The Most Prepared Mom: Back to School Edition

This post was sponsored by the makers of BENADRYL®. Thoughts and opinions are my own.

I mean, in theory. Back to school time always throws me for a loop; as much as I think I’m ready to have the boys return to a routine, there’s always a bit of a struggle. Mornings are hectic, weekday night schedules are constantly changing and let’s not discuss the shenanigans at bedtime. Sigh.

However, once we do get back into our groove, I like to make a few more updates for the new school year. First, I re-visit our cable television, internet and mobile phone plans to ensure that we’re only paying for the services we need and use. Next, I clean out the pantry. Over the summer we tend to be more lenient with the boys’ diets (do we really need eight kinds of cookies?) and a fall refresh ensures I’m stocking up on good, brain-fueling foods.

Finally, I always use back to school time as reminder to update our medicine chest and first aid kit. With the boys once again in close proximity with other kids in a shared environment, infections and reactions are sure to happen. And, cold and flu season is not far behind. Here’s how to be the most prepared mom: back to school edition.1. Replace all expired and soon-to-expire medications. The middle of the night is not the time to discover that your child’s fever-reducing medicine expired last month. Use back to school time as a reminder to check the expiration dates of all prescription and over the counter medicines, as well as items such as rubbing alcohol and sanitizer, antibiotic ointments and allergy medications. 

2. Have several formulations of the most important meds. For fever reduction and pain relief, I keep both children’s acetaminophen and ibuprofen on hand. (Never give your child aspirin or any medication containing aspirin unless his/her doctor instructs you to do so.) For allergies, Children’s BENADRYL® Liquid and BENADRYL® Itch Relief Spray are staples in my first aid kit as they provide fast, effective symptom relief for allergies and allergic reactions. Plus, BENADRYL® has been moms’ and doctors’ first choice for kids’ allergies and allergic reactions for over 60 years, so you know you can trust it for your little ones.

3. Make sure you have a wide selection of bandages. Take an inventory of bandages and gauzes to ensure you have a variety of sizes, shapes and adhesive strengths. While my boys love showing off a Disney-themed bandage on fingers, remember that a flexible fabric or durable protection bandage is better for knees and elbows.

4. Replace the battery in your digital thermometer. It’s 2016, so I’m assuming that most moms own a digital thermometer. (If you don’t, please buy one. Then continue reading.) Taking a child’s temperature – and receiving an accurate result – can mean the difference between snuggles and reassurance or a trip to the emergency room. Always make sure you have a working digital thermometer; you’ll never know when you’ll need it.

5. Update your phone list. Have a physical copy of important telephone numbers, including your local pharmacy, poison control centre, personal doctors or therapists, and home and office phone numbers for family members, friends or neighbours who can help in case of an emergency.

I hope everyone has a smooth transition to back to school – children and parents alike! If you have any other tips on how to be the most prepared mom, please leave them in the comments.

This post was sponsored by the makers of BENADRYL®. Thoughts and opinions are my own. This post should not be used to diagnose your allergy symptoms, or the cause of them. Seek a health care professional if you experience any signs or symptoms of an allergic reaction, and always read and follow the label.