Cold and Flu Survival Kit: Toddler Edition

Cold and flu season is here mamas! Terrible, I know. As I write this, my family…toddler included has been sick for over a week with a nasty cold. Being the parent of an adorable little human is such a wonderful experience. However, a screaming toddler with a cold is not fun for anyone involved. Here, I share my cold and flu survival kit for toddlers. 

Colds in Toddlers

According to Stanford Medicine colds are spread two ways: through the air and by direct contact. If someone sneezes or coughs, this spreads into the air and when your child breathes, the virus goes inside the nose. Direct contact is by touching a sick person or objects that have been contaminated. 

Some common symptoms include: 

• Fever
• Chills 
• Fatigue 
• Fussiness
• Sneezing
• Watery eyes
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Congestion
• Runny nose

Flu symptoms may be similar but are usually more severe. 

The common cold can cause other complications including ear infections, throat infections, sinus infections and pneumonia. 

Avoid Infection

Keep your child away from people you know have the cold or flu. This is also a good idea if you see symptoms listed above. 

Wash your toddlers hands or sanitize frequently. 

Limit face touching. 

Clean toys and shared areas often to minimize germs and viruses.

Make Your Toddler Comfortable

Colds don’t have a cure. You’ve heard it time and time again. They must run their course. And unfortunately, there isn’t any over-the-counter cold and flu medicine for toddlers. In fact, there isn’t any available or safe for children under the age of 6. Don’t worry! There are some things you can do to make your toddler more comfortable while fighting a cold. 

Fluids, fluids and more fluids! This prevents your toddlers from becoming dehydrated.

Let your toddler get plenty of rest to combat fatigue and heal from their cold.

Being Prepared for a Toddler’s Cold

You want to be prepared for as much as possible when it comes to your little one. Especially because colds can creep up at any time of day or night and symptoms can fluctuate. By stocking your medicine cabinet with cold and flu essentials you avoid drug stores being closed when you need them most. Because it’s cold and flu season shopping in-store for some of these items was hard because the shelves were bare. 

Our content is reader-supported, so if you click on some of our links, we may earn a commission. This is at no extra cost to you. 

Here’s what I’ve stocked my Cold & Flu Survival Kit (Medicine cabinet) with:

Always read each medicine label for directions and ingredients. This can change, so it’s best to change each time. Also, be sure to check with your pediatrician before giving your child any medication. 

1. Digital Thermometer

Having a thermometer in your cold and flu survival kit for toddlers is a must! A thermometer helps you determine if your toddler has a fever. While you often can tell if your child is warm simply by touching them, you won’t know the exact number without a thermometer. That number is extremely important! It can be the difference between treating your child at home and needing to go to the emergency room. According to KidsHealth, you should contact your pediatrician if your toddler has a temperature of 102.2 F or higher. A fever is often a sign of infection.

I use this thermometer by ihealth and find it to be accurate for a digital thermometer. The best part is you don’t have to make contact with your child’s skin so there should be no tears. Unless of course, your child loves a dramatic moment (mine does from time to time, lol). A digital thermometer is great as you only need one for the entire family and it can be used year-round to detect a fever.

 iHealth Digital Thermometer

2. Tylenol

Tylenol/Acetaminophen is an essential cold and flu medicine for toddlers. It can help relieve pain and reduce fevers that may start because of a cold. Each dose lasts for 4 hours. While you can use Tylenol before two years old, you must ask your doctor. They will give you a chart for the correct dosage for your child based on age and weight. 

Children’s Tylenol 2-11 Years Old 

3. Motrin

Motrin/ibuprofen is also a pain reliever and fever reducer. If Tylenol is not strong enough, Motrin can be used. In serious cases, where your child isn’t getting enough pain relief a doctor may say it’s appropriate to use both Tylenol and Motrin.  Motrin lasts longer at up to 8 hours. Having a pain reliever in your medicine cabinet is important as colds can cause ear infections in little ones that will cause pain. Again if your child is under two years old, you must ask your doctor for the correct dosage.

