Most households contain at least one ice pack, but when you have kids, you know that not all ice packs are made for everyone. In this article, we discuss the factors that make the best all-around ice packs for children.
But first, let’s dig a little deeper about how ice packs came about. Ice packs may be quite a common find in most medicine cabinets now, but not many know how they came to be.
In the 1920’s, when the concept of refrigeration was born, people started tinkering and experimenting with what else can be done with “manufactured” cold temperatures. In 1948, the “Hot-N-Cold” pack was featured in the August issue of Popular Science. It was described as “a small bag the size of a wallet containing a special liquid that can stay hot and cold for a long time.”
In the decades that followed, various versions of the ice pack were tested and created. It was only in 1971 when Jacob Spencer, a pharmacist and salesman for Pfizer in Long Island, New York, patented the ice pack as we now know.
It’s been over 40 years since the ice pack was patented, and now many types of ice packs are available for different pains, aches and remedies. If you have young children, ice packs are one of the must-haves in your household. But not all children’s ice packs are created the same.
If you’re one of the many parents who want the best ice packs for their children’s comfort, you’ve come to the right place. We did the research for you about the features that you should look for when seeking to buy the best ice pack for your children.
The best ice packs for children: what to look for
1. A multi-purpose children’s ice pack
Cold therapy or cryotherapy is so revered in the realm of physical rehabilitation that it is the go-to for treating most injuries and pains. As a rule, here are some injuries or ailments in children that require cold therapy: minor swelling, bruising, scratches, burns, heat exhaustion, fever and toothache.
The application of cold compress or an ice pack works by lowering the temperature in a specific area of the body while reducing pain and swelling. When you apply an ice pack to an injury, it restricts the blood and liquid flow to the area, which aids in reducing swelling and inflammation.
However, let’s not forget that there are times when heat therapy is required, especially in growing children. When kids have sinus congestion, stye, sore muscles or general body ache, it is advisable to treat them with warm packs.
There are plenty of children’s ice packs available, but most of them offer just cold therapy. Therefore, a gel pack for kids that goes two-ways is something you should seriously consider. Magic Gel’s Children’s Ice Packs for Instant Pain Relief works both as a cold compress when you put them in the fridge or freezer, and they can also serve as warm compress when you quickly pop them in the microwave.
This is the kind of hot-and-cold purpose that will be there for all of your child’s pains and aches!
Children’s Ice Packs by Magic Gel effectively combine fun with function as they are designed in the shapes of colourful and friendly monsters, as well as headband-shaped ice packs in the design of a tiara and a fireman’s hat.
They are also especially created for children, so they are made from comfortable cotton and durable material that goes best with delicate skin. The packs are also filled with non-toxic gel beads that work well in both the fridge, freezer and microwave.
The importance of having ice packs that children actually love to use goes beyond fun and play. When kids associate pain relief with their favourite characters, they won’t dread being in pain so much, so this actually will encourage them to become brave little troopers!
3. Choose one that is reusable and long-lasting
When you have a house full of rambunctious happy kids, you know all too well that disposable or single-use ice packs just won’t do. Injuries and literal growing pains are all part of childhood, so you will need ice packs on-the-ready in your medicine cabinet or fridge. Look for ice packs that are sturdy and reusable – ones that will last you beyond a couple of summers.
These Children’s Ice Packs by Magic Gel are reusable up to 300 times. Whether you use them as cold or heat packs, once they have returned to room temperature, you can put them back in the freezer or microwave to reuse.
4. Get a set with multi-use packs
If you think that you can purchase just one ice pack for your child or children and believe that this will last them until they grow old, you will need to rethink this! This is virtually impossible, especially when you have a house full of active and energetic kids. Consider an ice pack set for children as not only will they have a spare, but this will also be useful for various purposes.
Take, for instance, these Children’s Ice Packs (set of five). Each set contains:
- 1 x Fireman headwrap with gel pack
- 1 x Princess headwrap with gel pack
- 3 x fun, cute, monster-shaped packs in yellow, blue and green
The headwraps are helpful for keeping kids cool when they are fighting a fever, while the three smaller packs are great for various purposes. They can keep kids from heat exhaustion when you use them as ice packs. They are also perfect for kids’ joints (elbows, knees and ankles). When you use them as a heat pack, they can also act as hand warmers.
5. Choose a children’s ice pack that’s portable and easy to pack
Injuries and aches don’t just happen at home, so it’s important to consider portability when getting an ice pack for your kids. Choose a pack that can easily be transported or placed in kids’ bags for when you travel for holidays or go on your annual road trip.
When your kids get a little older, you can pack a couple of these packs in their bags when they go on school trips or excursions. It’s not just a reminder from home, but their favourite ice packs are there to give them courage and confidence to be independent.
We hope we’ve been helpful in helping you choose the best ice pack for your child! If you have any questions or wish to share your experience with children’s ice packs, please send us a message for a chat.