I’m a Manhattan mom of a five year old and almost two year old. I live in a two bedroom apartment and have limited space to stockpile. I’ve panicked just a bit and stocked up on certain items in case of a lockdown, if it seems unwise to go out for essentials, if one of us falls ill with the Corona virus or otherwise, and in case of disruption to the supply chain. A lot of followers have asked me to share what I’ve purchased. Please don’t consider this post to be medical advice and please check back, as I will update it as I think of additional items.

I’ve focused on preventing illness, items you will need in case of illness (Corona virus or other) in your home, and general family essentials.

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Preventing Acquisition and Spread of the Virus

Here is common sense advice: wash your hands frequently (especially upon returning home), avoid touching surfaces outside the home, use hand sanitizer after touching items outside, avoid touching face (especially eyes and nose).

Hand Sanitizer // as of 3/3/20 there is a run on hand sanitizer. I was able to buy some online here (I’m a little concerned that my order could be canceled due to two to three day “backorder”). Bath and Body Works has in stock (I don’t like that they use fragrance, but it’s better than notihing). I also spotted some at West Side Market on Third Avenue and 17th Street in Manhattan. Other major retailers are sold out but I’m linking to their hand sanitizer landing pages as it’s worth checking back often: Amazon, Honest, Target, Walmart and Staples (they still have refills for the commercial dispensers, which you could probably puncture and transfer. but many items show as in stock yet won’t ship for weeks).

Ingredients for DIY hand sanitizer // There are recipes floating around the internet. My understanding is that these can be ineffective or even harmful. You need to use 91% alcohol (so don’t bother with vodka) for the recipe to be effective. The recipes that I’ve seen call for 2/3 cup 91% ethyl alcohol with 1/3 cup aloe vera gel. Some call for a drop of essential oil for scent, which could be dangerous for babies and young children.

Hand soap // Kids may not wash thoroughly enough or for enough time. In my unscientific opinion, foaming wash is more effective. I like this one, but get whatever you like.

Probiotics — oral and spray // I wrote a piece on this a while back. Most people are aware that taking oral probiotics can help with digestion, they may also help to prevent other ailments. We take oral probiotics and also have been using a liquid form topically for years (spray on face, focus on eyes and nose and we even spray up the nose). The thinking is that the probiotic crowds out the real estate so viruses and bad bacteria can’t get footing. If you’re using antibacterial soap or hand sanitizer, you are killing off protective bacteria / flora, so I’d spray your hands too especially after washing or sanitizing for extra protection. I also recommend spraying the eyes and nose with this spray, spraying up the nose with this spray (we have one per family member), giving kids an oral probiotic (we like this powder and this powder and my five year old likes these gummies), adults should ideally take both a capsule (bypasses gastric juices) and a chewable (protects gums and lungs).

Saline nose spray // a hydrated nasal passage can help fend off illness. Look for a saline spray without preservatives. My kids tolerate Boogie Mist brand. For myself, I buy whichever is least expensive.

Masks // This is a controversial topic. They aren’t necessarily effective, especially if not fitted or used correctly (e.g., they need to be replaced every few hours and combined with goggles), and hoarding by lay people can leave medical professionals unprotected. I didn’t stock up but felt it deserved a mention

Disposable gloves // If you’re cleaning up after others in your home who are sick (changing diapers, cleaning bathrooms that they use), gloves offer some protection. If things get bad, you may want to wear these when you need to touch things outside too (e.g., grocery or pharmacy run, or taking garbage to the shoot in a high rise).

Cleaning supplies //

Bleach cleanser // I picked up a few bottles of a spray cleaner with bleach and need to get toilet cleaner with bleach.
Cleaning wipes // I got this wipe. There has been a run on hospital grade cleaning wipes. Note that the surface needs to stay wet for a few minutes to be effective. These too are controversial as they may be overkill or even unsafe for home use. They were out of stock when I looked them up.

