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I used to think cold season meant stocking up on tissues, NyQuil and hoping for the best. Then I had three kids.
It’s safe to say I know much, much better. Nowadays, cold season means someone’s always sniffling, coughing, not sleeping, and someone (usually me) is Googling “can your cat make your baby sick?” at 2 a.m.
With three kids under six, I’ve learned the hard way that once the germs start circulating, it’s not just one cold, but a full-on rotation that somehow always ends with me. And, just when we think we’re in the clear, someone starts sneezing yet again, reigniting the sickness inferno that essentially becomes our life until summer.
So instead of waiting for the chaos to hit (again), I’m doing what I can now to stay ahead of it. Even though the doctor’s offices haven’t officially started giving out flu shots like it’s Halloween candy, I’m replacing expired meds before I’m elbow-deep in the cabinet at midnight, stocking up on the things we always seem to run out of, and investing in a few tools that might help us bounce back faster—or at least survive with a little more sanity intact.
Because as any parent knows, cold season just hits differently when you’re deep in the trenches of early motherhood—you’re not just “mom,” but also the round-the-clock nurse, the snack-maker, the laundry-doer, the temp-checker, the “you can’t go to school with a fever” enforcer, and the only one who seems to notice when you’re down to one clean humidifier filter.
So if you’re in a similar season—or about to be—this list is for you. It’s everything I’m buying, organizing, and mentally preparing now to make the months ahead just a little less chaotic. Even if I can’t stop the sniffles from coming, I can make sure we’re not out of Children’s Tylenol when they do.
Zarbee’s Children’s Honey Cough Syrup + Mucus Day & Night
Coughs are inevitable, but it hurts my mama heart to hear one of my kids struggle. With three kids, I’m battling more coughs in a cold season than I can count, so I’m always sure to stock up on this each fall. I appreciate that it’s made with natural ingredients like dark honey and ivy leaf to loosen mucus and calm coughs. It’s free from dyes and is safe for kids ages two and up. My kids don’t mind the sweet taste and the night-time version helps lull them to sleep thanks to the addition of chamomile. I keep one bottle in the medicine cabinet and another in our travel bag—because let’s be honest, colds don’t care if you’re on the go.
Frida Baby 3-in-1 Cool Mist Humidifier
A humidifier is non-negotiable during cold season—and this one pulls triple duty. It works as a cool-mist humidifier, essential oil diffuser, and nightlight all in one (and actually looks cute on a dresser, unlike most clunky medical-looking ones). I keep it running in all three bedrooms pretty much every night from October through March to help ease congestion and eliminate dryness in the air. A few other pluses: the tank is easy to refill, the mist is nice and quiet, and the built-in light is perfect for middle-of-the-night check-ins.
Oilogic Stuffy Nose & Cough Essential Oil Roll-On
This is my secret weapon for easing congestion without meds—and a smell that’s become straight-up nostalgic to my three babies. I swipe a little on their chest right after bath and before getting them into their jammies. It has a blend of essential oils and gives off a eucalyptus scent that’s not overpowering, but very calming.
Braun ThermoScan 7 Digital Ear Thermometer
My oldest is six, so rectal thermometers no longer pass the vibe check. That being said, I’ve also tried just about every forehead swipe and under-arm thermometer out there and few seem to work well. Then I landed on this one — it’s fast, accurate, backlit so you can use it in the dark and totally worth every penny.
Frida Baby Electric NoseFrida Nasal Aspirator
If you’re a parent you’ve probably tried, or at least heard of, the “SnotSucker.” I was a sucker for it with my first two until I stumbled upon their electric version that does the sucking for you (thank goodness). It’s gentler than it sounds, surprisingly quiet, and works like a charm when your baby’s too congested to sleep or eat comfortably. The different tip sizes make it easy to use from infancy through toddlerhood, and the fact that I don’t have to do the manual suction anymore is a blessed game changer.
