The first aid kit for the baby

With a well-stocked home pharmacy, you have everything you need at home to respond to the minor and (hopefully few) more serious illnesses and complaints of your baby. This way, you're not only well prepared for emergencies, but you also avoid the stress of having to go to the pharmacy every time for harmless ailments — especially since illnesses and injuries tend to happen on weekends or in the evenings. ;) In this article, you will learn what should not be missing in the home pharmacy for your baby and find a handy downloadable list.

Why do I need a separate first aid kit for my baby?

Babies deal with infections or other ailments much more frequently than adults, and you should be prepared for this. These include, besides and typical childhood illnesses such as , , eye problems, and pain during . As they become more mobile and start exploring their environment, your child may also occasionally suffer from scrapes and minor injuries that you can treat at home. For bandaging materials and other supplies, you can rely on the contents of a "normal" household first aid kit for adults. However, medications for adults are strictly off-limits for babies and children, even in small doses. Instead, you should have specialized medicines that are explicitly suitable for your little explorer. These contain a lower dosage or a different active ingredient than products for adults.

What belongs in the first aid kit?

To be prepared for the most common illnesses and injuries, the following items should not be missing from your home pharmacy for your baby:

First aid supplies, aids, and more.

• Digital thermometer (for infants: flexible rectal thermometer)

• Tweezers, for example for removing splinters

• Alcohol-free disinfectants for cleaning wounds

• Tick tweezers or tick card

• Various sizes of (waterproof) plasters

• Hot water bottle or cherry stone pillow for stomach pain or muscle discomfort

• Disposable gloves for the treatment of open wounds

• Cold packs for insect bites, inflammation, or bruises (store in the freezer)

• Bandaging materials: adhesive plasters and sterile wound dressings for small wounds, compresses, sterile dressing packs and gauze bandages for larger wounds, burn dressings, triangular bandages for securing wound dressings or as arm slings, bandage scissors

• Flashlight, for example, to look into the throat when experiencing a sore throat

• Pipette or disposable syringe with a capacity of 2 to 5 milliliters for precise medication dosing

• Linen cloth for envelopes

• Nose aspirator

Medicinal product

• Remedies for stomach and intestinal complaints: electrolyte solution for children with Diarrhea , anti-colic drops for constipation, and bloating , suppositories, almond oil for abdominal massage, fennel and chamomile tea for stomach pain and nausea

• Nasal drops for colds (decongestant nasal drops for short-term use only)

• Cough syrup or cough medicine (preferably plant-based, for example thyme, ivy, or plantain)

• Fever-reducing and pain-relieving agents, such as suppositories or syrup (to be administered only in consultation with the pediatrician)

• Plant-based, soothing eye drops for irritated, glued eyes as well as for mild conjunctivitis

• Wound and healing ointment for abrasions and minor injuries

• Cooling ointment/antihistamine for sunburn, insect bites, and minor burns

• Ointment for sprains and bruises

• Wound protection cream

If your child has a chronic illness, your home pharmacy should also always contain a sufficient supply of the medications that your child regularly or in certain emergencies needs to take, for example in cases of asthma or febrile seizures.

Ask your doctor which specific medications they recommend for you. They can also inform you about the age at which the first aid kit should be upgraded.

Where and how should I store the first aid kit?

You should store the first aid kit in a fixed location that is cool, dry, and dark. A hallway or storage room is suitable, whereas the bathroom is not ideal because it is too humid there. The medications for your child should be stored separately from your own to prevent confusion in an emergency, for example in a lockable box or a separate cabinet.

Always note the opening date on the packaging when opening medications and check twice a year whether the medicines and aids are still valid. Keep in mind that some medications are only usable for a limited time after opening. In this case, the opening date, not the expiration date, is relevant. Expired medications can be disposed of in household waste, but under no circumstances via the drain, to prevent them from entering the water cycle.

Emergency phone numbers

In addition to medications and aids, it is worthwhile to keep the most important emergency phone numbers readily available in the home pharmacy or another central location. The following numbers can be very helpful in an emergency:

• Emergency services / Emergency call:

  • Germany: 112

  • Austria: 144

  • Switzerland: 144

• Poison Control Center:

  • Germany: 0761 19240

  • Austria: 01406 4343

  • Switzerland: 145

• Your pediatrician's number

• Medical on-call service:

  • Germany: 116 117

  • Austria: 141

  • Switzerland: 144

• Number of the local hospital

Finally, your home first aid kit should include a specifically for babies, as many procedures differ from those for adults. To avoid having to look them up in an emergency, it is worthwhile to attend a specialized first aid course.

Everything that belongs in the home pharmacy and an overview of the most important emergency numbers are also available as a handy checklist for download:

We hope that the first aid kit will only be used for minor ailments for your baby. Still, it can be reassuring to know that you would also be well-equipped for more serious emergencies and could respond quickly. If you are unsure or have doubts about how to best treat your child, you should always seek medical advice first. We wish you and your little explorer all the best!