As we move into the cooler months, it’s almost inevitable our kiddos will be exposed to more than the usual number of contagious bugs and illnesses. This is especially true during the holiday season, including Halloween, when lots of kids are getting together for trick-or-treating or parties.

Few things feel worse than seeing our little ones suffer. When our babies have stuffy noses, congested chests, or even more serious health issues it can be unsettling or downright frightening. What’s a mom to do?

You can rest assured there are things you can do to help make the situation as easy as possible. Remember, though, that seeking professional medical advice is advisable in any emergency.

When sickness comes out of nowhere, a good pharmacy or medical provider can be a big help. You can use the KidFriendlyVenue app to find great pharmacies or even pediatric medical care in your area. In the meantime, here are a few tips to help you get your little one feeling better.

Stay Calm

One of the most important steps when your child is sick is to stay calm. I speak from experience. Two of my children have had long term critical illnesses. We had to learn all about staying calm at our house!

The truth is keeping a clear head can help you figure out your next steps. Once you’re calm you can assess whether the situation needs immediate attention. For example, is a bone broken? Is it hard for your child to breathe? Is the health issue worsening over a period of hours or days? If the answer is yes, find a doctor right away.

However, if the answer is no, you can take a few moments to ask yourself more questions. Is there a medication or home remedy on hand to treat this ailment? For example, can you give your feverish child a lukewarm bath to lower body temperature? Can you use saline spray and a nasal aspirator to relieve congestion? Do you have an age-appropriate cough medicine on hand? The questions you ask yourself will depend on the medical issue with which you’re dealing.

Post Emergency Numbers

Needing information and being unable to find it is a major frustration. That’s why keeping emergency numbers handy is so important. Keep your pediatrician’s phone number as well as that of the poison control center in an easy to access place. If your child sees any specialists, keep those numbers nearby, too.

Having numbers written down and stored safely is essential during emergency situations, especially in instances when you have a babysitter in the home. This will make dealing with a stressful situation less stressful.

Be Prepared

If you keep a small medical kit stocked and ready, it can really cut down on stress when your child gets hurts or becomes ill. At our house, we keep things on hand such as allergy medication, fever reducers, ice packs, bandages, antibiotic ointment, peroxide, Epson salt, saline spray, and a humidifier. We also have a thermometer, stethoscope, and pulse-oximeter. These things allow us to assess and treat problems more quickly and efficiently.

Here are a few standard items you might like to have available:

Keep peroxide, antibiotic ointment, and bandages for small cuts and abrasions.

Keep ice packs and allergy medicines (liquids and creams) handy for bug bites, allergens, minor bumps and bruises.

Keep Epson salt for warm baths, also saline spray, a nasal aspirator and a humidifier for stuffy noses.

Using local pharmacies to stay stocked up on common medical items is a great busy mom time management tip but depending on the sickness, your on-hand tools might vary. Last fall, our little boy caught hand-food-mouth disease. We were out of town when it hit, which meant we had to look for a pharmacy in unfamiliar territory.

We found a local CVS, which was a lifesaver. We were able to bathe him daily in a warm oatmeal bath, and we used a calamine lotion spray to relieve itching. We also gave him children’s pain reducer to help with the mouth and throat discomfort caused by the sores.

Using the KFV app can help you find what you need when the situation arises. For example, in Chicago a quick search brings up a half dozen top rated pediatric clinics in the downtown area alone. Using the slide bar in the KFV app, you can adjust the distance to your location to find the perfect recommendations near you. And if you find a place you love? You can give it a 5-star rating in the app and help other parents like yourself.

Being prepared for sickness is part of the life of a busy working mom. Using tips from top parent blogs like this one can be a great resource!

It can be scary when your kids are sick but using these tips can help ease that burden a bit. We working moms must stick together, after all! Practice staying calm, being prepared, and using resources like the KFV app to set your child back on the path to wellness.

Laura D, MomsTribute.com