Alcohol prep pads // I use these to clean my phone every so often, I’m starting to do it daily now.

Treating Corona Virus and Other Ailments

If the virus becomes rampant, you may not want to go out for these supplies and may not be able to get them delivered to you. I basically stocked my first aid kit for various ailments. If someone in your family is ill, please contact your physician for advice.

Thermometer // I have this one, which you can use without touching the sick person, so you can share between family members. If you use one that goes in the ear or otherwise touches the body, get extra covers, etc.

Pedialyte or other electrolyte drink // I stock a powdered version that’s lower in sugar than sports drinks.

Zinc lozenges or spray // I’ve read that these can help shorten virus impact if taken at the first sign of illness.

Saline spray // a hydrated nasal passage can help fend off illness and also make those suffering from respiratory / sinus issues more comfortable. Look for one without preservatives. My kids tolerate Boogie Mist brand. For myself, I buy whichever is least expensive.

Saline wipes and soft tissues // I buy unscented Boogie Wipes (white package) for the kids and soft Puffs or Kleenex brand tissues for myself and my husband.

General Medicine Chest / First Aid Items // Neosporin, bandaids, acetaminophen, ibuprophen and Benadryl (get for adults too). You might consider butterfly bandages and skin glue too (you may not want to visit an ER for a minor injury to avoid virus exposure and chaos).

Oxidometer // This is my one arguably crazy / panicked middle-of-the-night purchase. My friend, Liz Dean, has been following the virus for weeks and communicating with people in China. She says that you can monitor your oxygen levels at home and potentially avoid a hospital visit. I figure that I can return it if I don’t open it but won’t regret buying it.

Baby / Toddler Essentials

Everyday items that you can’t afford to run out of — formula, shelf stable milk, diapers, wipes, diaper cream, extra bottles, pacifiers, etc. I didn’t go too crazy on diapers or wipes and am hoping that I will get wind of any supply issues before it’s too late.

Misc.

Fill prescriptions // It’s worth coordinating with your pharmacy to try to fill three months in advance.

Toilet paper // There has been a run for toilet paper in other countries (I think diarrhea is a symptom of the virus in some people). I ordered a lot and will figure out a way to store it.

Paper towels // These are necessary if cleaning and sterilizing obsessively.

Household cleaning supplies // Make sure you aren’t running low on whatever products you normally use including dish soap, dishwasher detergent and laundry detergent, all purpose cleaner, spray cleaner with bleach, toilet cleaner with bleach and cleaning wipes (I got this wipe).

Hand cream / lotion // My hands are already so dry from washing and sanitizing so often! Cerave isn’t the most natural, but it’s effective for me.

Tampons / sanitary napkins // I don’t want to think about running out of these!

Contact lenses / lens solution / eye drops // I personally hate wearing glasses, so this is a must for me. I’ve been ordering my lenses from Walgreens (here is the landing page that typically has a 25% off code).

Batteries // Make sure to have backup batteries for your thermometer, remotes and obnoxious kid toys.

Food

I’m going to try to come back and add specific items, but stock up on whatever your kids like and are likely to eat — I bought fish sticks, lentil pasta, cheese, cereal, shelf stable milk, bars and snacks, pancake mix, frozen vegetables, dried fruit, and nuts. I got some extra of perishable items like eggs and cheese. A lot of people are stocking up on rice and beans. Baby food pouches are also a good idea in case you can’t get out for produce or don’t feel well enough to cook (I like Serenity brand, see my list of exclusive promos for a discount).

See my picky eater post for more specific product recommendations.

Entertainment

If you’re stuck at home, make sure to have items for crafts, activities, and games. I will try to come back and add some. You can check out my article on open-ended play for some ideas.

I wrote this all very quickly during my daughter’s nap. I want to reiterate that it’s not to be construed as medical advice and is not exhaustive. I will try to come back and update as I think of more items and flesh out the food and entertainment sections. My hope is that most of this is unnecessary and that we all end up being over-prepared!