These Disposable Vomit Bags Are a Lifesaver for Sick Kids, According to a Pediatric ER Doctor

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The kids are back in school and you know what that means: cold and flu season is just around the corner, if it hasn’t stopped by your house already. It’s officially time to hit the pharmacy and stock up on your Tylenol, ibuprofen, and natural cold remedies before they run out. One more tool you may want to keep on hand for sick kids, teens, and tweens? Stay with us here: vomit bags.

Yes, we know, you might be wondering why vomit bags even exist (outside of like, the seat-back pocket in an airplane) when regular old trash bags and, you know, the toilet get the job done just fine. To answer that, let’s hear from someone who really knows what she’s talking about: a pediatric emergency room physician, who listed vomit bags as the first thing you need to get your kids through cold and flu season.

“When I tell you these vomit bags have saved me!” Dr. Meghan Martin, the ER doctor and mom of four, said in a TikTok posted earlier this month. Dr. Martin went on to point out one of the biggest benefits of the disposal bags: “They just twist and tie and you can just toss them in the trash can.” No more wrangling with the trash bag ties while your kid’s half-digested lunch slides around inside (apologies for the visual) — these bags close with a simple twist, like you’re storing a loaf of bread. You then secure the twist in a ring around the top of the bag, preventing any leaks.

The vomit bags, sold on Amazon, are also stink-proof, so you don’t have to worry about any smells if you can’t make it to a trash can right away. They’re also easy to store, as they come packed in a flat, disc-like shape that you simply unfold when the need arises. And the bags even contain measurement marks on the outside to help you keep track of just how much is coming up when your kid is really sick — which is helpful info to have on hand if you take them to the doctor.

Many reviewers on Amazon said they keep a couple vomit bags in their car in case of motion sickness, while others stash them in their bag before hopping on a flight. When it comes to cold and flu season, these are the perfect size to slip into your medicine bin or cabinet, and you can even store a few in your kids’ bedside tables, just in case. Reviewers called them a “must have for traveling with kids,” adding that the bags are “so convenient.” Another person praised the bags’ durability, saying they accidentally dropped one on the floor and it still held up with no leaks or breaks in the material.

Look, we know vomit bags aren’t the most exciting items to add to your Amazon cart, but, like many cold and flu tools, they’re one of those things you won’t even think about until you need it. Stock up now so you’re prepared when you hear the inevitable “Mom, I don’t feel so good…”

Before you go, shop more of our favorite all-natural cold and flu treatments for kids:

This article was originally published on sheknows.com.