Middle of the night

Sick at 2am and the medicine cupboard is empty

This is the list to have before you need it, because at 2am nothing is open and nobody is thinking clearly. None of this is medical advice; it is the cupboard, not the diagnosis.

5 things, already decided.
Work down the list. Tick off what you own. Every row opens on Amazon, where the current price and the real delivery date live — we never print a price here.

The list

Down the page is what you need. Across each row is how to choose.

01 of 05

I already have this
A digital thermometer

It is the first question anyone will ask you, including a doctor on the phone.

What to check before you choose. Check where it reads from, since forehead and ear models are quicker but oral is usually considered more consistent for adults.

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Curated product picks drop into this row as each one is researched. Until then these open a real Amazon search so nothing here is invented.
02 of 05

I already have this
Rehydration sachets

The thing that actually helps, and the thing nobody has in the house.

What to check before you choose. Check the sachet count and the flavour, because unflavoured is hard to finish when you feel awful.

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Curated product picks drop into this row as each one is researched. Until then these open a real Amazon search so nothing here is invented.
03 of 05

I already have this
A restocked first aid kit

The one in the drawer is missing whatever you need and the plasters have lost their stick.

What to check before you choose. Check the expiry dates on the contents when it arrives, not the box, and note what is missing for your household.

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Curated product picks drop into this row as each one is researched. Until then these open a real Amazon search so nothing here is invented.
04 of 05

I already have this
A hot water bottle or heat pad

Old-fashioned and still the most effective thing for cramps and aches.

What to check before you choose. Check the manufacture date stamped on a rubber bottle. An electric pad with auto-shutoff is safer for falling asleep with.

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Curated product picks drop into this row as each one is researched. Until then these open a real Amazon search so nothing here is invented.
05 of 05

I already have this
Tissues, lozenges and a lip balm

Small, cheap, and the difference between a rough night and a miserable one.

What to check before you choose. Balm-infused tissues are worth it for a bad cold. Check for unscented if anyone is sensitive.

Top ratedSee on Amazon BudgetSee on Amazon Small spaceSee on Amazon Best sellerSee on Amazon Gift readySee on Amazon

Curated product picks drop into this row as each one is researched. Until then these open a real Amazon search so nothing here is invented.

ReadyHarbor is an Amazon Associate. If you buy through a link here we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. It never changes what goes on a list. We research and curate — we do not test or rank products, and we never claim to. We do not print prices, because Amazon's price can change at any moment; tap through and Amazon shows you the current price and the delivery date.

Your progress

Sick at 2am and the cupboard is empty

5 of 5 still to sort.

Nothing is added to a cart here. Each link opens that search on Amazon in a new tab.

Not your situation?

Say yours the way it comes out of your mouth.

We have not written “that” up yet. ReadyHarbor is being built one situation at a time, and everything live is listed below. Nothing here is auto-generated, so a list only appears once it is actually written.