How To Prepare A Baby's First Aid Kit

Parents want the best for their kids. Whether it’s your firstborn or not, you want to make sure that they are properly taken care of, and that you are ready just in case of an emergency. So as parents and caregivers, it’s a must to have a baby’s first aid kit prepared. That way, if something happens, you are ready to give first aid.

A first aid kit is not a replacement for seeking professional help. You must always take your baby to a doctor if the situation is bad or the illness is severe. But for a minor emergency like small cuts and scrapes, for instance, the first aid kit can already help. In this article we go through the A-Z of a baby first aid kit.

Why Do You Need Baby’s First Aid Kit?

Babies are vulnerable. They are prone to sickness and injuries. Even though you do your best to keep them away from harm, they still get sick or end up with minor wounds and bumps. Don’t think that you’re a bad parent if something like this occurs. There are just conditions and ailments that are common to infants and older babies. These include fever, gassiness, nasal congestion, and discomfort when they are teething.

Although you can’t fully prevent these to happen, you can at least be prepared. And this is where the first aid kit becomes handy.

Ask yourself this, “If these emergencies happened, could I respond fast to my baby’s need? Or would I still need to go out to buy supplies?”

Clearly, you don’t want to be put in that situation. Instead of wasting precious time to go out– who knows how far you are from the store that sells the items you need– you can spend that time attending to your baby.

What to Include in a Baby First Aid Kit?

Now that you know the importance of having a first-aid kit for your baby, let’s look at everything you need and must include in the first aid kit for your infant.

First aid basics

Thermometer. Better if it’s digital for convenience purposes. For infants, you should use a rectal thermometer, but for older children an oral or ear thermometer are good options. Pediatricians recommend using a digital thermometer rather than a mercury one.
Cotton swabs. Used for cleaning outside areas of nose and ears. Never use cotton swabs in cleaning inside areas of your baby’s nose and ears as they can push foreign material deeper into these orifaces.
Sterile gauze and bandages in different shapes and sizes. Essential for securing wounds and bruises.
Elastic bandages. Used to control swelling and relieve pain.
Disposable non-latex gloves and surgical face masks. Ready a few pairs to ensure hygiene when treating your baby’s wounds.
Tweezers. In case you need to pull out thorns or splinters.
Cotton balls and gauze pads. You need to make sure your medicine kit includes both of these items, as they serve different purposes. Cotton balls are good for cleansing cuts, while gauze pads are essential for pressing on a cut to stop the bleeding.
Pair of scissors and adhesive tape
Alcohol wipes and hand sanitizer
Rubbing alcohol. Useful for sterilizing tools like thermometers and tweezers.
Medicine dispenser
Petroleum jelly. Used for lubricating rectal thermometers.
Measuring cup or spoon or oral syringe. Although liquid medication usually comes with a measuring cup or a medicine dropper, they have a habit of going missing right when you need them. Having a couple of spares in the first aid kit means you don’t have to spend time looking for them when you need them.
Ice pack. Ice has a range of uses from soothing bruises to relieving sprains. Remember not to directly apply the ice pack in the injured area, as it could cause ice burn. Instead, wrap it in a thin towel before holding it against the injury.
A heating pad or hot-water bottle. Soothes upset tummy.
Bulb syringe or nasal aspirator. Used for unclogging your baby’s stuffed nose.
Flashlight and extra batteries. A flashlight is not just for a disaster kit; your baby first aid kit should also include a small one. You can use it to have a better view when inspecting ears, mouth, and nose.
First aid manual. This is a must as it can help you to properly conduct a first-aid procedure. Make sure it’s also up-to-date.
Emergency contact numbers. Always ensure that you have the updated contact information of your pediatrician and other numbers in case of an emergency.

Medicines and topical ointments

Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen. Used to control fever and relieves pain. Consult with your doctor for dosage recommendations.
Calamine lotion. Used for skin rashes.
Aloe Vera gel. Can soothe skin irritation and treat minor burns, cuts, and bruises.
Antibacterial cream.
Oral diphenhydramine. Used for allergic reactions.
Epinephrine auto-injector. Only use or include this in the kit if it’s prescribed by your pediatrician.
Cough syrup and decongestant. For older babies and children, over-the-counter products can be very helpful for a sudden cold. For small babies, these items should be prescribed by your little one’s doctor.
Saline nasal drops. Can treat dryness in the nasal passage and can reduce thick mucus secretions.
Vapor rub. Helpful for treating congestion and coughs.
Eye drops. Used for rinsing out irritants that got inside your baby’s eyes.
Oral rehydration solution. Used when your baby is suffering from diarrhea or vomiting.
Antiseptic solution and antiseptic cream. Needed for cleaning wounds. You may add the latter after cleaning the wound.
Diaper rash cream. Not only for the diaper area, this barrier cream is useful for soothing a range of friction rashes on your child.
Insect repellent. It’s advisable to only use it for babies no younger than two months old.
Sunscreen. Only use sunscreen that is baby or children-friendly.
Other prescribed medicines by your baby’s doctor

Where to Buy Kit Supplies

There are available prepackaged baby first aid kits that you can buy at drugstores, supermarkets, and big-box stores. However, although these kits usually contain essentials, they are incomplete. So in addition to the premade aid kit, make sure to also buy other essential items to complete your first aid supplies. (Use the list above as your checklist!)

