BR: Stupid question inside

michelle142

I feel dumb for not knowing this stuff, but I have to ask...

Do I need to buy/have the following things on hand right away, or can they wait (meaning I can't give them to a baby anyway)?

Baby Tylenol, Pedialyte, Saline Nose Drops, Gas Drops, Baby Orajel and Teething Tablets (I'm assuming those last 2 can wait?)

I've been reading lists of "supplies" and such, and these are on some, but not on others. So I'm not sure.

mz_zane

I would say yes to the nose and gas drops...especially the gas drops. The Tylenol and Pedialyte I'd say you can wait until either when LO gets his first round of shots. If he does end up getting sick earlier, you can run out to pretty much any grocery store and get those when you need it. The orajel and teething tablets, I'd say wait until at least 4-6mos, because chances are he won't be teething before then (and with the orajel or other gum soother gel, you kind of need to know where the teeth are pushing so you can rub it on the right spot, so the first teeth might be a little tricky to use that on).

mz_zane

Also...totally not a dumb question. I bought all kinds of things that everything said I had to have and half I didn't end up using until way later, with some still unopened.

MBMcC421

Honestly, I didn't buy ANY of this until we needed it.  The only thing I bought was Gripe Water because of the raves, but Sam never used it, so it went to waste.  Gas Drops we never needed so I never purchased them, Oragel I only bought once we got the confirmation from the pediatrician that she was in fact teething (never bought teething tablets), and I didnt buy Baby Tylenol until her first fever, which was only a couple of months ago.  Pedialyte is good to have on hand because you never know when you're going to need it, but remember once its opened its only good for 48 hours... we just buy it as we need it.

ETA:  I swear by Saline drops -- I bought those the first time Sam has a cold, and I've had them on hand ever since.

tarmar81

Definitely didn't have any of that stuff before Kyler was born.  I haven't had to give him baby Tylenol yet.  We went out and bought some gas drops a week or so after we brought him home but Mylicon never seemed to help him.  He's just a gassy kid!

Can you even give Pedialyte to a young baby?  I didn't think they could have that stuff until they were 6 months or older.

We did get a package of "Boogie Wipes" as part of a gift and we have some saline nose drops now, but I never needed to use that stuff until he started daycare and inevitably came home with his first cold. And speaking of colds, this thing is AWESOME: http://nosefrida.com/  I know it sounds gross but it works far better than those crappy nose bulb sucker things.

I think the only thing you might want right away is a thermometer. And can I ask how the eff anyone can get a rectal reading?!  Kyler wiggles so much, there's no way I'm shoving a thermometer up his bum.  I just take an armpit temp, though the nurses at the doctor's office hate it because they always want a rectal.  Sorry ladies, it scares me too much.

amelianguy

No, no, yes, yes, no no.

Especially the gas drops. You'll need those more during the first few weeks than you will later.

ETA: every baby is different. Gripe water worked better for El's gas than mylicon did, but I still kept the mylicon on hand. But, as MB pointed out, gripe water didn't work for Sam. It's kind of a process of elimination thing.

MBMcC421

I do love BoogieWipes... and I believe you can give cut Pedialyte per doctor's orders.  When Sam was in the ER with her initial stomach bug she was 5 months old and we were told we could give it to her with breastmilk or formula, whichever was preferred.

amelianguy

tarmar81:

I think the only thing you might want right away is a thermometer. And can I ask how the eff anyone can get a rectal reading?!  Kyler wiggles so much, there's no way I'm shoving a thermometer up his bum.  I just take an armpit temp, though the nurses at the doctor's office hate it because they always want a rectal.  Sorry ladies, it scares me too much.

I've never taken El's temp rectally. We had an ear thermometer for a while, but it crapped out, so now I just take it under her arm.

michelle142

I got some Boogie Wipes as a shower gift, a ton of them actually! I think it's like a 6 pack with 100 wipes in each with different scents or something.

I'll add gas drops and saline nose drops to my shopping list and wait on the other stuff.

mz_zane

amelianguy:

tarmar81:

I think the only thing you might want right away is a thermometer. And can I ask how the eff anyone can get a rectal reading?!  Kyler wiggles so much, there's no way I'm shoving a thermometer up his bum.  I just take an armpit temp, though the nurses at the doctor's office hate it because they always want a rectal.  Sorry ladies, it scares me too much.

I've never taken El's temp rectally. We had an ear thermometer for a while, but it crapped out, so now I just take it under her arm.

I think I tried a rectal reading once, and ya, lets just say there was no way I could get an accurate reading. So, the few times I've had to check its been underarm. 

MBMcC421

mz_zane:

amelianguy:

tarmar81:

I think the only thing you might want right away is a thermometer. And can I ask how the eff anyone can get a rectal reading?!  Kyler wiggles so much, there's no way I'm shoving a thermometer up his bum.  I just take an armpit temp, though the nurses at the doctor's office hate it because they always want a rectal.  Sorry ladies, it scares me too much.

I've never taken El's temp rectally. We had an ear thermometer for a while, but it crapped out, so now I just take it under her arm.

I think I tried a rectal reading once, and ya, lets just say there was no way I could get an accurate reading. So, the few times I've had to check its been underarm. 

Really?  I've had better luck rectally than underarm.... I mean, sure there was a struggle, but I felt it was more accurate.  That being said, we're seriously considering an ear thermometer now that she's older...

kelklump

We lived on gas drops. I was being pretty dumb before Charlotte was here and was looking for only Mylacon... since there was some kind of recall or shortage NONE of the stores around us had them. Finally after a few hours of her crying the second night home I sent Mark to the store at 1am for the gas drops. We went through a few bottles actually but she worked herself out now!

We also love the boogie wipes. We have the other stuff but havent had to use it. We have two teeth and we never needed orajel so far. Hopefully we wont need it much.