Have a Baby? Be Prepared!

Posted in: Featured, Parents, Stocking Up

Another outstanding entry in my List of Lists contest was submitted by lls1082@yahoo.com. Thanks, Lori, for providing a list of must-haves for families with babies. Some of us who no longer have babies, waah!, don’t always think of these things!

image by lepiaf.geo

If you have a baby in the family, or extended family, here is a list of essentials to keep in mind as you stock up on basic supplies.

Formula, cereal and baby food. Make sure to have enough for at least three days. Just remember to have an equivalent water supply to be able to make the formula and cereal. Also, make sure to have extra water to wash bottles, spoons and bowls. Or have several clean bottles put back that you do not use except in case of an emergency. Don’t forget extra bibs and burp cloths!
EXTRA pacifiers! What would happen if you misplaced your baby’s favorite pacifier? I know mine would not be a happy camper! That is the last thing you need when there is an emergency.
Extra blankets, coats and hats. A baby cannot maintain their body heat like adults, so they need to be bundled up with at least one more layer that adults would be wearing.
Extra changes of clothes. As all of you with babies know, you can go through several changes of clothes a day. Figure on having at least three changes of clothes per day for your emergency kits. Don’t forget socks!
Toys. No child, not even babies, likes to be bored. Make sure they have some sort of toys available appropriate for their age range.
Medicine. Always keep at least one extra bottle of children’s Tylenol, gas drops, and diaper rash cream on hand. If your baby is teething, an extra tube of Orajel helps soothe a baby as well.
Diaper and wipes. Make sure you have enough diapers and wipes on hand for at least 72 hours or more at all times. Or, if you still have water or a water supply, it might be a good idea to have a pack of cloth diapers that can be reused. Just don’t forget the pins and waterproof pants.
Extra batteries. For a while, my baby would only sleep in her swing at night. We ran through batteries like crazy!! Have several extra sets available for your child’s favorite toys and swings.

(5) Readers Comments

Jim Grayson
February 15, 2010 at 3:45 am

I heard about this and thought it was a great list. I'm a grandparent now but the list still applies if one keeps a grandchild at times. You never know when something might happen which would place that baby in your care for longer than you had planned. I need to think about this more myself.
Thank you, Lori, for enlightening many of us, young and older… )
Jim in Kentucky

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LizLong
February 15, 2010 at 5:18 am

A one yard piece of bed sheeting, as well. It's waterproof, feels like flannel, doesn't fray or rip, and is machine washable. It's a GREAT diaper changing area, for about $5 at a fabric store. If you get a one yard piece, you can cut it into smaller pieces if you want, but one yard is big enough that even a squirmy toddler can't roll off it.

And you can use it for a seating area outside after they are potty trained – no soggy behinds because you didn't realize the ground was damp.

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LizLong
February 15, 2010 at 3:27 pm

Potty training supplies, too. Those extra-absorbent underwear and the plastic covered ones (or diaper covers, I think they'd work too) so you have less clean-up. And the flushable wipes for when they're using the potty, but still need help wiping. (Yes, I do have one who's only recently potty trained.) Per our septic tank cleaner, the Cottonnelle brand (sold at Costco) degrades well in the septic tank and not all brands do. And disinfecting spray and wipes.

I don't like having to clean up potty accidents when I DO have all the conveniences we're used to, much less without them! The bed sheeting is also good for a potty-training kid to sit on while playing. Again, it reduces the messes you need to clean up – cleaning up potty accidents on carpeting is just no fun.

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betty
August 12, 2010 at 10:58 am

I would never want to be without my baby sling, Bjorn, or whatever style you prefer. It is so convenient to be able to have your child close, and still get things done. Also, it means you are hands free to chase the other kids (if you have them).

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Annette
September 24, 2011 at 6:30 am

If a mother is breastfeeding or use a double electric pump, she should keep a high-quality manual breastpump handy. Good for power outages too. My daughter won't drink from my breast, so I can only pump my milk for her, so when we went to our Alaskan village, we were SOL when the power went out in the whole village. Scary!

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