Stick with these! (Elastoplast Knee and Elbow Plasters)

Member Name: mummy2harry

Product:	Elastoplast Knee and Elbow Plasters
Date:	27/05/09 (176 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great designs, appeal to children, good for elbows and knees, stay put

Disadvantages: Slightly more expensive than normal plasters

As much as we want to protect our little darlings, its almost inevitable that they are going to get a fair few bumps and bruises growing up that we are just not able to prevent. All we can do in these circumstances is give them a big hug and kiss, and pop a funky plaster on to help them forget the aches and pains of their injury. I am quite lucky that Harry has never really damaged himself too badly, but since he has been at nursery, he's got a few more grazes and is more tired so accidents are getting more frequent. I've just refreshed my first aid kit and these were a new product I have added to it and have come in handy already!

Elastoplast are synonymous with quality plasters across the country, and they produce a vast range of plasters to suit any type of injury. I always keep a variety box of plasters in my house because with a toddler (and clumsy mummy!) you need them, and I think they are a staple for any house. These particular plasters are slightly different, and are a new range that have come out aimed at children. The plasters are called "Knee and Elbow Plasters" and are currently available in all chemists and supermarkets.

The plasters come in a recyclable cardboard box and has the striking red and yellow Elastoplast at the top, so you can't mistake these for any other plasters. The box is blue, but despite this the plasters are unisex as they are the only design available at the moment. The box shows a plaster with Finding Nemo characters on, and this is how the rest of the plasters are too. In the box you get 8 large plasters, all of the same size and shape but they have different designs on them. The box is sealable with a hinged top and therefore it keeps the plasters clean and fresh.

The plasters themselves are easy to use. You have to remove the paper wrapper by peeling the pieces back and then the plaster comes out easily. It is quite a flimsy plastic feel, and is a nice bright turquoise colour which stands out nicely against children's skin. You have to remove the paper from the sticky side of the plaster, and then apply the plaster to the skin. Because they are thin plasters, you have to make sure you stretch it out as you are applying it to the skin otherwise it will crease and then there will be a little bit of plaster to be pulled up by fidgety toddler hands!

Once applied to the skin, the plasters sit really flat on the skin and are not that easy to remove. I think this is a good thing because I know Harry would be peeling it off if they were any easier and this would really get on my nerves since these plasters aren't that cheap. The shape has curved sides which make them ideal for placing on elbows and knees i.e. areas that bend and flex a lot and need plasters that can move with the joint. The thin material also allow plenty of movement too without restraining the surrounding skin which is important with delicate young skin. I used one on Harry's elbow and it didn't move for a day and a half until I removed it and he never complained the plaster was hurting and seemed proud of it being there! Removal is fairly easy, you just have to find a small corner to pull up and they come away from the skin without too much pain and they left no mark or sticky patches on Harry's skin which is great.

The design of them makes them totally child-friendly and will hopefully help them forget the blood that may lurk underneath. There are 4 different designs, each a different fish or animal from Finding Nemo, and Harry did like the Nemo one. The striking orange fish against the blue background made it nice and bright, and therefore children will want to wear them to show their friends. I haven't seen another design but as far as I know both boys and girls like Nemo so it shouldn't be too much of a problem. The average price for these is £2.77 for 8 plasters, and its great value for the peace of mind they give when your child is hurt.

I would not be without some of these in my first aid kit now. It can be awkward trying to get a rectangular plaster to stick to a knee because it bends with the movement of the joint, creases and then loses its sticky so you can easily get through plasters quickly without realising it. These plasters are specially designed to sit on those joints and stay put despite movement. Harry loves the funky designs and the bright colours are ideal for young children, and doesn't mind putting one of these on a graze or cut. If you have kids, I would thoroughly recommend these plasters and they will be a great addition to any family's first aid kit.

Note: Please do not use if you have an allergy to plasters - check with your GP first.

For more information, see http://www.elastoplast.co.uk
Plaster size: 60mm x 75mm

Thank you for reading.

Summary: A fab plaster for children