Baby Emergency Kit Checklist: What Infants Need
Quick answer: Keep at least a 3-day supply of baby gear in a grab-and-go bag and aim for 2 weeks at home, the same targets the American Red Cross uses for food and water. For formula-fed babies, the CDC says ready-to-feed formula is the safest option in an emergency; the AAP puts intake at about 2.5 ounces per pound of body weight per day, usually no more than 32 ounces in 24 hours, so 3 days can mean up to 96 ounces. Check the kit every month.
A power outage, winter storm or evacuation order is hard on anyone. With an infant, it gets harder fast: formula and diapers run out, and the bottle you'd normally wash in hot tap water now needs a plan. This baby emergency kit checklist walks through what infants actually need, why each item matters, and the safety rules that matter most when the lights go out.
Why Babies Need Their Own Emergency Kit
A standard family kit covers water, food, a flashlight, a radio and first aid. Ready.gov adds "infant formula, bottles, diapers, wipes and diaper rash cream" to its list of extra supplies, but an infant emergency kit needs more than one line on a checklist. Babies dehydrate faster than adults, can't tell you they feel sick, and have sleep safety rules that don't bend in a shelter or a dark house.
How Many Days Should a Baby Kit Cover?
Plan in two layers:
Go bag (evacuation): at least 3 days of supplies you can grab in minutes.
Home supply (sheltering in place): up to 2 weeks if you have the space and budget.
Those are the Red Cross's food and water targets. Other countries ask families to plan for anywhere from 72 hours to more than a week; we compared them in how countries tell their citizens to prepare. For a baby, lean toward the longer end, because formula and diapers are the first things to disappear from store shelves during a disaster.
Babies grow fast, and the amount they eat changes month to month. The CDC recommends checking your emergency kit monthly to make sure you have enough formula for your baby's current needs for several days, and replacing anything that expires soon.
The Baby Emergency Kit Checklist
Print this section and check items off as you pack. Most of it comes straight from the CDC's emergency list for families with infants and young children.
Feeding: formula-fed babies
Ready-to-feed (RTF) infant formula in single-serving bottles or cans, enough for several days at your baby's current intake
A backup can of powdered formula you already use, plus a liquid measuring cup and a food-grade container with a lid for mixing
Bottled water for mixing powdered formula (keep it separate from the family drinking supply)
Bottles and nipples, plus disposable cups for cup feeding if you can't clean bottles
Cleaning supplies: a wash basin, bottle brush, dish soap and a mesh bag for drying
A copy of the CDC's powdered formula instructions (link below), printed and kept in a zip bag
Feeding: breastfed or pumping babies
Disposable nursing pads, 1 to 2 boxes (reusable ones need laundry)
A manual breast pump in case the power is out, plus pump parts, cords and extra batteries for an electric pump
Breast milk storage bags or containers and a small cooler with ice packs
Feeding: babies eating solids
Nonperishable, store-bought baby food and snacks for your child's age, enough for several days
Disposable bowls, spoons, cups and bibs
Diapering and hygiene
At least one large pack of diapers (count what your baby uses in a normal day, then multiply by the days you're planning for)
At least two packs of baby wipes
Diaper rash cream, baby wash and lotion
Gallon-size zip bags for dirty diapers and clothes
Hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol for when there's no safe water for handwashing
Clothing and warmth
Several complete changes of clothes (babies go through them fast)
One-piece sleepers or a wearable blanket (sleep sack) for nights
Hat, socks or booties, and a thin fleece layer
At least two extra blankets for holding, feeding and tucking over car seat straps (never loose in the crib)
Sleep safety
A portable crib or play yard that meets federal safety standards
A fitted sheet that matches it
Medical
Infant pain and fever reliever with acetaminophen (ask your pediatrician for the right dose for your baby's weight before you need it)
An infant thermometer
A bulb syringe
Any prescription medicines your baby takes; the Red Cross suggests a 7-day supply of medications and medical items
A basic first aid kit for the family
Documents
Copies of your baby's birth certificate and insurance cards
Your child's medical records, including the vaccination record
A list of medicines and doses, allergies, and your pediatrician's phone number
Our tip: a recent photo of you with your baby, in case you get separated in a shelter
Comfort and gear
At least two pacifiers, if your baby uses them
A favorite small toy or book
Burp cloths
A baby carrier (sling, wrap, or front or back carrier) so your hands are free during an evacuation
Tape and a marker for labeling bottles and bags
Formula in an Emergency: The Rules That Matter Most
Feeding mistakes can be serious. Here's what the CDC and the AAP say.
