Emergency kit checklist for a family with children
23 things to have ready for a family with two children, with how much water and food to store for 2 adults and 2 children.
For 2 adults and 2 children, store 36 L of drinking water and about 23,100 calories of food for 3 days1, plus food your children will eat, children's arrangements.
With children, being ready is mostly about familiar food, something to do and knowing who collects who.
Who this plan is for
Two adults and two children. SupKit's planning assumptions for this household:
| Who | Energy a day | Drinking water a day |
|---|---|---|
| Adult × 2 | 4,500 calories | 6 L |
| Child × 2 | 3,200 calories | 6 L |
Water and food for 2 adults and 2 children
| 3 days | 7 days | |
|---|---|---|
| Drinking water | 36 L | 84 L |
| Food energy | 23,100 calories | 53,900 calories |
What a family with two children should add
- Food your children will eat
Familiar foods and snacks your children are happy to eat. - Children's arrangements
School or childcare contacts and who would collect your children.
What official guidance in the UK says
- Check on people at higher risk from the heat.2
- UKHSA advises heating the rooms you use most, like the living room or bedroom, to at least 18°C.3
Also on the UK's official kit list
- UK kit includes a battery or wind-up FM radio and a charged power bank.4
- UK kit includes a torch with spare batteries, and blankets, sleeping bags and warm clothes.4
- UK kit includes cash in a mix of coins and notes, plus cards.4
- UK kit includes copies of ID and documents, key phone numbers, a first aid kit and essential medication.4
Everything else every home needs
- Food: food for everyone, manual tin opener
- Water: drinking water
- Hygiene: hand sanitiser, wet wipes, toilet roll and bathroom products, personal hygiene supplies
- Power & warmth: torch, spare batteries, charged power bank, battery or wind-up radio, blankets or sleeping bags, camping stove, warm clothing
- Health & safety: first aid kit
- Plans & essentials: emergency contacts, meeting point, utility shut-offs, some cash, important documents, insurance details
See the full household checklist for what each one involves.
A sample shopping list for 3 days
One way to reach 23,100 calories with long-life food. SupKit estimate Swap in what your household likes.
| Item | How many |
|---|---|
| Tinned chilli | 12 |
| Tinned soup | 13 |
| Baked beans | 11 |
| Microwave rice pouch 250g | 7 |
| Tinned tuna | 10 |
| Crackers | 2 |
| Peanut butter | 2 |
| Dried fruit and nuts | 3 |
| Cereal bars | 2 |
| Tinned fruit | 6 |
Allergies, dietary needs and children
Plan around everyone at home: allergies, intolerances and diets come first, and familiar food matters most for children. Recipes vary between brands, so always read the label of the product you buy.
| Food | Typical allergens | Typically suitable for |
|---|---|---|
| Tinned chilli | varies by recipe | check the label |
| Tinned soup | varies by recipe | vegetarian |
| Baked beans | none of the main allergens in its main ingredient | vegan |
| Microwave rice pouch 250g | none of the main allergens in its main ingredient | vegan |
| Tinned tuna | fish | check the label |
| Crackers | cereals containing gluten | vegan |
| Peanut butter | peanuts | vegan, gluten free |
| Dried fruit and nuts | tree nuts | vegan, gluten free |
| Cereal bars | varies by recipe | vegetarian |
| Tinned fruit | none of the main allergens in its main ingredient | vegan, gluten free |
Typical allergens and diets are SupKit's guide to the main ingredient, not a product's label.
- UK food law names 14 major allergens, including cereals containing gluten, milk, eggs, fish, peanuts, tree nuts, soya, sesame, celery, mustard and sulphites.5
- On pre-packed food in the UK, these allergens must be emphasised in the ingredients list, for example in bold.5
- 'May contain' warnings aren't a legal requirement, so a missing warning doesn't guarantee a food is free of an allergen.5
Young children
Questions
How much water should a family with two children store?
36 L for 3 days or 84 L for a week, for 2 adults and 2 children, at 3 litres per person per day.
What extra does a family with two children need?
Food your children will eat: Familiar foods and snacks your children are happy to eat. Children's arrangements: School or childcare contacts and who would collect your children.
Sources
- SupKit planning rules (SupScore 2026.5), SupKit. SupKit's own planning data.
- Heatwave: how to cope in hot weather, NHS. Checked 28 October 2026.
- Top tips for keeping warm and well this winter, UK Health Security Agency (GOV.UK). Checked 28 October 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Be Ready Checklist (PDF, created 2026-10-15), UK Government (Cabinet Office) Be Ready campaign. Checked 28 October 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Food allergy and intolerance advice for consumers, Food Standards Agency (GOV.UK). Checked 28 October 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Foods to avoid giving babies and young children, NHS. Checked 28 October 2026.
- SupKit household preparedness checklist (2026.3), SupKit. SupKit's own planning data.
We summarise official guidance in our own words. Always follow advice from your local authorities.
