Babies and emergencies
Babies and toddlers depend on you for everything, so it's worth keeping a few extra things in your kit for them. This guide covers supplies and practical steps. For anything about your baby's health, feeding or medicine, talk to your doctor, public health nurse or pharmacist, or call your provincial or territorial health line (811 in most of Canada).
How much to keep
Health advice in Canada suggests having enough to feed your baby for at least 3 to 7 days, more than the 72 hours for the rest of your kit. Check your baby's supplies every month, because their needs change quickly.
Feeding
If you breastfeed or chestfeed, keep going as normal. Breast milk needs no preparation, water or power. Make sure you have enough to eat and drink yourself, and keep some hand sanitizer for when you can't wash your hands.
If you use formula, keep a supply of ready-to-feed formula, ideally in single-serving containers. It's the safest choice in an emergency because it needs no water and no equipment to mix.
Powdered and concentrated formula have to be made up with safe water, and bottles need to be cleaned properly. In a power outage or a boil-water advisory you may not be able to do either safely. Pre-sterilized disposable bottles save you from having to boil water to clean bottles. Once a container is open, follow the instructions about how long it keeps.
Check the dates on your formula and swap it before it expires. Make sure it's still the right type for your baby as they grow.
Diapers and wipes
Keep at least 3 days' worth of diapers, plus some spare. Babies grow fast, so check the size every couple of months and consider the next size up. Baby wipes are useful for changes and quick washes when water is short, and disposal bags help if garbage pickup is delayed.
Keeping babies warm
Babies lose heat quickly. In a cold outage:
- Dress them in layers, and add or remove layers to keep them comfortable.
- Keep the room they sleep in warm by closing doors and curtains.
- Feel the back of their neck or their tummy to check they're not too hot or too cold. Hands and feet often feel cool even when a baby is warm enough.
- Follow safe sleep advice: put your baby to sleep on their back, in their own crib, cradle or bassinet, with no pillows, bumpers or loose blankets.
Other useful things
- Any medicines your baby or toddler takes, with the instructions.
- A favourite toy, book or comforter to keep things familiar.
- Spare clothes, especially sleepers and onesies.
- A sling or carrier, which keeps your hands free and your baby close and warm.
If you need to leave home
Keep a small grab-and-go bag with diapers, wipes, a day of ready-to-feed formula, a change of clothes and a blanket, so you can leave quickly if you're asked to.