Being woken at midnight by a feverish, screaming baby while you’re searching the internet for paracetamol dosing information is a situation worth avoiding. These are the 20 items every parent should have before the baby arrives — bought in advance, stored accessibly, and ready to use.
Medications: Have These Before Birth
- Infant paracetamol suspension (120mg/5ml) — Calpol or generic equivalent. Safe from 2 months, 4kg+. Dose by weight. This is your most-used medication in the first year.
- Infant ibuprofen suspension (100mg/5ml) — Nurofen for Children or generic. Safe from 3 months, 5kg+. More effective than paracetamol for ear pain and teething; useful for alternating. Not for use in chickenpox.
- Nasal saline drops or spray — sterile saltwater for unblocking a congested baby’s nose before feeds. Non-medicated, safe from birth. Transformative for blocked-nose feeding difficulties.
- Nasal aspirator — the NoseFrida (a parent-operated suction device) is uncomfortable to describe but remarkably effective. Bulb aspirators exist; this is better.
- Oral rehydration solution sachets — Dioralyte or equivalent. For dehydration from gastroenteritis. Do not give plain water to an unwell young baby; these replace electrolytes correctly.
- Infant antacid drops — Infacol (simethicone) for wind and colic. Evidence for effectiveness is limited but it’s safe. Useful to have; useful to not expect miracles from.
Wound Care and Skin
- Digital thermometer — a rectal thermometer for under 3 months (most accurate); a temporal artery or ear thermometer from 3 months onward. A strip thermometer pressed to the forehead is not accurate enough.
- Zinc oxide barrier cream — Sudocrem, Bepanthen, or Metanium. For nappy rash; apply at every change during prone periods. Metanium is the most effective for established rash.
- Emollient cream — fragrance-free, for dry or eczema-prone skin. Aveeno Baby, Diprobase, or Doublebase. Apply generously and liberally; this is the cornerstone of eczema management.
- Sterile gauze pads and medical tape — for any minor wound until it can be assessed.
- Children’s antihistamine syrup — Piriton (chlorphenamine) for allergic reactions, itching from eczema or insect bites. Keep available from 6 months. Know the dose in advance.
- Coconut oil or baby oil — for cradle cap (apply, leave 20 minutes, brush gently, shampoo off). Also useful for newborn massage.
Tools and Equipment
- Medicine syringe (oral) — 5ml and 1ml syringes for accurate medication dosing. Most medicines come with one; have a spare. Never use a kitchen spoon.
- Nail scissors or baby nail file — newborn nails are razor-sharp and grow quickly. Scissors with rounded tips or a battery-operated file are safest.
- Soft baby hairbrush — doubles for cradle cap brushing and for the early tummy time scalp massage that many babies find calming.
- Nasal saline spray and aspirator — repeated from medications because this combination is so frequently needed.
- Baby nail clipper or electric trimmer — electric trimmers are safer for very young babies if scissors feel anxiety-inducing.
For the Parent’s Medicine Cabinet
- Paracetamol and ibuprofen for adults — obvious but easy to forget when you’re buying everything for the baby
- Arnica cream or gel — for perineal bruising and general birth recovery bruising (not on broken skin)
- Witch hazel pads or solution — for perineal discomfort in the first weeks
- Lansinoh nipple cream — if planning to breastfeed; start using after every feed from day one to prevent cracking
Storage and Practicalities
Keep everything in a designated, easily accessible location — not locked away, not at the back of a high shelf. A clear plastic box on a shelf accessible to adults but not to toddlers works well. Check expiry dates at the baby’s 6-month mark and replace anything that’s expired. Keep a printed dosing chart for paracetamol and ibuprofen by weight — you won’t want to calculate this at 2am.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I give paracetamol and ibuprofen together?
You can give them simultaneously or alternately — they work through different mechanisms and don’t interact. Alternating (paracetamol, wait 3 hours, ibuprofen, wait 3 hours, repeat) can provide more sustained fever and pain management than either alone. Do this on your GP or health visitor’s recommendation rather than routinely.
When should I go to hospital instead of using home medications?
Any fever in a baby under 3 months (100.4°F / 38°C) regardless of how they look — this is always a same-day emergency. A fever above 40°C at any age. Any difficulty breathing. A non-blanching rash. Extreme lethargy or difficulty rousing. Inability to keep fluids down for more than 8 hours. Trust your instincts — if something feels wrong beyond what a medicine can address, call your GP or 111 (UK) / telehealth service (US).
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