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.
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 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.
- 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 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.
- 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.
