I don’t know about your tots but Hector is one of the dippiest kids I know when it comes to paying attention to whatever he’s physically doing at that exact time if there’s older kids about.
Yes it’s super cute that he’s so fascinated that he literally cannot take his eyes off them but the consequences often mean that we have tears when he inevitably falls over or walks into something without looking. I don’t think I’ve ever heard myself say so much ‘look what you’re doing Hector’ to no avail. The kid can’t (won’t?) help it.
Ste initially accused me of being a bit of a helicopter mum and he was probably right to say so in the early days. It was just that Hector seemed so much smaller, so much more fragile that I couldn’t help myself being within an arm’s distance to cushion any fall that I could see happening from a mile off. My internal monologue seemed to constantly say ‘it will all end in tears’ and sometimes it did. Now that he’s approaching two years old I’ve relaxed a tiny bit and don’t feel the need to hover quite so much…except when Ste is encouraging him to go up a slide that’s monstrously large. Heart palpitations aren’t even the half of it!
The other saving grace is that I’ve now beefed up the First Aid Box considerably and feel ever so slightly more prepared for any calamities that will inevitably pop up. This has in part come from experience after a incident with a 13 month old Hector and my mum’s coffee table ending up in a cut eyebrow that was patched up three friends from my NCT group who incidentally happened to be a doctor and two paramedics. Handy eh?!
Seriously though I felt like such a sh*t mum when it happened (although there was nothing to stop a toddler determined to pirouette next to a giant slab of walnut) and his tiny scar on his eyebrow is a daily reminder of this. So I guess this post is really just to share what I have in my first aid box and see if I can pick up any hints and tips from you mamas in case I’m missing something.
First Aid Box Essentials
Steri Strips & Dressings
A natural starting point and one of the first things I picked up when I popped into boots to start equipping myself for life with a rather adventurous boy. I actually chose Boots’ own brand version and although I haven’t used them yet they seem fit for purpose.
I’m not a huge fan of plasters (even as a child) and prefer to let skin heal and breathe on its own. For those cuts needing a bit of extra protection I’ve purchased these Melolin dressing pads which claim that they are highly absorbent and lets skin breathe. It’s worth noting that you’ll probably need some adhesive tape to help secure the dressings in place.
Creams & Ointments
Sudocrem might be a random choice for the first aid kit given that it’s a familiar sight in most nappy bags but Hector tends not to suffer too much from nappy rash. Instead we’ve used it for soothing sore skin (even my mum’s eczema at times) and plastering over scrapes and cuts.
For bites and stings, I’ve invested in E45’s itch relief cream. Perhaps not your usual go to when it comes to itchy things but as Ste tends to react really badly to bites (hot inflamed skin which then scales afterwards) I thought it was worth the investment.
Medicines
We have both Baby Nurofen and Calpol as standard in our medicine cabinet. Hector seems to respond more effectively to ibuprofen rather than paracetamol (as do I) but I know that there are some childhood illnesses (such as chickenpox) which strongly advise against giving children the former.
Antiseptics
We have both creams and sprays when it comes to antiseptics as I like the directionality that a spray offers but Hector adores rubbing in cream. Whatever floats your boat kid.
Frankly you can’t go wrong with a bit of Dettol antiseptic wash which I actually quite like the smell of and Savlon is a true classic with multiple uses.
Equipment
Aside from having a stethoscope (I wouldn’t actually have the foggiest idea what to do with it) there’s not much by the way of equipment in the kit. Admittedly we do have a small pair of scissors just in case some snipping is required and we’ve invested in a forehead thermometer too as Hector doesn’t take too kindly to those that you insert into the ear or mouth. I’m still undecided about the contactless thermometers; do they really work??
What I am angling for but still have yet to purchase is this rather spiffing looking first aid box from Garden Trading Company. It’s classic and unassuming and does what it says on the tin…literally.
Have you got any vital ingredients that I’m missing from my first aid box essentials and really should have in stock? What’s your absolute go to whenever your little has a minor accident? Why not share your thoughts in the comments box below…
We have one of those contactless thermometer after marvelling over them whilst our little boy was in hospital- I must be getting the distance wrong or something because I get a different reading every time. Fools like me are probably better off with an in ear one!
(We were told by our paediatrician not to use I near ones until our children were 3 months as it can be unreliable in their tiny ears but to use old fashioned ones under the arm until then).
That’s interesting to know Fionnula. We didn’t really need to use a thermometer in the first few months fortunately but no-one told me about the unreliability of putting in ear thermometers in teeny babies. One to remember…thanks for sharing.
I have a bit of an obsession with first aid kits. Its a running joke amongst my friends – wherever we go Im always the one with the first aid kit! My son is still only tiny but I have used it as an excuse to sort out the first aid kit! In addition to your list above I’ve got saline nasal drops, saline eye wash and plasters. I also have a cut down kit for the nappy bag, I’m sure whats in it will change as he gets older though. I use a digital thermometer under the arm at the moment but I’m sure that’ll get harder as he get more mobile! I can also really recommend the Red Cross baby first aid app. It is brilliant. Friends of mine have also been on the Red Cross baby first aid course and highly rate it too. Creams, medicine and lotions often have a use by date so keep checking these, some have a use within x number of weeks of opening so write the date you opened them on the box or tube somewhere,
It’s nigh on impossible to get Hector to sit there with a thermometer under the arm – we had an underarm thermometer gifted to us by the hospital when we left with Hector after he was born but he really dislikes it. And thank you also for the tips on the use by dates – definitely good to know!
I would highly recommend the Braun thermoscan for a thermometer. I wouldn’t recommend the forehead thermometers. They are not taking the baby’s temperature, just the temperature of the skin, which is not the same thing. Otherwise, a really helpful list!
Great post and a reminder I need to check our first aid kit. We got a contactless thermometer before Anna was born and it ended up the reason why we spent a night in hospital when she was a week old (turned out to be hugely inaccurate on babies but seemed right on me and Richard). I can’t remember the brand as we ditched it afterwards and instead just use a digital under arm one now. I’ve been looking at the garden trading first aid box for ages – nearly ordered it a month ago but it was out of stock, I think it’s time to revisit as my current container of choice – a giant cake tin – isn’t very practical.
I love the idea of a cake tin for a first aid box! But yes you should so order the first aid box if you fancied it – it’s so nice!
How awful that you had such a bad experience with the contactless thermometer! It doesn’t fill me with confidence I have to say.
I can definitely recommend adding the instant ice or gel packs if you’re not near a pack of peas 😉 xxx
Oh good shout Lorna!
The NHS has some helpful guidance on thermometers here: http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/baby-first-aid-kit.aspx
It also has a great tip of printing a quick first aid guide to keep in the box so you have something to refer to in that moment of panic. Very sensible!
Oh that’s wonderful Sarah. Thanks so much for your help!
I’m totally neurotic as my little boy had febrile convulsions when really little and so I’m terrified of fevers. I have an in ear thermometer that you can change age of child you are reading temp of think it’s a Braun one and I have a boots forehead scan one too. I tend to take temp with in ear one and use scan for checks when they are sleeping to make sure not gone back up.
I also have first aid kits everywhere – I’ve bought standard kids for home and travel ones for car and buggy and added creams and potions and more plasters. My boy loves a plaster and if it stops tears and brings a smile I’m happy to go with it for now.
I’d really recommend going on a paediatric first aid course they are so helpful. My daughter split her chin open this weekend and I knew how to bandage it and get her to a&e to have it glued up and she’d bitten through her tongue too and thankfully we’d been given tip of letting them suck on bottle / beaker of water and it did stop the bleeding without her getting distressed.