Four steps to dealing with bumps and scrapes like a mum-ninja

This post was written in collaboration with Safe and Sound Health, but all words and pictures are my own. This post contains affiliate links. Please read my disclaimer here.

My children – like most, I’m sure – have been constantly covered in bumps, scrapes and bruises since the day they could crawl.

I do try my hardest not to cause them injury myself, but my oldest is a little clumsy (much like me), and my youngest has never had any fear; he runs without looking and his favourite pastime at the moment is climbing trees. Paired with learning to ride a bike, his knees and forehead often resemble a relief map of the Andes.

Although I have given serious consideration to wrapping him in bubble wrap and/or never allowing him to leave the house unless it’s to a padded area, with soft plays closed that’s not an option. Lockdown has taught me that kids are a bit like puppies in that a certain amount of running about outside is necessary to keep them from wrecking the furniture.

The fresh air is good for them, and it keeps the house much tidier, even if it does mean a few grazes here and there – it’s all part of being a kid.

Take last week as an example…

The plan was a nice family Winnie the Pooh walk in the Ashdown Forest, however by the time our satnav had taken us there via the most terrifying country lane route, everyone needed to go to the loo.

After a very short walk involving my oldest falling over a tree root within about 6 seconds of getting there, we decamped to a local pub to have a drink and use the facilities. Which would have been great except she then sat on a wasp who wasn’t very happy about it and stung her on the leg.

By the time everyone had calmed down it was too late to go back and resume our walk, so we decided to book our favourite restaurant in town as a treat. Doug dropped us off to take the dog back home and we went for a run around the castle, where youngest immediately stacked it on the concrete and grazed his elbow and knee and bled everywhere.

That’s three separate injuries, all within the space of two hours.

Quite impressive, really. And this is why I carry a small first aid kit with me everywhere.

But I’m getting ahead of myself.

Before doling out the plasters, I implement the first of my four mum-ninja tactics, and that is;

1. Ignore it

I’m not just a horrible parent, but experience tells me that kids falling over their own feet on the grass is unlikely to result in serious injury; in fact so far we have avoided broken bones and stitches entirely.

I’m fairly sure that my kids aren’t unusual in that they often make out that it’s a lot worse than it actually is for a bit of attention, in the way of premiership footballers. When they realise that none is forthcoming often the tears will dry up immediately and they will pick themselves up, none the worse for their ‘traumatic’ incident.

2. Kiss it better

If they’re still upset, a kiss and a bit of attention can cure most ills.

However if there is even a hint of a graze, it’s time to deploy tactic number three;

3. Dispense a colourful plaster.

Plasters are hugely coveted. When she was younger, my oldest would throw herself down in a dramatic way in order to convince me she needs a plaster. My smallest, as a toddler, learned the word ‘passserrr!’ quite early on and would scream it at me whilst pointing to a new bruise on himself. Memories.

Several years on and it still works, more or less. When there is a graze or any blood, a quick clean with antiseptic spray and a plaster with a dinosaur or unicorn on it works wonders and produces happy smiles almost in almost an instant.

Fun character plasters like these ones from Safe and Sound are made just for kids; they are soft and gentle and stretch with the skin so that they stay in place and protect the wound from from bacteria, germs and the risk of infection.

I keep them in my wallet at all times, alongside the antibacterial gel (or this kid-friendly antibacterial hand foam) which all parents carry everywhere at the moment.

However if for some reason we are all out, or I’ve already blown through several that day I go with my final strategy;

4. Bribery

Usually this is a promise of snacks, but I go with whatever I have on hand.

So there you have it. That was my comprehensive guide to dealing with my children’s bumps and scrapes: Carry snacks but don’t give in too soon, and always have colourful plasters.

For more information, refer to the Safe and Sound Healthcare website. Their products can be purchased from local pharmacists and Amazon.