Watch My Family 1st Aid Kit Video + Get My FREE Downloadable List

As a CPR & Safety Instructor I talk a lot about First Aid Kits. Plus, as a mom of 3 high energy kids (going on 4 this fall) I use my first aid skills pretty frequently. While there are lots of amazing pre-made kits in stores, most of them don't come with medications included (vs. in the US where they typically are included) so make sure you check what's inside to confirm before relying on it in an emergency.

You can put together a fairly simple DIY kit for family use with some items you can easily get online, or from your local grocery store or pharmacy. Watch my video to see my basic First Aid Kit for everyday use with a young family whether around your home, cottage, camping, or on a trip.

Make sure you click the link below to get my Downloadable 1st Aid Kit List, so you can create your own 1st Aid Kit for all of your family adventures. Plus don't forget to subscribe to my YouTube Channel to stay up to date on all of my newest videos. 

If you want to learn more about my CPR & Safety Workshops click here. You can also email me directly (care@with-care.ca) if you would like to arrange a private in-home CPR & Safety Workshop. 

Don't hesitate to comment below with any questions, or send along ideas of contents that you like to include in your own 1st Aid Kits. I always love to hear new ideas.

- Care

In this post: Details of contents can be found in the comments of the YouTube video. Please click the link here to see the products featured. 

*The information in this video is meant to help you learn about first aid and safety. It is not intended to override the instructions given to you by your health care team. The information provided does not constitute individual advice or consultation and should not be used as such. 

Keeping Our Kiddos Safe In Summer - Preventing, Recognizing & Treating Overheating & Dehydration

Summertime is so much fun with little ones, but it can also be a dangerous season if we don't consider how to keep our little ones cool and hydrated during extreme heat. Babies and young children have a smaller amount of liquid in their body, so dehydration can progress more quickly than in adults. Additionally, babies and young children can't sweat as well as adults, so they can have a hard time cooling their bodies down once they begin to heat up, putting them at higher risk of overheating. That's why it's very important to keep a close eye on your little ones on hot and humid days. Most of the time we can recognize the early signs and symptoms of dehydration and overheating (heat exhaustion & heat cramps) and work to prevent any serious issues. If ignored, these can progress to Heat Stroke and Severe Dehydration - which are a medical emergency and life threatening. 

As a CPR & Safety Instructor and mom of 3, I get lots of questions about keeping kids safe from the sun and heat in the summer months. So today, I'm sharing a few tips on keeping your kiddos safe from the sun, and preventing overheating and dehydration. Plus how to recognize the signs and symptoms of heat related illnesses, and what to do if you're concerned about your little one. 

How to Keep Littles Safe In the Sun: 

• It is recommended that babies under 6 months old stay out of the sun, and sunscreens are not recommended. If you absolutely can't keep baby shaded from the sun, a small amount of sunscreen is typically safer than sun exposure to their sensitive skin.

• Cover up as much skin as possible with light loose breathable clothing

• For kids and babies over 6 months use a broad spectrum sun screen of SPF30+ daily on exposed skin, and don't forget to reapply frequently. This is my current favourite

• Use a brimmed hat and UV protective sunglasses (if your little will keep them on!)

• Stay in the shade as much as possible

• Use UV protective clothing and swim suits

• Use umbrellas to create shade

When parents are concerned about sun exposure they often cover their baby completely, putting them at a much higher risk of overheating. Here are some tips to reduce that risk and keep babies & big kids safe on hot days. 

How to Reduce the Risk of Heat Related Illnesses:

• Stay home on heat/smog advisory days, or head to air conditioned spaces e.g. libraries, community centres, shopping centres

• Dress in light breathable natural fabrics

• Play outside before 10am & after 4pm when the sun is less intense

• Play in the shade

• Use a sprinkler, water mister, or fan to stay cool

• Encourage hydration throughout the day. Breastmilk/Formula are the main forms of hydration for infants under 1 year, but a small amount of water is appropriate if you're concerned about their fluid intake on a hot day. Clear fluids like water and coconut water are ideal. You can flavour water with fresh fruit for a nice change. Popsicles are also a great way to hydrate and stay cool. Kids can get distracted when having fun, so make sure you stop regularly for hydration breaks.

• Eat foods with high water content eg. watermelon, cucumbers, cantaloupe, blueberries, oranges etc

• Never leave a baby, child or pet in a parked car, even for a moment. A parked car can reach life threatening temperatures within minutes.

