Our first pediatrician is an incredible doctor, and in addition to that, she is an advocate for health as it encompasses body and soul. We never talked religion, but her belief in caring for the whole person was always part of every visit; making sure sleep, disposition, and diet were taken into account with any ailment. What I loved most about trusting her with my daughter's care, was that she was well-trained both in holistic and traditional medicine, so she had a solution to literally every question I asked.

In order to build a well-stocked medicine cabinet, our pediatrician recommended these secret weapon remedies to treat my growing baby, and I thought I would share them with you. These items have gotten us through rashes, bug bites, fevers, colds, food poisoning, and teething, to name a few. 

HYLAND'S TEETHING GEL & TEETHING TABLETS 

Teething is one of those things. All babies cry, fuss, cling, and drool, but it can be difficult to differentiate between sore gums, an upset stomach, or overtired tantrum, especially if they start teething at 4 months. For that reason, I chose homeopathic gel and tablets because they work naturally with the baby's body, without the drowsy effect teething medicines give. Most often a mama knows her baby best, but even in my own moments of doubt (when my daughter wouldn't stop crying), I would give her the dosage, wait 15 minutes, and see if she calmed down. I was comforted knowing that she wasn't getting round-the-clock Tylenol from my own misdiagnosis. 

THE NOSE FRIDA

Every baby gets a stuffy nose, especially at the onset of a cold. The best way to keep the cold from turning into something worse, is to catch those boogies before they go to the chest. This device works by hovering the tip of the pencil shape right over baby's nostril, while mama sucks [only] air through the red mouth piece, and the boogies stay in the cylinder of the pencil (I promise!). My daughter was not a fan of this, but there were many nights she wasn't able to nurse because her nose was so clogged. This handy tool removes the mucus so the little nose passageways are clear. If the nose is dry, check out the Baby Ayr drops below. 

DOTERRA ESSENTIAL OILS

Our pediatrician was the first person to share the history and myriad of uses for essential oils. She happened to be a fan of DoTerra, and I trusted her guidance (though there are many brands out there to try). The ones we use the most are Lavender, Frankincense and Breathe, which is a blend of peppermint, eucalyptus, cardamom, and others. Lavender is amazing because it can be used to treat rashes, bug bites, sunburn, and scrapes, but can also soothe and promote a restful sleep (for the whole family). Frankincense is considered the MVP of essential oils because it works with the body's natural chemistry to boost the immune system and promote healing. We've applied it to the bottoms of our feet for colds, after bumps and falls, and as a recovery from exposure to germ ridden environments. Breathe is a minty, soothing oil we apply to the chest for congestion or to the bottoms of feet to help lower a fever. I've also used it after getting allergic to dust or cats to help clear my nasal passageways. You can find doTerra in doctor's offices, yoga studios, and through their site here. 

BOIRON CALENDULA OINTMENT

Calendula is naturally a healing plant, and this ointment is like a natural version of what you would regularly find for wound care at the drugstore. We use it for cuts, scrapes, and dry skin patches. It's a little soothing cure-all, making it a great item to have on hand for just about anything. 

BABY AYR SALINE DROPS

Colds can crop up out of nowhere it seems, and dry noses can make it hard to breathe, hard to nurse, and overall uncomfortable. These saline drops loosen up the dry boogies and gently soothe inflammation in the nose. When used in conjunction with the Nose Frida, congestion doesn't stand a chance. 

DIGITAL THERMOMETER

A cheap digital thermometer is a non-negotiable item for any parent. A fever can be scary, and they always crop up in the middle of the night when most stores are closed. This one can be used orally, rectally (which is most accurate for infants), and under the armpit. Another great option to check temperatures without waking a sleeping, sick babe, is the temple thermometer which takes a reading from the side of the head. Either way, a thermometer is a life saver. 

These are all personal opinions of my experience with these items. As always, use these items with your doctor's recommendation. See my health disclaimer here.