photo credit: flickr/narith5
First things first… virtual first aid kits do you no good. Believe me, I’m first in line for parents who want to put together a gorgeously organized first aid kit, but only have a Ziploc bag with just a thermometer, band-aids, and Tylenol in it. So today, I’m committing to making the best baby first aid kits ever! I’m providing you my list, a little quirkier than your pre-packaged kits, but good…. really good.
Download: Baby’s First Aid Kit Checklist
There are so many baby first aid kits on the market right now which is great, but I look through them and mostly just see a lot of bandages! This first aid kit is built to answer the following question:
“What health emergencies are most likely to occur? What do I need to know and have on hand when they happen?”
FEVERS: Help, my baby’s burning up.
- A reliable digital thermometer (and petroleum jelly (Vaseline) to lubricate the tip). I always forget to pack this and now I own 3 of them. Throw your favorite rectoal, oral or ear thermometer in. Remember a rectal temp provides the most accurate reading, particularly in infants under 1 year.
- Your kit should include Infant Tylenol (acetaminophen) and Motrin (ibuprofen- give only if your baby is older than 6 months). Don’t give aspirin as it can cause liver failure in children with certain infections. I always put my liquid medication in a Ziploc baggie in case of leakage.
BLEEDING: Bring on the bandages!
This list should cover everything from a big fall (think control bleeding on the way to the Emergency Department fall) to a skinned knee. If the wound is large, you can use a t-shirt, a blanket or your hands to apply pressure to the wound.
- Small bottle of saline or water to rinse out a wound if there’s no sink in sight.
- Liquid soap or antiseptic wipes – It’s great to have these around to help clean out a cut when soap is not easily accessible. Travelling also involves lots of germs, so you may want to keep these handy just to keep those little fingers germ free.
- Antibiotic ointment (like Neosporin) – Babies have skin like Wolverine from the X-Men, and usually heals from cuts and scrapes overnight like magic. Sometimes, your baby will need a little extra love to keep scrapes and cuts getting infected and speed up the healing process. I usually use Neosporin.
- Sterile bandages and tape – Since wounds heal faster with air contact, gauze and tape are usually better options than cute band-aids. Here’s a suggested mix of bandages: 5 3×3” and 4×4” sterile gauze pads, 1 roll of adhesive paper tape, a 3” or 4” roller bandage, and a variety of small adhesive bandages.
For more baby first aid items and essentials, click here
Related articles:
- Packing for Baby without Bringing the Nursery
- Travel Toy Recommendations for Babies and Toddlers
- Baby Air Travel: Intro to Flying
Esther Lee and Tara Summers Hermann are contributing authors here at trekaroo
photo credit: flickr/rjtrick
A few of the places we have been to go for a walk or hike with our little guy.
11321 SW Terwilliger Blvd
Portland, Oregon
A favorite hiking area for us (and lots of other locals!).
Tryon Creek State Park is a go-to for us, especially since we are so close to it. The park is a heavily wooded area, with trails that are really well maintained. There are both hiking trails and trails for horses (you will see riders on occasion, and I believe the bikers have to stick to those trails also to keep everyone safe). Hikers can also go on those trails, just be wary (and I would avoid taking the kids in case you have to make quick movements).
There is an interpretive center where they hold different lessons (you can find out what is happening on the website I have listed in ‘more information’). They will bring animals out for the kids to learn about and teach them about forests. There are all sorts of different trails throughout the park, and I would classify most as easy with a couple of moderate trails. We did a hike there with our playgroup and we had 3-year old twins with us, that thought our hike got a little long (we should have taken one of the shorter routes for them).
Great place to go over and over! One quick note: not really hugely stroller-friendly…some trails are, most are not. If you have a kid-pack, you will be better off.
4000 SW Fairview Blvd
Portland, Oregon
Another favorite and near the zoo. It is beautiful here.
The Hoyt Arboretum trail system is one of our family’s favorites when we don’t have time to drive to another hike outside of Portland (or between rain showers!). It is a beautiful little piece of Washington Park and the greater Forest Park. You feel like you are off an away, not in the city. There are all sorts of different trees and you walk through different types of gardens. Certain spots can be slightly hillier than other, but all in all I would call it an easy hike.
There is a great grassy area where people enjoy the sunshine or have pinics (no tables, so bring a blanket if you wish). They do have a structure across Fairview with a couple of tables, but during the summer you will see camps with lots of kids hanging out there. The area is really enjoyable.
There are bathrooms and trail maps at the Visitors Center and there is also a volunteer who can tell you all about things. Most of the trails are wheelchair/stroller ready (there are occasional steps that will be called out on the trail maps.
SW 18th Place
Portland, Oregon
We walk here a lot and you feel like you are in the woods despite being near the city.
This park is a real gem in Portland. Even though it is close to the city, you feel miles away. A gentle creek runs through the park, and we have seen smaller salmon making their way up and down the creek. There are great hiking trails that are well maintained (although if you have a really little one you will want to keep a close eye on them during parts of the trail that are up on the cliff…very long drop, but nice view). There is also a modest play area with swings and a slide. It is really quiet and beautiful!
Summit Avenue
Eugene, Oregon
We walked here last weekend. Our guy made the whole walk himself from grandmas house up through the park and home (about a mile and half…he is 19 months). He enjoyed the flowers that were starting to bloom and watching the squirels run around.
I grew up at the base of the park and this has always been a favorite. In the late spring the whole park bursts into color as the Rhododendrons bloom. It is a really beautiful ornamental park. You can also see deer and other ‘wild life’ while on your walk. There is a structure there with picnic tables to eat at (the original structure was built during the Depression as a public works project, but was crushed by falling trees in a wind storm about 10 years ago and has been rebuilt). There is an open play area with 2 swings and more tables to relax at and bathrooms. There are also bike/running trails on the other side of the park.
Related Links
List of other kid-friendly activities in Oregon
List of kid friendly hotels in Oregon
PDXBlossis a contributing author here at trekaroo
Father’s Day Celebrations all over the US
Photo Credit: flickr, azdodson
If you go back to 1908, you’ll find the roots of Father’s Day in a small town in West Virginia. While listening to a sermon at church, Mrs. Sonora Smart Dodd thought that fathers deserved the same type of recognition as mothers did. After her mother passed away, Sonora and her 5 siblings was raised by her father William Smart. The holiday became official in June 1910, the birth month of William Smart.
Do you need some ideas on how to celebrate with your special Dad? Fun and original Father’s Day events will take place on Sunday, June 21st all around the US to celebrate our great Dads. Here are some exciting things to do that day across the US in AZ, CA, IL, NC, NY, PA, VA, WA and WI.
7th Avenue between 50th & 51st
New York (Manhattan), New York
Pier 62, Chelsea Piers
New York (Manhattan), New York
3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway
Mount Vernon, Virginia
101 Swamp Rd.
Newtown, Pennsylvania
1199 Hilts Road
Wrightsville, Pennsylvania