Ready-to-feed is safest
The CDC calls ready-to-feed formula the safest option because it's sterile and doesn't need to be mixed with water. Powdered formula is not sterile. In its guide to preparing powdered formula in an emergency, the CDC says it is especially important to use ready-to-feed formula if your baby is less than 2 months old, was born early, or has a weakened immune system.
Single-serving bottles beat big cartons during an outage. Once a container is opened it needs refrigeration (follow the label), so small bottles mean nothing is left over to spoil.
If you must use powdered formula
Use bottled water until local officials say the tap water is safe to drink. If you don't have bottled water, follow the CDC's directions for making water safe by boiling or disinfecting.
Use the exact amount of water and formula on the container, with the scoop that came with it. Measure the water first.
Shake with the lid on. You don't need to warm it.
Use prepared formula within 2 hours of making it and within 1 hour after the feeding starts. Throw out anything left in the bottle.
With no working fridge, make a fresh bottle for every feeding.
Never stretch formula
Do not add extra water to make formula last longer, and don't make homemade formula. The CDC warns that too much water may not meet a baby's nutritional needs, and too little water can make a baby's kidneys and digestive system work too hard and cause dehydration. If you're running low, call your pediatrician, WIC office or local emergency officials for help finding formula.
For figuring out how much water your whole household needs, including bottles, see our family water storage guide.
Power Outage With a Baby
A long outage changes three things for an infant: feeding, sleep and temperature.
Light for night feedings
You'll be mixing bottles and changing diapers in the dark, so a hands-free light helps. The Rothco Cree LED Headlamp sits on your forehead and leaves both hands for the baby. Pack spare batteries with it.
Safe sleep doesn't change in an emergency
The American Academy of Pediatrics' safe sleep guidance still applies when the power is out or you're away from home:
Put your baby to sleep on their back for every nap and at night.
Use a firm, flat surface: a crib, bassinet, portable crib or play yard, with only a fitted sheet.
No blankets, pillows, stuffed toys or bumpers in the sleep space. Use a sleeper or wearable blanket for warmth instead.
Share a room, not a bed.
If your baby falls asleep in a car seat, swing or carrier, move them to a firm, flat surface as soon as you can.
In a true emergency with no crib available, the AAP says you can temporarily use a box, basket or dresser drawer with thin, firm padding, then move to an approved sleep surface as soon as you can get one.
Keeping a baby warm when the heat is out
Babies lose heat quickly. The CDC lists "babies sleeping in cold bedrooms" among the people most at risk for hypothermia, and says warning signs in infants are bright red, cold skin and very low energy.
Dress your baby in one more layer than you're wearing, which is the AAP's rule of thumb for older babies and young children.
Use several thin layers, plus a hat and socks.
At night, add warmth with sleep clothing (a one-piece sleeper or wearable blanket), not loose blankets.
Gather the family in one small room to share heat.
If the house gets too cold, go to a friend's home, a warming center or a shelter.
For a full plan, read our winter power outage survival guide.
Carbon monoxide: the hidden danger
The CDC warns that using other fuel sources for heat or cooking during an outage can let carbon monoxide build up inside a home. Its rules:
Never run a generator inside your home, basement or garage, even with doors and windows open. Keep it outside and more than 20 feet from windows, doors and vents.
Never use a charcoal grill, camp stove or hibachi inside your home.
Never use a gas range or oven to heat your home.
Use a battery-powered or battery-backup carbon monoxide alarm.
