What do babies and toddlers need in an emergency kit?

Short answer. Pack enough to feed, change and treat your child for several days without shops or power. Ready.gov names infant formula, bottles, diapers, wipes and diaper rash cream ¹. The CDC adds at least one large pack of diapers, two packs of wipes, infant pain reliever, a thermometer and disposable cups ². If you formula-feed, ready-to-feed formula is the safest option in a disaster, because it needs no water ³.

Why do babies need their own emergency list?

A standard household kit is built around adults, while infant feeding depends on safe water and on equipment that must be cleaned. That is why the CDC publishes a separate list for families with infants and young children ², and why Ready.gov lists baby supplies as additional items on top of the basic kit ¹.

The general household targets still apply. Ready.gov recommends one gallon (about 3.8 litres) of water per person per day for several days, for drinking and sanitation ¹. A baby counts as a person in that total, and formula preparation and bottle cleaning draw on the same water.

What should a baby emergency kit contain?

The CDC's checklist for infants and young children groups items as follows ²:

The CDC marks reusable items such as pumps, bottles and pacifiers as possibly unsafe in some emergencies: do not use them if you cannot clean them with safe water and soap ². For the same reason it advises disposable rather than reusable nursing pads, which need laundering ².

How much formula should I store?

The CDC asks families to check every month that the kit holds enough formula for several days at the baby's current intake, and to replace formula that is close to its expiry date ². The checklist gives no fixed number of cans, because intake changes quickly with age ².

The American Academy of Pediatrics gives typical bottle volumes ⁶:

• First day or two: about half an ounce per feeding, then usually 1 to 2 ounces (30–60 mL).
• End of the first month: at least 3 to 4 ounces (90–120 mL) per feeding, about every 3 to 4 hours.
• Around 6 months: 6 to 8 ounces (180–240 mL) at each of 4 or 5 feedings in 24 hours.

Simple arithmetic on the 6-month figures gives 24 to 40 ounces (about 0.7 to 1.2 litres) of prepared formula a day, or roughly 2.1 to 3.5 litres over three days ⁶. Treat this as a rough planning range and base your own count on what your child drinks now.

Ready-to-feed or powder? The CDC calls ready-to-feed formula the safest choice in an emergency because it needs no mixing with water and comes in sterile single-use containers ³. Powdered formula is not sterile; the CDC says ready-to-feed is especially important for babies under 2 months old, born prematurely or with a weakened immune system ⁴. Never dilute formula to make it last: the CDC warns that too much water may not meet the baby's nutritional needs, and too little water can make the kidneys and digestive system work too hard and cause dehydration ³.

What water do I need for formula?

If you use powder, you need water that is safe for an infant, plus extra water for washing bottles. The CDC says to use bottled water to prepare powdered formula until local authorities say tap water is safe to drink ⁴. If you must use tap water, boil it for 1 minute (3 minutes above 6,500 feet), then let it cool before mixing ⁵. Boiled water can also be used to clean bottles, nipples and pump parts ⁵.

Boiling does not fix every problem. The CDC states that water containing fuel, toxic chemicals or radioactive materials cannot be made safe by boiling or disinfecting ¹⁰; in that case use bottled water ⁴ or ready-to-feed formula ³ and follow local public health advice.

Once formula is prepared, the clock starts. The CDC says to use it within 1 hour from the start of a feeding and within 2 hours of preparation; formula not used within 2 hours should go straight into the refrigerator and be used within 24 hours, and leftovers after a feeding are thrown away ⁴. Without refrigeration, make fresh formula for every feeding ⁴.

How many diapers should I pack?

Agencies do not give a per-day diaper number for emergency kits. The CDC's minimum is at least one large pack of diapers and at least two packs of wipes ². As a reference for use, the AAP says a well-fed baby of 5 to 7 days should have 6 or more wet diapers a day, plus at least 3 to 4 stools ⁷. Counting only those 6 wet diapers, three days already means 18 or more; many babies use more changes than that. The safest count is your child's actual daily use multiplied by the number of days you plan for, with extra for stomach upsets. Pack resealable bags to contain used diapers when trash collection stops ².

What medicines and health items should be in the kit?

The CDC lists infant acetaminophen pain reliever, an infant thermometer, a bulb syringe, and copies of medical and vaccination records ². Ask your pediatrician which dose suits your child's current weight, write it on the package, and keep any prescription medicines your child takes with the kit. Checking medicine expiry dates during the monthly formula check ² keeps both up to date.

What about breastfed babies?

The CDC describes breastfeeding as the safest way to feed an infant during a natural disaster, and notes that stress can affect let-down but mothers can keep producing milk ³. A breastfeeding parent needs food and water too, so count them fully in the household water total ¹. If you use pumped milk, the CDC says thawed breast milk must be used within 24 hours and must not be refrozen ³.

