Emergency kit checklist for a family with a baby or toddler
25 things to have ready for a family with a baby or toddler, with how much water and food to store for 2 adults and 1 baby.
For 2 adults and 1 baby, store 27 L of drinking water and about 13,500 calories of food for 3 days1, plus baby and toddler feeding supplies, food your children will eat, nappies and baby wipes, children's arrangements.
Babies and toddlers change everything about a kit: feeding, nappies and warmth all need planning for the days you'd be at home.
Who this plan is for
Two adults and a baby. SupKit's planning assumptions for this household:
| Who | Energy a day | Drinking water a day |
|---|---|---|
| Adult × 2 | 4,500 calories | 6 L |
| Baby | Planned separately (feeding supplies) | 3 L |
Water and food for 2 adults and 1 baby
| 3 days | 7 days | |
|---|---|---|
| Drinking water | 27 L | 63 L |
| Food energy | 13,500 calories | 31,500 calories |
What a family with a baby or toddler should add
- Baby and toddler feeding supplies Essential
Enough formula, milk or baby food for babies and toddlers, plus bottles, cups and sterilising supplies. - Food your children will eat
Familiar foods and snacks your children are happy to eat. - Nappies and baby wipes Essential
Enough nappies and wipes for your chosen number of days. - Children's arrangements
School or childcare contacts and who would collect your children.
Also on Ireland's official kit list
- Irish kit items include a battery, wind-up or solar radio, power banks, and a paper road map in case GPS fails.2
- Ireland advises keeping important documents in a resealable waterproof bag.2
- Irish households should know how to turn off gas and electricity and note their MPRN and GPRN from their bills.2
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 13,500 calories with long-life food. SupKit estimate Swap in what your household likes.
| Item | How many |
|---|---|
| Tinned chilli | 7 |
| Tinned soup | 8 |
| Baked beans | 7 |
| Microwave rice pouch 250g | 4 |
| Tinned tuna | 6 |
| Crackers | 1 |
| Peanut butter | 1 |
| Dried fruit and nuts | 2 |
| Cereal bars | 1 |
| Tinned fruit | 4 |
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.
- Irish (EU) law names 14 allergens: gluten cereals, crustaceans, eggs, fish, peanuts, soybeans, milk, tree nuts, celery, mustard, sesame, sulphites, lupin and molluscs.3
- On packaged food, allergens must stand out in the ingredient list, for example through font, style or background colour.4
- For unpackaged food, allergen information must be in writing and easy to find before you buy.3
- 'May contain' warnings are optional, used only where cross-contamination can't be ruled out, and can't replace good manufacturing practice.4
Young children
Questions
How much water should a family with a baby or toddler store?
27 L for 3 days or 63 L for a week, for 2 adults and 1 baby, at 3 litres per person per day.
What extra does a family with a baby or toddler need?
Baby and toddler feeding supplies: Enough formula, milk or baby food for babies and toddlers, plus bottles, cups and sterilising supplies. Food your children will eat: Familiar foods and snacks your children are happy to eat. Nappies and baby wipes: Enough nappies and wipes for your chosen number of days. 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.
- Be Emergency Ready booklet (accessible version), Department of Defence, Office of Emergency Planning (Government of Ireland). Checked 28 October 2026.
- Food Allergens - Advice for Consumers, Food Safety Authority of Ireland. Checked 28 October 2026.
- Labelling - Allergens, Food Safety Authority of Ireland. Checked 28 October 2026.
- Food choking risks for babies and children, Health Service Executive. Checked 28 October 2026.
- Foods to avoid during weaning, Health Service Executive. 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.
