This post is sponsored by hydraSense®. To make sure hydraSense® products are right for you, always read and follow the label.

Wow this year’s cold and flu season has been really brutal! Pretty much everyone I know is sick now. So far, our house has only been hit by colds (knock on wood) but it’s made me realize that I need to be ready just in case! Today I’m sharing my cold and flu season checklist, so you’ll never be caught off guard.

{My Cold And Flu Season Checklist}

Sickness is Sneaky

You can be feeling completely fine one day then suddenly BOOM – you’re sick. Sickness is sneaky so it’s best to be prepared! The LAST thing you want to do when you’re feeling under the weather is to have to trek to the drug store and stock up on things you’ll need. Here’s a cold and flu season checklist of items I always keep on hand:

• Tissues
• Saline solution
• Honey
• Crackers, soup and citrus
• Pain medicine / fever reducers
• Comfort items
• Antibacterial lotion

Tissues

This is an obvious must have item for colds and the flu. BUT there was a time when I desperately needed a tissue and of course we had run out! Lesson learned and now I make sure to ALWAYS have a couple boxes on hand. It’s amazing how many boxes tissues you go through when you have a runny nose!

Saline Solution

I keep hydraSense on hand AT ALL TIMES. As soon as I start feeling congested, I use the saline solution to help relieve my runny nose and thick mucus build up which makes breathing (and sleeping!) difficult. A saline solution is a great choice for the whole family – including babies. I’ve been using hydraSense since T was an infant! The Easydose drops are for T when we were on the go. For those days when we’re housebound the Ultra-Gentle mist is perfect to clear up his stuffy nose. And I love that hydraSense is free of medications or preservatives. It’s always at the top of my cold and flu season checklist. 

Honey

Honey is a natural way to help soothe a sore throat and it also has antibacterial properties. Drinking hot water and honey is also comforting and can help relieve the chills you may be feeling. When T is sick I cool the water down and have him sip honey water throughout the day. Just be sure your children are over the age of 1 and you have the approval of your child’s doctor before offering them any!

Crackers, Soup and Citrus

When you’re sick, you usually lose your appetite. I always keep crackers on hand to munch on and some soup available to heat up. If you can, plan ahead by making some chicken soup or bone broth and freeze it. All you’ll have to do is warm it up and you’re all set. Even when I can do this, I still put pantry soup on my cold and flu season checklist so that I’m covered either way. I usually have some kind of citrus fruit available all the time but extra vitamin C when you’re not feeling well is even more important!

Pain Medicine and Fever Reducers

Crossing fingers that you’ll only be down and out for a few days. It’s a good idea to have medicines as part of your cold and flu season checklist if you are out of commission for longer. Again, the last thing you want to do is have to go shopping for medicine when you really need it!

Comfort Items

Chances are you’ll be feeling kind of miserable when you’re sick. On my cold and flu season checklist I also have comfort items. These are items I need to help me through the worst days. For me these items are fuzzy and warm socks, a cozy blanket and a heating pad. Some of my son’s stuffed animals also make great sick day company!

Antibacterial Lotion

While I try to wash my hands as much as possible, having antibacterial lotion during cold and flu season is a must! I always carry a few with me in case I can’t get to a bathroom to wash up properly. It’s important to keep your hands clean so that you minimize the chances of getting sick or spreading germs on to others.

What’s on your cold and flu season checklist? Is there anything I’ve missed?

This post is sponsored by hydraSense®. To make sure hydraSense® products are right for you, always read and follow the label.