Genexa Kids’ Cold Crush
When I’m not quite ready to jump to medicine, but I know my kids are feeling crummy, this is one of the few cold remedies I feel good about offering up. It’s a clean, homeopathic option that helps ease all the usual symptoms—cough, congestion, runny nose—without any of the artificial dyes, preservatives, or sweeteners you’ll find in conventional meds. The chewable tablets are flavored like organic acai berry, so my kids don’t fight me on taking them (a win in itself).
Genexa Kids’ Clean Pain & Fever Acetaminophen
Acetaminophen is a must-have when you’re dealing with fevers in babies and children, but you don’t have to subscribe to the brands that are filled with chemicals you can’t pronounce. I started using Genexa because it’s free of dyes, artificial sweeteners, and fillers, but still works just as well as the name-brand stuff. The organic blueberry flavor actually goes down without a fight (which is a win in our house), and I feel better knowing I’m giving my kids something clean when their bodies are already run down.
Beekeeper’s Naturals Kids Throat Soothing Lollipops
These throat-soothing lollipops were a game-changer for us during last year’s marathon cold season. They’re made with raw honey, vitamin D, and propolis (a natural bee product known for its immune-supporting powers). Like most, my kids love lollipops, so they considered this a treat during a time when they felt crummy. It actually helped soothe their scratchy throats without the sugar crash of typical cough drops—and I love that they’re made with clean ingredients and without artificial dyes or flavors.
The Honest Company Plant-Based Snot Removing Wipes
Cold season turns me into a straight-up booger snatcher. I feel like I spend half the day just waiting for them to sneeze onto their clothes, my furniture or my face. That’s why these gentle, aloe-infused wipes are a cold season staple in our house. They’re fragrance-free, hypoallergenic, and EWG Verified so I feel good about using them even multiple times a day. I stash a pack in the car, the diaper bag, and every bedroom because they not only soothe tiny noses, but they also make cleanup a whole lot easier.
Little Remedies Sterile Saline Nasal Mist
I always buy this three pack ahead of the cold season, and write my kids’ names on them so that I don’t mix them up (let’s keep the germs from spreading even more). It’s safe for newborns, super gentle, and honestly the easiest saline mist to apply—even when your baby is squirming or mid-meltdown. I’ve tried a bunch of other sprays and drops, but this one actually helps loosen mucus so it can be suctioned out more easily.
Cure Hydration Kids Electrolyte Drink Mix
Ask any nurse and their best advice for crushing a cold will be to hydrate. That’s where these electrolyte drink mixers seriously come in handy. They’re plant-based, pediatrician-formulated, and naturally sweetened (no added sugar and artificial junk). My kids are a big fan of the fruit punch flavor so I never have to beg them to drink it. I always stash a few in our medicine cabinet, car and travel bag just in case.
BEKOOOL Soft Gel Sheets for Kids
When fevers strike in the middle of the night, these cooling patches offer instant relief and help me feel at peace knowing they’re helping to prevent temps from spiking. They’re easy to use—just unwrap and stick one to their forehead. They’re gentle, non-medicated, just the right size for toddlers and big kids, and start working immediately so you don’t have to deal with wet cooling cloths.
Frida Baby Natural Vapor Bath Bombs
My kids love a bath bomb—especially one that helps offer stuffy-nose relief when they’re sick. I toss one into bath time after dinner and the steam plus eucalyptus oils help ease congestion without being too overpowering. Each pack comes with three bombs (one for each of my kiddos). I also keep extras in the bathroom and travel bag for emergencies (or travel nights when bedtime needs that extra sensory reset).
Cold season with little kids is never easy and it always seems to hit at the most inconvenient times (like before a trip or important work presentation). That being said, having the right stuff on hand when duty calls is key. Trust me—when you’re up at 3 a.m. with the electric NoseFrida in one hand, a thermometer in the other, and sweatpants crusted with someone else’s snot, you’ll be very glad you prepped.
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