you may be able to let baby soak in a tub of water to get the rash to go away.

These are just temporary substitutes that will work until you can get to the store. It is better to use your head to solve the problem than to point blame at others. If you stay cool, you may have items you use daily that will work just as well if not better than the ones suggested. Temporary substitutions are needed in case of emergencies and these will get you through your time of need.