Baby's Medicine Cabinet
I never knew I would use any of these things until after I had a baby and my good friend Sara helped me out! Here's what I suggest you have in your infant's medicine cabinet.
Saline Spray/Drops
To clean out your baby's nose. The blue sucker thing the hospital gave to me, is very big and it's hard to get it into her nostril, so a few drops in her nose help to clear out the boogers.
Gas Drops
Mylicon Gas Relief Drops or the equivalent generic work nicely when your baby has gas pains. And I'm sure you will know by your baby's screaching cry when he/she has gas.
Gripe Water
Gripe water helps with hiccups, gas and colic.
Orajel for teething, Motrin and Tylenol for colds and fever and Desitin for diaper rash are all in my baby medicine cabinet and I haven't had to use any of them yet. I'm sure the time is coming!
Also, my pediatrician recommended Vitamin D since my baby is breastfed. It's available at the pharmacy, in a box, near the kids vitamins under the name Tri-Vi-Sol. Of course you should talk to your pediatrician first.
I have found that Target has a very nice children's medicine area in the pharmacy, but most other stores have a similar area in their pharmacy department as well.
Lastly, I think the easiest way to give my baby these items is to put them in a bottle nipple and have her suck it out. It's much easier than using the dropper that comes with most of the products. Some of the items can be added to the baby's bottle which makes administering them much easier.
If my veteran moms know of any other items, don't hesitate to leave me a comment!