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Here’s one universal rule of parenthood: Accidents will happen. From skinned knees to bug bites, hangnails to bumps on the head, sniffles to tummy troubles, your little one will get minor injuries and illnesses from time to time. The most important thing you can do is offer lots of love in those moments — and stay prepared.
That’s why a baby first aid kit should be on your list of early parenthood essentials. Rather than digging into your diaper bag to find that one bandage you know is in there or running around your house in search of ointment and gauze, you can simply turn to your handy kit.
How we chose the best baby first aid kits
There are many different types of baby first aid kits, including some equipped with a baby thermometer and medicine to fight colds and others made for cleaning up scrapes and cuts. That being said, there are a few qualities that every first aid kit for babies should have. In order to determine the best options out there, we spoke to Hailey D. Nelson, M.D., a complex care pediatrician with Valley Children’s Healthcare in Madera, California, to learn what first aid essentials are necessary for babies and toddlers. We also used recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Mayo Clinic. Finally, we sought feedback from parents in the What to Expect community to learn what qualities were most important when buying a baby first aid kit.
Based on this guidance, we made sure each pick on our list met the following criteria:
Portability: You may want to bring your first aid kit on vacation or a trip to the park, so we made sure that all of our picks are portable. Some are more portable than others, such as the roll-up kit designed for your diaper bag, but all feature some compact aspect. We also prioritized options that come with a carrying case.
Age appropriateness: Because these first aid kits are designed for your little one, it’s important that it contains age-appropriate supplies. For instance, your newborn probably doesn’t need bandages as she isn’t mobile yet, but will likely need items to help with colds like a nasal aspirator and fever reducer medication. A toddler, meanwhile, is probably in need of bandages to cover up any scrapes or cuts. However, note that many of the antibiotic ointments included are not recommended for children under 2.
Why Trust Us?
What to Expect is the world’s most trusted pregnancy and parenting brand for a reason. Our product recommendations are based on expert parent insight, advice from medical professionals and feedback from the millions of parents and parents-to-be in our community. Our editors adhere to the highest research and reporting standards and our team of vetted OB/GYNs, pediatricians and other health professionals ensure our recommended products are safe and effective for you and your baby.
You already have enough stuff in the diaper bag, but this compact kitwon’t weigh you down. It’s small and lightweight, with some parents saying it fits in their pocket! Despite the size, parents say the kit can hold a surprising amount of items, due to conveniently placed pockets. It contains essential items like bandages and antibiotic ointment, as well as those miscellaneous items you always seem to need in a pinch, like safety pins and moist towelettes (ideal for cleaning sticky fingers). It even contains nail clippers and thermometer strips, which is rare for first aid kits.
What’s included: NoseFrida nasal aspirator and filters, MediFrida paci-style medicine dispenser, rectal thermometer
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The FridaBaby Mobile Medicine Cabinethas everything you need to fight baby’s first cold (and their second and third ones too). This case is stocked with the essentials, including the parent-loved NoseFrida, a nasal aspirator that literally sucks snot from your congested baby’s nose. It may sound a little odd at first, but parents swear by it because of how effective it is. It also includes the FridaBaby rectal thermometer that WTE parents also love for being easy to use, even with a fussy baby. Finally, it has the MediFrida, which makes it easy to administer medicine through a pacifier. All products are smartly organized in stackable, airtight containers that you can keep at home, then move them to the included silicone pouch to toss in your diaper bag. Parents appreciate having these sick day essentials on hand when traveling, and many say they purchased it as a baby shower gift because it helped them with their own little one so much.
What’s included: Saline spray, nasal aspirator, gas relief drops, infant fever and pain reliever, gripe water, diaper rash paste
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Because of their lack of mobility, newborns are less likely to need things like bandages and gauze. They are, however, likely to experience things like gassiness, congestion and diaper rash. Enter Little Remedies’ handy kit, which allows you to address those common ailments with products like saline spray, infant pain reliever, gripe water and gas relief drops. You’ll also get a nasal aspirator to clear their stuffy nose, plus a tube of diaper rash cream. What’s even better is that each product is under two ounces, so you can easily pack what you need in a diaper bag or travel with them to keep on hand. Many parents who received this kit at their shower found that they put it to use within just a few weeks of bringing baby home.
