Travel checklist: essential child first aid kit

In an ideal world, no-one would ever get ill on holiday. Unfortunately germs are always with us, whether it’s colds caught on the plane or the slightly dodgy beach snack.

Throw in teething and babies’ ability to go from happy to high temperature almost instantly, and I never travel without a first aid kit.

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Because when you don’t recognise the various brands of medicine and do have a sick child, a pharmacy in a foreign country is not my preferred place to improve my language skills if I can avoid it.

So along with travel insurance and a GHIC if you’re travelling in Europe (or an old EHIC if it hasn’t expired), here’s my kids’ first aid kit contents – a list of everything parents should consider before they head off, with babies, toddlers and older kids – or download my checklist here for tips on what should be in your essential child first aid kit.

Child first aid kid: Holiday first aid kit for toddlers/babies/young children

•  Painkillers –liquid paracetamol and ibuprofen. Calpol (for 2 months +) and Nurofen for Children (for 3 months +) both do individual sachets, as well as bottles, which are ideal for keeping in hand luggage.
• Medicine spoons/syringes – come as standard with the painkillers, but don’t forget to pack them. (Syringes are particularly useful in a baby travel medicine kit)
• Antihistamine – for anything from allergies to insect bites and chickenpox. Piriton syrup is suitable for 1 year and up, while Boots also has an own-brand version.
• Plasters/bandages – a selection including:
  ☐ A triangular bandage
  ☐ Finger bandages
  ☐ Sterile dressings (including non-adhesive versions)
  ☐ Gauze
  ☐ Microporous tape (can be used over dressings or with cotton wool on tiny baby fingers)
  ☐ Sticky plasters (cartoon characters options)
• Antiseptic
• Antiseptic wipes
• Cream or antiseptic spray – Savlon First Aid Wash spray is great, or Elastoplast has its own version
• Hand sanitiser
• Thermometer – in-ear versions are most accurate (Aldi has some great ones)
• Saline solution/eye wash
• Saline nasal spray – for colds and stuffed up noses. Sterimar does a version that’s suitable from birth
• Insect repellent – most ranges have options suitable for 6 months +, and natural brand incognito can be used on young babies
• Burn treatment – burn gel or burn gel dressings for use on minor burns
• Tweezers
• Scissors

Optional

• Mosquito net – ideally impregnated with insect repellent
• Travel sickness remedy – rare in under-twos although ginger biscuits and acupressure bands are an option, tablets available for three years and above
• Medicine dummy – one to consider if your baby hates spoons/syringes (although mine hated the dummy too)
• Calamine lotion/cream

For adults

In addition to the child first aid kit, pack:

• Plasters – waterproof, clear, ones that speed healing, blister plasters: take your pick
• Painkillers – ibuprofen, paracetamol and aspirin
• Immodium
• Rehydration sachets, eg Dioralyte
• Cold & flu relief – tablets, powder or drinkable versions, including a night version or Night Nurse
• Antihistamines – ones containing loratadine are non-drowsy
• Insect bite/sting relief – Boots Click It (which uses a mild electric pulse to stop itching) beats any cream I’ve ever tried (suitable for four years and above) along with Zap It for ages two +.
• Indigestion/heartburn relief – eg Rennie

Buy ready-made

Boots has a variety of first aid kits, including a children’s first aid kit and a travel version, which also contain first aid information.

Check out my other checklists, including essential baby packing for travel and essential toddler travel toys, as well as more pre-holiday travel health tips

PIN FOR LATER: ESSENTIAL CHILD FIRST AID KIT

Disclaimer: I have taken a baby travel first aid kit around the world with me (and also for a toddler up to eight-year-old) but am not a trained medical professional – for any extra advice, speak to your own GP or pharmacist. This post contains affiliate links – any purchases you make are unaffected but I may receive a small commission

Image: Depositphotos

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