Every member of the family needs to be taken into consideration when a survival plan is put together.
I’m not going to be cheesy and tell you ‘Don’t forget the youngest of the group!’
If you forget you have a baby, being prepared for a disaster is the least of your worries…
Just so you know, I’m a new father and got to meet my firstborn child a few months back.
The last couple months of my life have been incredible, tiring, emotional, ridiculous, and full of love.
This little boy has given me a brightness in my life and soul that I never knew was missing.
Sorry, sorry, I said I wasn’t going to be cheesy.
Let’s get down to business, because I want to share something with you that I’ve already done to incorporate my son into my family’s emergency disaster kit.
Call it a baby bug out bag.
Really, this is a pretty obvious requirement for any growing family. Babies have needs beyond the typical child, and those needs should be addressed wholeheartedly.
What you’re going to want to do is set up a second diaper bag, and fill it with additional items you know will keep your baby comfortable and well-nourished in a post-disaster recovery.
Everyone knows you can’t leave home with a baby without their diaper bag. The baby bug out bag should include duplicates of all the items normally found in a diaper bag, but the bag itself should probably be a little larger. Make sure it’s still easy to carry.
Don’t get caught up on style or color, the idea is to have something convenient and transportable.
Before I share a list of good things to keep in the bag, let me take a moment to talk about one main ingredient: diapers. If you haven’t considered it already, think about the benefits of using cloth diapers on your little ones. My wife and I have started using them, and found the typical concerns to be non-existent in our early experiences. It’s not as gross as people might think, and the laundry work is not as involved as we thought it would be.
Look at it this way: if the SHTF, you’re going to be left with the disposable diapers you have until the supermarket supply chains have a chance to catch up. This can take a long time, and you’re going to be out of luck if you don’t have any other options.
Cloth diapers are, obviously, reusable; they’re great for the environment, too.
The necessity of fewer diapers takes up less room as well. Consider this: even if indoor plumbing is knocked out, you’re far more likely to have water and laundry detergent available after a disaster than finding a store with diapers for sale.
Whichever type of diaper you choose is best, make sure your baby bug out bag has enough to last at least one month.
This may seem like a lot, so you can consider storing about half of them elsewhere, perhaps with the rest of your food and water stockpile. Just know that if you have to evacuate, these diapers need to be taken with. Save room for them.
Here’s a list of other items to include in your baby bug out bag:
- Diaper wipes (again, non-disposable cloth wipes are a good idea)
- Formula (enough for 1-2 months)
- Bottles (6-8 or more if possible)
- Hand sanitizer
- Clothing (at least 2 of each: onesies, shirts, pants, hats, and socks)
- Blankets (at least 2)
- Baby aspirin or Tylenol
- Copy of medical records and birth certificate
- Phone numbers of our pediatrician and emergency contacts
- A toy, book, or other comfort item
That’s what’s in my baby’s bug out bag so far.
But there’s still a little room left in the pack.
Do you have any ideas for additions?
What do you keep in your baby’s bug out bag?
Let me know in the comments if you have anything to contribute.
I do not personally cloth diaper in my every day life. But an added benefit of cloth diapering for your BOB is that they have snaps to adjust sizing. This is useful because as your baby grows you won’t have to worry about changing out the old sizing of diapers in your bag to a new size. Eliminates stress and the possibility of not having the correct size.
I would also add 1-2 hand pumps. Even after you stop lactating, you can really start back up any time. And in an emergency where you don’t have access to formula or water for it, pumping could be useful.