Today's Challenge: Make your own First Aid Kit

Inspired by the day on which DS tripped over a kerb, fell headlong onto his face, teeth first, and I didn't even have a pack of babywipes to mop him up, I decided to take a leaf from my Very Competent Mum Friend's book and make my own portable first aid kit.

A first aid kit is just the kind of thing that you only need if you haven't got one. Since stowing mine in my cavernous handbag, I have very rarely had to use its contents. But it's great to know I have the things I need in case of minor accident or ailment. Like listening to local radio on snowy days to find out about school closures, carrying a first aid kid is a Proper Mum thing to do: here's what 's in mine:

• For bruises: Nelsons Arnica cream or cooling gel. Nelsons arnica cooling gel combines the natural healing properties of arnica with refreshing grapefruit oil and menthol to cool and soothe the skin; just right for red knees. Bashed elbows, chins and knees are a daily occurence with my kids and it's good to feel you can actually do something to soothe a bad knock. You can also use the gel to ease achy muscles after being on your feet all day.
• For relief of fever and pain: Junior Paracetamol Suspension in sachets and a medicine spoon. Or the equivalent Ibufprofen.
• As a nasal decongestant or to clear painful sinuses : Olbas oil
• To kill germs without water or towels: a small bottle of hand sanitizer
• Pack of plasters and wipes to treat minor stings, cuts and grazes, from the chemist.
• As a natural antiseptic: Nelsons Tea tree cream. I have used this for a variety of scrapes and grazes, but also for spots and blemishes, as I have problem skin. It is gentle but effective, rubs in well, and a little goes a long way. The tea tree smell is quite strong (unavoiadable, really, given that it is made with the finest, purest tea tree oil from Australia), but not unpleasant, and at least it is a natural, rather than synthetic, fragrance.
• A pencil case or small toilet bag to keep everything in.