emergency preparation - baby items

[CloudBee]

We're really good about having emergency items in the event of long power outages and major catastrophes. We've lost power for a week straight several times in the past couple years alone, and in the NYC suburbs.

Now that there's a baby on the way who is just about "half baked" I figured it would be a good time to get a few items to toss onto the shelving with our other true emergency items. (Dehydrated food, cases of water, etc. You know, not quite extreme, but we could manage on our own if we had to! haha)

Okay, so here's what I was thinking. The list is short.

- 1 to 2 large cans of inexpensive baby formula in the event that I am unable to nurse (does Amason have a reasonably priced brand? I know Target has a great generic line, but that would require a trip to the store...)

- box of mid-sized diapers, maybe size 3 as bigger is better, and I can leave them sitting there and not have to think to replace for a long time? (we are going to CD, so these are really just going to be inexpensive backups for a true emergency, will be used when they fit in this size I suppose, and then a larger size thrown with our emergency items)

- extra disposable wipes in the event that we don't have running water

Am I missing anything really important? We'll have basic baby meds in the house so I don't want to stock any of those with the true emergency stash.

Any advice on cheap formula I could buy from Amazon?

Thanks!

[pugz]

blankets?

I dunno this is on my to-do list for severe weather season next spring.

do you have a Target card? They have free shipping for their card holders

[karinothing]

Honestly I wouldn't buy formula until you are for sure you can't BF. The likelihood that an emergency will happen in the brief time you find out you can't BF until when you can guy formula at the store in an emegency is very small. On the other hand, the rate of success with breastfeeding drops if formula is in the house.

I would also just buy diapers as you go and not buy a larger size than will fit the baby.

[ohgillian]

If you are nursing, you will need a lot of extra water for you to drink (more than you probably regularly keep in your emergency stash).

[satama]

I don't know. We didn't have any of this stuff. We had the power go out for 3 days with a 2 year old and 2 month old and survived just fine on what we already had, plus some ice DH had to go on a major quest for. I breast feed and use sposies though, so I guess that is why.

Maybe you could just hoard all the free formula samples you will get and keep them in your emergency kit. You can sign up with the formula companies online and my OB gives them if you request them and you will get a ton from the hospital probably if you formula feed.

For a tiny baby you might need 10 diapers per day, so I guess maybe have 60 or so just in case.

Of course don't forget water to make the formula. But I don't know how you will wash the bottles well enough.

I would probably stay with relatives or at a hotel to tell you the truth.

[CloudBee]

Oct 25, 2012 13:42:10 GMT -5 karinothing said:

Honestly I wouldn't buy formula until you are for sure you can't BF. The likelihood that an emergency will happen in the brief time you find out you can't BF until when you can guy formula at the store in an emegency is very small. On the other hand, the rate of success with breastfeeding drops if formula is in the house.

I would also just buy diapers as you go and not buy a larger size than will fit the baby.

We never touch what's on our emergency shelves, so I wouldn't be touching the formula there. I'm not going to become a statistic. lol

And really, we've been screwed too many times with local stores within walking distance being closed when they're on our electrical grid, roads not being plowed, etc., that I'm not willing to risk not having some cheap formula in the house. It's a small price to pay to be prepared. We'll donate it before it expires. This is one area where I'm never going to regret having a random item on my shelf that never got used.

As we're going to CD, we will not have many disposables in the house at all. Maybe just enough for a few days. Again, not having power for a week I would rather shell out a few bucks on cheapies vs. drive myself crazy trying to wash my CDs in time for daycare when power is back on, or rush out to the store if I can get there.

[CloudBee]

Oct 25, 2012 13:45:59 GMT -5 ohgillian said:

If you are nursing, you will need a lot of extra water for you to drink (more than you probably regularly keep in your emergency stash).

Thanks. I just placed a grocery delivery order for tomorrow. I'll get a few more gallons of water. Smart.

[CloudBee]

Oct 25, 2012 13:46:58 GMT -5 satama said:

I would probably stay with relatives or at a hotel to tell you the truth.

The only relatives and close friends in the area live in very wooded suburban neighborhoods that typically get blocked off by fallen trees once or twice a year when we have bad storms. And the hotels - they are few and far between unless we're right in the city of the burbs.

You peeps think I'm crazy for wanting formula and diapers in our emergency stash.

Just give me suggestions on cheap brands, please. Don't tell me not to get the stuff, lol.

