Toddler first aid kit – the first aid & home remedy items you need

Seven Minerals Organic Aloe Vera Spray

This post will help you put together a handy toddler first aid kit. Mobile babies and toddlers get in so many scrapes don’t they? Many of these ouchies are treatable at home with lots of cuddles and a few choice first aid kit items.

When Jonah started to walk at 13 months, we realised we needed a first aid kit to treat his minor bumps and scrapes.

We didn’t want to buy a first aid kit off the shelf, because we wanted more than just practical items like plasters, bandages, and dressings. We also wanted toddler-friendly and natural remedies that would ease common complaints and support Jonah’s body to heal itself.

My husband and I aren’t very physical people, so we don’t get injured that often. And luckily, we don’t tend to get poorly much – apart from when Jonah brings the lurgies back from play group. Reflecting this, our own first aid kit is pretty much some plasters, Lemsips, and paracetamol. I have to be suffering a fair deal before I take painkillers, and the Lemsips are for Daddy – I hate those things!

Here are the items I’m packing in my toddler first aid kit:

Aloe vera gel

We’ll be using this for burns and sunburn, small cuts and insect bites, mixed with some lavender oil. I chose SEVEN Minerals Organic Aloe Vera Gel as it has no xanthan gum or carrageenan, and no harmful preservatives. The travel size is perfect for my kit and costs under £10.

Apple cider vinegar

For upset stomach, vomiting, and diarrhea. I always have a big bottle of this on hand for cooking and medicinal purposes. I use Biona Organic Apple Cider Vinegar with the Mother. “With the mother” ACV is unrefined and contains beneficial bacteria  – like a starter culture. Isn’t with the mother a lovely term?

Arnica gel

A traditional herbal gel used to treat inflammatory swelling, bruising or trauma. We use A.Vogel Atrogel Arnica Gel. It can also be used for pain relief and to soothe aching muscles.

Bentonite clay

We’ve decided to keep a supply of mineral-rich bentonite clay for use with bites, stings, and toddler rashes. It can also be used for burns. Read this article about all the uses for bentonite clay and how to make a bentonite clay poultice.

Bicarbonate of soda

For tummy troubles. 1/4 of a teaspoon in a large glass of water is a sufficient toddler dose.

Chamomile essential oil

This gorgeous and baby-friendly (3m+) oil is very soothing in a diffuser (makes a great alternative to scented candles) or in the bath if a toddler is upset or in pain. We use Roman Chamomile, which offers the right balance of price to quality.

Chamomile tea

For digestive problems

We enjoy chamomile tea and sip it for digestive problems. Jonah also loves to drink cooled chamomile tea, and we plan to give it if he ever shows signs of stomach discomfort. Luckily, so far, he’s never been poorly with stomach ache.

For teething

Chamomile tea can be used to help with teething. Soak a clean wash cloth in the tea and wipe over the gums. Alternatively the cloth can be chilled, then offered as a chew cloth. Or try placing a chamomile tea ice cube inside a mesh feeder for a soothing “lolly”. Great for teething babies and toddlers!

For nappy rash

Chamomile tea can be used as a nappy rash preventing wash. Just brew some chamomile tea as usual then soak cotton wool in the tea and use to clean baby.

Coconut oil

We love Lucy Bee Extra Virgin Organic Coconut Oil. Some parents swear by coconut oil to treat nappy rash. We’ve used coconut oil on cradle cap to soften the flakes before brushing with a clean baby hair brush to lift the loose flakes (we don’t rub or pick the flakes).

Epsom salts

We use Westlab Epsom Salts in the bath for general good skin health. They can also be used for pain relief in a bath, and as a splinter treatment – just soak the affected area in water with epsom salts added, or add epsom salts to a wound dressing to cover the affected area. Read more about uses for epsom salts.

Homemade ice pack

Good old bag of peas wrapped in a tea towel.

