Vaporub-covered panty liner under the crib sheet eases nighttime congestion

Is this a hack or what? Nancy's found a creative way to help her little ones sleep better while stuffed up:

My twins are 14 months old, and one of them is fighting off the tail end of a cold with plenty of congestion. You're not supposed to apply Vaporub to little kids, so I was left wondering how I might get her the benefits of the vapors without the skin contact. I applied a smear of the vaporub onto a panty liner, folded the liner over to completely cover the ointment, removed the paper liner and then tucked the folded package under her crib sheet -- one at either end of her crib. The sticky side of the panty liner stuck to the underside of her sheet and the top of her mattress pad, and ta-da -- the vaporub is fully contained and stuck in place, nearby but nowhere that she can get into it!

I've had good luck with the Vicks plug-in vapor thingie (here's another Parenthacker's experience).Vicks also makes a cool mist humidifier with the vapors built in.

Related: Reuse infant incline pillow when your toddler has a stuffy nose

Comments

[Domestic Chicky]

That's a great hack! Vicks now makes a baby version of vaporub that is safe to rub on babies 3 months and older-and it smells yummy...

[Rabia]

My cat seems to go spastic at the scent of menthol, so we cannot safely use Vicks on our kids. Anyone else have the problem??

[jamie]

Hilarious.

Congratulations on a post title so compelling that I couldn't STOP myself from clicking.

I love a good pantyliner hack.

[kidlet]

You had me at "Vaporub-covered panty liner"

[Nancy]

@Rabia -- I used to have a cat that did the same crazy thing!

[Parent Hacks Editor]

Isn't that just amazing? I love it when feminine hygiene products show up in Parent Hacks. Heh.

[MW]

Can anyone tell me why you can't put vaporub on babies? I put it on all mine. They didn't seem to mind. Now I am worried they'll get cancer or something.

[Dana @ Letters to Elijah]

Why aren't you just a smartie pants! brilliant!

[Lori Z.]

Seems like a couple years ago I saw a wall plug night light that did the same thing put out by maybe Vick's. I thought, "I need to get that!" but I never have. This is a great idea!

[Kate]

vaporub can annoy kids when they try to sleep especially if they're already irritable - my kids hate new smells when they're sick. However when they have coughs to help curb it - just put it on the soles of their feet and cover with socks - they'll sleep soundly and so will you !!

[momto3]

Be careful if, like my son, your kids are able to take the sheets off the crib mattress! The plastic backing on the liner could pose a serious choking hazard. I'd suggest using something you can plug into the wall that emits the menthol vapors...I know they make them, but forgot what they're called, sorry!

[TinaJewel]

I just rub the vicks stuff on my son's feet and put a pair of socks on. It will open the sinuses through the pores in the feet! Will take a cough away so the child can sleep at night.

[http://www.amerisleep.com]

Going to a king tempurpedic mattress to the floor has done some damage. ;) My flight leaves back to LA tomorrow. A beautiful long vacation almost