Well-stocked Medicine Cabinet for Kids

I tend to buy new shampoo/soap for my 2yo DD whenever her's gets to about 1/4 left. If I happen to forget, it's no big deal and I just use mine on her (carefully, so it doesn't get in her eyes...) until I get to the store.

As far as her medicine cabinet, I have bandaids, bactine spray, children's tylenol, sunscreen, mosquito repellent (around here, we NEED it to leave the house. lol.) and her vitamins. I have never really needed anything else.

I'm stuck in a car for 12 hours, so I'll give you a nice, long answer...

I'm married to a pharmacist, and he despises multi-ingredient meds for kids, so we do almost all single ingredient stuff:

OTC:
Acetominiphen(generic Tylenol) chewables and suppositories
Ibuprofen(generic Motrin/Advil) chewables
Cough suppressant - Delsym
Expectorant syrup
Diphenhydramine(generic Benadryl) chewables and liquid
Generic Claritin syrup
Emotrol - for upset stomach
Sudafed liquid(the REAL Sudafed from behind the counter, not an RX, but not Sudafed PE)
Band-aids
Triple antibiotic ointment
Bactine spray
Cortisone cream
Rubbing alcohol
Hydrogen peroxide
Activated charcoal capsules

RX:
Promethazine(pills, liquid, suppositories, wrist gel)
Zofran liquid

I'm sure I've got other odds and ends and RXs in there now, but those are the basics I like to have on hand at all times :)

I usually buy things two at a time to have a back up. I just hate running out of that stuff. I get body wash, shampoo, toothpaste and tooth brushes. My littles still sometimes bites hers and it's amazing at how quickly she can go through them! I also have floss on hand for them...the kid flossers, but I generally just keep a bag of those on hand instead of back up stock. My SIL would add detangler spray to that list, her kids (even her three year old) have gorgeous, long, thick hair. She'd also have body lotion, every once in a while, she lotions her kids up after bed time.

First aids stuff is kept in a locked fishing tackle box on a high shelf. We keep ours well stocked, but I don't buy back ups of things for that. I leave the empty containers on the counter in our kitchen to remind me we need more. Fever reducer, benedryll, bandaids, a few larger bandages, liquid skin, tweezer, nail clippers, thermometer, sun burn ointment, cold medicine, ear drops to get out water, orajel, neosporin, ointments and an ear scope are some of the things we have in ours.

I buy two or more of each item when I have a coupon or it is on sale so that I never have to buy regular price. The only stuff I buy specifically for the boys is toothpaste, shampoo, Tylenol, Advil, and vitamins. (I don't buy toothbrushes because they get them for free all the time, so we always have more than they need) Everything else they use the same as us (Q-tips, band-aids, polysporin etc.)

I have 3 very busy girls and I always have on hand chewable motrin and tylenol, of course benadryl, hydrocortison cream, neospirin and first aid stuff. The hair detangler of course. I have a little bag of things with most of this stuff that I grab and go, don't forget hand sanitizer and wipes, baby wipes are great for cleaning!
Oh, I almost forgot!! Burn cream is great, they have the spray stuff and you can put it on burns, cuts, you name it! And of course tweezers and finger nail clippers!

As far as bath supplies goes, I just have body wash and shampoo. Now, I also have bandaids, ointment, toothbrushes, toothpaste, Ibuprofen (generic), Tylenol (generic), nail clippers and thermometers.

I'm curious what others come up with. I don't think I'm forgetting anything, but you never know! I do have a little trouble finding the bandaids (my kids sometimes take them without my knowledge) and the nail clippers (that's me not putting them back), but I'm usually pretty good about restocking. The body wash runs out the fastest, so I do often buy two of those at a time.

I would just add that you could keep a piece of notepaper and a pencil handy in the medicine cabinet or bathroom closet - tape the paper (even a small pad) to the inside of the cabinet door, and stand up a pencil in a cup where you keep other things that stand up (thermometer, nail clippers, whatever). When things are getting low, put them on the list, then take that list downstairs and put it on your regular grocery list.

I try to keep tylenol, motrin, kid's benadryl, band-aids, baby Vick's vapor rub,and neosporin. I try not to get overly upset if I have to throw things out because they are expired...I figure that just means that I didn't have a sick kid and that's a good thing!

As far as tolietries, I tend to buy 2 at a time so we have the one that we are using and at least 1 extra.

As far as medicine, I have childrens ibuprofen (liquid), benedryl because of allergies (cream and liquid)

I use dove soap because it's mild and hair detangler because my dd has long hair.

I agree with keeping a note pad in the bathroom or something to write down what you need when you are almost out. I used to try to have a back up of everything in my closet so when I ran out I had it, but I found that I generally forgot what was in there and would re-buy stuff or medicines would expire sitting in there b/c I had them too long or forgot about them. So now I just buy as I go, unless I have a coupon or a really good sale then I buy one extra.

I always make sure I have a full bottle of children's Tylenol, Motrin and Zyrtec in my medicine cabinet. I also make sure I have antibiotic cream and bandaids, and you can never have too many bandaids that's for sure! I also generally make sure I have a tube of Lotrimin for fungal diaper rash that may pop up at any time!