Or you can simply make your own baby first aid kit from scratch. Don’t be overwhelmed. It’s a long list but you are already familiar with most of the items. And they can be purchased easily, too from pharmacies and other stores.

How to Keep First Aid Kit Stocked

It’s important to ensure that your baby’s first aid kit is well-stocked. Make a checklist of the items you need to ensure you have all the essentials. Creating a list of supplies that are running low is a good step, too so you can buy them right away when you go to the store. Because you definitely don’t want to run short of the item when you need it the most.

You should also regularly examine the items in the kit– check the expiration dates, especially for medicines, and throw away bandages that have lost their adhesiveness.

How to organize first-aid supplies

You may store your supplies in first-aid pouches and put them in a clean plastic container or in a box with a cover. Make sure that the items are in one place so, in case of an emergency, you won’t have to waste time looking for them.

You should also have a mini ‘first-aid kit to go’ that you can just stash in your baby’s diaper bag when you’re going out or traveling with them. It saves you time, too!

Where to keep your baby’s first aid kit

Just like any other first aid kit, your baby’s kit should be placed somewhere in your home that is easily accessible by adults but should be children’s out of reach for safety purposes. It must also be stored at a place with low humidity or at room temperature. That said – don’t keep it in the bathroom. The standard medicine cabinet over the bathroom sink has a high humidity that can actually wreck medical supplies. It’s recommended to put it in the kitchen cabinet or on top of the shelf or closet.

It is also advisable to have a travel-size first aid kit in your car that you can keep in the glove compartment. If you will air travel with your infant, see to it that the necessary items and medications kit is in your carry-on bag. Be aware that grooming items like scissors and baby nail clippers may not be allowed in carry-on.

Safety Tips

Aside from preparing your baby first aid kit, here are parenting tips to ensure your little one’s safety.

Trust your instinct

If your infant is sick and you’re unsure if it’s fever or if they are acting weird, contact your child’s doctor and ask if they should be examined. However, if your baby’s temperature is more than 100.4°F or 38°C, you should definitely bring them to the hospital. Also, trust your parental instinct – if you feel there’s something wrong with your baby, ask for guidance!

Check the dosage

Before giving your baby medicine, especially those who are less than three months old, you should ask their doctor first if it’s safe. It’s also important to monitor the dosage: ensure that you give them the right amount and not exceed the prescribed dosage.

Clean the tools and supplies

Make sure the supplies are clean. Before you use any tools or items to treat cuts and wounds, disinfect and wash them. Likewise, you should also clean them after use.

Sanitize your hands

Wash your hands before touching your baby, even when you are just clipping their nails. That might seem like an exaggeration, but babies don’t have a strong immune system like adults, not to mention they have delicate skin. Touching them with dirty hands can lead to sickness. Better safe than sorry!

How to Prepare for an Emergency

Emergencies happen when we least expect them. What you can only do is to prepare ahead of time. Having a well-stocked baby first aid kit can help you respond to the situation promptly. But when the accident is serious, we might need more than a first aid kit.

When we are faced with a severe emergency, worrying and panicking are inevitable, but often unhelpful. What you need is to be calm and have a clear mind so you can take proper action.

Put your baby’s information and medical records in one place. So when the situation arises where you need their health documents, you can easily access them.
You need ready access to your pediatrician’s contact number, the nearest hospital’s phone number, and other medical emergency hotlines. Write them on a piece of paper and put them on your first aid kit, on the refrigerator, and beside the main phone in your house.
You should also have a copy of your trusted family members, relatives, and neighbors’ numbers who can look after other kids in your house in case you need to go to the hospital.
In case of serious emergencies, call help immediately. There are times the responders take some time to arrive. If that is the case, they will usually stay on the phone with you, and tell you what to do and not do. It’s a must that you’re calm and listening carefully to what they say to prevent worsening the situation.
Consider taking a pediatric CPR course so that you are prepared and confident if you ever need to use it.

Final Thoughts

Having a fully stocked first aid kit for the baby and being prepared in case of an accident or emergency is necessary for every home. It is the simplest way to show that we care about our family. So always make sure that you have the necessary items, and that you are ready to take on this kind of situation.