Baby first aid: everything you need to know

Having a properly stocked first aid kit is vital for parents or anyone dealing with babies and children – and it's just as important to know what to do if your child injures themselves or is poorly. 

Our downloadable first aid checklist will ensure you have what you need, plus we share advice on when you should call an ambulance, visit A&E or treat kids at home. Plus, where to go for baby first aid courses and free first aid advice.

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Download our first aid checklist

We've put together a checklist of first aid basics for your kit at home.

Print it out to tick the items off as you buy them, or keep it with the kit so you know what you need to replace or replenish.

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What should my first aid kit contain?

This list is by no means exhaustive, but it contains the essential basics every home should have.

• Digital thermometer
• Child and infant liquid pain relief, such as Calpol
• Plasters in various sizes and shapes (fabric and waterproof versions)
• Sterile dressings, roller bandages and finger bandages
• Antiseptic cream and calamine cream (to relieve minor sunburn and rashes)
• Antiseptic wipes, sterile gauze swabs (for cleaning wounds) and mild liquid soap (to clean hands)
• Tweezers and scissors
• Safety pins and hypoallergenic/microporous tape
• Insect repellent and sting reliever spray
• Sterile gloves
• Eyewash solution
• Instant ice pack.

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What to do if your child has an accident or injury

Whatever the accident or injury, from minor through to an emergency, here are some pointers on what to do.

If you need guidance, call NHS 111 – they might also suggest going to a minor injury unit, walk-in centre, pharmacy or GP surgery. 

Call an ambulance if the child:

• Stops breathing or they're struggling for breath. This includes breathing fast, panting, wheezing or you notice the muscles under the ribcage sucking in when they inhale.
• Is unconscious, seems unaware of what's going on or won't wake up.
• Has or may have neck, spine or pelvis injuries, including a fracture. Don't move them as unnecessary movement could lead to paralysis.
• Has an open fracture or a fracture/suspected fracture of legs or arms, with a change in sensation such as pins and needles or numbness.
• Has a cut that won't stop bleeding or is gaping open.
• Has had a fit for the first time, even if they seem to recover.

Visit A&E if the child:

• Has a fracture/suspected fracture not listed above (for example, smaller/other bones) or a dislocation. Give painkillers even if you're going to A&E.
• Has swallowed a poison, tablets or a button battery (these are emergencies so take them straight away).
• Has something lodged firmly in their nose or ear (don't try to remove it yourself as you could push it further in).
• Has a cut that has something embedded in it, such as glass, even if you've stemmed the bleeding (apply pressure at the sides of the wound rather than on the wound in these situations).

Treat them at home:

• Cuts and bleeding. Press firmly on the wound with a clean cloth (or clean fingers if you don't have one) until the bleeding stops, then cover wound with a clean dressing (and another over that if the blood soaks through). 
• Minor burns and scalds. Remove clothing or jewellery near the burnt skin (but not if it's stuck to it) then put the burn under cool running water for 20-30 minutes. If running water isn't available, immerse burns in cold water or any other cool fluid such as milk. Don't use ice, gels, creams or oils and don't break any blisters as this could lead to infection. Always seek medical advice if a baby has a burn or scald.
• Choking. If a child or baby is choking, time is of the essence so it's vital you know what to do – the NHS has comprehensive guidance on how to help a choking child.

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What to do if your child is unwell

If your child is poorly and you're struggling to get a GP appointment, your health visitor, pharmacist or the practice nurse/nurse practitioner at your GP may be able to diagnose illness and in some cases even give you a prescription.

High temperature or fever

This is the body's way of responding to an infection, from the common cold through to childhood illnesses such as chickenpox and tonsillitis. It can also be common after having vaccinations. Although it can be uncomfortable, you can help to relieve the symptoms with plenty of fluids, plus infant pain relief.

A fever tends to last between one and four days. Contact NHS 111 or your GP surgery if it's lasted for more than five days; if there's also a rash and if their temperature is 38°C or higher for babies under three months old or 39°C or higher for babies aged 3-6 months. 

Stuffy nose and colds

The NHS says it's normal for a child to have eight or more colds in a year, most of which get better in five to seven days (although this can be as much as two weeks in small children).

Give them plenty of fluids plus pain relief for high temperatures, discomfort or pain, and use saline nose drops to relief stuffy noses and loosen dried snot.

Cough

A cough often goes hand in hand with a cold and, although it can sound alarming, it serves a purpose of helping to clear mucus from the throat and phlegm from the chest.

Most coughs are viral and run their course within three weeks. If it lasts longer, it may be from a chest infection and your child could benefit from antibiotics.

Whooping cough

This highly contagious bacterial respiratory infection results in sufferers coughing for a few minutes at a time (especially at night), making a 'whoop' sound as they gasp for breath between coughs and bringing up thick mucus.

Seek medical advice, especially if your baby is under six months old, if you or your child has a very bad cough that's getting worse, if you're pregnant or have a weakened immune system and have been in contact with someone with whooping cough.

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What age is suitable to give Calpol and other infant pain relief?