• When out and about with your stroller or car seat avoid using plastic sun covers, and never fully cover your baby. A few years ago a Swedish research study showed that a covered stroller or car seat can become dangerously hot very quickly, even with a light muslin blanket. If you are using a stroller cover, please ensure it's a UV protective breathable mesh cover, or ensure you don't cover the entire opening. Always prioritize air flow to baby.

You should always be able to see your baby's face without lifting up the fabric. Oh hot sunny days I use a set of Kiddie Clips to hold a light weight blanket in place which creates good sun cover for Penny's bare legs, but does not block the air circulation to her face. If you're ever draping a blanket over a car seat please ensure there is adequate air flow and that baby is always visible. (*Special offer from Kiddie Clips below)

• If you're babywearing try to choose a carrier made of a lightweight breathable fabric like linen, or one with a mesh panel to allow air flow. My favourite in the summer months are my Sakura Bloom Linen Ring Sling and my new I-Angel Hip Seat Carrier with mesh panel. If you or baby is getting too hot make sure you take a break and remove baby from the carrier to cool off in the shade or inside. *These are only 2 examples of carriers which are ideal for summer wearing. I always encourage parents to "try before you buy", as you never know what will fit you and your babywearing needs best until you try it with your own baby. Join me at my monthly FREE Babywearing Drop In to learn more about babywearing, or to try any of my carriers.

Even when we follow these recommendations overheating can happen in our extreme climate. Learn the signs and symptoms below so you will know how to recognize heat related illnesses early, and treat them to avoid an emergency.

Signs and Symptoms of Overheating and Dehydration:

• Change in behaviour eg. lethargy, drowsiness, irritability

• Muscle Cramps

• Decreased urination/dark yellow urine

• Headache

• Extreme thirst

• Nausea/Vomiting

• Cool, clammy skin

• Weakness/Fainting

• Fever

• Rapid breathing & heart rate

What to Do If You Notice Concerning Symptoms: 

• Bring person to a cool place indoors, an air-conditioned car, or shady area

• Remove excess clothing

• Encourage hydration (clear, non-caffeinated, non-carbonated liquids are best)

• Apply a cool wet cloth to skin *Here's one of my fave mom hacks for summer. If we're headed out on a long summer day trip I always plan ahead and freeze a few water bottles in the deep freeze the night before. The frozen bottles stay cold late into the day and keep the rest of the food/drinks cool. They can be used to hydrate, but can also be applied to the back of the neck/wrist, or thawed cold water can be poured over a piece of fabric for a compress, to help cool someone off if need be.

• With mild symptoms continue to encourage hydration and monitor closely.

• If they are refusing liquids, and symptoms are not improving or becoming more serious, contact your health care provider or head to a clinic to get health care immediately.

• Always call 911 if situation becomes life threatening (eg. overheating or dehydration causing rapid breathing, a true fever, increased heart rate, fainting, unresponsiveness)

I hope these tips make you feel more confident caring for your babes in our hot summer months. In my experience parents focus so much on their little ones well being, and often forget about their own. So here's a friendly reminder for all parents, and especially the nursing mamas out there, to up your hydration during the summer months so you to keep up with the increased hydration your body needs.

If you want to learn more about keeping your family safe throughout the year check out my Infant/Family CPR & Safety Workshops (Private in-home and public group classes available). As a little gift please use code: sunsmart10 for 10% off your own set of Kiddie Clips. Please post any questions or comments below, and let me know if you have any topics you would like me to cover. 

Care

IN THIS POST: 

Ollibaby Kiddie Clips *10% off code: sunsmart10    |    I Angel: Grey Chevron Hip Seat Carrier    |    Tiny Trendsetter: Chambray Bonnet & Saltwater Sandals    |    Diaper-eez: UV suits, Baby Sunglasses *10% off code: Withcare   |    Sakura Bloom: Linen Ring Sling     |     Uppababy Vista Stroller    |    Bonjour Baby Baskets Little Unicorn Official Strawberry Blanket 

*This is a sponsored post which means I was provided compensation and/or product for this post. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

Parents, Please Stop Covering Your Baby's Face!

I've wanted to write a post about this for a long time, but kept holding off. Probably because I didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings, or make parents feel guilty, but that's not what this post is about. I am certain that almost every parent makes decisions with their kid's best interest at heart. We all want what is best for our little one's development, growth, and definitely safety. That's why it's always difficult to approach parents to discuss safety concerns about their little one when I'm hosting community events and teaching workshops. As a healthcare provider and expert in family safety I made a commitment long ago not to bother any parents about personal preferences or things that involve comfort, but safety concerns I cannot overlook. I would never forgive myself if an incident that I ignored led to a baby's harm, or even worse death. 