What official agencies recommend

United States (Ready.gov / FEMA). Infant formula, bottles, diapers, wipes and diaper rash cream as additional kit items; one gallon of water per person per day for several days ¹.

United States (CDC). A detailed checklist for infants and young children ²; ready-to-feed formula as the safest formula in emergencies ³; bottled or boiled-then-cooled water for powder ⁴⁵; discard opened or prepared formula kept in a refrigerator if the power has been off for 4 hours or more ⁵.

United Kingdom (NHS). For everyday preparation, the NHS takes a different line on water: use fresh tap water boiled and left to cool for no more than 30 minutes so it stays at least 70 °C, and avoid bottled water, which it says is not sterile and may contain too much sodium or sulphate ⁸. The CDC instead recommends bottled water when tap water is unsafe and cooling boiled water before mixing ⁴⁵. The two answers address different situations (a normal kitchen versus a disaster with suspect tap water); follow your local health authority's advice during an actual emergency.

United Nations agencies (UNICEF, PAHO/WHO, WFP, FAO, Global Nutrition Cluster). In emergencies, breast-milk substitutes should be used only as a last resort, and responders should not call for, accept or distribute donated infant formula, because such donations put breastfed and non-breastfed infants at risk; donated supplies should not be part of general or blanket distributions ⁹. Food assistance should support appropriate complementary feeding for children aged 6 to 23 months ⁹. Because formula is kept out of general relief distributions ⁹, families who formula-feed should hold their own stock.

Frequently asked questions

Can I mix powdered formula with stored tap water?

Only if the water is safe. The CDC recommends bottled water until authorities declare tap water safe; otherwise boil water for 1 minute (3 minutes above 6,500 feet) and let it cool before mixing ⁴⁵. If the water may contain fuel or toxic chemicals, boiling will not help ¹⁰: use bottled water or ready-to-feed formula ³⁴.

What if I cannot clean bottles?

Use disposable cups. The CDC says you can feed with disposable cups when safe water is not available for cleaning bottles and nipples, using a new cup for each feeding and throwing it away afterwards ⁴⁵.

What happens to formula in the fridge during a power outage?

The CDC says to throw away opened or prepared formula that was in the refrigerator if the power has been off for 4 hours or more ⁵. Without refrigeration, prepare a fresh bottle for each feeding ⁴.

Should I donate formula after a disaster?

No. UNICEF, PAHO/WHO and partner agencies advise against donations of infant formula in emergencies, saying they put both breastfed and non-breastfed infants at risk ⁹.

How often should I check the kit?

The CDC suggests checking monthly that you have enough formula for several days at your baby's current needs, and replacing formula near expiry ². Size up diapers and clothes at the same time.

Get a kit matched to your country

Babies outgrow a kit quickly, so the list needs regular review. Your Phaenyx plan adds these items when there is a baby in your household. Build your Phaenyx plan.

Sources

1. Ready.gov (FEMA) — Build A Kit — https://www.ready.gov/kit (accessed 2026-10-20)
2. CDC — Emergency List for Families With Infants and Young Children — https://www.cdc.gov/infant-feeding-emergencies-toolkit/php/checklist.html (accessed 2026-10-20)
3. CDC — Facts About Infant Feeding During Emergencies — https://www.cdc.gov/infant-feeding-emergencies-toolkit/php/facts.html (accessed 2026-10-20)
4. CDC — Prepare and Store Powdered Infant Formula in an Emergency — https://www.cdc.gov/infant-feeding-emergencies-toolkit/php/powdered-infant-formula.html (accessed 2026-10-20)
5. CDC — Special Considerations for Emergencies — https://www.cdc.gov/infant-feeding-emergencies-toolkit/php/special-considerations.html (accessed 2026-10-20)
6. American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org) — How Often and How Much Should Your Baby Eat? — https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/feeding-nutrition/Pages/How-Often-and-How-Much-Should-Your-Baby-Eat.aspx (accessed 2026-10-20)
7. American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org) — How to Tell if Your Breastfed Baby is Getting Enough Milk — https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/breastfeeding/Pages/How-to-Tell-if-Baby-is-Getting-Enough-Milk.aspx (accessed 2026-10-20)
8. NHS — How to make up a feed — https://www.nhs.uk/start-for-life/baby/feeding-your-baby/bottle-feeding/how-to-make-up-a-feed/ (accessed 2026-10-20)
9. UNICEF, PAHO/WHO, WFP, FAO, Global Nutrition Cluster — Nutrition Under Threat: Joint Statement on maternal, infant and young child nutrition in the context of the emergency caused by hurricane Melissa in Caribbean countries (29 October 2025) — https://www.unicef.org/lac/en/press-releases/joint-statement-maternal-infant-young-child-nutrition-emergency-hurricane-melissa-caribbean (accessed 2026-10-20)
10. CDC — How to Make Water Safe in an Emergency — https://www.cdc.gov/water-emergency/about/index.html (accessed 2026-10-20)