It’s a good idea to keep an infant first aid kit in your home in an easy to access location. For your baby’s safety, your first aid kit should include the following items:
- baby thermometer
- nasal aspirator
- medicine dropper
- baby nail clipper
- infant acetaminophen (don’t use without consulting a pediatrician first)
- cotton balls
- emergency information, including your baby’s doctor, nearest emergency room, and poison control number
You can also find a ready to go first aid kit online that contains most of these items.
Medical emergencies in newborns
A great idea would be to take an infant CPR and basic first aid class before your baby is born. You can also do them conveniently online, but I recommend in-person ones as they can make sure you are doing everything right in the hands on portion.
Usually subjects covered include how to identify signs of an emergency. It’s important to watch out for the following and seek emergency medical help right away if you notice them:
- Your baby is having difficulty breathing. Signs:
- rapid or irregular breathing
- flared nostrils
- turning blue in the face
- making grunting noises while trying to take a breath
- Your baby has blood in their vomit or stool
- Your baby is having a seizure.
- Your baby has a rectal temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher.
Talk to your pediatrician if you have any other concerns about their health or notice any changes you aren’t sure about.
If you have any suggestions of what else you have in your first aid kit please contact me so I can add it to the list!
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