Easier Way to Remove Bandaids?

I use baby oil while my boys are in the bathtub or vaseline. I usually take it off when they are bathing and just rub the oil on the bandaid and take it off. Plus this way they are too busy playing in the tub then watching what you are doing. They don't even notice it was off.

Hi, You could try using mineral oil. Soak it over the bandaid are. Anything that is oily like that works great!!!

You can buy latex-free paper tape - it's the one with the green "cutter". I've been using that and a portion of a cotton square on my kids because of my latex allergy. The best thing about it is that you can put their favorite sticker on top of the homemade bandaid. We don't use Neosporin but if you do it will keep the cotton from sticking to an open wound.

When i worked at a vet office we would use a special spray to remove tape from fur...It is basically baby oil. Try rubbing some on the adhesive after you pull a small corner. You kind of rub it on the underside as you remove. You'll have to tell her to be patient as mommy tries an ouch-free method. I've never tried it with my daughter but it works with animals and they will bite if it hurts :). use it sparingly as you know a little baby oil goes a long way and you don't want to get it all over clothes.

Hi J.,
Well, here's my take on this. Faster is better. I have always just made it a policy in my house that we don't fuss around with how we're going to get bandaids or tape off easily. I just say 1-2-3 and pull fast, and then it's over. Kids are hurt worse from the original injury than from taking off the bandaid used to cover it. This may sound silly, but I think it sets your kids up for unrealistic expectations regarding injuries and medical issues. Just pull it off and get it over with. Kids are as tough as you let them be. And by the way, just because there's a red mark where the tape was doesn't mean your child has an allergy to the bandaid or tape. It's a natural skin reaction. A true allergy would cause hives and excessive itching and even blistering when the bandaid or tape is applied. If none of that happens, the redness just goes away and it's over, then ta-da, no allergy. Very few people truly have an allergy to bandaids or tape. But back to your original question, I don't want to sound like a mean mom, but really, just pull it off and be done with it. It stops the drama, it's no nonsense. It's part of life. I have found the more I teach my kids to just deal with the inevitable, the better they are at dealing with everything else that comes their way.

Make up remover or baby oil helps. The makeup remover has just enough oil in it to loosen the sticky part of the bandage. Try it. It works every time for me.

L.

I have two suggestions. Try playing doctor with her and put bandaids on both of you. Then practice removing them from each other. Since you won't have any actual "boo-boo's" she won't be as afraid to take them off. The other suggestion would be to do it when she's asleep. After a nighttime bath, while the bandaid is still moist, sneak in while she's asleep and slip it off ;)

Hi, J.!

Try using baby oil to soak the area & remove it. This is a tip I got from my sister. Let me know how it goes.

My first thought was WD-40 so I imagine any of the previously mentioned oil based products would work.
I wouldn't use the alcohol. If it gets into the wound under the bandaid that could sting.

Try cloth bandaids. She may have a slight alergy to the plastic latex kind.
J.

Try letting her take off her own bandaid when she is ready. She will soon know that it only stings or hurts for a very, very short while. Good luck!

Take a cotten ball and soak it in rubbing alcohol then rub it on the bandaid (as long as it is not the water proof kind) Let is soak for a bit and then slowly the edges may liftpull up slightly and rub the glue attached to the skin with the cotton ball. it will slowly release without the pain. The alcohol kills the glue. This is how hospitals take off tape for things that should not be bothered in the skin(like IVs) It works great. Waterproof bandaids will work to but there is no use putting it on top of the bandaid just work the edges with it.

Hope this helps.

K.

We've had the same problem and found that either adding a little neosporin to help loosen it around the edges works OR working it off slow and steady... We had to take off some of the hospital tape they use these days and it's very sticky, my son would only allow me to inch it off.. Another trick I use is to spray a little bactine and or ice as I go, this way it kinda numbs the area and you can pull a little bit more of the band-aid off...
(oh and hold the skin taut while you pull at the band-aid, this definitely helps too..
best of luck to you!!

A trick that might help for future band aids. It's something we do on our elderly patients with very thin, fragile skin that tears easily.

Take the cover off the bandaid so that the adhesive is exposed. Then lightly repeatedly stick the adhesive to any nearby cloth surface: the bedding, a towel, your blue jeans. Do one side at a time and keep the pad of the bandaid off the surface so that it remains sterile.

This removes quite a bit of the glue so that the bandaid will stick lightly and remove easily after that.

I know some have already mentioned the allergy to the bandaid glue. My son is also allergic to the glue. Awful stuff. I found that medical tape over a gauze is easiest on his skin. Not very pleasing to the eye but definitely comes off easier and without the skin reaction. Hope this helps!

Hi J.,

I had the same problem (huge red welts on my sons' arms) and actually asked the nurse at our ped's office. She suggested to apply warm heat from a blow dryer before I took it off (to 'melt' the glue). Unfortunately (or fortunately-depends on how you look at it), last time we went for shots, the band-aids didn't stick too well, so they came off on their own. So I didn't have a chance to try it yet.

Good luck and many blessings to your family.

N.

I always just grab the nearest vegetable oil to get sticky stuff off. In this house, that's olive oil or coconut oil, both of which are much better for the skin than mineral oil.

She may be like me and allergic to the glue in the bandaids themselves - that would explain the angry red mark afterwards.

What helps me remove them is in the bath or shower, not just soaking it, but making sure to soap the bandaid up. I work my finger under the not stuck part and gently slide my finger and soap between the bandaid and my skin. Always works great for me.

Good luck!

Hi, as a nurse, I always have to take tape off of people. I find the best thing is to use your non-dominant hand to help hold down the skin area you are peeling off with the other hand. Usually when we are pulling off tape (bandaid), it causes the skin to pull up, which is generally what is causing the pain. Sometimes, we also use a little alcohol pad (or nail polish remover will work) to wipe the perimeter of the taped area, as this sometimes loosens up the tape. Lastly, you mentioned that your daughter gets an angry red spot where you took off the bandaid. It could be a possibility that she is allergic to the tape or the bandaid.

I believe you can ask for the least sticky band-aids they have. They have a huge variety - or buy your own "cheapies" (let your child pick them - and take them with you.

:0) Blessings

Hi J.,

I am allergic to adhesive...and get red/angry and lose the first layer of skin everytime...I have to be very careful when doing lab work as they are tape happy...the stick to itself stretch wrap seems OK...and can hold on a non-stick gause pad...

Good Luck with your growing girl!
T.

Many People mentioned the glue and a reaction. I have been using Latex free band-aids and it has been easier to remove them and there is not a red rash after.

Simple -- let HER take the bandaid off. My daughter was the same way (still is at age 6) and I just let her do it.

Two things that can help. Mineral oil (main ingredient in most baby oils) can get the adhesive to release. Vegetable based oils won’t work as well but you can give it a try in a pinch.

Also alcohol can help break down the adhesive.

Try latex-free bandaids. Also, I've found some cheap brands of bandages come off on their own in an hour or two if they're on a body part that gets moved a lot. Bring your own bandaids to the Dr. appointments. Water-proof are the worst to get off. The only other thing you might try is soaking the stuck bandaid with baby oil before trying to pull off, it works on the left over glue and takes off those temporary tattoos.