How to Stock Your Medicine Cabinet Like a Pro

Being a parent means being ready for anything—and that includes all of the bumps, bruises and infections our kids come home with every other day (or at least what feels like every other day). And while a bottle of children’s fever reducer is essentially liquid gold at the moment, that isn’t the only important element of a well-stocked family medicine cabinet. What about something for those scraped knees, itchy eyes, and aching ears? You’ll be reaching for a package of Polysporin more often than anything else in the cupboard—trust us, we’ve been there.

When your child isn’t feeling great, you’ll be glad you thought ahead and fully stocked your medicine cabinet. Here’s a list of recommended, doctor and pharmacist-approved products that are conveniently available over-the-counter. Consider grabbing one of each next time you’re out—you’ll be so glad you did.

Essentials to Stock Your Medicine Cabinet

Polysporin Antibiotic Eye Drops

These easy-to-use, doctor-recommended antibiotic drops are available without a prescription. That’s great news when your child suddenly shows signs of a super-contagious—and super uncomfortable!—infection like pink eye. (If you’ve got a child in daycare or elementary school, that day is coming.) Keep some Polysporin Antibiotic Eye Drops on hand to help eliminate infection-causing bacteria while reducing your child’s pink eye symptoms in no time. And yes, these drops also work on adults—good to know when your own eyes start to itch. Polysporin Antibiotic Eye Drops are available for $17-24 at most pharmacies and other retailers.

Polysporin Plus Pain Relief Ear Drops

If you suspect your child has swimmer’s ear or another common ear infection, these over-the-counter antibiotic ear drops will quickly relieve the pain while eliminating that infection-causing bacteria. It also speeds up the healing process, helping your little one feel better faster. Be sure to keep a bottle in your medicine cabinet on a regular basis—the next time your child wakes up with an earache in the middle of the night, you’ll breathe a sigh of relief knowing it’s there. Polysporin Plus Pain Relief Ear Drops are available for $17-24 at your local pharmacy and other retailers. Pro tip: this is a great product to bring on vacation! Those hotel pools, hot tubs and ocean waves won’t be able to mess with your kids’ ears when you’ve got the drops.

Polysporin Complete Antibacterial Ointment

It doesn’t matter if you’re two, 12 or 72 years old—if you fall and scrape your knee, you’ll be reaching for Polysporin Complete Antibacterial Ointment. You’ve probably used Polysporin ointment on minor scrapes and cuts since your own childhood, so you already know it’s going to work super well. Not only does Polysporin speed up healing, help prevent infection, and provide fast pain relief, it can also help minimize the look of scars. Not bad for a little tube of goop! Polysporin Complete Antibacterial Ointment is available at your favourite retailers for between $17-27. Grab one for your medicine cabinet and another one for your purse or diaper bag. Take it from a seasoned parent: it will come in handy at the park.

Childhood injuries and illnesses may be unpleasant, but they’re super common. Here are a few more practical items to complete your family’s medicine cabinet:

• A small first aid kit that includes tweezers, cleansing wipes, gauze, and bandages
• Child-friendly electrolyte replacement beverages (a must-have if your child gets a stomach bug)
• A child-safe antihistamine (in case of allergic reaction)
• Some soft ice packs (keep them in the freezer, of course!)

Once you’ve checked these items off your list, your family will be prepared for just about any bumps, scrapes, or icky germs the kids bring home. And because Polysporin products are available without a prescription, they can be conveniently purchased whenever you need them. Polysporin is the #1 brand recommended by doctors and pharmacists, providing a safe and effective way for parents to care for their kids’ minor medical problems at home. You’ve got this, Mom and Dad—now, if only there was a way to make kids actually listen when we yell, “be careful!” or “watch out!” as they run towards their next bump!

Thanks to Polysporin for partnering with us on this informative post.