Having a first-aid kit for your growing family can be helpful to deal for those minor cuts and scrapes, accidents and illnesses that happen from time to time. Because you never know when or where you’ll need a first-aid kit, it’s a good idea to have one at home (instead of or in addition to a well-stocked medicine cabinet) and perhaps another one to stash in your car or travel bag, just in case.
Read on to learn what to include in a first-aid kit for your baby, as well as tips for storing it and keeping it replenished.
What Is a Baby First-Aid Kit?
A first-aid kit is a bag or a box filled with those essentials you might need in case of a mild illness or minor emergency such as a small cut or scrape. Essentially, a baby first-aid kit is like a regular first-aid kit but with a few extras specifically for babies.
For example, certain medications and devices (such as infant thermometers) are designed specifically for babies and young children, so you'll want to include these in your first-aid kit.
Whether you have a newborn, older baby, or toddler, make sure you have items to your first-aid kit that are suited to your little one’s needs.
What to Add to Your Baby First-Aid Kit
Here are some basic supplies and medicines you may like to add to your baby’s first-aid kit. Many of these items can work for your entire family, while others are more appropriate for your little one. Feel free to add more items as you see fit.
Basics
- Up-to-date First-aid manual with instructions on basic wound care
- Phone numbers for your baby’s healthcare providers and emergency contacts
- Record of your baby’s medical history and any known allergies
- Bandages in different shapes and sizes
- Elastic wrap bandage
- Adhesive tape
- Sterile gauze pads in different sizes
- Eye shield or pad
- Aluminum finger splint
- Instant cold packs
- Cotton balls and cotton swabs
- Disposable non-latex gloves
- Surgical face masks
- Petroleum jelly
- Safety pins in different sizes
- Scissors
- Tweezers
- Hand sanitizer
- Antiseptic wipes
- Antiseptic solution (such as hydrogen peroxide)
- Eyewash solution
- Baby thermometer
- Bulb syringe
- Sterile saline
Medicines
Make sure to check with your healthcare provider as to which medicines are ok to give your baby. The following are some medicines you might consider keeping in your first-aid kit or in your home medicine cabinet:
- Pain relievers, such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen
- Hydrocortisone cream
- Antibiotic ointment
- Aloe vera gel
- Calamine lotion
- Epinephrine auto-injector (if your baby’s healthcare provider has prescribed it)
- Any prescription medications your little one takes (for travel)
How to Store Items
Aside from one of those red first-aid pouches or boxes, you could also store all of these items in a clean bin with a lid, a tackle box, or an art supply box.
Keeping all your medical supplies in one place and well organized ensures you won’t be searching for the items in an emergency and makes it easier to see when you need to stock up on certain items.
For air travel, you may want to pack your first-aid kit in your checked bag, as some of the items may not be allowed in carry-on. Be sure to keep any necessary medications with you, though, in case the bag goes missing.
Where to Buy a Baby First-Aid Kit
You can buy a first-aid kit as well as the individual items that go in the kit at most pharmacies, supermarkets, and big box stores. Although some kits come filled with the essentials, you might find it’s better to put one together yourself. This way, you can assemble exactly what you need for your baby, which may be different from what a store-bought kit contains.
Keeping a first-aid kit in your car is also recommended. In that case, auto stores or sports stores may have travel versions of a first-aid kit, which you can keep in your glove compartment. Of course, feel free to include any additional items you may want for your baby.
Keeping Your First-Aid Kit Stocked
Periodically your first-aid kit will need to be refreshed, which means removing medicines that have expired and tossing old bandages that have lost their stickiness.
It’s a good idea to make a list of the items that you are running low on, so that you can stock up ahead of time. You don’t want to run out of something completely, because you never know when you’ll need it next.
Where to Store Your Baby First-Aid Kit
For your child’s safety, make sure the first-aid kit is kept out of his reach—for example, stowed up high in a kitchen cabinet or on the top shelf of your linen closet, but not in a place that has fluctuations in temperature or humidity like your bathroom. You don’t want your baby, toddler, or young child getting into medicine that is not meant for him, or playing with sharp scissors—all important when making sure your home is baby proofed.
Every adult and adolescent in your household should know where the first-aid kit is kept. Also, show anyone else who cares for your baby in your home, like a babysitter or grandparent, where it’s kept. Plus, give everyone instructions on how to use what’s in the kit.
When your child is old enough to understand, explain to him what the first-aid kit is and how to use what’s in it.
Putting together a first-aid kit for your family and your baby is an easy step you can take to help care for your loved ones. Having one at the ready in case anything happens can make all the difference in an emergency and will give you that extra peace of mind.
How we wrote this article The information in this article is based on the expert advice found in trusted medical and government sources, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. You can find a full list of sources used for this article below. The content on this page should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult medical professionals for full diagnosis and treatment.