It’s worth noting, however, that this kit doesn’t come with a carrying case so you will have to purchase one separately if you plan on bringing it anywhere.
What’s included:Brush, comb, cradle cap comb, toddler toothbrush, emery boards, nail clippers, 3-in-1 thermometer, thermometer probe covers, nasal aspirator, bottle medicine dispenser, alcohol wipes
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In addition to first aid essentials, like a thermometer and medicine dispensers, this multipurpose kit from Safety 1st includes every grooming item you could possibly need during baby's first years. You’ll find a nail clipper, cradle cap comb and a tiny toothbrush, as well as items that’ll help you deal with your little one’s first cold, like a nasal aspirator, thermometer and bottle medicine dispenser.
Sarah Darby, Senior SEO Strategist at What to Expect, used everything in this kit for her son when he was a baby. "We still use the comb and nail clippers frequently," she says of her now toddler. "It was a very affordable way to get a lot of baby essentials."
What’s more is that it includes a handy pouch to hold everything in to keep in your bathroom or to take on the go. Parents appreciate the wide variety of supplies included in this kit, especially for such a good price. However, Sarah notes the lack of typical first aid items like ointments and bandages, which means you'll have to buy them separately.
“There’s one at Target called the Safety 1st Deluxe Grooming Kit and it’s $20. I have it on my registry. It comes with everything: nail clippers, comb, thermometer, little nose sucker thing, etc.”
Many What to Expect parents agree that the Welly First Aid Kit is a great option for those with mobile toddlers who can’t help but get bumps and bruises. The container is just the right size, has a hard shell to prevent squishing and the vibrant color pops, making it easy to locate in your bag, car or home. There are 130 pieces in total tucked away in this convenient box, with 81 “bravery” bandages in large, standard and small sizes (the bright patterns and colors will be a huge hit with your toddler!), waterproof bandages, antibiotic ointment and much more. What’s nice, too, is that the antibiotic ointment and hydrocortisone cream both come in single-use packets, so you don’t have to worry about opening a tube and it going to waste if you don’t use it again for a while or getting all over the place.
According to Dr. Nelson, one of the biggest mistakes new parents make when compiling first aid kits is neglecting their own needs — but Welly has you covered. The kit also includes Ibuprofen, so parents can tackle their own headaches, menstrual cramps or other pains while on the go.
“I have one in my diaper bag! I love the Welly ones - the tin is compact and holds up well in the diaper bag.”
Our Research
We utilized guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Mayo Clinic and spoke to Hailey D. Nelson, M.D., complex care pediatrician with Valley Children’s Healthcare in Madera, California.
We also spoke with What to Expect staff member Sarah Darby, Senior SEO Strategist, mom to an 18-month-old.
Finally, we canvassed the What to Expect community boards to learn which baby first aid kits we favored for their convenience, versatility in supplies included and long-term use.
FAQs
What do you need in a baby first aid kit?
“For infants, having a bulb suction and nasal saline available is helpful if they are congested,” says Dr. Nelson. Another item parents should have on hand? “[A] thermometer,” says Dr. Nelson. “Being able to check to see if your child has a fever is important.”
Dr. Nelson suggests including emergency contact information, including your pediatrician’s after hours phone number in your first aid kit.
As for nice-to-have (but not necessarily essential) items, Dr. Nelson recommends eye drops, reusable cold packs and tweezers. Your first aid needs will change as your baby becomes more mobile. When that happens, Dr. Nelson suggests updating your first aid kit to include things like Band-Aids.
Can I make my own baby first aid kit?
You could — but according to the AAP, buying a pre-made first aid kit tends to be both easier and more affordable than stocking up on all the essentials and compiling your own kit.
“If you are getting your own supplies to build a first aid kit, consider keeping the main stash at home and then making a smaller kit for travel,” says Dr. Nelson.