Lately I have had several incidents involving infants being brought to my events completely covered and concealed without adequate access to fresh air. In some cases it has been babies in their infant car seats with winter seat covers tightly closed around them. In other cases it was babies being worn in baby carriers with coat extensions zipped up fully covering the baby's face, or a blanket covering the baby's head. While I understand the cold weather can be daunting and hard to contend with (especially if you have well meaning people constantly chiming in on how cold baby is!), it is essential to remember that fresh oxygen flow is paramount, and that without it an infant can suffocate.

The importance of fresh air flow around our infant is one of the key messages in SIDs prevention and safe sleep, and is just as essential when our baby is in a car seat, stroller, or baby carrier. Seeing our baby's face allows us to assess their well being through their skin tone and breathing patterns. When we cover our baby completely, they lose access to fresh air, and we lose the ability to ensure they are well. The American Academy of Paediatrics reminds parents to "Be sure to leave baby's face uncovered to avoid trapped air and re-breathing.” It's important that parents are aware that covering a baby’s face completely in a carrier, car seat or stroller can lead to overheating and suffocation (eg. Image B below).

In addition, we must consider what is safe for use in our vehicles. Many retailers carry car seat bundling products that are not safe to use in a car seat. Just because it's on the shelf at the store does not mean it is safe. When I raise this in my Infant/Family CPR & Safety Workshops parents are often confused as to why products are sold in stores that might be unsafe for baby. In an age where products are constantly entering the marketplace it can be tough to assess what is safe. If a product passes testing for things like textile strength and flammability they often get put up on shelves without any assessment about how parents may use these products, and what real life risk they pose for babies. With the introduction and popularity of car seat covers in recent years, parents have been warned to avoid any covers that go between the baby’s body and the straps (Image A below). These types of covers impact the fit of the harness and do not allow for proper safe use of the car seat as directed by the manufacturer.

A - Backed Car seat covers are Not Safe for Use in car seats. Only for use in stroller seats.

B - Backless Product. Please always keep flap open so baby gets adequate airflow and baby's wellbeing can be assessed

C - Backless Product. Please always keep flaps open so baby gets adequate airflow and baby's wellbeing can be assessed

When preparing our kiddos to go in their car seats in cold weather it's recommended that we dress them in tight fitting compressible layers (not snowsuits or puffy bunting suits). A snug fitting fleece outfit like this one from MEC can be a good option. If you're planning to use something extra to help keep baby warm in their car seat, please make sure it is a product that does not interfere with placement or correct adjustment of the straps, or with fresh air flow. This typically means using a simple blanket tucked in around them once they are strapped in properly, or purchasing a "backless" car seat cover like the Skip Hop one pictured here. These are a great option for infants during our cold winters, but please always ensure you keep baby’s face visible.

The same goes for babies being worn in baby carriers. Recently Health Canada introduced a Public Service Announcement with the message "Visible & Kissable." It aims to remind parents that having our baby in an upright and supported position, without anything covering their face or blocking their access to fresh air, is essential. If baby is being worn in a baby carrier against their parent's body they should mainly be shielded from the wind. As you can see from the photo above of me babywearing Penny, she is well protected from the elements but her face and airflow are not obstructed in any way. If you're going out on an extremely cold day and are concerned about baby's exposed skin, a layer of shea butter or another natural barrier cream can help. If you want to learn more check out my post on Winter Babywearing Essentials.

If it's absolutely necessary to cover your baby for a brief moment to protect them from extreme cold (whether in a baby carrier, a car seat or a stroller) please use a breathable blanket, keep a very close eye on your baby and uncover them immediately. 

Our babies are really cute. Let's make sure we can always see their adorable faces. 

Care 

*This is not a sponsored post.

Please comment below with any questions or topics you would like me to cover in the future. 

Fifty-Seven Comes to Parkdale! - This Little Piggy

I'm very excited to announce a new collaboration with This Little Piggy. 

Starting in June we will be offering our very popular Infant CPR & Family Safety Workshop to the parents of Parkdale! 

This Little Piggy is one of my favourite shops in the city for expectant and young families because they focus on selling tons of amazing local brands. Check it out if you haven't already! They have a great online shop that's easy to use. Plus you can follow their beautiful Instagram feed to see their adorable products and stay up to date on in-store events.  

*Don't wait to register! Space is very limited and these workshops always sell out fast. Register Online Here or contact info@fifty-seven.ca or 416.972.9367 for any questions or assistance registering. 

Looking forward to meeting lots of local Parkdale families.

Warmly,

- Care