Calpol and other infant paracetamol

Paracetamol is suitable for children aged two months or older, depending on the concentration you buy.

Babies and younger children (three months to six years old) can can have a formulation containing 120mg per 5ml of liquid. Older children (6-12 years) can have a formulation that has 250mg per 5ml of liquid (e.g. Calpol SixPlus suspension).

Ibuprofen

Ibuprofen comes in a standardised 100mg per 5ml formulation, such as Calprofen or Nurofen For Children. These can be given to children aged three months or older and who weigh more than 5kg, with dosage depending on their age.

The NHS says that babies aged 3-5 months can have a maximum of 2.5ml of ibuprofen three times in 24 hours (3-4 times in 24 hours if they're aged 6-11 months). For all other ages it's a maximum of three times in 24 hours at the following dosages: 1-3 years (5ml), 4-6 years (7.5ml), 7-9 years (10ml) and 10-11 years (15ml).

Whether you're giving your child paracetamol or ibuprofen, it's important to always check the label beforehand to make sure the medication and dose is suitable for them.

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Tips for buying cheap infant pain relief

• Expect higher prices at local stores. We found it's easier to get cheaper own-brand medicines in larger supermarkets. Smaller stores tend to stock expensive branded versions, so add pain relief to your big shop to save money.
• Scale up to save money. For example, a 100ml bottle of Calpol 2+ Infant suspension costs £4.59 at Lloyds Pharmacy compared with £6.99 for a 200ml bottle, so the larger bottle is better value. 
• Check delivery prices before ordering online. Independent online pharmacies can be competitively priced on both branded and generic formulations compared to the high street, but make sure delivery costs don't cancel out any savings.

Can you give Calpol and Nurofen two hours apart?

Both the NHS and NICE (the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) say you should avoid giving an ibuprofen-based medicine and a paracetamol-based one (such as Calpol) together to a baby or a child under 16 unless a doctor has specifically advised it.

However, you can give them one at a time – in other words, alternately – if you've already given a dose of one of them and your child is still distressed before the next dose of that same medicine is due.

Staggering them means your child can have some medication if needed every few hours to control symptoms. For example, give paracetamol at 8am, ibuprofen at 11am then paracetamol at 2pm (six hours after the first paracetamol dose). 

Signs of Calpol or paracetamol overdose in infants

An infant who has taken too much paracetamol might have nausea and vomiting that settles within 24 hours. If nothing is done immediately, the symptoms can start again after two to three days, along with tummy pain on the right hand side – and this indicates the development of liver damage.

If your child has had more paracetamol than is recommended (or you're uncertain about how much they've had), seek immediate medical advice.

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Baby first aid courses

There are baby first aid courses specifically designed to help new parents and carers react in emergency situations, such as dealing with choking, burns, fever or if the child has become unresponsive.

Here are some of the most popular providers that offer classes across the UK:

• Mini First Aid offers a two-hour baby and child first aid course in-person from £25 per person.
• NCT has a baby and child first aid course in partnership with Mini First Aid, which can be two hours online or an in-person session for small groups. Online courses are around £30 for individuals/£50 for couples, and in person is from around £25 for individuals/£45 for couple.
• British Red Cross provides in-person first aid training for babies and children. You can choose between a one day/four-hour course or an evening course of four hours split over two evenings. Prices from £37.50.
• Daisy First Aid offers a two-hour class online, at a local venue (with over 900 venues across the UK) or you can host a class in your own home. Online courses are around £30, in-person from around £30 for individuals/£55 for couples, home classes from around £30 per person for minimum of four people (from £120 for the class if it's fewer than four people).

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Free first aid advice

There are lots of free videos and advice available online from experts so you can learn the basics when it comes to recognising and responding to minor emergencies.

The British Red Cross and St John Ambulance both have free online information, plus the NHS offers some online basics on both first aid and safety.

Buy a ready-made first aid kit

There are several prepacked kits you can buy that are geared towards kids and families.

Daisy First Aid Children's First Aid Kit (around £20) – contains 82 essential first aid items, plus it has space inside to fit medication (such as infant pain relief), auto injectors or other essentials.

Boots Children's First Aid Kit (around £14) – this compact kit contains the basics for minor injuries including cuts, grazes, bumps and bruises although you may have to add extras such as scissors if required.

Mini First Aid Kit (around £14) – there are 74 first aid essentials in a zipped pouch, including paramedic's shears for cutting through clothing and thick fabrics.

Superdrug Family First Aid Kit (£8) – features more than 35 items for minor injuries – check contents before buying in case you need to top it up.

6 baby first aid kit tips

1. Check that pre-assembled kits have what you need. Use our checklist and top up the kit if anything is missing.
2. Replace items as they start to run out. Check, too, that they aren't past their use-by date.
3. Keep your first aid kit in a waterproof container. A plastic container with a close-fitting lid is ideal.
4. Label items so that they’re easily recognisable. This will come in handy if you need to act quickly.
5. Keep the kit out of the reach of children. However, make sure it's somewhere you can access easily.
6. Let adults know where it is. Don't leave it to chance, especially if you're not going to be around to supervise.