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.
What official guidance in the UK says
- UK advice prefers ready-to-feed baby formula, because you may not be able to boil water safely for powder.2
Also on the UK's official kit list
- UK kit includes a battery or wind-up FM radio and a charged power bank.2
- UK kit includes a torch with spare batteries, and blankets, sleeping bags and warm clothes.2
- UK kit includes cash in a mix of coins and notes, plus cards.2
- UK kit includes copies of ID and documents, key phone numbers, a first aid kit and essential medication.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.
- UK food law names 14 major allergens, including cereals containing gluten, milk, eggs, fish, peanuts, tree nuts, soya, sesame, celery, mustard and sulphites.3
- On pre-packed food in the UK, these allergens must be emphasised in the ingredients list, for example in bold.3
- 'May contain' warnings aren't a legal requirement, so a missing warning doesn't guarantee a food is free of an allergen.3
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 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.
