Cold and flu season always seems to sneak up just when life already feels busy enough. One minute your kiddo is bouncing off the walls, and the next they’re curled up on the couch with flushed cheeks, a runny nose, and that unmistakable “Mommmm, I don’t feel good.”
If you’re a parent trying to survive cold and flu season with kids, being prepared makes all the difference.
With three kids, I’ve learned that being prepared makes these tough days so much easier — for our kids and for us. Here are the tried-and-true essentials I always keep stocked so I can jump into comfort-mode the moment a bug hits. I also added in some strategies we used as well.
Tip: Google is not your friend for looking up symptoms. It can bring in a lot of fear. Most doctors have a nurse hotline after hours. I highly recommend that.
Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional — just a mom sharing what has helped our family during cold and flu season. Always talk to your child’s pediatrician if you have questions or concerns. If your child has trouble breathing, signs of dehydration, or a fever that won’t come down, call your pediatrician. Trust your gut — you know your child best — but a doctor should always guide medical decisions.
Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you decide to purchase — but we only recommend products we genuinely believe in. Your support helps keep sharing joyful, budget-friendly finds for families!
⭐ When the Cough Won’t Let Them Sleep (Nighttime Relief Tips)
One of the hardest parts of having a sick child is the nighttime cough that keeps them (and you) awake. When they’re too young for cough medicine — or even if they are old enough — these home strategies have helped
our kids so much:
1. Keep Them Hydrated
Water, Gatorade, and warm fluids work wonders.
Our kids LOVE this chicken broth:
👉 https://amzn.to/48r5QTo
Warm drinks can loosen mucus and calm a scratchy throat.
2. Use a Humidifier at Night
A cool-mist humidifier helps ease congestion and nighttime coughing. This is the one we use and love.
3. Offer Cold Treats
Popsicles, lemon icees, or anything chilly can soothe an irritated throat.
We never run out of these electrolyte popsicles — total life saver:
👉 https://amzn.to/4pCgeP5
4. Try the Steam + Cold Trick
Steam up the bathroom by running a hot shower.
They can sit outside the shower and breathe in the steam for a few minutes (never inside the shower with hot water running). After this have them breathe the cold air from outside for a minute, or sip some cold ice water if they are old enough. The hot/cold combo helps break up mucus.
5. Saline, Saline, Saline
Safe, gentle, and effective for helping them breathe.
- Mist: 👉https://amzn.to/3XpHnst
- Drops: 👉https://amzn.to/4pFPMUN
6. Honey (If Age-Appropriate)
A small spoonful can help coat and calm the throat. Never give honey to children under 1 year old. Our pediatrician recommended this for ages 1+.
7. Vapor Rub
A comforting classic for nighttime coughs.
👉https://amzn.to/3M02y1Y
8. Elevate Them
For kids 2+, sleeping slightly elevated can help reduce nighttime coughing.
9. Encourage Rest
Sometimes the best medicine is sleep (easier said than done — but so helpful when it happens).
10. Cough Drops & Big-Kid Meds
When they’re old enough for cough medicine, our kids like this brand for medicine: 👉 https://amzn.to/4isZBCX and this brand for cough drops:
⭐ Must-Have Cold & Flu Season Essentials for Kids
Humidifier
A cool-mist humidifier helps bring relief for congestion and nighttime coughing. We use and love the one below.
👉 https://amzn.to/4rsk1A5
Reliable Thermometer
These are the ones we love — fast, accurate, and easy with kids. Our pediatrician shared that forehead thermometers can be less accurate, so we stick with these. They’re affordable, reliable, and we keep a few on hand.
👉 https://amzn.to/4oqLoYL
Electrolyte Popsicles
We ALWAYS keep these stocked. Perfect for hydration and soothing sore throats. Also gives them electrolytes !
👉https://amzn.to/48GZaSj
Nose Frida (Babies & Infants)
A must for little ones who can’t blow their nose yet.
👉 https://amzn.to/4pDyZBK
Saline Mist or Drops
Gentle and incredibly helpful for clearing out little noses.
- Mist: 👉https://amzn.to/4pwHYEO
- Drops: 👉 https://amzn.to/3K2cffJ
Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen
- Liquid Ibuprofen: 👉https://amzn.to/44FwHd8
- Ibuprofen Chewables: 👉 https://amzn.to/4pFQ4uR
- Liquid Acetaminophen: 👉 https://amzn.to/3Kh8bIw
- Acetaminophen Chewables: 👉 https://amzn.to/4rtq9rS
Pill-Swallowing Helper (Game changer)
When our kids started learning to swallow pills, this helped SO much.
👉 https://amzn.to/4pDRfuz
Kids Emergency Packs
Great to have on hand for fevers, tummy bugs, and everything in between.
👉 https://amzn.to/4pe0O3K
Cool Packs for Fevers
Kids: 👉https://amzn.to/4rmSnEF
Baby: 👉https://amzn.to/4iqqbg1
We love this brand of Kleenex. Great with sensitivities and helps with red noses. 👉 https://amzn.to/4p2sLLK
Final Thoughts for Fellow Moms
Cold and flu season is tough, but having these essentials ready brings so much peace of mind. These are the items we reach for again and again — the things that truly make sick days a little more manageable and a lot more comforting.
And no matter how tough the season gets, I’m thankful for a God who watches over our kids with a love far deeper than our own. This brings me peace. Trust Him.