When the whole family gets hit with a cold, flu, or the dreaded stomach bug, the days can feel endless. Parenting while you’re under the weather? That’s next-level hard. Being prepared ahead of time can make all the difference in keeping everyone comfortable, minimizing stress, and, most importantly, keeping your sanity intact.
Enter: the sick-day survival kit. Think of it as your emergency toolkit for when illness strikes. From medicine to comfort items, this kit will have your back during cold and flu season. Plus, isn’t it Murphy’s Law that if you’re unprepared, that’s when you’ll need it the most?
Trust us—after a few sick nights scrambling for supplies at 2 a.m., you’ll agree this kit is essential. So, do yourself a favor and prep it today. Future you will thank you.
What to Include in Your Sick-Day Survival Kit:
1. A Storage Bin
Choose a plastic bin with a lid to keep everything organized and out of sight. Bonus: a bucket can double as a barf bucket.
2. Medicine
Pick brands that work best for your family and check expiration dates regularly. Essentials include:
- Acetaminophen (or your preferred fever reducer)
- Cough syrup or lozenges
- A box (or two) of tissues
- New toothbrushes
3. Miscellaneous Supplies
Be prepared for whatever comes your way with these essential extras:
- Masks: To help reduce the spread of germs if someone is coughing or sneezing.
- Gloves: Perfect for cleaning up messes or protecting your hands during disinfecting.
- Emesis Bags: Disposable, leak-proof, and lifesavers during stomach bugs. Stock a few to avoid scrambling when you need them most (find them here).
- A stash of old towels, sheets, and pillowcases: Keep these on hand for spills or messes so you’re not sacrificing your nice linens.
- Clorox wipes and/ or a small jug of bleach: For quick and effective disinfecting. Remember, bleach is the only thing that kills those norovirus germs.
- Microban or Lysol spray: To sanitize surfaces and help stop the spread of germs.
These supplies might not seem exciting, but when a bug strikes, they’re worth their weight in gold, you will thank yourself!
4. Food & Drink
When sickness hits, you won’t want to make a store run. Stock up on these staples and check expiration dates periodically:
- A gift card for pizza (because cooking is the last thing you’ll want to do).
- Cans of soup
- A sleeve of saltine crackers
- Ginger ale
- Applesauce pouches (a BRAT diet essential for upset stomachs)
5. For Your Sanity
Let’s face it, caring for sick kids (or being sick yourself) is exhausting. These items can help lift everyone’s spirits:
- Movies (check out budget bins post-holidays for cheap finds)
- Coloring books and crayons
- A small toy or activity your kids haven’t seen before (it’s magic!)
- A trashy magazine for you—because even outdated celeb gossip is a welcome distraction.
Why You’ll Love Your Sick-Day Survival Kit:
It might feel overly cautious, but when illness strikes, having a ready-to-go bin is a game changer. No more panicked searches for medicine, comfort items, or snacks. Instead, you’ll feel organized, prepared, and better equipped to tackle the chaos of a sick day.
Pro Tip: Label Everything!
Use household labels to keep your kit organized and ensure your child’s school items are labeled, too. The fewer germs coming home, the better!
Prepare now, and you’ll be ready to face cold and flu season like a pro. Your future self will thank you for this small but mighty act of preparation!
Are you starting daycare? You may want to read these tips to be prepared for the germs!
