The 5 Best Baby First Aid Kits

A quick look at the best baby first aid kits

• Best baby first aid kit for the basics: American Red Cross Deluxe Health & Grooming Kit
• Best baby first aid kit for first-time parents: Safety 1st Deluxe 25-Piece Baby Healthcare & Grooming Kit
• Best baby first aid kit for fighting colds: FridaBaby Sick Day Prep Kit
• Best baby first aid kit for the diaper bag: PreparaKit Take Along First Aid Kit
• Best baby first aid kit for colicky babies: Little Remedies New Baby Essentials Kit

When you’re expecting, it sometimes seems like you’re creating a never-ending list of items to buy for your new bundle of joy.

In addition to the basics, you’re probably being told by friends and family (and know-it-all strangers) about all the things you need for your baby.

A lot of that stuff is just fluff or things that are nice to have, but some are extremely important. One item that you absolutely don’t want to forget is a baby first aid kit.

What is a baby first aid kit?

A baby first aid kit is a collection of supplies that can be helpful for treating minor injuries or illnesses in babies.

For emergencies, you’ll call 911 or your local emergency services. If you have sickness- or injury-related questions, you’ll call your pediatrician. But it still makes a huge difference to be prepared at home when the need arises.

A baby first aid kit may include items such as:

• baby-specific medications (like infant acetaminophen or infant ibuprofen)
• medication dispensers
• nasal aspirators (because those tiny noses get plugged very easily)
• sanitizing wipes
• ointment for cuts or scrapes
• bandages
• rash cream
• baby-size nail clippers and tweezers
• wipes
• a thermometer (usually rectal for a baby)
• saline spray
• cold packs
• emergency phone numbers
• a basic baby first aid guide

Why buy a baby first aid kit?

“A first aid kit is important to have at home so that, in case of an emergency, no one has to run out to the store and waste valuable time to get supplies,” says Wendy Proskin, MD, a pediatrician at Westmed Medical Group in Rye, New York.

There are many common ailments that newborns and older babies might experience during the first year and beyond. For issues like gassiness, a stuffy nose, fever, and teething pains, a first aid kit can come in handy.

While you can put together your own first aid kit using several items you already have in your house, many of those products may not be formulated for use by an infant.

Luckily, there are several first aid kits on the market that are made specifically for infants and come with everything you need to care for your child in various instances.

What to look for

A newborn kit, according to Proskin, should include the following:

• a rectal thermometer (the quicker the read, the better)
• nail clippers
• gauze pads or cotton balls
• saline drops
• a nasal aspirator

A kit for an older infant will be a little different, however, so you should update the contents of your kit accordingly as your child passes the 6-month mark.

This kit, Proskin explains, should also include:

• acetaminophen or ibuprofen for fevers or pain
• oral diphenhydramine (Benadryl) for allergic reactions
• bandages
• alcohol wipes and hand sanitizer
• antibiotic ointment
• gauze, tape, and scissors
• gloves

As you create your registry for your little one, consider some of these items for your first aid kit.

Safety first

If you suspect your baby may be sick, it’s always best to call their pediatrician’s office to discuss the symptoms over the phone. A healthcare professional can help you decide whether to bring your child in to be examined.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends calling a doctor about a fever if your baby is less than 3 months old, or if your child is exhibiting other worrisome symptoms. Otherwise, call your pediatrician for guidance on treating fevers. They’ll let you know if you need to bring your baby in.

Of course, it’s always better to err on the side of caution with an infant. Be sure to follow your new-parent instinct if you think your baby isn’t acting like they usually do.

As a safety precaution, it’s best not to put a bandage where a young infant can easily pull it off and put it in their mouth. This can pose a choking hazard. If you do have to use a bandage, be sure it’s placed in an area that your baby can’t reach and remove it as soon as possible.

For medical emergencies such as difficulty breathing, a baby who is turning blue around the mouth, choking, head injuries, bleeding, or something else you know isn’t right, call 911 or your local emergency services immediately.

How we chose

For this list of first aid kit items, we reached out to well-respected pediatricians to best understand the medical needs of an infant and what can be provided safely at home by the parents.

We also reached out to real parents to learn about the kits they found to be useful in caring for their young infants.

Pricing guide

• $ = under $20
• $$ = $20–$30
• $$$ = over $30

Healthline’s pick for best baby first aid kits

Best baby first aid kit for the basics

American Red Cross Deluxe Health & Grooming Kit

• Price: $
• Pros: This affordable, double-duty kit includes basic grooming and medical supplies in a convenient tote bag, plus a basic baby care guide.
• Cons: This kit only has very basic medical supplies, such as a thermometer, suction bulb, and medication syringe.

If you’re looking for a kit that equips you with some basic medical and grooming necessities you’ll most definitely need during the first year of your baby’s life, this is a great option.

What’s inside: This kit includes a nasal aspirator (to get all those baby boogies), a medication dropper, a digital thermometer with a case, and a medication spoon with a cap. There are also a few handy grooming items such as a comb, brush, scissors, nail clippers, fingertip toothbrush, and even a little mirror. It all comes in a small see-through tote bag so you can keep everything together.

