How to Prepare an Emergency 72 Hour Kit for a Baby, Infant, or Toddler

It is wise to prepare for emergencies, as they can happen anywhere and at anytime. Having a 72 hour emergency kit available at a moments notice is a great form of preparation. Even and especially our babies, infants, and toddlers need a 72 hour emergency kit. Their needs are a bit different than ours, and their kits need to be prepared a little differently than ours. This article will give advice on how to prepare an emergency 72 hour kit for our little ones.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Think of your child's basic needs. Food and feeding comes first. Ideas for food to put in their 72 hour emergency kit include a breast pump, storage bottles (with nipples), breast pads, bottled water, other drinks, snacks, formula, baby food, utensils to eat and dishes to eat on, and small spit-up towels or a cloth diaper.

2. Prepare sleeping items for your child. These can include a warm heavy blanket, sheets for a portable crib, a couple of lighter blankets, and a portable crib

3. Pack clothing in the 72 hour kit for your child. These should include shoes, a pair of socks for each day, 2 outfits per day, a hat for the sun and a hat for warmth, a jacket, and a pair of pajamas per day.

4. Include some comfort items such as a couple of pacifier's, a security blanket, and a few small favorite toys.

5. For hygiene, include in your 72 hour kit, band-aides, antiseptic wipes, infant Tylenol, teething gel, any special medications, a brush or comb, lip balm, hand sanitizer, two towels, three washcloths, disposable diapers, diaper wipes, bags to hold the dirty diapers, a changing pad, diaper rash ointment, baby sunscreen, nail clippers, shampoo, soap, tissues, the phone number of your child's pediatrician, and any medical insurance information.

6. Include in your child's 72 hour emergency kit, other items that could be of use such as an infant car seat, books, small toys, a stroller, a backpack carrier, a teething toy, and a safety gate.

Tips & Warnings

• put all of these items in one place so you will always know where they are. During a crisis, you may have to leave quickly, and this will save you lots of time.
• Depending on the age of your child, all of these items may not be necessary. Use your best judgment on what to include in this list according to the needs and age of your child.

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[lighthouse1958]

on 12/23/2009 Great topic, since where I live we get plenty hurricane's here and have to be on guard quite a bit. Being prepared is really important for the safety of your family. 5*