10 Baby Pharmacy Hacks

So here are 10  helpful baby health tips for you when it comes to easing your baby routine!

Skip the queue: most facilities will agree to let a parent with a baby receive priority assistance especially if the child is in distress or crying. Kindly ask your pharmacist for prompt assistance.

Sooth Teething : with a clean finger, apply drops of the medicated solution dose to the gums and rub gently every 1-2hours. By dividing the dose into smaller intakes, pain threshold (local) coverage is better  experienced by baby. This is a great alternative to giving a full oral dose 4-6 times daily.
You get better symptomatic relief at the site and you can apply more frequently for soothing and control.

No spill: never use a spoon to give baby their medication. Rather use a syringe. It is better calibrated hence accurate and it also doesn't spill if they knock it with their hands or heads. Always dilute medicine in a bit of milk, or juice rather than the whole feed. This helps to mask the taste. If they don't finish the feed at least the full dose is taken.

Nappy rash: you will never have a nappy rash again if you apply an oil to baby's bum after each change. Unlike water based creams, oils don't completely absorb and therefore they form a good protective (anti-rash) layer on top of baby's skin.

Home made re-hydration: if baby has lost a lot of fluids, they easily become dehydrated especially if they've been vomiting or had diarrhea. This could quickly become dangerous and send you to the ER. However with one tbsp of sugar, half a tbsp of salt and a tall glass of pure/boiled/ filtered water, electrolytes can be replenished and resolve the situation. Administer in small intervals until diaper trends return to normal.

Baby change bag: when packing for baby, the usual diapers, wipes and bottles should be included but don't forget to add a change of clothes for the parent too! If baby throws up or squirts you during a change, your clothes may be embarrassingly messing afterward.

Baby medicine:  when giving an antibiotic or other liquid medicine to baby, to keep track of administered doses, draw a chart with all required doses on the side of the bottle with a permanent marker and tick as you go along. It can get quite confusing and losing track is easy.

Nail clipping: when baby has just falling asleep, wait 20 minutes and proceed to clipping their nails. This ensures no fussing and crying during this mandatory task.

Spit up or vomit stains: whether on the couch, catpet or your clothes, use a paste made with sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and water. Apply generous amount to stain and let dry over night. Vacuum or wash in the morning!



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Pharmacy Hacks Everyone Should Know!

Here are ten genius tricks for every one to know; once you've read them share to your friends so they can also make use of them.

1. Swallowing tablets: did you know that to easily swallow a tablet you need take a generous sip of water, insert the tablet in your mouth and tilt head backward.  This prevents bitter taste from settling in your tongue if you place the tablet first before taking water. For capsules, tilt head forward. This allows the capsule to float to the back and helps your process.

2. cutting tablets: Sometimes scored tablets are difficult to break. You may need to half your painkiller dose or just need a smaller strength then what you have; for this if you don't have a 'fancy' pill cutter at home you can clean and sterilize a nail clipper with alcohol /swabs or ask at the pharmacy for them to cut some tablets fir you in advance.

3. Paying less for tablets: Buying chronic medication can become very expensive in the long run. If your prescription drugs are available in a double strength, ask your pharmacist to dispense the double strength in half doses. That way you pay up to half the price of X 20mg for 15tablets instead of full priced X10mg for 30 tablets.

4. Ensuring quick & accurate services: before rushing into a pharmacy and becoming furious with impatience at the long lines you may find, phone your pharmacy before hand and let them prepare what you need. Many services are now available such as pre-ordering and are easily done through phoning or using apps. If your prescription is long or has particularly rare items on it, phoning ahead of time ensures that it it prepared, checked and that any outstanding item is ordered and delivered before you get there. If there are any co payments you can also prepare your payment before coming in to pick up. Ask that they phone you back to confirm pick up or if delivery services are possible. This saves time and reduces stress for both parties.

5. Never lose your info: walking in the pharmacy to grab something and suddenly realize you left your discount or loyalty cards at home? Worse your new medical aid card details? Well switch to digital! Email yourself a copy of all you pharmacy profile information so you'll have it anywhere!
Send a picture to yourself on social media and use that instead. Usually the serial / membership number is sufficient to store even as a contact.

6. Never forget a refill date: if you're forgetful or too busy to remember your life priorities, set a reminder on your phone! Nowadays everyone has a calendar on their phone. Set it to ring a day or two before you medication is due for a refill. Leaving it to the last day is risky if the pharmacy runs out or if a delivery gets delayed. There are also refill subscription services which send out automatic messages to members informing them of such important dates.

7. Be strategic: know your pharmacy and their various day to day operations such that you determine the best time to come in. Some pharmacies are swamped on a Wednesday morning after a staff meeting and have the longest lines then. Usually there is a first thing in the morning rush and an after work/ after school rush so knowing the busy times helps you come in when it's quieter. Also at lunch time there may be less staff as they relieve each other for lunch. The best time could be around 10-11am and 2-3pm. Ask your pharmacist when is the best time to be served in peace and quiet.

8.  Stay informed: your doctor is supposed to tell you what your diagnosis is and what the treatment entails. If they don't, ASK. Then quickly write it at the back of your script to make your pharmacist and your life simpler. This prevents misunderstandings, phoning to double check and hard to read scribbles that can delay dispensing time.

9. Be proactive: at the beginning of each year medical aid schemes usually modify their policies. The onus is on patients to make sure they understand these changes and are ready. Don't let your savings account surprise you half way through the year when you though it would cover you right through. Understand what you can and cannot buy and the frequency of these.

10. Be kind and friendly: usually behaviour is reciprocated. If you come in with attitude or anger, that energy is likely to be dished right back at you. Pharmacies are help centres where staff will go over and beyond the call of duty to attend to and help a friendly patient. Sometimes even breaking rules just to assist.  A polite request reasoned with a smile ( even when in pain or sick) can make a big difference to the counselling and outcome you may get form your prescription.

At the end of the day everyone is dealing with a lot. Use these 10 simple hacks during your next visit to the pharmacy and see if they help!

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www.pharmers.co.za
#pharmers

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