Whether it’s a grandparent, camp counselor, or daycare provider, it can be nerve-racking leaving your child in someone else’s care. Make sure your caregiver has a list of any over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription medicines that your child is taking and knows where to find them. If you know that your child will need to take a certain medicine while you are away, talk to your caregiver about when and how to administer the medicine. You can also include a list of age-appropriate OTC medicines to treat common symptoms like headaches, fevers, and scrapes.

It’s important to tell your child’s caregiver of any seasonal, food, or medicine allergies. Let them know what they can use to treat symptoms of an allergic reaction or instructions on using an epinephrine autoinjector to treat anaphylaxis.

You can’t predict all accidents, but you can make sure your child’s caregiver is prepared, so have a first-aid kit at home. A basic first-aid kit should contain a thermometer, bandages, pain relievers (acetaminophen and/or ibuprofen), topical creams or lotions for bug bites, antibiotic creams or ointments (Neosporin) to treat cuts, and alcohol wipes. Before you leave the house, put a list of important phone numbers to call in case of an emergency, including numbers for one or both parents, your child’s healthcare provider, family members, emergency services, and the Poison Prevention Help Line (1-800-222-1222).