Best baby first aid kit for first-time parents

Safety 1st Deluxe 25-Piece Baby Healthcare & Grooming Kit

• Price: $$
• Pros: This kit contains baby-friendly versions of nail clippers, thermometer, medication bottle, comb, brush, toothbrush, and a nasal aspirator. It also has a handy emergency info card and carrying case.
• Cons: This is more of a grooming kit than a true first aid kit.

Pretty much everything you’ll need to use on your baby in the first year is in this kit, which is why it’s a great option for first-time parents who might not have mini versions of all the medical and grooming essentials already hiding in their medicine cabinet.

What’s inside: This kit includes a nasal aspirator, bottle medication dispenser, alcohol swabs, and a 3-in-1 thermometer clad with its own protective case. It also contains grooming essentials such as a cradle cap comb and toddler toothbrush, all in a cute clutch case that lets you easily organize the items. This is a great kit for all of your baby grooming needs and basic medical needs.

Best baby first aid kit for fighting colds

FridaBaby Sick Day Prep Kit

• Price: $$$
• Pros: The included natural vapor rub and wipes that are safe for babies (as opposed to the adult versions sold in drugstores, which aren’t recommended for infants), effective nasal aspirator, and pacifier medication dispenser are absolute gold. This kit will get you through those rough days when baby gets their first cold.
• Cons: This kit doesn’t include other medical or grooming items.

When your little one’s feeling under the weather, this will be your savior (seriously, I wish they had this kit when my babies were tiny!). It includes FridaBaby’s famous “snot sucker” (or nasal aspirator) that’s so much easier to use than the bulbs you’ll get at the hospital post-delivery. Keeping your little one’s nasal passages clear will go a long way in helping them breathe better and sleep better, even when they’re sick.

What’s inside: It also includes some of their other best-selling products all in one kit, including their paci-shaped medication dispenser, which makes administering medication a breeze. Trust us, you’ll use this: Squirting medication into a screaming baby’s mouth with a syringe is no picnic. Finally, the FridaBaby natural vapor rub and medicated snot wipes are a big help when your little one is super stuffed up.

Best baby first aid kit for the diaper bag

PreparaKit Take Along First Aid Kit

• Price: $$
• Pros: This kit contains a great variety of useful items in a tiny case. It’s easy to pack and take anywhere.
• Cons: You may go through supplies quickly due to small sizes and quantities.

Having a first aid kit at home is great, but sometimes you need some of those medical essentials when you’re out and about. That’s where this on-the-go version from PreparaKit comes in handy.

What’s inside: It includes 50 different grooming and medical items, including bandages, thermometer strips, nail clippers, cotton applicators, bandages, antiseptic towelettes, and more. Plus, it’s nice and compact, so you can roll it up and slide it inside your diaper bag or leave it in your car.

Best baby first aid kit for colicky babies

Little Remedies New Baby Essentials Kit

• Price: $$
• Pros: This is a true medicine kit with basic, baby-safe medications for a variety of complaints, including colic, gas, diaper rash, and stuffy nose.
• Cons: The kit doesn’t contain other medical or grooming supplies.

If your little one has colic — constant crying and fussiness that affects about 10 to 40 percent of babies worldwide, according to a 2015 study — you’ll want to have some tummy relief in your first aid kit.

Although gas isn’t a direct cause of colic, offering relief may help minimize the extent of your baby’s cries if they’re feeling gassy.

What’s inside: This kit, created by Little Remedies, includes saline spray, a nasal aspirator (booger sucker), gas relief drops, fever and pain reliever, and gripe water. Added perk: They also throw in a small tube of Boudreaux’s Butt Paste, which many parents say works wonders on their baby’s rash-prone tushes.

Comparison table of baby first aid kits

Frequently asked questions about first aid kits

What is the difference between an adult and baby first aid kit?

A baby first aid kit will specifically include medications that are safer for babies (such as infant acetaminophen or infant ibuprofen), gear that is sized for babies (such as an infant nasal aspirator, rectal thermometer, nail clippers, tweezers, bandages, etc.), and guides for injuries or illnesses in babies.

An adult first aid kit may contain more extensive medications, larger bandages, larger CPR masks, and adult first aid guides, among other things.

Children aren’t tiny adults — even though when they’re toddlers they may try to act like it. The care they need when sick or injured will often be different than what an adult needs, particularly when it comes to medication safety and dosing or checking their temperature.

What do you need in a baby first aid kit?

According to the experts at Children’s Hospital Colorado, a basic baby first aid kit should include basic products like infant acetaminophen, a rectal thermometer, nasal suction, and other products that are listed in our products list above.

You can, of course, add extras to your kit if you wish, such as 1 percent hydrocortisone cream for itchy rashes, gauze pads, burn ointment, infant ibuprofen (Motrin), diaper rash cream, elastic bandages, hydrogen peroxide, a first aid manual, scissors, gloves, and a CPR mouthpiece.

Can I make my own baby first aid kit?

Absolutely! You can find great options for pre-made kits (like the ones we’ve included in this list), or you can build your own.

Making your own baby first aid kit can be the most comprehensive way to go and gives you a chance to get familiar with each item in your kit.

You can choose a box or bag that is convenient to organize, gather a list of essential supplies or ask your pediatrician for a list, and get shopping.

If you make your own baby first aid kit to have at home, you can make a mini version to place in the car or diaper bag. That way, you’re prepared wherever you go.

Just as you would with a pre-selected kit, go through your first aid kit regularly to ensure all items are stocked and within their expiration dates.