Emergency Backpack+ guide

Emergency bag for a family with kids: what changes

Adapt an emergency bag for children with familiar food, medication, comfort items, clothing and a clear family plan.

Plan by child, not by age label

Children's needs vary widely, even at the same age. Start with each child's daily routine: food, medicine, mobility or communication support, clothing and ways to feel settled. Ask older children what helps them stay calm and understand the plan. For babies and toddlers, include feeding supplies, nappies, wipes and a safe way to carry them. Check local emergency guidance and any school or childcare procedures that affect where children may be. Keep the plan simple enough for another trusted adult to follow.

Include familiar food and water

Choose familiar shelf-stable foods that fit allergies, textures and feeding stages. Babies may need formula, bottles, feeding equipment or expressed-milk storage plans; follow health-professional guidance for safe preparation and storage. Pack age-appropriate drinking cups and utensils. Plan water amounts with local advice, age, weather and medical needs in mind. Rotate food regularly, and do not assume a child will eat an unfamiliar item during a stressful event. Keep a note of allergies and important dietary restrictions with the supplies.

Medication, health and comfort

Pack medicines and health supplies according to professional advice, including a written list of doses and the prescribing clinician or pharmacy contact. Protect temperature-sensitive items as directed; a backpack may not be a suitable place for them. Add spare glasses, hearing-device supplies or other essential equipment if relevant. A small familiar book, soft toy, headphones or activity can help a child wait, travel or sleep in an unfamiliar place. These items are personal and should be chosen with the child where possible.

Clothing, identification and contact

Pack a change of clothes suited to the weather, comfortable shoes and a light layer for each child. Add name and contact details in a way that is useful if separated, while limiting public exposure of private information. Agree on a meeting point and a trusted adult who can collect each child. Young children need a short, repeated instruction such as who to find and where to wait. Older children can carry a small contact card and learn how to reach the chosen family contact.

Share the plan and check the fit

Keep the bag reachable and show children what is inside without making it frightening. Practise a calm family check-in: where to go, what to carry and how to find one another. Review clothes, shoes, food preferences, medication and comfort items as children grow. Ask schools or caregivers how they communicate during disruptions, and make sure their contact details are current. If one adult usually carries the bag, check its weight and consider distributing some items among adults.

Keep a caregiver copy

If children spend time at school, childcare or with relatives, make sure the adults who may be responsible know the family contact plan and any urgent health needs. Keep a copy of essential instructions where those caregivers can access it, using the privacy practices recommended locally. Review contact numbers after a change of address or caregiver. For children who may not be able to explain their needs, use a concise card or note with the information an adult would need in an emergency. Practise the plan without turning it into a frightening event: a calm reminder of where to meet and who can help is enough for many families. Let children know which adults are part of the plan and how they can recognise them. If a child uses a mobility aid or communication device, check that it can travel with them and that the named adult knows how to help. Update the supplies when school terms, routines or caregivers change.

Common questions

Should every child have a separate bag? A shared bag can work, but essential personal items should be easy to identify and carry.

What if a child has a medical condition? Plan with their clinician or pharmacist and follow storage advice.

Should children carry identification? Follow local guidance and protect personal details from unnecessary exposure.

Use Emergency Backpack+ to keep the score or household list close at hand. See Emergency Backpack+.