Many 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. In most cases parents may want to prepare a baby first aid kit before baby’s arrival. All that can be made easy by pharmacies – simply by offering the following in their stores.
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
When one is short on time, they 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 as its active ingredient soothes flu, fever, headaches, and body pains in babies ages 2 months and older.
Pharmacists can advise buyers to get the proper dosage for their baby or advise the buyer to follow the instructions written on the label. If the medicine doesn't come with a measuring spoon or cup, one can be arrange.
Bandages
When the baby starts crawling, they’ll most likely get minor cuts or wounds. So, patents may need the bandages in the first aid kit to treat the 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 the baby gets a deeper wound, one 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 anaesthesia to numb the 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 the baby's belly if they look fussy after feeding
Thermometer A high-quality thermometer indicates whether the child has a fever. Different types of thermometers include:
Digital thermometer. It gives an accurate, quick result. The user can put this thermometer under the armpit of the child and check the temperature after the time written on the label.
Rectal thermometer. The baby may feel uncomfortable with a rectal thermometer. But it's the most accurate thermometer that the 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 the user can 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.
Medicines In this case, pharmacists should be able to assist and advice on medication parents should get and which medicines are ok to give their baby. The following are some medicines they might consider keeping in the first-aid kit as well as home medicine cabinet:
Hydrocortisone cream
Antibiotic ointment
Aloe vera gel
Calamine lotion
Epinephrine auto-injector (if the baby’s healthcare provider has prescribed it)
Any prescription medications the little one takes (for travel)
Other Accessories An emergency kit for toddlers must have all the accessories to give the baby an on-the-go first-aid treatment, including the following:
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
Eye shield or pad
Aluminium finger splint
Instant cold packs
Cotton balls and cotton swabs
Disposable non-latex gloves
Surgical face masks
Safety pins in different sizes
Hand sanitizer
Eyewash solution
Key Things to Remember
After the buyer gets all the essentials, pharmacy workers might suggest the following 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 the 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.
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