Anyone living in a house with an active small child knows that you’d better stock up on all the bandages necessary to cover all those little scrapes, nicks, cuts, and other boo-boos. But what types of bandages are best to use with children?
You will first want a box (or several) of your basic adhesive strip bandages (commonly referred to as Band-Aids, although this is a brand name and not a generic term). The plastic ones are generally a better choice than the cloth ones. Not only are they less expensive, but they are also less likely to fray or to catch on clothing. The adhesive used in plastic bandages is also less likely to leave deposits on the skin – for some reason the cloth ones tend to be gummier, leaving residue that you then have to remove with baby oil, vegetable oil, or some of the oil-based adhesive remover that you can buy just for bandage removing.
You will also need some of the specially-shaped adhesive bandages such as fingertip and knuckle bandages (these ones tend to be cloth, which works just fine in this case). The fingertip ones are especially useful for just what their name implies - cuts on the top of a finger where a strip bandage is less likely to adhere. They can also be used around small knuckle injuries or for toes. Knuckle bandages can be used for larger knuckles, and are also useful for scrapes on elbows, heels, and even chins. You can also use them for those top of the finger injuries should you run out of the fingertip bandages first. (Usually the specialty adhesive bandages come in mixed boxes, and you might not like to run out and buy a new box when you’ve only run out of one kind.)
If adhesive bandages irritate your child’s skin, or if the wounds are shaped or located such that adhesive bandages just won’t do, you might also want to invest in some sterile gauze pads and paper first aid tape. You should also get some of the stretchy gauze that comes in rolls – this can be used to wrap cuts and scrapes too large for an ordinary bandage or as a temporary cover for burns and cuts before you can get to a doctor. You should never use an ace bandage on a child, though. These are too likely to slip down, twist, and tighten on child-sized arms and legs.
Before you bandage a wound (meaning a scrape or shallow cut – for a deep or wide cut or puncture wound, seek immediate medical attention), you should, of course, cleanse it thoroughly because any dirt left on the skin could lead to infection. First rinse the area with water to flush away any debris, then wash gently with soap and warm water. Do not use iodine or other antiseptic solutions, as these have little protective value and instead are likely to add to the pain and discomfort. You can use an antibiotic ointment, although avoid ones containing neomycin if using on an infant. The antibiotic ointment should not be applied directly to a cut. It's better for the wound just to put the ointment on the bandage first, before it is applied.
Most important – don’t forget to kiss the boo-boo to make it all better!
