Newborn first aid kit: what to buy first

Preparing for the arrival of a baby is often affectionately called "nesting." You imagine pastel diapers, tiny onesies with teddy bears, and an overwhelming desire to buy half the children's store. A comfortable, sweet illusion. Until you suddenly realize that behind all this marshmallow fuss hides a rather harsh reality. And the main question in it is not "what color will this jumpsuit be?", but "what will we do if he gets a fever at night?". You know, you can't buy peace of mind, but you can put it together from a list.

Base: when every second counts

The first thing you should really take care of is a first aid kit. Not that old cardboard box with brilliant green and dried-up band-aid that is gathering dust on the top shelf. But a real, well-thought-out base. Your parental burnout often starts with panic. And panic happens when you don't know what to grab.

A baby's temperature soars instantly. Just an hour ago he was smiling, blowing bubbles, and now he's burning up and whining plaintively. It's scary. To the point of stupor. At such moments, there is no time to run to the 24-hour pharmacy on the other side of the city.

You should have antipyretics and painkillers adapted for babies on hand. Firstly, syrup or suppositories with paracetamol. Strictly according to age. Secondly, ibuprofen, also in children's form. Why both? Sometimes one drug doesn't work, or doctors recommend alternating them for persistent fever.

And, of course, a thermometer. Forget about the mercury thermometer from your childhood - it's just extra stress and risk. Only electronic. Be sure to have a flexible tip. It measures quickly, beeps when ready, and won't break if you accidentally drop it with trembling hands. And for unexpected problems with the tummy, keep glycerin suppositories. They will save you from discomfort during constipation gently. Without tears and tantrums.

Night vigils: colic and digestion

Tummies. Oh, these baby tummies. Colic is not just a medical term from a pediatrician's brochure. This is your personal nightmare, when the baby is kicking his legs, turning red and screaming so loud that it hurts your ears. Almost every child goes through this stage.

What should be in the arsenal? An anti-colic remedy with simethicone. It is not absorbed into the blood, but simply works like magic - it "collapses" gas bubbles in the intestines. A trifle. But this trifle saves the nerve cells of the whole family.

Next - sorbents. Mild detoxification is needed at the slightest suspicion of an upset stomach. And absolutely obligatory - rehydration solutions. Dehydration in infants occurs frighteningly quickly. A couple of episodes of diarrhea, and the fragile water balance is disturbed. A packet of saline solution in the first-aid kit is your cheap and reliable insurance against a trip to the infectious diseases department by ambulance.

The doctor may recommend mild children's laxatives. Let them lie. Their expiration date is usually decent, and the situation "needed right now" arises, according to the law of meanness, in the midst of long holidays.

Skin like parchment: hygiene without compromise

The skin of a newborn is a separate universe. Thin. Incredibly sensitive. It reacts literally to everything: to hard tap water, friction from a fashionable diaper, too warm fleece blanket.

Diaper rash appears imperceptibly. In the morning there was a slight redness, in the evening - already a blazing spot. Therefore, creams and ointments with zinc or dexpanthenol should stand in the most visible place. They create a barrier. A protective film that gives the skin a chance to recover. Talc or powder - for the folds, to maintain dryness there.

Wet wipes are sacred. You will buy them in huge boxes. But for treating the face and especially sensitive areas, it is better to have ordinary soft gauze wipes. Without fragrances. Without chemistry.

A first aid kit is unthinkable without antiseptics. Umbilical wound, the first scratches from your own nails (yes, they are born with sharp claws, like little kittens). And what about breathing? Narrow nasal passages get clogged with dust or mucus instantly. Drops based on sea water are your morning ritual. A couple of drops, gentle cleansing, and the baby can eat normally again. Put eye drops there too - in case of sudden souring.

Rescuer's arsenal: tools and rules

Medicines are half the battle. The second half is tools. You will definitely need scissors. Special ones. With rounded ends. Cutting tiny nails to a twitching baby in a dream is still a jewelry work.

Pipettes and syringes without a needle. They are convenient for dispensing liquids. Trying to give syrup from a spoon to a resisting baby is a stupid exercise: half will be on his chin, half on your T-shirt. The syringe solves this problem in a second.

Don't forget about thermometers for water and air. Overheating a child in a room is much easier and more dangerous than hypothermia.

And, perhaps, the most important thing. This entire collection of bottles, blisters and tubes should live in one place. In a convenient container with rigid compartments. Strictly out of the reach of a growing researcher. Check expiration dates every six months. Ruthlessly throw away everything that has changed color or smell.

Motherhood and fatherhood is a path on the thin ice of unpredictability. But what we can control, it is better to take into our own hands in advance. Let this first aid kit just stand on the top shelf of the closet. Let it be covered with dust for no need. But you will know for sure: if something goes wrong, you are ready. Exhale. You can handle it.