What to pack in an emergency kit for baby

September is National Preparedness Month in the US. It's so very important to be prepared for an emergency before the disaster happens. Living here in Silicon Valley California there are several types of natural disasters we can typically expect even if we can't predict when they will occur. The most common ones are: earthquakes, fires resulting from earthquakes (or possibly tsunami from very big earthquakes), flooding, and wildfires. But in reality just about any type of disaster can strike at any time and often without warning. For example a friend told me that there was a tornado right here in Sunnyvale about 20 years ago! 
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So what do you pack for your family to be ready in case of an emergency especially if you have a baby? Well first it's important to decide what type of emergency kit we are talking about. There are three main types: 72 hour kit, emergency car kit and long term food/water supply.
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Today we're going to focus on the 72 hour kit. This is something that you have ready to go in a bag so that when a disaster strikes you can grab it and get out of danger as fast as you can but still have what you need. The first 72 hours of any disaster are the most critical in determining whether or not you (and your family!) will survive. That's kind of intense, but that's why we need to be prepared!

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What a baby needs:
When planning your kit it is important to consider what your baby needs now and what they might need in a few months. A typical rule of thumb is to rotate your 72 hour emergency kit once every 6 months (this ensures that your food doesn't expire and that you'll check that clothes and diapers will not be too small). With a baby I think you could rotate a kit every 3-6 months since they grow so quickly. Just put a little reminder in your phone or calendar so that you won't forget! We usually rotate our 72 hour kits in April when it starts to get really warm and October when it starts to get cold. Much of this info I'll be sharing comes from personal experience of packing 72 hour kits when each of my 3 children were babies (my youngest is currently two).

​Here's some ideas about what your baby might need:

• Diapers – cloth or disposable, pack enough for three days plus a few extra just in case. If you're packing disposable diapers don't forget to pack something to contain them after they are used such as a garbage bag.
• Wipes – cloth or disposable (I'd honestly still pack wipes in an emergency kit even if I didn't have a baby because they are useful for so many applications in an emergency.)
• Baby first aid kit – any prescriptions from your baby's doctor, infant acetaminophen and syringe, diaper rash cream, baby safe sunscreen, baby safe bug repellent, nose suction, thermometer, allergy medicine if prescribed by your doctor, baby first aid manual
• Pacifier (1 or 2) if you use them
• Clothing for 3 days - consider the seasons coming in the next 6 months (or during the time before you rotate your kit. Pack something that is a little bit bigger than what they are now so that the clothing will not be too small before you rotate your kit.
• Formula? Get to-go packets/sample packets. Pack enough for 3 days plus a few extra in case of a growth spurt.
• Baby food for 3 days and spoons - don't pack anything that needs to be heated unless you have a plan on how to heat it while on the go (for example a portable folding camp stove or water boiler)
• Pack a few non perishable snacks that your baby likes - examples: small cereal boxes, small cracker or pretzel packs
• Extra bottles or sippy cups
• Something to snuggle like a blanket or lovie (we want to keep stress levels as low as we can during an emergency)
• Small toy to entertain your baby
• Baby carrier - get one that is compact so that you save space in your kit. Check out this link for small carriers. 
• Water if they're older than 4 months - between 4-6 months not more than 2oz of water per day, older babies offer limited water as a supplement (not replacement) to breastfeeding or formula. I also recommend a water filter, just in case. The filter water bottles from Seychelle are my favorite: they are easy to use and very portable.

Don't forget to pack a few things for yourself that you might need:

• Lactation supplies: nursing pads, nipple shields (if necessary), hand held breast pump with a bottle. Also be sure to pack extra water so you don't become dehydrated while breastfeeding. Make sure to also pack a few extra snacks for yourself to keep up your energy for breastfeeding.
• Feminine hygiene needs - I recommend a menstrual cup because of how compact it is. If you're not into that type of thing my next recommendation would be tampons because they can double as an emergency fire starter.
• Emergency contacts: pediatrician or family doctor, local contacts, out of town contacts
• First aid kit - medication, bandages, tweezers, etc.
• Medication – prescription medicine, other basic first aid medication (pain medicine, anti diarrhea, antacid, laxatives), allergy medicine (if applicable)
• Spare prescription glasses (if applicable)
• Copies of important documents: insurance policy, ID (birth certificates, driver's license, etc.), bank account information. These documents can be saved remotely such as in online cloud storage or if it’s a paper copy be sure to seal it in a waterproof bag or container.

For a complete list on the basics you need during an emergency, check out ready.gov