DIY First Aid Kit

The first time we traveled to Hawaii with our first child, we realized you need to have a thermometer handy, because he woke up screaming and burning up in the middle of the night when no stores were open. We realized after this trip that when traveling with kids, something is always bound to happen. And it has, every single trip. 

Since having kids, we have needed at least one thing from our kit every single trip. It's alway provided me so much comfort to know I have what I need. So, take it from me, always bring your own kit. You can buy one pre-made, but I have found that making my own has been the best choice. I will share what I have in mine and why so it can give you an idea of what to pack in your own kit.

What to include

• ​Bag - This is to store everything in. I got mine from Target and it's lasted me years.
• Bandaids - Bring a variety of sizes. I've used these for skinned knees, blisters, and cuts. Every trip we go through several bandaids, without fail! I like the fabric ones the best. They seem to survive the water better than the others.
• Thermometer - This does not have to be fancy, just something to give you a general idea. For us, it has been common for our son to get swimmer's ear while in Hawaii. So we have used our thermometer on multiple occasions.
• Antiseptic Spray - For those cuts and scrapes that are bound to happen while traveling with kids.
• Advil/Ibuprofen -I always keep this handy for headaches or anything else that may arise.
• Children's Motrin - We know my son gets swimmer's ear and with it always comes a fever. 
• ​Hydrocortisone Cream - I don't use this often, but it's good to have just in case.
• Claritin - My son has a peanut allergy, so along with his Epipens, we also keep this handy. It was useful when he got some random rash while on vacation and our pediatrician recommended he take some. 
• Aquaphor - This has so many uses! I have used it for chapped lips, to cover a blister, and many other things.

You can put whatever else you think you might need, but these are the things I have in mine and have used the most. I also have extra things like cotton rounds, which I have used to clean off cuts. I have Q-tips that I have used to apply things like the Aquaphor or hydrocortisone cream. I also have these little individually packaged alcohol wipes that have come in handy. Having all of these things on hand have saved us countless hours of our vacation because we haven't had to find a store to buy them. It's one of my best travel tips when traveling with kids.

​This is my kit. It's a disaster from our last trip. I had used several bandaids and they are scattered all about. I will look through this before our next trip and make sure nothing has expired and that I restock the bandaids before I pack it.