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First Aid Kit

Many mothers may not realize that along with taking on the name of Mommy, they will also earn the title Dr. Mom. Yes, at some point in your mothering career you will heal the sick and bandage the wounded with lots of tender loving care. To make the job of Dr. Mom easier in the coming months, you can create a baby friendly first aid kit. The time to assemble your kit is before your baby arrives. You'll be ready for those first boo-boos and ouchies without having to make a trip to the drug store. Assembling a first aid kit geared specifically for your baby will give you the peace of mind knowing you have anything you could possibly need for an emergency together in one place and at your fingertips.

Prepackaged first aid kits are widely available. They're economical and contain many of the essential items, but no one commercial product will contain everything you need for your baby. One easy way to build a first aid kit is to start with the prepackaged kit and add the extra items you will require for your baby.

You may want to have a large kit assembled for your home and then create mini-kits for your purse, a backpack, the diaper bag, and one for the car for when you travel with your baby. All kits need to be stored in a box that latches (lunch or tackle box) or a zippered bag, and out of baby's reach. Well, the most important items in your baby's first aid kit may actually be names and numbers to use in case of an emergency. Securely tape, glue, or sew the following contact information inside your kit:

• Your doctor's name and information including any after-hours or emergency numbers

• Hospital name and address

• List of any special health alerts (diabetic, high blood pressure, medical allergies, etc.)

• The number for the Poison Control Center

• The number for the local police, fire station and rescue squad

• Phone numbers of your partner, family members or friends

• The numbers of your two closest neighbors in case you need immediate assistance, such as help to care for an older child or a ride to the hospital

• Infant/child thermometer (digital, ear or rectal)

• Children and infant's non-aspirin liquid pain reliever (Children's Tylenol or Advil), as recommended by your pediatrician

• Calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream for insect bites and rashes

• Rubbing alcohol to clean thermometers, tweezers, and scissors

• Petroleum jelly to lubricate rectal thermometers

• Hydrogen peroxide to clean cuts and scrapes

• Antibacterial cream (Neosporin) for cuts and for scrapes

• Tweezers for splinters and ticks; you can buy long very-pointy tweezers made specifically for removing splinters

• A pair of sharp scissors

• Child-safe insect repellent

• Children's strength liquid decongestant

• Nasal aspirator bulb (not the long, pointy ear syringe)

• An assortment of band-aids in various sizes and shapes (cartoon characters can really help take the sting out of a boo-boo)

• Gauze rolls (1/2 to 2 inches wide)

• Gauze pads (2x2 and 4x4 inches)

• Adhesive tape

• Sterilized cotton balls

• Cotton tipped swabs

• Mild liquid soap

• An oral syringe or calibrated cup or spoon for administering medicines

• A package of tongue depressors to check sore throats

• A heating pad

• A hot water bottle and ice pack

• A small flashlight to check ears, nose, throat, and eyes

• First Aid manual: Pick one that's easy to read with step by step instructions and gives advice for handling a wide range of emergencies

• Activated Charcoal: Keep this on hand in case of accidental poisoning, but do not use it without first calling the local poison control center or your baby's pediatrician.