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
(or any Amazon link at Parent Hacks), you throw some change into our tip jar without any extra steps or cost to you. Thank you!
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...
Posted by: Domestic Chicky | 12 September 2008 at 07:50 AM
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??
Posted by: Rabia | 12 September 2008 at 10:15 AM
Hilarious.
Congratulations on a post title so compelling that I couldn't STOP myself from clicking.
I love a good pantyliner hack.
Posted by: jamie | 12 September 2008 at 12:12 PM
You had me at "Vaporub-covered panty liner"
Posted by: kidlet | 13 September 2008 at 01:10 AM
@Rabia -- I used to have a cat that did the same crazy thing!
Posted by: Nancy | 13 September 2008 at 07:45 AM
Isn't that just amazing? I love it when feminine hygiene products show up in Parent Hacks. Heh.
Posted by: Parent Hacks Editor | 15 September 2008 at 11:48 AM
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.
Posted by: MW | 15 September 2008 at 07:05 PM
Why aren't you just a smartie pants! brilliant!
Posted by: Dana @ Letters to Elijah | 18 September 2008 at 06:36 AM
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!
Posted by: Lori Z. | 22 September 2008 at 11:16 PM
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 !!
Posted by: Kate | 01 October 2008 at 08:18 PM
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!
Posted by: momto3 | 04 October 2008 at 09:09 AM
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.
Posted by: TinaJewel | 06 October 2008 at 08:22 PM