A pediatrician and father-of-seven has revealed the four items that every parent should have on hand during the winter months to help sick kids.
The crucial information was shared in a video posted to TikTok by Dr. Michael Milobsky.
Dr. Milobsky often takes to his social media platforms to share medical advice and tips, and is the host of a podcast called Your Kids Will Be Fine.
In his latest video, he urged moms and dads to always have four vital things in their homes, especially during the winter when flu and colds are surging.
First, Dr. Milobsky suggested that parents keep acetaminophen, also known as Tylenol, as well as ibuprofen, which is in Advil or Motrin, at the ready.
‘Remember, these are different medicines that work differently,’ he said.
‘Tylenol works centrally in the brain to decrease fever and pain, ibuprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory which directly reduces inflammation,’ Dr. Milobsky explained.
However, there is one thing to keep in mind, and it’s that he does not recommend the use of ibuprofen in those under six months old.
Dr. Michael Milobsky often takes to his social media platforms to share medical advice and tips, and is the host of a podcast called Your Kids Will Be Fine
has revealed the four items that every parent should have on hand during the winter months to help sick kids, including ibuprofen, which is in Advil or Motrin (stock image)
‘Tylenol use is fine for all ages, but over six months, children can use both; they are eliminated from the body differently,’ he said.
‘Tylenol is eliminated through the liver, ibuprofen is eliminated through the kidney, and that’s why you can alternate them. They don’t interact with each other in that way.’
The next item on his list of stuff to always have in the house was an oral rehydration solution, like Pedialyte.
‘When your kids are dehydrated, remember they need a balanced solution to speed up and improve how quickly they rehydrate, and that balance has to do with their ratio of sodium and glucose or sugar source,’ Dr. Milobsky explained.
The doctor also recommended using something called Cure Hydration, a package of electrolytes that can be mixed into water if kids don’t like the taste of Pedialyte.
More must-have items that Dr. Milobsky recommended were zinc and probiotics, which can help manage ‘diarrheal’ illnesses caused by viruses.
‘Both have been shown to reduce the duration of a diarrheal illness safely,’ he said.
‘Zinc supplementation, about 10 to 20mg a day, find that in any supplement product that’s safe for children, and probiotics, focusing on lactobacillus species.
The next item on his list of stuff to always have in the house was an oral rehydration solution, like Pedialyte (stock image)
And last but not least, his number one product recommendation was a nasal saline solution (stock image)
‘Both of these together can have an effect of decreasing the time that your child is suffering viral diarrhea.’
And last but not least, his number one product recommendation was a nasal saline solution.
‘When your child has a viral, upper respiratory infection, no over-the-counter cough, cold or decongestant medicine really helps to any great degree, including antihistamines,’ he explained.
‘One thing that has been shown consistently to shorten the duration of viral respiratory symptoms and decrease the symptoms altogether is a concentrated nasal saline rinse that decreases inflammation, decreases mucus buildup in the nasal space, and is really the most important thing you should have to help your kids through cough and cold season,’ the doctor urged.
In the comment section of his post, many parents seemed to echo his tips, and even shared their own.
‘I like the propel packets. No sugar and we do it everyday to ensure the kids get enough water,’ one person wrote.
Another user typed, ‘Not sure how effective they are compared to Pedialyte – but we have been keeping Pedialyte popsicles on hand and they apparently sound good no matter how sick.’
‘I love Cure. Helped get my daughter through norovirus and influenza A earlier this year!’ someone else added.
