When you’re raising kids, you will realize that there are plenty of things you can never do without. You would need it often enough because they are handy and they can help make things easier for you and your handling of children. You would need this often enough because your kids are going to be using these a lot.

The following are things you need to stack up around the house, in your purse, or in your diaper/kiddie bag:

1. Baby wipes. Always so handy, I cannot imagine going around the house and out of the house without it. I have it in my bag even when the children are not with me. Force of habit. I use the wipes for literally everything that needs wiping. With children, it’s easier to keep them looking clean after playing in the yard or eating at a fast food restaurant.

2. Bandages or band-aids. Sometimes, I need it more than the kids need it. It’s a quick relief for cuts. When the children are out in the playground and they cut themselves, wipe the wound with baby wipes and cover it in band aid…and they’re back to playing again as if nothing happened.

3. Hair elastics and bands. This is especially true if you have girls. They always lose theirs so I don’t know what they do with it. But having this in your bag at all times is handy for quick grooming.

4. Baby powder. In this heat, a dab of baby powder can be refreshing and relieving.

There has been some research done about kids and accidents, including what gender and age groups have them the most, and what kinds of accidents they have.  Here, in no particular order, are 10 interesting pieces of information about kids and accidents.  These facts only apply to accidents that happen to kids.

1. 74.5% of all accidents that befall kids happen to kids under the age of 5.
2. Boys are more accident prone than girls (they’ve obviously never met my kids!).
3. The most accidents for both sexes happen to 2 and 3 year olds.
4. Cuts are the most common type of accident, followed by falls and poisoning.
5. Other common accidents include burns, object in the nostril, bloody noses, head injuries, choking, bruises, stings, broken bones, and strained muscles.
6. 1 in 3 children using a walker suffers an injury because of it.  Most of them fall down steps in their walkers.
7. Lacerations are the most common playground injury.
8. 25% of gunshot wounds that are not fatal result in permanent brain damage.
9. Swings and slides cause the most playground injuries.
10. The #1 cause of death in all children up to age 14 is car crashes.  70% of kids aren’t properly restrained in cars.

So, heads up, parents.  We can’t wrap them in bubble wrap (they get all sweaty), but we can minimize the risks as much as possible.