What To Pack In A First Aid Kit When Traveling With Kids

When traveling, especially with children, there are a few essential items you need to bring, and that is a first aid kit.

It might not be at the forefront of your mind because there are hundreds of other little things to think of. To avoid feeling overwhelmed, I suggest writing a short checklist as described in my travel planning guide.

To start off with you can either buy a commercially available first aid kit and add some additional items or you could put your own little pack together.

I would like to mention that I am not a doctor or a nurse and what I recommend here is based on my personal experience I collected over the years. Please check with your doctor first if you are in doubt.

Over time I have adjusted the things I put into my first aid kit according to what I usually need the most. So here is my guide on what to pack in your first aid kit when traveling with kids.

What’s In My First Aid Kit

Plaster/Band Aid 

Well, I am sure you will agree. When you have children, plasters/band-aids are amongst the things you need the most. For little cuts or a graze, a plaster always helps. I have found that it also comforts my children when I put a plaster on, even though it might not be necessary at all.

Some kids don’t like band-aids at all. My suggestion is to get plasters with child-friendly designs. They are always popular. 🙂

Gauze

These are great to apply pressure to a wound and helps to stop the bleeding. The most practical choice are the individually wrapped sterile square packets. They are very handy to have.

Elastic bandages

I wouldn’t go overboard with these. One or two would be sufficient. They are great to keep the gauze in place or something else.

Small scissors

They are standard in all commercial first aid kits. Please note: you are not allowed to have scissors in your carry-on luggage on flights. I remember a few years ago that security chucked my best scissors in the garbage bin because I forgot to take it out of my hand luggage. It was such a bummer!

Tweezers

A tweezer is always useful to remove splinters, glass pieces or other small things.

Antiseptic Wipes

These are great to clean a  wound and to prevent it to get infected.

The items I have listed above are available in a commercial kit. Next up are the go-to items I’ve found essential in my first aid kit when I travel with my children.

What Else Do I Recommend

Pain Relief

I very rarely get a headache or other discomfort, but for the rare cases, I would have a packet of Ibuprofen or something similar handy. Tablets are probably the best choice since the packet is lighter and takes less space than a bottle.

Pawpaw Ointment 

The Luca’s pawpaw ointment is fantastic for so many issues. The best part is that it is a pure natural creme. You only need to apply small amounts on insects stings, mosquito bites, bruises, burns, cracked skin or even nappy rash. This tube of 25 grams will go a long way.

It also helps with eczema or other skin conditions. My second son used to get very bad eczema when he was a baby/toddler. The pawpaw cream contributed to reducing the itchiness and inflammation of his skin.

It is safe to you use on your child’s delicate skin since it doesn’t contain any chemicals.

Arnica Cream

Arnica is a well-known homeopathic remedy, and I call it the magic cream. As you know, toddlers and young children in general, can be quite clumsy and get bumps and bruises very often. Arnica cream helps to reduce the swelling and bruising. After you have applied a thin layer of the creme, you can literally see how in minutes the swelling goes away. Amazing!

Please note: The cream should not be applied to an open wound.

Bach Rescue Remedy 

I saved the best for last: Bachs Rescue Remedy is something I even carry in my handbag. It helps with stress relief, anxiety, when my kids or I have a sore tummy, fever or feeling unwell in general.

The rescue remedy comes as drops, pastilles, cream, spray, and capsules.

I have only used the drops and pastilles. My kids take the drops when they feel unwell and they know that around four drops are enough. If the discomfort remains, we take it in intervals of 30 minutes.

Lucas Paw Paw Ointment, Bach Rescue Remedy, and Arnica cream are available on Amazon. Read more when you click on the images.

Disclaimer: Please check with your doctor before you decide on my recommendations. I only speak from my personal experience but also from what my extended family like my sisters and their families have experienced.

Another tip: Keep your medication in the original package, just in case the customs officials need to check it.

A Few More Tips …

When you travel with a baby and/or toddler you also should have “a little survival kit” ready as well. What I mean by this is a pack that contains a small bottle of hand sanitizer, baby wipes, extra nappies, bibs and two sets of changing clothes. Nothing is worse than a leaking diaper or a spewing kid and you can’t change the clothes! Trust me, I have been there and done that.

Have your kid’s favorite blanket, a cuddly toy and maybe some lollies handy to calm them down when they get tired or stressed.

I do hope you won’t need the first aid kit at all. But it’s best to be prepared and at the end of the day, a first aid kit is not heavy and doesn’t take much space at all. Also, if you haven’t used the kit in a while, please check if everything is up-to-date.

I wish you safe and happy travels.

What are your must-have items in a first aid kit? Please leave a comment below. I’d love to hear from you!

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