Medical Preparedness · Children and Infants
Children and Infants: medical planning sized for kids.
Children's medical needs change the household plan in specific ways. These guides cover what the standard adult checklist leaves out.
By Dan Whelan, founder of New World Survival
Researched from government agencies, university extension services, and other published sources. See our sources
Planning guidance, not medical advice. This section helps households prepare for medical continuity during disruptions. Work with your doctor, pharmacist, and specialist for your household's specific medical needs.
What this category covers
A household plan built for adults misses what children need.
Children's needs change the emergency plan in concrete ways: medicines in pediatric forms, formula and feeding supplies, connections with schools and childcare, and, for some families, written permission for another trusted adult to seek care for a child.
CDC's checklist for infants includes bottles and powdered or ready-to-feed formula in case breast milk supply is affected, along with infant pain reliever and a thermometer.1 CDC also suggests storing more than the standard gallon of water per person per day if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.1
For children with special healthcare needs, CDC's emergency medical kit checklist calls for a two-week supply of prescription medicines and medical care items, a current care plan in both offline electronic and waterproof paper form, and an extra medical alert bracelet or necklace.2
What these guides do not cover
- Pediatric dosing or treatment. Your pediatrician and pharmacist handle those.
- Hands-on first aid for children and adults: First Aid
- Hazard planning with young children: With Young Children
- Medical diets and allergy-safe food: Special Medical Diets
Where to start
Four steps to add children to the plan.
-
Give each child a profile.
Medications, allergies, providers, and insurance, one page per child.
Household Medical Profile -
Pack child-specific supplies.
Formula and feeding supplies for infants, plus the child-safe medicines your pediatrician recommends.1
Medical Preparedness for Children -
Share care plans.
Make sure school and childcare have current copies of any care plan.
Medical Documents and Records -
Ask about an emergency supply.
For a child with special healthcare needs, ask the care team about the two-week supply CDC describes.2
Medical Preparedness for Children
Guides in this category
Guides in this category. Built for families.
Medical Preparedness for Children
Pediatric medications, formula supply, consent forms, school connections, and planning for children with special healthcare needs.
Read the guide
Infant Medical Preparedness
Formula, feeding, and medical supplies for the first year.
Guide coming soon
Children with Asthma and Allergies
Inhalers, action plans, and allergy-safe supplies for kids.
Guide coming soon
Related guides elsewhere in Medical Preparedness
Common questions
Planning questions, answered plainly.
What medical supplies should a family with a baby keep for emergencies?
CDC's checklist for infants includes bottles and powdered or ready-to-feed formula in case breast milk supply is affected, infant pain reliever, and a thermometer.1 Ask your pediatrician which medicines are appropriate for your child's age.
How much medication should I keep for a child with special healthcare needs?
CDC's emergency medical kit checklist suggests a two-week supply of all prescription medicines and medical care items the child will need, and notes that families should consult their healthcare providers about quantities.2
Do I need extra water if I am pregnant or breastfeeding?
CDC suggests at least one gallon per person per day for several days, and advises considering storing more than that if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.1
Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Emergency Kit Checklist: Pregnant Women, Infants, and Children. https://www.cdc.gov/children-and-school-preparedness/resources/emergency-kit-checklist-pregnant-women-infants-and-children.html. Accessed October 6, 2026.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Emergency Medical Kit Checklist: Children with Special Healthcare Needs. https://www.cdc.gov/children-and-school-preparedness/special-healthcare-needs/emergency-medical-kit.html. Accessed October 6, 2026.
Connected guides
Children and Infants connects to the rest of your plan.
First Aid
The hands-on half: emergencies, wounds, burns, and the household kit.
With Young Children
Hazard planning for families.
Household Medical Profile
A page for every child.
Special Medical Diets
Allergy-safe and medical-diet food planning.
Hygiene and Sanitation
Illness prevention when water is short.