Must-Haves For Your Personal First Aid Kit As A Mom

Every home has to have a well-stocked first-aid kit that is maintained nearby and accessible. Having the appropriate supplies on hand in advance can enable you to respond to an emergency quickly. Keep first aid supplies in your house and car. When traveling, make sure to pack a first aid kit as well. Use spacious, durable, portable, and easy-to-open containers when assembling your own first aid kit. Because they are lightweight, have handles, provide a tonne of room, and have distinct compartments, plastic tackle boxes and other containers are excellent for storing art supplies.

Children are prone to accidents, more so for some people. If you’re a budget-conscious mom, you must always have a fully equipped medical kit on hand, whether it’s DIY or store-bought. You don’t want to find yourself unprepared with an injured child and no medical supplies! Stock your first aid box with plenty of these necessary supplies.

1. Have a plan for emergencies

A copy of your emergency contacts and phone numbers should be pinned to your first aid bag. This includes your primary care physician, the emergency services, the fire department, maybe even an all hour locksmith, and your family. 

2. Keep good quality band-aids on hand

As a parent, you go through a lot of these. Stick with the ones that work and disregard the cheaper finds you might come across. 

3. Thermometer

Invest in a reliable digital thermometer that can be used one-handedly without putting the child through undue stress.

4. Sterile gauze

The mainstay of every first aid pack is a sterile gauze. When collecting blood, sterile gauze pads or cotton balls are helpful because they offer a spotless surface to push against once the venipuncture site has been punctured. They can also be used to wipe up and absorb any tiny blood dribbles that may have leaked during tube change. It is far more efficient than a bandage at stopping bleeding, and since it isn’t sticky, it can be removed much more easily than a plaster if you need to get to the wound to treat it.

5. Medical tape

Medical tape can be used for a variety of purposes, including splinting and sticking gauze to a wound. Bandages, gauze, and other dressings are applied to the skin around wounds using medical adhesive tape, often known as surgical tape. Pressure-sensitive tape, or tape that sticks and holds in place with forceful pressure, is a form of tape that most sticky tapes fall under. Neither a solvent nor heat activation are required. Various materials can be used to create medical adhesive tape, however most of them are breathable for comfort and usability.

6. Ointments

The ointments you keep are usually a matter of personal preference. The standard ointments to have in your first aid kit might include: 

• An antibiotic treatment
• A soothing cream for bites and itches
• Cold sore cream
• Muscle soother oil
• If your child needs a certain drug or medication, ensure sure it is always on hand and in your first aid box. Call your family physician and ask for a second emergency supply

7. A baby’s first aid kit

Your newborn’s first few days and weeks with you may seem like a blur. You might still be experiencing postpartum symptoms. You could experience a range of emotions throughout the infant stage. The first two months of your baby’s existence are devoted to the newborn stage. It’s important to keep in mind that having a newborn requires a lot of adjustment for everyone as you move through these early months.

In the first year and beyond, newborns and older babies may endure a variety of common illnesses. A first aid pack can be useful for ailments including gassiness, a stuffy nose, fever, and teething problems. While you can assemble your own first aid bag from supplies you already own, many of those items might not be designed for use by a baby.

Fortunately, there are a number of infant-specific first aid kits available that include everything you need to care for your baby in a variety of situations.

The following items must to be in a kit for a newborn child:

• a thermometer for the rectal area (the quicker the read, the better)
• nail trimmers
• cotton balls or muslin cloth
• salicylate drops
• nasal aspirator

However, a kit for an older newborn will differ slightly, so when your child approaches the 6-month mark, you should adjust the kit’s contents to reflect this.

Included in this kit should be:

• Ibuprofen or acetaminophen for pain or fever
• Benadryl (diphenhydramine) oral solution for allergic reactions
• bandages
• Hand sanitizer with alcohol wipes
• gloves, antibiotic cream, gauze, tape, and scissors

Consider some of these goods for your first aid kit when you put together your child’s registry.

When your first-aid supplies are complete:

• You should read the first-aid manual to learn how to use the supplies in your kits. (If your children are old enough, go over the key ideas with them.) Peruse the handbook sometimes to see whether it has been updated
• Keep first aid kits out of children’s reach but close at hand for adults
• Examine the kits frequently. Replace everything that is missing or expired
• Assure that babysitters and other caretakers are aware of the location and proper usage of the kit
• Make sure the flashlight batteries are in good condition
• Pack the first-aid kit in your checked luggage if you’re traveling by plane. Numerous goods won’t be allowed in carry-on luggage

The most thorough option is to make your own first aid kits, which also provides you an opportunity to become familiar with all of the components as a mother. You can select an easy-to-organize box or bag, make a list of the necessities or ask your pediatrician for one, then go shopping. Make a smaller version of your homemade baby first aid kit to keep in the car or diaper bag if you already have one at home. You can then be ready wherever you go. And, finally, make sure to examine your first aid box frequently to make sure everything is stocked and past its expiration date, just as you would with a shop-bought kit.