Mum of six and founder of Mini First Aid, Kate shares her first aid tips for new parents. 

“When we get ready for baby to arrive, we often focus on the softer side; the nursery, the change bag, the pram, the first outfit. Why not? Having a baby is an exciting time.  We then start to think about the birth, how we want things to go and how we plan to feed our baby. It is hard not to feel nervous as a new parent. 

Everything is unknown. At Mini First Aid we cannot give you all the magic answers about getting your baby to sleep through the night, but we can help you to think about practically equipping yourself for baby, and to think about First Aid. Its amazing that so many parents do not have the basic first aid knowledge to help save a child’s life."

Here are Kate's top tips:

• Attend a baby first aid class. Knowing what to do in an emergency could literally save a life. 
• Ask the adults (grandparents and carers) who will be spending time with your baby to also attend a first aid class and don’t forget siblings can attend First Aid classes designed for children.
• Make sure you have a first aid kit in your change bag or under your pram and another located at home in the room you spend most of your time in.  Make sure that everyone knows where the first aid kit is kept and replenish supplies regularly.
• Find out which neighbours are at home at particular times of day, so that if you ever need emergency help, you know who you can call on.
• Make sure you know where your nearest Paediatric A & E is located (not all hospitals have one).

For many parents weaning their babies, the possibility of them choking is really scary. And the worry doesn’t stop as babies turn to toddlers, when they continue to stuff food in their mouths in vast quantities. We, as parents, fear choking especially when we hear so many terrible stories in the press. So, what do we do?

Firstly, we show our babies and children that grown-ups eat sitting down, chew properly (!) and that we never put too much in our mouths. We never leave a baby or child eating without supervision. Silence is the sign of choking. 

We then learn to deal with choking:

Choking Baby (aged 0-1)

• 5 back slaps. 
• Up to 5 chest thrusts (jabbing motion). Check if anything comes out. If nothing has come out, call 999. 
• Cycles of 5 back slaps & 5 chest thrusts. 

You must always refer any child or baby to hospital who has been choking and where abdominal manoeuvres have been used. 

The treatment of choking and the way you have to deliver CPR change in technique for children over the age of 1. Make sure you have booked yourself into a first aid class to learn the essential differences.

It is never too early to explain to your baby what is happening if they do get hurt. You can reassure your child, telling him/her what you are doing: “Mummy is just going to get you all cleaned up”. If you are confident around medical practitioners your child(ren) will learn to that if they are hurt, whilst they might be in pain; a grown up is going to look after them.

To buy a first aid kit or a children’s first aid bedtime story ‘The Mini Adventures of Freddie’ visit www.minifirstaidshop.co.uk. 

To book onto a Mini First Aid course near where you live, go to www.minifirstaid.co.uk