Jessica A. Zelenak, MPA

Cold & Flu Season Preparedness & Tips

Each year at the beginning of cold and flu season I find myself coming back to this list! I often share it with moms who have little ones entering school for the first time and gearing up for their first big cold and flu season! I’ve compiled the list from tips I’ve received from other parents over the years. And it’s just ways I find to make it easier to survive the sick months. I hope you find this list useful. Please know I am not a medical professional, and these are just tried and true tips from one mom to another. 

My Family’s Cold & Flu Season Essentials

Food & Beverage

  • Herbal Tea
  • Chicken noodle soup 
  • Ginger
  • Ginger ale 
  • Lemons
  • Honey/manuka honey
  • Organic garlic
  • Coconut oil 
  • Onions
  • Saltine crackers 
  • Coconut water
  • Bone broth 
  • Orange juice 
  • Uncle Matt’s ultimate defense (OJ with pineapple and ginger)
  • Gatorade
  • Ramen
  • Instant rice
  • Applesauce 
  • Oatmeal 

Vitamins, Minerals & Supplements 

  • Vitamin C
  • Vitamin D
  • Zinc
  • Elderberry 
  • Probiotics 

Pharmacy (Adults)

  • Zicam
  • Mucinex
  • oscillococcinum
  • Cough drops
  • Saline nasal spray 
  • Covid rapid tests
  • Vicks shower tabs
  • Sudafed
  • Cold-eeze 
  • Tylenol/Acetaminophen
  • Ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin)
  • Benadryl
  • Boiron coldcam 

Pharmacy (Kids)

  • Tylenol/Acetaminophen
  • Ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin)
  • Benadryl
  • Zarbees cold and cough
  • Saline nasal spray 
  • Covid rapid tests
  • Frida baby bath bombs
  • Pedialyte 
  • Pedialyte popsicles

Household Supplies 

  • Tissues
  • Lip balm (Chapstick, Blistex or Carmex)
  • Vicks vapor rub
  • Hand sanitizer 
  • KN95 masks
  • Kids size latex gloves
  • Oxiclean
  • Hydrogen peroxide 
  • Puke bags
  • A nebulizer and saline
  • A pulse oximeter 
  • A stethoscope 
  • Epsom salt
  • Boogie wipes
  • Lysol/ Clorox wipes
  • Essential oils
    • Plant Therapy KidSafe Feelin’ Good Essential Oil Blend Set
    • Symphony of the Cells
  • Nose Freda 
  • Aquaphor 

Tips

  • Put some books or yoga blocks under the top of mattress to tilt the bed slightly for better sinus drainage

Comment below with your best advice for surviving cold and flu season with little kids!

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