How to Handle Sick Kiddos: What to have on hand and what actually helps (from a mom of three)

Updated: April 2026

Written by Meg — mom of three (ages 5, 3, and 1) in Atlanta. We've been through every bug imaginable — RSV hospitalization included — and this is everything I keep stocked and what I actually do when sickness hits our house 🫶

Not sure what to have on hand when your baby or toddler gets sick? This is my complete sick kit — everything I keep stocked for sick babies and toddlers, what I do differently for each, and my honest advice for surviving sick season with multiple kids.

Real talk from a real mom. Seeing your baby sick is one of the hardest parts of parenthood, in my opinion. We went from 0 to 100 with germ exposure when my oldest started daycare at 20 months old and it felt like we were all sick constantly, for months. It was, in a word, exhausting. These are some things that I found helpful in that time, but as always, your pediatrician is your best resource when it comes to the health of your child.

My actual sick day system — a handwritten med chart so nobody accidentally gets a double dose at 3am. Highly recommend.

Sick babes

• Thermometer - we went through several before we found this one. Love that this gives a consistent reading and can be used in the ear or on the forehead.

• Genexa Clean Infant Ibuprofen or Dye-Free Infant Tylenol & Dye-Free Infant Motrin- I buy dye-free whenever possible. Fewer chemicals!

  • Genexa is something I have come across more recently and I love that it has the same active ingredients and none of the junk ingredients

• Paci medicine dispenser - this thing is incredibly helpful for giving a squirmy baby medicine without them even realizing it. Just push the plunger part down slowly.

• Congestion/colds

  • Electric nasal aspirator - this is what I used for my older boys and it was just fine but with my daughter we got this Dr. NozeBest one after she had RSV and it's way better IMHO

  • Saline Spray | and Drops

  • Micro-Mist Inhaler Saline Spray

  • Humidifier - look for one with both warm and cool mist

  • FridaBaby Breathe Easy Kit

  • Zarbee's Naturals Baby Cough Syrup - make sure you are avoiding honey for babies less than 12 months old!

• When you're concerned about dehydration:

  • Pedialyte (Unflavored) - if baby is throwing up or you're concerned about dehydration, your doctor may recommend giving small amounts of this with a syringe, if baby can't keep breastmilk or formula down. Worth having on hand just in case!

• Babyganics alcohol free sanitizing wipes - obsessed with these, always have in the diaper bag

• When my baby is sick we go into serious snuggle mode and I'll breastfeed as much as needed to keep them comfortable. The schedule goes out the window and we do whatever we need to do until they feel better.

Sick toddlers - any of the above things are fine to use as well, plus:

• Children's versions of Genexa, Tylenol & Motrin, once they hit the appropriate weight limit. It's the same ingredient as the infant one, so you can finish that up first before switching to the Children's one. Again, just follow the dosage information on the bottle super carefully!

• Congestion/colds

  • Hyland's Naturals Cough Syrup - Day & Night - again, we've tried our fair share of these with two toddlers in daycare and this is the most effective one IMHO. Great ingredients and they like the taste too. 2 years old and up!

  • Nasal Mist

  • We have a steam shower so we'll also let them do a short (5 minute) steam with one of us to open up their sinuses if needed.

  • Humidifier - look for one with both warm and cool mist

    • Our younger toddler still does not know how to blow his nose by himself, so we'll do nasal mist / humidifiers pretty regularly during sick season

• When you're concerned about dehydration:

  • Pedialyte Freezer Pops - lifesaver for throat pain too

  • Pedialyte (Flavored) - I'll pick it up at my grocery store as well but this Amazon one is also really well priced, if you're stocking up/ordering in advance

  • Some things you can buy or make at home: chicken noodle soup (broth counts as hydration), watermelon / juicy fruits like berries, coconut water, juice, unsweeted applesauce, etc.

• When my toddler is sick, we go into TLC mode and whatever he'll eat or drink is fair game. We also let him snuggle up on the couch and watch movies, which we wouldn't ordinarily let him do for too long. Anything goes when there's a sick kid in the house!

My biggest advice for dealing with sick kids.

• Trust your mama gut. The first time your baby is really sick, it is truly terrifying. I remember crying and feeling so incredibly guilty for exposing my precious babe to any germs in the first place. Just try to remember, most of the time you can expect to treat things at home and baby is going to be absolutely fine. Sometimes though they may require medical attention, just like adults when we get really sick. You will find your groove with this as it happens more.

  • If you are concerned, or something just doesn't feel right, call your pediatrician. If it's after hours, see if your local children's hospital or ER has a nurse line you can call. They'll talk you through what's happening and if you need to actually bring them in. And if you are still convinced something is really wrong, take them to urgent care or the children's ER. You know your kid best. No one will fault you and especially with infants, it's hard to know and they can't tell you what's wrong.