Carbon monoxide has no smell or color. Symptoms include headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting and confusion, and a sleeping person can die before any symptoms show. A baby can't tell you they have a headache, so if the CO alarm sounds or anyone feels sick, get everyone outside first, then call 911.
Hot weather outages
Heat is dangerous for babies too. The CDC advises dressing infants in loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing and never leaving a child in a parked car, even with a window open; the temperature inside can rise almost 20°F in the first 10 minutes.
Evacuating With a Baby
Keep the baby go bag by the door or in the car, and keep the car seat installed.
Pack the bag
A backpack keeps both hands free for the baby, the car seat or a carrier. If you live where hurricanes, floods or heavy rain are likely, a waterproof pack keeps diapers, clothes and documents dry: the Rothco Waveguard Waterproof Backpack is fully waterproof and has multiple compartments, so you can keep feeding gear, diapers and papers in separate sections. On a tighter budget, the Rothco Deluxe Day Pack has multiple pockets for organizing and works as a dedicated baby bag. Put everything inside gallon zip bags either way.
Add a family first aid kit. The Rothco General Purpose First Aid Kit Waterproof Case holds more than 60 supplies in a gasket-sealed hard case. It's built for adult wound care, so add the infant items from the medical list above (thermometer, infant acetaminophen, bulb syringe and any prescriptions).
Car seat rules in cold weather
The AAP's winter car seat tips are worth memorizing before an evacuation:
No bulky coats or snowsuits under the harness. In a crash, the padding flattens and leaves the straps too loose.
Dress your baby in thin layers, then lay a blanket or the coat over the buckled straps.
Do the pinch test: if you can pinch the harness strap at the chest, tighten it.
Keep the infant carrier indoors when you can, so it's not ice cold when you buckle your baby in.
Keep extra blankets, dry clothes and hats in the car.
Our car emergency kit checklist covers the rest of what belongs in your vehicle.
Red Flags: When to Call 911
This guide is general information, not medical advice. Ask your pediatrician about your own baby's needs, and get help fast if something seems wrong. Call 911 right away if your baby:
Is not breathing, is turning blue, or is struggling to breathe
Can't be woken up, is unresponsive, or is too weak to move
Shows signs of severe dehydration: very fussy or very sleepy, sunken eyes, cool or discolored hands and feet, wrinkled skin, or very few wet diapers (HealthyChildren lists these warning signs)
May have hypothermia: bright red, cold skin and very low energy (the AAP says to call 911 at once if you suspect it)
May have been exposed to carbon monoxide, or your CO alarm goes off (get outside first)
Call your pediatrician promptly for milder dehydration signs, such as fewer than six wet diapers a day, a dry mouth, fewer tears or a sunken soft spot, and for any fever in a baby younger than 12 weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much formula should be in a baby emergency kit?
Enough for at least 3 days at your baby's current intake, and ideally more at home. The AAP says babies take about 2.5 ounces per pound of body weight per day, usually no more than 32 ounces in 24 hours. A baby drinking 32 ounces a day needs 96 ounces for 3 days. Recheck monthly as your baby grows.
Can I mix formula with tap water during an emergency?
Not if officials say the water is unsafe or you aren't sure. The CDC says to use bottled water until local authorities say tap water is safe, or to make water safe by boiling or disinfecting.
Can I water down formula to make it last longer?
No. Never dilute formula and never make homemade formula. Both can make a baby seriously ill. If you're running out, contact your pediatrician, WIC office or local emergency officials.
How often should I update a baby emergency kit?
Monthly. Check formula and food dates, move up a diaper size when needed, and swap in clothes that fit. Ready.gov also suggests rethinking your whole kit every year as your family's needs change.
Build It This Weekend
Start with the emergency supplies for babies that matter most: several days of ready-to-feed formula or feeding supplies, a large pack of diapers, two packs of wipes, a change of clothes, a thermometer and copies of your baby's records. Put them in one bag, set a monthly reminder to check it, and add the rest over your next few shopping trips.
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