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As a new mom, one of the most important things to me is making sure my daughter is well taken care of. But, in order to do this, I have to make sure that Ian and I are taken care of first. If I am out for the count, I cannot tend to her needs and as a mom to an (almost) two-month old, I have to be there for her since I take care of her full-time, by myself, while Ian goes to work each day. This is hard as is, but during this fourth trimester period, it is even harder since we are still getting used to our new normal and we still have very rough days.
I try to take care of myself each day by taking my vitamins (I am currently on a prenatal + a prenatal probiotic), drinking plenty of water, drinking raw juice (each weekday morning), eating well, and taking elderberry syrup, as well. I do know, however, that I cannot 100% avoid all illnesses no matter what I do. That is why I wanted to create a mom wellness kit for the winter and stock up on essentials ahead of time, just in case I do start to feel under the weather. This way, I would not have to find time to run out to the store (or stores) and find everything I needed while I felt ill. Instead, I could get a jump start before my symptoms spiral out of control.
If you are a parent, or if you just want to create your own wellness kit, let me share with you what I included in mine and why:
Winter Wellness Kit
Elderberry Syrup
Elderberry syrup is a great way to attempt to fight off illness. Once you come down with a cold, cough, or the flu, it’s still very beneficial to take and it seems to help me feel better faster compared to when I go without it, so I always make sure to keep it around the house, especially in the winter months.
Vicks Products
There are so many great Vicks products and when I am feeling ill, I always opt for their products. I find all of these at Walmart and you can knock out all of your wellness kit needs at your local Walmart when stocking up. Some of my favorite Vicks products are –
Vicks VapoShower: Pop one of their non-medicated tablets into the shower and the blend of Menthol, Eucalyptus, and Camphor will help you breathe easier and feel a bit more refreshed.
Vicks VapoPatch: These are also non-medicated and super easy-to-use. It’s an aromatherapy patch that you just peel and apply, allowing you to breathe in the long lasting Vicks Vapors. There is a kid’s version (ages 6+) and a normal version!
Vicks VapoCream: Vicks VapoCream is a great way to moisturize your skin while also giving you the infamous Vicks vapors.
Vicks Night Time FluTherapy SEVERE Cold & Flu Treatment: This provides fast and powerful cold and flu symptom relief such as nasal congestion, sore throat, body aches, fever, runny nose, and cough. It comes in a non-drowsy, day time formula, and temporarily reduces fevers, which is fantastic for moms with little ones!
Vicks VapoCOOL Lozenges: When your throat is really bothering you and you are just unable to get any relief, try these lozenges! The active ingredients (Benzocaine and Menthol) help tackle throat pain extremely quickly
Vicks VapoCOOL Sore Throat Spray: This spray also includes Benzocaine and Menthol, so it’s great to use when you have mouth irritation or pain due to your sore throat. It’s cooling and powerful!
Great Vitamins
10/10 recommend a great vitamin to add into your wellness kit and daily routine. A great vitamin should hopefully help you prevent illness to begin with, just like with the elderberry syrup. Of course, nothing is guaranteed to ever prevent illness, so better to be safe than sorry!
Plenty of Water
THIS IS ESSENTIAL – you need plenty of water, no matter if you are sick or healthy. When you are feeling ill, water can help flush out your system and (hopefully) get you back on your feet sooner rather than later and when you are healthy, it helps your body function, which can help fight off illness. It really has so many health benefits!
Thermometer
In every wellness kit, you definitely need a thermometer. We have an infant (rectal) thermometer and a normal thermometer for mom and dad in our kit. This is definitely a must-have because when you are under the weather, you do not want to have to run out to the store to grab one and if you are anything like me, the second you feel a bit feverish, you just HAVE to take your temp!
A Rice Sock
I had never heard of a rice sock before getting married to Ian, but now, I am in love with it. A rice sock is literally just a sock (those white, long socks) filled with rice. Fancy, right? 😉 We heat ours up in the microwave and place it on our necks and backs when we start to feel achy and/or cold. Pro tip: It is also great to have on-hand after a tough workout.
Bonus: Cozy Items
Last but not least, I 100% think that you should always have comfy items on-hand (not necessarily IN your wellness kit), especially for when you are not feeling your best. As a new mom, I live in comfy clothes and I post about them pretty frequently on my Instagram stories (helps that you guys seem to love it when I do, haha!). Highly recommend when sick and not sick, as well. It’s definitely a must-have during the cool weather months either way! Don’t worry – you don’t need to look perfect because it is the memories that count, not what you are wearing!
Prioritizing myself and taking care of my health (both physical and mental health) is the most important things that I’ve learned during my motherhood journey thus far. It is absolutely essential that you make sure that you are taken care of because if you are not in good health, you’re unable to take care of your little ones. These are some of my must-haves for my wellness kit for the winter, but I want to know what YOU personally have in your wellness kit, so please let me know! Don’t forget to grab Vicks products at your local Walmart for all of your Cold, Cough, and Flu season needs to create a wellness kit of your own. For more Cold, Cough Flu solutions and to purchase the products visit this site.
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