DIY kid’s ice pack cover tutorial – stay dry & stay put!

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With two kids and daily outings, it felt like we were sick more of this past winter than not. Both kids run high fevers when they are sick, and I like to avoid medicating them around the clock. When I’m holding off on ibuprofen, we immediately bulk up on probiotics, juice/water, and snuggles. I have always tried to use an ice pack or cool washcloth to make them more comfortable, but they both move too much for it to help.

Finally I took the time to sew an icepack cover, with elastic so it doesn’t slide off! The PUL fabric is waterproof, so it feels cold quickly but doesn’t drip condensation or water everywhere. Best of all? It is really fast to sew. I’m glad to have it tucked away for the next time the flu hits our house, along with the new. I’ve never given an electrolyte drink because they seemed to be full of artificial colorings and other junk we avoid; so I was happy to read that Little Remedies is free of artificial flavors, artificial colors, and parabens.

My son is not the most cooperative model, so I was shocked when he actually liked the cool feeling on his head (he is not sick right now) and laid peacefully. He said it was comfy enough to sleep in – hopefully we don’t have to test that any time soon.

I always want to read the ingredients so I figured I’d include those here. We’ve used Little Remedies in the past for cold-related medicines, so I wasn’t too suspicious, we trust the brand. A packet has 5 billion active cultures of the probiotic strain, which keeps their digestive system in balance and helps their immune system function (I do have to point out that: This statement has not been evaluated by the food and drug administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.) As you can see, it is a fun hot pink color and berry flavored.

We’ll be saving these for the next round of illness; I hope summer brings us a break though! If you are dealing with sick kids, or want to be prepared, let’s sew an ice pack cover to keep their heads cool. It uses very little fabric – mine is made from the scraps of the long sleeved bibs I made recently!

Supplies

• 1/2 yard of 1″ elastic
• 1/4 yard of PUL – a waterproof, soft fabric typically used for diapers
• Ballpoint needle
• 15″ of FOE – fold over elastic
• A standard size washcloth
• Scissors

Steps

1. Cut out 3 rectangles: 11.5″ X 6″, 9.5 X 6″, & 4″ X 6″. Lay the largest rectangle along your child’s forehead and measure from end to end around the back of their head, subtract 2″. My son wears 5/6 clothes, with a large head, and I used a 10″ piece of elastic.
2. Sew FOE over one short end of each smaller rectangle. It just folds over and you sew along the edges, a walking foot  helps but isn’t necessary. I leave a tail of each end so it’s easier to get the stitching started, but trim them off once it’s secure.

3. Lay your larger rectangle right side up and sew the elastic centered, so it’s going lengthwise. I do two rows of stitching, and then repeat on the other side.

4. You’re going to lay all three rectangles with their right sides facing each other, with the smallest rectangle in between the other two. This will create an overlap for an envelope opening/closure. I like to baste along each short edge, as you can see below, and then pin/clip all around.

5. Sew completely around with 1/4 seam allowance, making sure you are catching all 3 layers where they intersect. Trim the corners off, turn right side out, and gently poke them out. You’re done!

A standard sized washcloth or long medical ice pack slides right in.

Easy, right? This would make a great gift in a care package or even for a new Mom! Tuck it in along with some of the Little Remedies saline & the Probiotics + Electrolytes for when sickness strikes. I bought mine at Target; it is in the “digestive” aisle and not the baby section, as you can see below.