Best Money Spent

Some of the items that made the biggest impact in our day-to-day needs with Casey were some of the most simple and affordable ones. Here are some must have items.

• A label maker! You can pick up a basic one at Walmart or Target for less than $20. Labeling where you keep different items that you use can save so much time. When people are helping you, they can easily find the item you need. Sometimes seconds make a big difference when your kid needs something specific.
• Dry Erase boards. You can grab these in any size on any budget. Hang one up in a central area. Stick it on your fridge. Wherever it makes sense for you. Write all important information, phone numbers, shopping list, etc.
• Small pillows or flexible stuffed animals with no hard details (hard eyes, zippers, etc.). These can be used to help with positioning or holding nebulizers. Sometimes they help support your own arms, back, etc. while snuggling with your little one.

There are a few items that are affordable that, depending on your child, you may not need. But I was so glad to have them.

• A basic otoscope can run around $20. It will help you to monitor your kids ears, throat, and nose. If your kid gets frequent ear infections, you will be very glad to have one of these on hand.
• A finger portable pulse oximeter is a great tool to have on hand. Again, around $20 on Amazon and they come in all colors. If your child has respiratory issues, but not often enough for insurance to cover the bigger continual monitors, being able to spot check oxygen when you think something may be off is so handy.
• You can get a basic stethoscope on Amazon for around $30 and listen to heart, lung, and bowel sounds.

Of course, there are much more expensive versions of all of these tools. But if you just want to spot check things the affordable models work just fine.

If you need a fancier model, you could always consider buying used. Reusable medical tools can be disinfected. You can find some great deals for good working tools on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace or any other retail site.

More information about getting medical supplies for your child is found in Supplies and Durable Equipment.