Ask the school or caregiver
Where would children go if the building closed? How are parents notified? Who is authorized to collect your child, and what identification is required? Record the answers from your provider.
CHILDREN & BABIES
A family plan that works on an ordinary school day.
Start with who will pick up your child, where you will meet and what needs to travel with you. A special kids’ survival kit is not the first step.
Write down the pickup plan.
Name a backup adult
Agree who can help if you cannot get there. Make sure the provider’s approved pickup list matches that arrangement. Do not assume that an emergency contact is automatically allowed to collect a child.
Keep a paper copy
Record provider, caregiver and out-of-area contact numbers. Share the relevant plan with caregivers and keep sensitive details private. Include arrangements across households when applicable.
Choose meeting places near home and outside your neighborhood. Follow the school’s reunification instructions during an incident rather than arriving at an assumed location.
Pack for your child’s actual day.
Use an existing bag and check the fit of clothes and supplies as your child grows. Adults remain responsible for essential supplies; a child’s small bag can hold a familiar comfort item.
Daily essentials
- Current-size clothes and weather layers
- Diapers or toileting supplies, if needed
- Familiar age-appropriate food and feeding supplies
- Necessary care items and written instructions
Comfort and communication
- A familiar toy, book or quiet activity
- Communication aids the child uses
- Caregiver contact information
- Notes about routines, allergies and access needs for the responsible adult
Before you buy
- Check what is already in your everyday bag
- Identify supplies that must be grabbed at departure
- Choose an adult to carry shared essentials
- Try carrying the packed bag comfortably
For shared water, food and lighting, use the household checklist. For leaving home, work through the evacuation plan.
Make a baby-care plan before buying backup gear.
List the tasks you perform in a normal day: feeding, changing, transport and sleep. Beside each, write what it depends on and where you would go if that resource were unavailable.
Feeding questions
Ask your child’s clinician how to prepare for disrupted water, refrigeration or electricity for your baby’s specific feeding needs. Keep their instructions with your supplies. This checklist does not provide formula preparation or storage instructions.
A place to stay
Ask your intended host what baby-care equipment is available. Plan for an appropriate sleep setup and transport arrangements before departure; identify any equipment you must bring.
Care that travels
Keep the child’s care team contacts accessible to the responsible adult. Discuss medicine, equipment and power dependencies with that team in advance. Use our medication planning questions to prepare for the conversation.
Try one calm practice task.
Choose a quiet time and explain what you are practicing. A younger child might point out the family meeting place with an adult; an older child might find the written contact card. Adapt the task to the child’s needs and keep adult responsibilities with adults.
Ask what felt confusing, then fix one thing. For a fuller walk-through, use the 15-minute household readiness check.
The Red Cross provides age-appropriate preparedness resources and guidance for supporting children after an emergency. Familiar routines and an opportunity to talk can help; avoid repeatedly exposing young children to upsetting disaster coverage.
Sources and next steps.
Planning references checked September 10, 2026: American Red Cross household planning and family and child preparedness resources.
Pickup and packing prompts are Survivor Ready planning aids. Confirm local arrangements with your child’s provider. Individual feeding, medical and equipment plans need advice from the relevant care professional.
Build the household plan · Organize a go-bag · Prepare for a power outage
A closer look
Family planning
How to start a family preparedness conversation without making it scary
Begin with an ordinary what-if, agree on one practical step and write it down together.