They fall off their bikes. They were racing some sort of plastic wheeled ride down the neighborhood hill and wiped out. They have a cold. What sort of weird three-leafed plant did you touch? Oh god is that a tick?
From splinters, boo-boos, to the big injuries, you need to have a fully stocked first aid kit when you have kids. They’re little injury monsters, but they’re also your precious angels. A stocked emergency kit can help you take care of them.
So when you’re putting together a first aid kit for kids, here’s everything you need.
Tweezers and Magnifying Glass
For splinters or ticks, you need a good set of tweezers. A magnifying glass will help you see the object better, and get it out faster.
Band-aids
For all of your basic cuts, scratches, and boo-boos, you need a set of band-aids. Pro tip: Even if there isn’t blood, you can give your child a band-aid for their ouchie. It will make them feel taken care of, and help their pain go away.
First Aid Cream
You need a basic first aid cream to treat sunburns and keep wounds from getting infected. Be wary of using antibiotic cream, since you don’t want your children to build up resistance at a young age.
Gauze, Tape, and Scissors
For more serious scrapes, you’ll need to wrap the wound in gauze. Gauze doesn’t stick to injuries, and it keeps the wound clean. You’ll need gauze tape to hold the gauze in place, and scissors to cut the gauze.
Scissors can be useful for other areas in your first aid kit too, like shaping bandages for cuts in weird areas.
Ace Bandage
Ace bandages are vital for treating sprains, especially sprained ankles. Learn how to wrap for various common strains.
Sterile Wipes
You’ll need sterile wipes to clean wounds. But you can also use them for snotty noses and dirty hands.
Thermometer
If your kid says they’re feeling sick, you need to check their temperature. Make sure you have a high-quality thermometer that you know is accurate, and you know how to read. The Ankovo thermometer is a great option for kids.
Heating Pad or Hot Water Bottle
Treat upset tummies, sore muscles, or cramps.
Instant Cold Packs
You don’t need these in your home emergency kit – a bag of frozen vegetables works just as well. But you do need them for your on-the-go emergency kit. They can help relieve headaches, but they’re especially useful for sprains.
A Small Bright Flashlight
This can help you see the back of a child’s throat, up their nose, in their ears or into their eyes. It can help illuminate an injury or highlight a splinter. Occasionally check the batteries to make sure they’re still good. Consider packing some extras.
Disposable Gloves
For anything to do with blood or other bodily fluids. You need a pair of disposable unigloves to keep a wound sanitary.
Cough Drops
If your child is complaining about a sore throat, it’s useful to have a handful of cough drops at the ready.
Cold Medicine
Similarly, keep some cold medicine on hand too to help them through cold and flu season. Make sure you have a clean medicine cup too, to make sure you’re giving proper dosages.
Painkillers
Children shouldn’t have aspirin. But make sure you keep child-safe ibuprofen or acetaminophen on hand. This can help ease headaches, bruises, and sprains.
Antihistamine
For an allergic reaction, you’ll want an antihistamine like Benadryl on hand.
Epi-Pen or Extra Prescriptions
If your child is especially allergic, make sure you always have their epi-pen. If you’re going out of town, it’s a good idea to pack any extra prescriptions your child may need.
Calamine Lotion
Maybe your child got into a patch of poison ivy. Or mosquito season is bad. Either way, calamine lotion can help ease the itching.
Pack of Tissues
This is great to help ease bloody noses, or when your child’s nose is running like crazy. You can send them off to school with a pack.
Sunscreen
It may seem odd to keep sunscreen in a first aid kit, but it’s there to keep you and your family healthy and safe. Make sure you have child-friendly sunscreen.
Insect Repellent
The same thing goes with insect repellent. You never know when bugs will strike, so it’s best to be ready.
Chapstick and Lotion
Winter is notorious for drying out the skin. Always have chapstick or lotion on hand to prevent dry, achy skin.
Ziplock Bags
Ziplock bags are vital for safely storing a lost tooth, or to stash a tick you want your doctor to inspect. It’s also good to store any sort of wild plant your child may have thought was edible.
Lollipops
Lollipops are a fun reward for kids who have been a good patient.
Water Bottles and Gatorade
You can use water bottles to clean out wounds. But they’re also good to treat dehydration. Gatorade can help prevent dehydration too, and you may even be able to use it to bribe a stubborn child.
Clean Towel and Blanket
A clean towel will help you maintain a sterile environment as you’re treating boo-boos. A blanket is good for when a kid gets cold, or to comfort them after a, particularly traumatic injury.
Notepad and Pencil
It’s a good idea to keep a notepad and pen or pencil in your first aid kit. You can keep track of the injury, or any other vital information you think your doctor may need to treat your child.
List of Emergency Phone Numbers
It’s still useful to have your emergency phone numbers written down. Include all your child’s doctors, like their pediatrician, dentist, and eye doctor. Also, jot down your local emergency room number and the poison control number.
Updated First Aid Booklet
Make sure you have a recent first aid booklet to avoid outdated information. Ideally, you should read it before you ever need it. At least familiarize yourself with its contents.
This way you’re prepared when your child does get injured.
Storage
Ideally, you should have two first aid kits – one for your home and one for your car. What you put in each can vary. (You likely won’t need to store blankets and towels in your at-home kit.)
Either way, try to keep it in a stable climate and away from humidity. In both kits, check your supplies, throw out anything expired, and replace what you’re low on.
Putting Together a First Aid Kit for Kids Is Vital
Childhood is full of injuries. That’s okay, that’s how they learn. So you must have a first aid kit for kids. The tools above will help you put together the perfect first aid kit with everything you need.
Keep checking back for more great advice to make your life as a parent easier.
