Your baby's first year is full of surprises — little injuries, fevers, minor bumps, gas problems, and much more. These issues can arise any time without any warning.
You may want to prepare a baby first aid kit before baby’s arrival. Here’s a guide to what your kit will need.
What Should Go In a Baby First Aid Kit?
The first step to organizing a first aid kit for babies is to find the right container for the kit. It should be:
- Easy to carry, durable, and waterproof
- Large enough to carry all the medical supplies for babies
- Lockable, so other kids in your home don't play with it
- Portable
If you are short on time, you can get a ready-made emergency kit for toddlers. Make sure it has these essentials:
Painkillers
Painkillers for infants help manage many health issues of your baby. A painkiller that has acetaminophen or ibuprofen (but only if your baby is older than 6 months ) as its active ingredient soothes flu, fever, headaches, and body pains in babies ages 2 months and older.
Talk to your doctor to get the proper dosage for your baby, or follow the instructions written on the label. If the medicine doesn't come with a measuring spoon or cup, arrange for one.
Bandages
When your baby starts crawling, they’ll most likely get minor cuts or wounds. So you’ll need the bandages in the first aid kit to treat your baby immediately. Dressings for babies can include:
- Bandages. Bandages come in many shapes and sizes, from flat to tubular (for a strained joint).
- An ACE bandage can be used to make a sling in case of injury to an arm.
- Sterile gauze dressings. These cover major cuts and blisters.
Antiseptic Creams and Ointments
If your baby gets a deeper wound, you may need an antibiotic cream or ointment to keep the area clean and safe from bacteria.
Other essential medical supplies for babies include:
- An antiseptic spray for minor cuts and burns — which comes with mild anesthesia to numb your baby's pain quickly and prevent infection
- An antihistamine cream, like Benadryl, for swelling due to insect bites or stings
- A calamine lotion to treat rashes — the most common issue in babies — along with chickenpox, irritation, allergies, and sunburns
- Gas drops to calm your baby's belly if they look fussy after feeding
Thermometer
A high-quality thermometer tells you whether your child has a fever. Different types of thermometers include:
- Digital thermometer. It gives you an accurate, quick result. You can put this thermometer under the armpit of your child and check the temperature after the time written on the label.
- Rectal thermometer. Your baby may feel uncomfortable with a rectal thermometer. But it's the most accurate thermometer that your first aid kit could have.
- Ear (or tympanic) thermometer. An ear thermometer gives the results in one second, but it can be costly.
- Strip-type thermometer. It is the basic thermometer that you put on the child's forehead to see the temperature. But it is not that accurate as it only measures the body's surface temperature.
Other Accessories
An emergency kit for toddlers must have all the accessories to give your baby an on-the-go first-aid treatment, including:
- A nail cutter made for babies
- Petroleum jelly to treat dryness and itchiness
- A pair of small scissors to cut bandages
- Tweezers to take out any thorn or splinter
- Ice or gel packs to relieve swelling and bumps
- Saline spray or solution to clean sore eyes and stuffy noses from dust particles
- A strong suction device to clean your baby's nasal passage for smooth breathing
- Antiseptic or alcohol wipes to instantly clean cuts, grazes, and wounds before using an ointment and to cleanse tweezers and other accessories before and after each use
Key Things to Remember
After you get all the essentials, consider these essential steps:
- Always keep the box in an accessible place.
- Keep the box out of the reach of children.
- Put a first-aid manual in the kit.
- Make sure your babysitters and other caregivers know where the kit is and how to use it.
- Keep the first aid kit well-stocked.
- Replace items that are close to being expired.
