D.I.Y. First-Aid Travel Kit

Having a first-aid kit for the car is not an idea exclusive to parents, but it definitely did not occur to me to make one until we took our then two-year-olds on a long car trip last summer.

Now, it gives me an extra sense of security every time we go out in the car, and it already paid off when my son scrapped his knee in a parking lot and needed a quick bandage. I felt so prepared and proud!

Contents of my first-aid kit:

1. Cotton swabs*
2. Cotton balls*
3. Bandages*
4. Adhesive medical tape
5. Wrapped sterile pads*
6. Antibiotic cream
7. Wrapped gauze
8. Tylenol or some kind of pain reliever**—you never know when a headache will hit.
9. Benadryl or some kind of antihistamine**—I have a nut allergy and never go anywhere without this stuff.
10. Small emery boards—honestly, I mostly keep this around because it came with an infant kit, but if you're traveling with infants, it is the only way to deal with overgrown nails.
11. Nail trimmer—may a hangnail never ruin your day again!
12. Tweezers
13. Travel-sized tissues
14. Floss—when food gets stuck in my teeth, I don't trust anything pointy like a toothpick when in a moving vehicle.
15. Alcohol wipes—alcohol-free cleansing wipes exist too.
16. Compact mirror
17. Small scissors—handy for the gauze and tape

*I like to keep these items in a plastic, sealable bag to ensure they stay dry.

**These are for the 12-year and older crowd (as noted on containers). And be mindful of expiration dates.

All of these items fit easily in a small travel bag that can go in my car's glove compartment, my purse or a diaper bag.

NOTE: Some items, like the creams and pills, have instructions to be stored in specific temperature ranges and are not ideal to be left in the car all year round.

A few other items to consider:

1. Hand sanitizer—I keep a small container in my purse instead.
2. Hydrocortisone cream—for bug bites, poison ivy, etc.
3. Instant cold packs—many stores sell these in larger, more expensive quantities. But I believe there is a 2-pack available at Target, and it will soon join my kit.
4. Disposable sterile gloves
5. Safety pins
6. Digital thermometer

Feel free to comment below with other items you would consider adding.

Having this first-aid travel kit made my kids' first trip to the beach last year a much more enjoyable one. May it make all of your trips less stressful and more enjoyable as well!

Winry and Henry's first beach trip, July 2017

She's got all the 'tude... and a (plastic) knife!

Smelling his sand toes?