Lavender essential oil

Mix lavender essential oil with aloe vera gel to treat sunburn and burns. Mix with witch hazel to clean wounds. Lavender oil has some really diverse health uses, it is so versatile.

Nosefrida Nasal Aspirator

We use a Nosefrida Nasal Aspirator to suck those boogers out! It works a lot better than the cheaper ones.

Paracetamol

We used Calpol in the past for Jonah’s immunisation jabs, but we wouldn’t use it again for pain and fever control. Calpol contains so many unhealthy ingredients. What’s a good alternative to Calpol? Children aged 6 months to 24 months should be given 5ml Calpol which equates to 120mg paracetamol. Most paracetamol tablets are 500mg, so a quarter of a tablet would make a good Calpol alternative. We’d crush it and add it to fruit juice to disguise the taste.

Read this comprehensive article on treating fevers in babies and children.

Witch hazel

Witch hazel is a great addition to a natural first aid kit. It is antibacterial and astringent and the cheaper bottles of witch hazel make a good alternative to the alcohol wipes supplied in first aid kits. The cheaper brands contain varying proportions of ethanol and are less expensive than alcohol-free witch hazel. Ethanol will dry the skin out, so it might be a good idea to invest in a bottle of pure witch hazel if you intend to use it on your face.

Treat blisters

Apply to a gauze pad and keep in place with a bandage or microporous tape.

Clean wounds

Soak a clean cotton pad in witch hazel with lavender and use to clean the affected area.

Read more uses for witch hazel in this helpful article.

Weleda homeopathic granules

For teething and colic we bought Weleda Chamomilla. You can also try pulsatilla – the remedies depend on the nature of your child. Find out the differences between chamomilla and pulsatilla for teething and learn which is right for your toddler. Chamomilla works really well for Jonah. Four of his first molars are coming in at the same time, so he frequently gets overwhelmed, but chamomilla settles and calms him.

Weleda nappy creams

We love Weleda nappy creams as both a preventative and treatment for nappy rash. They come in two varieties: Weleda White Mallow or Weleda Calendula.

Other kit

Printable checklist

Print this handy checklist to help you put together your natural first aid and remedy kit.

Final thoughts on a toddler first aid kit

I hope you’ve found this post helpful as a guide to help you create a natural first aid and remedy kit for your toddler.

All parents and carers should consider taking a baby and toddler first aid course. We took ours with St John Ambulance. It only took a few hours one evening, and we felt so much more confident after completing the course. Check out my Pinterest board Baby Health for more tips from across Pinterest.

What do you think to this first aid and remedy kit? Is there anything I can add? Don’t forget to let me know how you get on making your own natural first aid and remedy kit in the comments! I’d really love to hear from you.

Until next time!

Helen
How to make your own natural first aid and remedy kit to treat toddler mishaps and everyday aliments. Includes printable checklist.

6 Replies to “Toddler first aid kit – the first aid & home remedy items you need”

  1. Hi! As part of my Blogger Recognition Award, I need to nominate some other blogs, and I’ve nominated you! Click on the link to my post about the award, then copy & paste it into a post on your blog. Just amend the content to make it relevant to you and the person who nominated you (me!) and away you go 🙂 http://minimummiblogger.com/2017/09/26/blogger-recognition-award/

    1. Oh thank you so much, I’m really honoured, although I have already been nominated – but thank you so much for thinking of me. I will check out your acceptance post. 😀

  2. This post is so helpful! I’m already using some of these things for my toddler but it gave me a lot of new ideas.

    1. Thanks so much, Rebecca! Let me know if you’d add anything to this list – it’s always helpful to learn about new products and remedies!

  3. This is awesome! I think every parent should have a first aid kit ready when the baby is born. That way you won’t be running out to the store to find things. And I love that it is natural remedies! I have a few of these items but need to get more 🙂

    1. Glad you like it, Sarah! I agree totally, we took ages to get our first aid kit ready!

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