13 essential cold and flu products for kids

<p>Instead of jumping on beds, this monkey will help to relieve your little ones’ boo-boos. The all-natural therapeutic heating and cooling treatment was designed to help soothe sunburns, fevers, muscle pains and swelling. His material is 100 percent cotton and can be hand washed. Not recommended for use on children under three.

Price: $18

Find this: target.ca

Read more: Cold and flu cheat sheet>

Smearing oily, menthol-scented Vicks cream on our chests and backs wouldn’t be described as particularly enjoyable, especially for squirmy little ones, so thank goodness for this awesome contraption. The humidifier produces cool, soothing, non-medicated scented vapours that waft around your child’s room as she sleeps helping her breathe easily at night. It projects stars and moons onto the walls and ceiling, transforming it into a tranquil celestial wonder (the projector runs separately from the humidifier, so she can have her starry night without using the humidifier). Operating quietly, it lasts anywhere between 18 and 24 hours, has close to a 4L capacity, a two-speed setting and comes with a three-year warranty.

Price: $60

Find this: toysrus.ca

You won’t have to force-feed your kids medicine with this helpful elixir (fingers crossed). The dye-free, sugar-free homeopathic syrup helps relieve dry cough, congestion, mucus build-up, aches, pains and fever. It’s fast acting and effective, too. Keep a spoonful of sugar on-hand, you know, just in case.

Price: $10

Find this: kids0-9.ca

Read more: Natural remedies for cold and flu season>

Oscar the owl is a helpful little friend, designed to release up to almost 8L of moisture a day, soothing nasal passages and alleviating dry coughs. You can control the intensity of the mist and a red light indicator will let you know when he’s empty. Oscar operates for 24 hours and doesn’t mind if you place him on a shelf, desk or bedside table: he looks good from every angle!

Price: $65

Find this: toysrus.ca

Read more: 10 great germ-killing products>

Teddies make everything better and this teddy is the perfect assistant when your wee ones complain about headaches, toothaches, bellyaches, and so on and so on. He can be placed in the freezer for cold relief, too. Plus, he’s machine washable for any messes that might come his way.

Price: $15

Find this: walmart.ca

Some Disney pals have come together to help fight feisty fevers! This package comes with four disposable sheets decorated with Mickey, Goofy, Pluto and Donald, which provide immediate cooling relief from fever aches. They last up to eight hours and are safe to use with medication, anywhere, anytime. Sized to fit your child’s wee forehead (and can be cut, for your teensy tiny tot), just remove the clear film from the back of the sheet and adhere.

Price: $6

Find this: walmart.ca

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When kids are sick with upset bellies, it’s hard to make sure they’re staying hydrated, especially when fluid seems to come out of every end. This fruit flavoured Pedialyte Oral Electrolyte Solution prevents dehydration by replenishing their little bodies with important minerals like sodium and zinc, better than juices or water would.

Price: $12

Find this: shoppersdrugmart.ca

Regular tissues can leave little noses tender and raw, but Boogie Wipes are infused with a saline solution that gently dissolves mucous while softening skin. They come in Great Grape or Fresh Scent as well as unscented.

Price: 10-pack for $2

Find this: boogiewipes.com

No more scuffling with your wiggly one to get them to sit still so that you can take their temperature. This non-invasive sensor technology gives you fast and accurate readings so that you can even take your child’s temperature while he’s fast asleep. Hold the thermometer about two inches away from your child’s head and voila! The built-in guidance system will confirm the correct temperature-taking distance and the colour-coded fever guide with instant fever detection will help you gauge its severity.

Price: $85

Find this: braunthermometers.ca

Read more: How to treat your kids' fever at home>

Trying to get to sleep with a stuffy nose is nearly impossible! Help your little one sleep soundly with these nasal strips that open up the nasal passage to improve airflow. They’re super easy to apply and remove, drug-free, come in a pack of ten and are specially designed to sit comfortably on your wee sleeper’s sniffer while she sleeps. Recommended for kids aged five to 12.

Price: $8

Find this: walmart.ca

Your favourite turtle and his friends have come to remind your kids about how important it is to get Vitamin C into their diet. These Franklin and friends-shaped tablets contain Calcium and Vitamin C, come in a yummy tropical fruit flavor, are non-acidic and easy on tiny tummies. 

Price: $7

Where to find this: walmart.ca

Read more: How to boost your family's immunity - naturally!>

Are your spoonsful of medicine not going down? How about an alternative kids enjoy: popsicles! They come in Cherry, Orange, Grape and Wild Berry, and are chock full of minerals that will help prevent dehydration when your child suffers from vomiting or diarrhea.

Price: $12

Where to find this: well.ca

Read more: 5 foods that fight colds and flu>

It’s heartbreaking when your baby has a cold. You can help relieve her misery by suctioning the excess mucus from her little nose with this kit. It includes a nasal aspirator, five “Easydose” vials of sterile, desalinated sea water (to help liquefy mucus beforehand for gentler aspirating), and five single-use filters.

Price: $22

Find this: hydrasense.ca