Medicine Cabinet Must-Haves for Baby & Toddler Colds

There’s nothing that makes me feel more defeated quite like having a sick kiddo. Stuffed noses, nasty sounding cough, and sad, sleepy eyes—we just want to make them feel better and sometimes it feels like we have a limited set of tools for our little ones.

After fumbling my way through a few rough sick weeks (read: tears, steamy bathroom sit-ins, and Googling “is this normal??” at 2am), I’ve finally landed on a go-to list of must-haves that actually help. These are the real MVPs in our medicine cabinet—the tools that have saved us from total chaos and at least bought us some peace (and sleep).

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you make a purchase through them. I only share products I genuinely use and love—and that I think might help make your mom life a little easier too.

1. Frida Baby 3-in-1 Infrared Thermometer

The stealthy temp check hero

After one too many middle-of-the-night temperature checks that fully woke my baby (and me), I finally got this. It’s a gentle forehead scan with a clear, color-coded reading—and no poking in sensitive places. You can also do touchless scans for room or bottle temp, or pop off the cap and do an ear reading for backup.

Do yourself a favor and get one of these before you’re trying to take your (already unhappy) baby's temp at 3am.

➡️ Get the Frida Baby 3-in-1 Infrared Thermometer on Amazon

2. Frida Baby NoseFrida SnotSucker

Gross? A bit. Worth it? ABSOLUTELY!

It’s famous for a reason. I use it after a steamy shower and a spritz of saline spray, and even though my baby doesn’t love the experience, I can see the difference immediately. Less congestion = better sleep and faster recovery.

➡️ Get the Frida Baby NoseFrida SnotSucker on Amazon

3. Saline Nasal Mist or Boogie Mist

The unsung hero of baby cold care

We always have one of these on hand. A couple of quick sprays moisturizes their little nose, loosens up stubborn boogers, and sets the stage for successful snot-sucking. It’s gentle, easy to use, and honestly… kind of magic.

➡️ Get the Little Remedies Sterile Saline Nasal Mist on Amazon
➡️ Get the Boogie Baby Saline Nasal Spray Mist on Amazon

4. Frida Baby NoseFrida Saline Mist Inhaler

For those nasty chest colds

You might be sensing a theme here...we love pretty much everything from Friday Baby! I just started using this recently when my baby had a rough chest cold. It seemed to calm his cough and give him some relief

➡️ Get the Frida Baby NoseFrida Saline Mist Nasal Inhaler on Amazon

5. Vapor Shower Tablets

Instant steamy spa for sick days

These are dissolving tablets you can toss into the shower to create a soothing, vapor-y steam. I sit in the bathroom with my little one (not in the actual shower) and let the magic work. Honestly, I use them for myself too when I’m sick.

➡️ Get the Vicks Vapor Shower Tablets on Amazon

6. Cool Mist Humidifier + Frida Baby Vapor Drops

The power duo for sick sleep

We run this humidifier next to the crib anytime our kiddos are under the weather. It keeps their airways from drying out and helps ease nighttime coughing. Add a few drops of the vapor oil for an extra boost of congestion-fighting power.

➡️ Get the Vicks 3-in-1 SleepyTime Humidifier on Amazon
➡️ Get the Frida Baby Vapor Drops on Amazon

🩺 Quick Note: This is not medical advice.

Just a friendly reminder that I’m not a healthcare professional—just a tired mom who’s done a lot of trial and error. Always consult your pediatrician before giving your child any medication or if you’re unsure about symptoms.

thermometer / snot sucker / saline nasal mist / saline mist inhaler / vapor shower tablets / humidifier