For a new parent, the first time your baby gets sick can be a very scary experience.
That said, it's helpful to have a list of items on-hand so that you're prepared to
handle any health-related situation that you may come in contact with. However, be certain to call your
pediatrician before giving medications to a newborn and for medical issues that you are unsure of.
Have a list of phone numbers (including your pediatrician and local
emergency contacts) posted around your home, as well as stored in your
cell phone for easy access.
General Health
cotton balls (to clean ears)
cotton-tipped swabs (to clean umbilical-cord area, not ears)
bandages, in assorted shapes and sizes
sterile gauze pads and bandage rolls (1-inch and 2-inch varieties)
adhesive tape
sharp scissors with rounded ends
ice pack
hot-water bottles
tweezers and a small packet of needles (for removing splinters)
Allergy and Congestion
nasal aspirator
saline nose drops
cool-mist vaporizer or humidifier (to help clear stuffy noses)
Thermometers
thermometer--rectal (with short round bulb)
thermometer--digital rectal (easy to use on squirming bottoms)
thermometer--tympanic (for use in the ear; faster but more expensive)
thermometer--auxillary (underarm; faster but more expensive)
