Hellobee

Last February we were in Paris enjoying dinner in our rented apartment when the littlest Sk8er slipped through one of the open back dining chairs hitting the back of his head on the floorboard. Thankfully, it was just a scalp injury, but still one of the more scary and messy boo-boos we have experienced. The next day we sought out the neon-green pharmacy sign and played a game of charades with the druggist, acting out what we needed. I was mad at myself for not being prepared, after all this wasn’t our first time dealing with a scary boo-boo in an unfamiliar place; the boys have a way of seeking out dangerous situations, especially while on vacation. From that point on, I promised myself that I would never leave home again without at least having a first-aid kit (as well as researching our visiting country’s hospital/emergency guidelines). There is nothing worse than feeling helpless when it comes to helping your baby.

As our family prepared for our 2015 winter break trip, I went to the local drugstore and picked-up a superhero themed first-aid kit and was a little disappointed by the contents – I mean how many squares of gauze can you really use? It was a good start, but I decided to improve ours by adding our own items. So, along with the provided alcohol wipes, towelettes and one-size-fits-all band aids I added the following:

1. Antibiotic Ointment – Neosporin, the name-brand Big Cheese of all boo-boo care is a “triple antibiotic” containing neomycin, polymyxin B, and bacitracin, which helps prevent infection. There are a lot of options as far as topical antiseptics go, so you can pick your favorite – tea tree oil, Amerigel a more natural option (and gets rave reviews online), etc. I also carry a “Neo to Go” in my diaper bag for playground ouchies.

2. Thermometer – Is it a sunburn or fever? Hard to guess.

3. Bactine Spray – I wish that I would have had this for our Parisian scalp wound. Regular Neosporin ointment is great for most boo-boos, but this spray formula would have gotten through the hair, right to the wound and I wouldn’t have had to touch the ouchie with my finger. Poor kid.

4.  Motion sickness medication – My kids get car sick pretty much every time we hit the highway, so I got Dramamine for Kids (ages 2-12).  It’s hard to say if it really works, or if it works because it makes them fall asleep. Either way, no puke is no puke. I also keep another package in my diaper bag. Anyone have success with Queasy Pops or Sea Bands? I’m curious, but skeptical.

5. Antihistamine – Again, so many options, be sure and talk to your pediatrician if you have questions. I like the idea of Claritin’s Chewables vs the syrup. Thankfully we have never had to use allergy medication, so I can’t say if these are effective. But, better to be prepared.

6. Cortisone cream – Because sometimes you don’t identify poison ivy until it’s too late (and it can be lurking in Grandma’s backyard).  FYI: Here are some tips on what to do if you do find yourself in that situation.

8. Pain reliever/fever reducer –  Children’s and Infant’s pain relievers come in two camps: Those made with Acetaminophen and those made with Ibuprofen. If you’re curious to learn about the differences, here is some information. I never leave home without both types since you never know when fevers are going to happen or the severity. I’m not loyal to any brand (especially since it seems like they all get recalled at some point), but I do prefer the dye-free options, like Children’s Advil (ibuprofen) and CVS Brand Dye-Free Pain Reliever (acetaminophen). Why these even have dye is a mystery to me.

9. Fiber gummies – Vacation food isn’t always the most wholesome and tots get “too busy” for water. Help prevent painful poops.

10 Assortment Band-aids – Last, but not least, a cute band-aid and a kiss are sometimes all that a kid needs. Don’t forget the blister cushion Band-Aids; I love those.  Also, for head cuts, butterfly bandages are pretty handy.

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Remember to keep each item small so that you’ll be able to fit the kit into your luggage. Another handy tip is to keep the kit in your luggage after unpacking so that you won’t forget to pack it for your next trip, unless you don’t plan to travel for awhile since most of these items expire.

I’m sure that every parent will have their own first-aid kit version – for example, I bet that my Mom would say to add hydrogen peroxide and Calamine Lotion (or even back in the 80’s Mecuricome, remember that stuff?) where my best friend would argue that first-aid kits aren’t complete without duct tape and super glue (don’t ask…).  

First-aid kits can be tweaked along the way, (and tailored for specific destinations) for example after our winter trip to Turks and Caicos I decided that some sort of eye flush wouldn’t be a bad idea for our next beach destination.  

What do you include?

Sporting the first of many vacation war wounds