• Take care of yourself too. Because in addition to taking care of a sick kid (or kids!) you will likely also come down with this bug yourself in the next few days. Isn't that a treat! And when you're wrapped up taking care of someone else, it's easy to neglect your own basic needs. Try to trade off time with your partner or other caregivers to give yourself a break and make sure you're eating, hydrating and sleeping too.

  • Getting outside help during this time can be tricky because who wants to be sick! My family lives super close by and often drops things on the porch for us when somebody is sick - meals, groceries, medicine, whatever we need. If you have a village offering to help, this is a great, safe way for them to do so!

• Do a thorough clean up. To try to avoid passing things around all four of us, I'll do the following to deep clean our house after sickness:

  • Open up the windows and air out the house for as long as possible, turning on fans to help circulate some fresh air

  • Wiping down anything a sick person may have touched (doorknobs, remote control, toys) with disinfecting wipes

  • Spraying down the toilet, bathtub, sinks, light switches, etc. in the bathroom with disinfecting spray

    • I'll later run the hot water in the bathtub to rinse it before bathing the kids the next time

  • Washing all clothes, soft toys and bedding with hot water and laundry sanitizer + regular detergent

  • My personal philosophy with cleaning products is that I want the cleanest and most eco-friendly possible option that will actually work. So for day to day cleaning, I love to use Branch Basics and other products with fewer chemicals, fragrances, etc. But when we have an illness in the house, especially a stomach bug or something crazy contagious, I'm whipping out the serious stuff. Don't @ me, I am not looking for a lecture on the topic. Do what works for you!

FAQ

What should I have in my sick kit for babies and toddlers? The essentials I always have stocked: a reliable thermometer that reads in the ear and on the forehead, dye-free infant Tylenol and Motrin (or Genexa clean versions), a paci medicine dispenser for easy dosing, saline spray and drops, an electric nasal aspirator, a humidifier, and unflavored Pedialyte. For toddlers I add the Pedialyte freezer pops — absolute lifesaver for sore throats.

What is the best nasal aspirator for babies? We used a standard electric one for my older boys and it worked fine, but after my daughter's RSV hospitalization we switched to the Dr. NozeBest hospital grade nasal suction and it's significantly better. It's gentler, more effective, and worth every penny especially during RSV season. Always use saline first to help break things up.

When should I take my sick baby to the doctor? Trust your gut first — you know your baby. That said, for infants under 3 months any fever automatically warrants a call to your pediatrician or a trip to the ER. For older babies and toddlers, call your pediatrician if fever is high or persists, if they seem unusually lethargic or are having trouble breathing, if they can't keep fluids down, or if something just doesn't feel right. Most children's hospitals also have a nurse line for after-hours calls — worth saving that number.

How do I keep my other kids from getting sick when one child is ill? Isolate the sick child to one room if possible, wipe down high-touch surfaces (doorknobs, remotes, toys) with disinfecting wipes, wash hands constantly, and don't share cups or food. When it's a stomach bug I use Clorox bleach wipes — they actually list the specific pathogens they kill on the back of the package. After illness passes, open all the windows, run fans, wash all bedding and soft toys on hot with laundry sanitizer.

What is Genexa and is it better than regular Tylenol? Genexa has the exact same active ingredients as the brands you know — same efficacy — but without the artificial dyes, synthetic inactive ingredients, and additives. It's the clean medicine option. I switched our whole family over to Genexa and won't go back. Shop via my Amazon affiliate link.

What do you give a toddler for congestion? We use saline nasal mist, a humidifier in their room at night, and if we have a steam shower we'll do a quick 5-minute steam together to open things up. For cough we use Hyland's Naturals Day and Night — great ingredients, they actually like the taste, and it works. Always check age and weight limits before giving any cough syrup.

How do you keep a sick toddler hydrated? Whatever they'll take — Pedialyte freezer pops are a winner especially if their throat is sore, but also watermelon, berries, coconut water, broth, juice, unsweetened applesauce. When my toddler is sick, whatever he'll eat or drink is fair game. The rules go out the window and TLC mode kicks in fully.

→ We experienced a PICU hospitalization with my youngest — read my full guide on protecting your newborn from older siblings and daycare germs here

→ See all my favorite clean medicine and supplement discount codes here

→ See my full baby registry checklist including all the sick kit essentials here

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Your friendly reminder that this blog is not medical advice! This blog is for educational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. Consult a medical professional or healthcare provider if they seek medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment for you or your family.

Affiliate Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I earn a small commission if you click through and purchase — at no extra cost to you. All opinions are my own and I only share products I genuinely use with my own three kids.