Children’s Motrin 2-11 Years Old

4. Fever Patches

Fever patches are a great addition to your cold and flu survival kit for toddlers! I use fever patches on my son’s back when he has a fever. Fever patches are self-sticking gel patches. The patch lasts up to 8 hours and is non-toxic and skin-safe. In combination with a fever reducer, it works well. I have never used them alone, so I can’t speak to that.

Fridababy FeverFrida

5. Nasal Saline

Nasal saline is safe for children. It helps release mucus and hydrate dry nasal passages. This helps flush the nasal cavity, which is especially helpful if your toddler cannot blow their nose yet. Using it to clear a stuffy nose will require a little finesse. This particular saline has a long tip, so I barely insert it. I tip my son’s head slightly forward to make sure the saline will run out his nose. You can do this over a sink, but I normally sit my son on my lap with a couple of paper towels to catch the saline and mucus.  

Zarbee’s Soothing Saline Nasal Mist with Aloe

6. Nasal Aspirator

This is helpful for infants and toddlers who cannot yet blow their noses. If the saline rinse is difficult, a nasal aspirator can do the trick. I ordered this electric aspirator during my son’s last cold. It helped tremendously with nasal congestion. This may be TMI, but his nose was endlessly runny and blocking him from breathing. This helped tremendously. You must clean it after every use. 

NeilMed Battery Operated Nasal Aspirator 

Alternatively, you can use nasal drops and a manual aspirator. I used this method when my son was under two. 

7. Vicks Vapor Rub

It’s good to have vapor rub in your cold and flu survival kit. When my son is congested or has a cough, I rub a small amount on his chest and on his upper back/neck.  Children’s VapoRub is safe for toddlers 2 and up. Alternatively, it can be used to relieve minor aches and pains. It lasts up to 8 hours. Warning: Don’t apply near, on or in nose or mouth.

Vick’s Children’s VapoRub

You can try natural vapor rub. I’ve tried both and think they both work just as well. I like Maty’s All Natural, but do find that like a lot of natural products (the oil) make it easier to stain your clothing. I have stained two pieces of my clothing with this one, but it does work great and is petroleum free. 

Maty’s All Natural Vapor Rub

8. Hyland’s Earache Drops

Another great item for a cold and flu survival kit for toddlers is Hyland’s earache drops. Toddlers who get colds are susceptible to earache. My son has gotten earaches each time he gets a cold. Having these on hand help. They can be used on anyone two and up. These natural ear drops help relieve pain from swimmers’ wear, cold & flu, and allergy. Just keep in mind this helps with pain but will not clear up an infection, so make sure you have your little one checked out if they are showing signs of ear infection. 

Hyland’s Naturals Earache Drops

9.  Electrolyte Drink

Staying hydrated during a cold and flu is important, especially if your toddler doesn’t have much of an appetite. Pedialyte drinks include potassium, sodium, chloride and prebiotics. They offer medical-grade hydration.

Pedialyte Advanced Care 

10.  Liquid Medicine Dispenser

Make sure your little one gets the right dose every time. This color-coded easy-to-use oral medicine dispenser makes getting the right dose each time easy.

Ezy Dose Kids Syringe

11. Cold Medicine

While there is no regular OTC cold medicine in recent years natural medicine have become available OTC. Hyland’s Naturals is free of sugar, dye alcohol and parabens. The combo pack includes day and nighttime formulas.

Hyland’s Natural Cold & Cough Combo Pack

12. Cough Syrup

If your toddler has a cough, there is also natural cough medicine that is available over-the-counter. This formula helps clear mucus as well. Its also very sweet….like honey, so my son doesn’t mind taking it. 

Zarbee’s Naturals Cough Syrup + Mucus

Stock your medicine cabinet with cold and flu essentials for your toddler. Cold and flu season is a pain…literally, so make sure you have all you need in your cabinet before the cold comes. But…hopefully, it won’t!

Is there anything you stock in your cold and flu survival kit for your toddler that I didn’t mention? Make sure to share it in the comments. It may help another reader.

Thanks for stopping by.