What you can have ready without a prescription

These items make up the essential basics for hygiene, comfort and early monitoring:

Digital thermometer: essential for quickly taking the temperature in the armpit (in babies, fever is defined as 37.8 °C or higher).

0.9% saline solution: recommended for daily nasal rinsing. Choose single-dose vials or small bottles, because large containers left open easily build up fungi and bacteria.

Syringe made for nasal rinsing (with a soft silicone tip): rinsing with saline in a gentle flow, without too much pressure, relieves a blocked nose far more safely than frequent use of suction aspirators, which can irritate the baby's inner nasal lining.

Baby nail kit: round-tipped scissors or a fine emery board, to stop the baby from accidentally scratching themselves.

Soft-bristled brush or a comb with rounded tips.

Cotton wool and sterile gauze: for cleaning during nappy changes in the first days and for caring for the umbilical cord stump with 70% alcohol, following the instructions given at the maternity hospital.

Important — Sunscreen and insect repellents:

Babies under 6 months should NOT use sunscreen or most chemical insect repellents. A newborn's skin is thin and permeable, absorbing substances straight into the bloodstream. Until 6 months, protection should be physical only: light long-sleeved clothing, wide-brimmed hats, natural shade and protective mosquito nets over the cot and pram.

What needs a prescription and a dose worked out by the paediatrician

No medicine should be given to a baby without direct, recorded guidance from the health team:

Fever and pain medicines (such as paracetamol or dipyrone): the number of drops or millilitres is calculated according to the child's current body weight, never by age. Never reuse a dose prescribed months ago without first weighing the baby and confirming the dose with the professional.

Treatment creams for the skin: simple zinc oxide creams are only for preventing nappy rash. Creams containing antibiotics, antifungals or corticosteroids should never be applied without a diagnosis first.

Cough syrups: the Sociedade Brasileira de Pediatria (SBP, the Brazilian Society of Paediatrics) and the Ministério da Saúde (Brazil's Ministry of Health) specifically advise against expectorant and cough-suppressant syrups for babies, because these formulas don't treat the cause of the infection and cause dangerous drowsiness and breathing complications.

Drops for wind and colic: gentle tummy massage, skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding on demand are the first ways to bring relief. Any use of medicines or teas should be discussed with the doctor who follows the baby.

Safe storage and accident prevention

Medicine poisoning is among the most common household accidents in childhood. Keep strict safety habits:

Avoid keeping medicines in the bathroom or kitchen: the humidity from the shower and the heat from the stove make medicines lose their effectiveness faster. Store everything in a dry, cool place away from direct sunlight.

Keep them high up and locked away: the medicine box should be out of reach from the very first day, which also keeps it away from older siblings or visiting children.

Keep them in their original packaging with the leaflets: never mix loose blister strips or unlabelled bottles. Keeping the original boxes with the leaflet and the measuring device avoids mistakes in the middle of the night.

Dispose of leftovers and expired medicines properly: check expiry dates regularly. Leftover expired medicines should be taken to collection points at pharmacies or at the Unidade Básica de Saúde (UBS, Brazil's public primary care clinic), and never thrown in the household rubbish or flushed down the toilet.

Practical care tip: stick a label on the lid of the first aid box with the baby's recent weight, the contact for your UBS or paediatrician, and the number of Anvisa's Disque-Intoxicação (the poison information line run by Brazil's health regulatory agency) (0800 722 6001). In case of accidental swallowing or an urgent question, this quick reference makes all the difference.

Sources:

Ministério da Saúde — Caderneta da Criança: Passaporte da Cidadania.

Sociedade Brasileira de Pediatria (SBP) — Guia de Fotoproteção na Criança e no Adolescente.

Sociedade Brasileira de Pediatria (SBP) — Uso Racional de Medicamentos na Infância e Riscos de Antitussígenos.

Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária (Anvisa) — Cartilha de Boas Práticas e Prevenção de Intoxicações Domiciliares.