The Best First Aid Kits for Babies and Toddlers

Scraped knees, surprise fevers and late-night sniffles—life with babies and toddlers is full of little health hiccups. That’s why having a well-stocked first aid kit is a must for any parent or caregiver. Whether you’re at home or on the go, the right kit makes it easier to handle all the minor injuries and common illnesses that come with raising little ones.

The best baby and toddler first aid kits come pre-packed with everything you need, so you’re not scrambling in the moment. For babies, the Babylist Baby First Aid & Grooming Kit is our top pick—it includes both health and grooming basics like a digital rectal thermometer, nail clippers and a nasal aspirator, making it perfect for the first year. And for toddlers, the American Red Cross Deluxe Family First Aid Kit offers a wide range of medical supplies, from bandages to antibiotic ointment to a cold compress, all neatly organized in a portable case.

While many families love our top two picks for first aid kits, we also know that every family has different needs. So if these don’t feel like the perfect fit, we’ve included a few other great options on this list to consider. Whether you’re preparing for everyday bumps or just want to be ready when the sniffles hit, these are the best first aid kits to keep on hand for babies and toddlers.

How We Judged the Best First Aid Kits

Best Overall First Aid Kit for Babies

Best Overall First Aid Kit for Toddlers

Best Affordable First Aid Kit

Best First Aid Kit for Sick Days

Best Travel First Aid Kit

What to Look for In a Baby First Aid Kit

An infant-specific first aid kit resembles something like a healthcare-meets-grooming kit. You’ll want to have what you need to take care of both everyday tasks like nail clipping and hair brushing to illness symptoms like runny noses and fevers.

Must-Haves

According to Dr. Seran Kim, a pediatric emergency physician and first aid kit expert, the most important first aid kit contents include:

• Nasal aspirator and saline drops to clear stuffy noses

• Rectal thermometer with lubricant for accurate temperature readings

• Infant acetaminophen with the corresponding medicine dropper for fever relief (only with a doctor’s approval for babies under two months)

• Nail clippers and emery boards to prevent accidental scratches

• Alcohol swabs for cleaning small scrapes

• Zinc oxide diaper rash cream to treat and prevent irritation

• Gum toothbrush to start early oral care

Nice-to-Haves

Dr. Kim says these items are optional but helpful additions:

• Cradle cap brush

• Gripe water or colic drops for digestive discomfort

• Boogie saline wipes for gentle nose cleaning

• Teething rings for soothing sore gums

• Vitamin D drops, as recommended for breastfed infants

What NOT to Include

While the following items may be included in “complete” baby first aid kits, they’re not necessarily recommended. You might’ve noticed that bandages aren’t included in the lists above—Dr. Kim advises against including bandages in your baby’s first aid kit because they can pose a choking hazard as well as restrict circulation if wrapped too tightly. So what do you do if you need one? If possible, opt not to use one on minor cuts and scrapes (hold gauze until the bleeding stops). For larger cuts, seek medical attention.

Dr. Kim also advises parents to avoid using separate medicine droppers: “[They] should only be using droppers that come with associated medicine,” she says, so if your baby kit comes with an extra medicine dispenser, it’s best to take it out. 

Additionally, Dr. Kim says to leave teething gels out of your baby’s first aid kit, since the American Academy of Pediatrics and the US Food and Drug Administration don’t recommend them. Many teething gels contain lidocaine or benzocaine, which can pose a serious health hazard to infants and toddlers.

How to Store a Baby First Aid Kit

Proper storage is key for both accessibility and ensuring the contents don’t expire or get damaged. A baby’s first aid kit should be kept somewhere that is easily accessible to adults but safely out of reach of little hands. “Common storage places are kitchens or bathrooms, but be sure that the cabinet is locked or placed high up,” says Dr. Kim. Dr. Robert Quillin, a board-certified pediatrician and medical director, also suggests that a first aid kit for a newborn might be stored in the baby nursery. Wherever you decide to put it, “be sure that the storage area is clean and dry, and not susceptible to extreme temperatures,” Dr. Kim says.

As far as the potency of any medicines, you likely won’t have to worry about anything expiring, Dr. Quillin says. “Most items have an extended shelf life. An infant is likely to outgrow the need for the items before the over-the-counter medications expire.” But if you end up keeping your first baby’s medicines for any younger siblings that might come along, you’ll need to check the expiration dates before your next baby arrives.

What to Look for in a Toddler & Family First Aid Kit

Eventually, babies turn into toddlers, and right around the time they start walking, it’ll be time to upgrade to a new first aid kit. "The first aid kit changes as the child goes through stages of development and activity,” Dr. Quillin says. "A first aid kit for a newborn will not be the same as a first aid kit for an older child.” 

Dr. Kim emphasizes that at this point, parents can transition to a full-sized family first aid kit, which is useful for ages 1 through 100, she says. 

Must-Haves

According to Dr. Kim and Dr. Quillin, a well-stocked, toddler-ready family kit should contain:

• Various sizes of bandages

• Sterile gauze

• Non-adherent pads

• Coban wrap

• Burn dressings

• Medical tape

• Instant cold packs

• Acetaminophen (like Tylenol)

• Ibuprofen (like Motrin) for ages six months and up

• Chewable aspirin (not for children under age 16 unless doctor-prescribed)

• Diphenhydramine (like Benadryl)

• Antihistamine (like Zyrtec or Allegra)

• Antacid (like Pepcid or TUMS)

• Antiseptic wipes

• Antibiotic ointment

• Eye shield

• Sting relief pads

• Hydrocortisone cream

• Latex-free gloves

• Forceps

• Hand sanitizer

Nice-to-Haves

There are also useful extras to consider, Dr. Kim says, such as:

• First aid shears

• CPR face shield

• Aluminum finger splint

• Liquid bandages

• Epinephrine auto-injector (if prescribed)

• Narcan

• Hydrocolloid gel bandages

• CPR face shield

• Laxatives

• Anti-diarrheal medications

• Detox wipes for poison ivy or oak exposure

• Nexcare steristrips

• Laceration wound closure bandages (like Zipstitch)

What NOT to Include

Though it may feel counterintuitive, Dr. Kim advises against using wound cleaning solutions: “Tap water has been shown to be just as or more effective at cleaning wounds,” she says. Similarly, Dr. Kim says that parents should avoid using burn creams in their first aid kits, as they can interfere with a physician’s ability to assess the severity of a burn.

How to Store a Family First Aid Kit

Because injuries can happen anywhere, it’s smart to keep first aid kits in multiple locations. Just like with baby first aid kits, it can be a good idea to store your family’s kit in the kitchen or bathroom—or even have multiple if you have a large house. 

And don’t forget to stock a first aid kit in all of your toddler’s other frequently visited places, too. “Most first aid kits for families are appropriate for kids ages 1-100, so be sure to have one in each car, at grandparents’ houses or with other caregivers,” Dr. Kim says. Medications should always be kept out of reach of children, and parents should check their kits regularly to replace expired items.