6 Best Baby First Aid Kits for 2022

2022-06-24 22:11:27 By : Ms. Helen Pan

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When you’re expecting, it sometimes seems like you’re creating a never-ending list of items to buy for your new bundle of joy.

In addition to the basics, you’re probably being told by friends and family (and know-it-all strangers) about all the things you need for your baby.

A lot of that stuff is just fluff or things that are nice to have, but some are extremely important. One item that you absolutely don’t want to forget is a baby first aid kit.

A baby first aid kit is a collection of supplies that can be helpful for treating minor injuries or illnesses in babies.

For emergencies, you’ll call 911 or your local emergency services. If you have sickness- or injury-related questions, you’ll call your pediatrician. But it still makes a huge difference to be prepared at home when the need arises.

A baby first aid kit may include items such as:

“A first aid kit is important to have at home so that, in case of an emergency, no one has to run out to the store and waste valuable time to get supplies,” says Wendy Proskin, MD, a pediatrician at Westmed Medical Group in Rye, New York.

There are many common ailments that newborns and older babies might experience during the first year and beyond. For issues like gassiness, a stuffy nose, fever, and teething pains, a first aid kit can come in handy.

While you can put together your own first aid kit using several items you already have in your house, many of those products may not be formulated for use by an infant.

Luckily, there are several first aid kits on the market that are made specifically for infants and come with everything you need to care for your child in various instances.

A newborn kit, according to Proskin, should include the following:

A kit for an older infant will be a little different, however, so you should update the contents of your kit accordingly as your child passes the 6-month mark.

This kit, Proskin explains, should also include:

As you create your registry for your little one, consider some of these items for your first aid kit.

If you suspect your baby may be sick, it’s always best to call their pediatrician’s office to discuss the symptoms over the phone. A healthcare professional can help you decide whether to bring your child in to be examined.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends calling a doctor about a fever if your baby is less than 3 months old, or if your child is exhibiting other worrisome symptoms. Otherwise, call your pediatrician for guidance on treating fevers. They’ll let you know if you need to bring your baby in.

Of course, it’s always better to err on the side of caution with an infant. Be sure to follow your new-parent instinct if you think your baby isn’t acting like they usually do.

As a safety precaution, it’s best not to put a bandage where a young infant can easily pull it off and put it in their mouth. This can pose a choking hazard. If you do have to use a bandage, be sure it’s placed in an area that your baby can’t reach and remove it as soon as possible.

For medical emergencies such as difficulty breathing, a baby who is turning blue around the mouth, choking, head injuries, bleeding, or something else you know isn’t right, call 911 or your local emergency services immediately.

For this list of first aid kit items, we reached out to well-respected pediatricians to best understand the medical needs of an infant and what can be provided safely at home by the parents.

We also reached out to real parents to learn about the kits they found to be useful in caring for their young infants.

If you’re looking for a kit that equips you with some basic medical and grooming necessities you’ll most definitely need during the first year of your baby’s life, this is a great option.

What’s inside: This kit includes a nasal aspirator (to get all those baby boogies), a medication dropper, a digital thermometer with a case, and a medication spoon with a cap. There are also a few handy grooming items such as a comb, brush, scissors, nail clippers, fingertip toothbrush, and even a little mirror. It all comes in a small see-through tote bag so you can keep everything together.

Pretty much everything you’ll need to use on your baby in the first year is in this kit, which is why it’s a great option for first-time parents who might not have mini versions of all the medical and grooming essentials already hiding in their medicine cabinet.

What’s inside: This kit includes a nasal aspirator, bottle medication dispenser, alcohol swabs, and a 3-in-1 thermometer clad with its own protective case. It also contains grooming essentials such as a cradle cap comb and toddler toothbrush, all in a cute clutch case that lets you easily organize the items. This is a great kit for all of your baby grooming needs and basic medical needs.

When your little one’s feeling under the weather, this will be your savior (seriously, I wish they had this kit when my babies were tiny!). It includes FridaBaby’s famous “snot sucker” (or nasal aspirator) that’s so much easier to use than the bulbs you’ll get at the hospital post-delivery. Keeping your little one’s nasal passages clear will go a long way in helping them breathe better and sleep better, even when they’re sick.

What’s inside: It also includes some of their other best-selling products all in one kit, including their paci-shaped medication dispenser, which makes administering medication a breeze. Trust us, you’ll use this: Squirting medication into a screaming baby’s mouth with a syringe is no picnic. Finally, the FridaBaby natural vapor rub and medicated snot wipes are a big help when your little one is super stuffed up.

Having a first aid kit at home is great, but sometimes you need some of those medical essentials when you’re out and about. That’s where this on-the-go version from PreparaKit comes in handy.

What’s inside: It includes 50 different grooming and medical items, including bandages, thermometer strips, nail clippers, cotton applicators, bandages, antiseptic towelettes, and more. Plus, it’s nice and compact, so you can roll it up and slide it inside your diaper bag or leave it in your car.

If your little one has colic — constant crying and fussiness that affects about 10 to 40 percent of babies worldwide, according to a 2015 study — you’ll want to have some tummy relief in your first aid kit.

Although gas isn’t a direct cause of colic, offering relief may help minimize the extent of your baby’s cries if they’re feeling gassy.

What’s inside: This kit, created by Little Remedies, includes saline spray, a nasal aspirator (booger sucker), gas relief drops, fever and pain reliever, and gripe water. Added perk: They also throw in a small tube of Boudreaux’s Butt Paste, which many parents say works wonders on their baby’s rash-prone tushes.

A baby first aid kit will specifically include medications that are safer for babies (such as infant acetaminophen or infant ibuprofen), gear that is sized for babies (such as an infant nasal aspirator, rectal thermometer, nail clippers, tweezers, bandages, etc.), and guides for injuries or illnesses in babies.

An adult first aid kit may contain more extensive medications, larger bandages, larger CPR masks, and adult first aid guides, among other things.

Children aren’t tiny adults — even though when they’re toddlers they may try to act like it. The care they need when sick or injured will often be different than what an adult needs, particularly when it comes to medication safety and dosing or checking their temperature.

According to the experts at Children’s Hospital Colorado, a basic baby first aid kit should include basic products like infant acetaminophen, a rectal thermometer, nasal suction, and other products that are listed in our products list above.

You can, of course, add extras to your kit if you wish, such as 1 percent hydrocortisone cream for itchy rashes, gauze pads, burn ointment, infant ibuprofen (Motrin), diaper rash cream, elastic bandages, hydrogen peroxide, a first aid manual, scissors, gloves, and a CPR mouthpiece.

Absolutely! You can find great options for pre-made kits (like the ones we’ve included in this list), or you can build your own.

Making your own baby first aid kit can be the most comprehensive way to go and gives you a chance to get familiar with each item in your kit.

You can choose a box or bag that is convenient to organize, gather a list of essential supplies or ask your pediatrician for a list, and get shopping.

If you make your own baby first aid kit to have at home, you can make a mini version to place in the car or diaper bag. That way, you’re prepared wherever you go.

Just as you would with a pre-selected kit, go through your first aid kit regularly to ensure all items are stocked and within their expiration dates.

Last medically reviewed on June 17, 2022

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