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Third trimester

Must-have medical accessories for baby

27 July 2021 | By Delia du Toit

Make sure you’ve stocked up on these items before bringing your newborn home.

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If you have a baby on the way, shopping for medical accessories is certainly not as exciting as choosing cute little socks, onesies and toys. But it’s essential to have a medical kit ready when your baby arrives home, so you can treat minor illnesses or accidents as soon as possible.

Victoria Black, an independent nurse and midwife at Protea Midwifery Birth Unit & Services in Johannesburg, says you should never hesitate to take your baby to the doctor if they need medical attention, but you can treat some minor incidents at home yourself.

Here’s her list of basic medical must-haves you should stock up on:

A thermometer: Rectal or in-ear thermometers are best for newborns. Only use mouth thermometers on older kids who will cooperate. A temperature above 38 degrees is cause for concern. Also have some paracetamol syrup on hand to treat fevers, aches and pains – but only use it as recommended by your doctor.
A medicine spoon or a few syringes. Have a few options handy to make sure you can measure and give exact dosages of medications.
A first aid kit. This should contain gauze, adhesive bandages, scissors (to cut gauze or bandages), cotton balls, burn shield dressings, plasters and antiseptic ointment, so you can treat minor accidents as they happen around the home.
A nasal aspirator. Babies can’t blow their noses, so you have to suck out mucus with an aspirator. Be sure to get a baby-safe aspirator that’s made for their tiny nostrils. Never put anything foreign up the baby’s nose as it damages the sensitive tissues inside. Also have some saline nose drops on hand to help loosen mucus before using the aspirator.

Though not medical items, these accessories will also make caring for a sick baby much easier, says Black:

A baby bag with lots of pockets to store your medical kit, a set of spare clothes, diapers and changing gear in here should you need to leave the house quickly in an emergency. Type up your family’s medical information on a card, laminate it and keep it the bag too.
A variety of blankets, from muslin cloths to cotton swaddles and warm fleece blankets. Layering is important when caring for a sick baby, so you can keep them warm yet make sure they don’t overheat.
Rubbing alcohol to clean thermometers, tweezers, scissors and the like.
Mild liquid soap to clean cuts and scrapes. Antibacterial and deodorant soaps can be too strong for your baby’s sensitive skin.
A rattle or other toy to distract your baby if needed during medical care.

IMAGE CREDIT: 123rf.com
 

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