[arch01]

-Formula: keep the samples (Enfamil, Similac and Gerber all send samples if you sign up on their websites)
-Diapers: I'd buy a small package in each size, if you were really set on this. Honestly, predictions for weather emergencies are usually a few days out, so enough to do an Amazon order
-Bottled water
-Wipes... if you aren't doing cloth, honestly the big boxes are the cheapest cost per wipe, we always keep a full box that's unopened since I'm bad about watching the box to see when it's low. That's more because of my deficiency in making an accurate list though.

[jackpackage]

I would recommend getting pre made bottles of formula over the large cans. I bf, but I bought a can when ds was going through growth spurts and I was too exhausted to keep up. It says to dump it after 30 days once opened, so we wasted almost a whole can. Plus you don't have to add water.

[satama]

Oct 25, 2012 13:49:38 GMT -5 CloudBee said:

Oct 25, 2012 13:46:58 GMT -5 satama said:

I would probably stay with relatives or at a hotel to tell you the truth.

The only relatives and close friends in the area live in very wooded suburban neighborhoods that typically get blocked off by fallen trees once or twice a year when we have bad storms. And the hotels - they are few and far between unless we're right in the city of the burbs.

You peeps think I'm crazy for wanting formula and diapers in our emergency stash.

Just give me suggestions on cheap brands, please. Don't tell me not to get the stuff, lol.

I thought I did that. Keep all the samples, so that is free formula, better than cheap! Extra water for drinking, making formula, washing bottles, etc. Check out baby cheapskate, she does a rundown of good diaper prices. One of those big bags of wipes (equals like 3 tubs) should last more than a week. We get our diapers and wipes on amazon and only use huggies, so that is all I know.

[CloudBee]

Thanks, satama. Sorry - the 2nd half wasn't completely directed at you.

I also know whatever we buy may not work, but in the big picture, $50 spent to avoid stress/hassle/possibly ever being without is so worth it. Especially when diapers never go bad, and formula can be donated right before it expires.

I will have to wait and see what I get for formula freebies. I didn't think of that.

[pugz]

keeping the samples is a great idea

also we formula feed and buy a ton at costco at once so we don't have to go out for it often, so I have a 3 month supply at any given time I bet you'll be the same if you end up formula feeding.

[CloudBee]

Oct 25, 2012 13:53:47 GMT -5 jackpackage said:

I would recommend getting pre made bottles of formula over the large cans. I bf, but I bought a can when ds was going through growth spurts and I was too exhausted to keep up. It says to dump it after 30 days once opened, so we wasted almost a whole can. Plus you don't have to add water.

I had no idea that premade lasted so long once opened. (Obv refridgerated, though.)

[CloudBee]

So who's shacking up with us when the zombies come?

Joking.

[arch01]

Oct 25, 2012 14:02:41 GMT -5 CloudBee said:

Oct 25, 2012 13:53:47 GMT -5 jackpackage said:

I would recommend getting pre made bottles of formula over the large cans. I bf, but I bought a can when ds was going through growth spurts and I was too exhausted to keep up. It says to dump it after 30 days once opened, so we wasted almost a whole can. Plus you don't have to add water.

I had no idea that premade lasted so long once opened. (Obv refridgerated, though.)

Premade only lasts 24-48 hours depending on the brand. She's referring the cans of powder being good for 30 days.

[Deleted]

I don't think you're crazy.

formula, extra water, diapers, is probably all you need to shelter in place.

Our emergencies are earthquakes, so we prepare not to be at home so our e-kit contains things like blankets, first aid, pack of cards, lovies, etc.

[CloudBee]

Oct 25, 2012 14:10:47 GMT -5 jenny1980 said:

I think the thing that's hard about diapers, though, is that a size 3 (or whatever) could be virtually useless if that's not the size you're using. I mean, it's not going to work on a three month old or a kid close to PLing.

I think your CDs, while more of a PITA, are a better emergency option as at least they'll fit.

Duct tape if they are too big! heh

But you are right.

Just like the can of cheap formula may not even be suitable for baby bee's stomach.

[bunch]

Am I the only one that always has disposables on hand? I mean there are just times when hauling a wet bag is a pita or when we're out and I don't want to do a mid trip diaper change and know a disposable can make it the whole time. I'm obviously not hardcore enough. Lol.

[karinothing]

Oh, I know you are going to CD. I just said that I wouldn't just buy like one large size. I would buy the size the baby needs at the time and just keep re-stocking.

We have no emergency stuff for our kid, granted I BF. But if we are in dire straits re: diapers I will just wrap a shirt around his waist or let him go diaperless in the kitchen

[karinothing]

Oct 25, 2012 14:14:05 GMT -5 bunch said:

Am I the only one that always has disposables on hand? I mean there are just times when hauling a wet bag is a pita or when we're out and I don't want to do a mid trip diaper change and know a disposable can make it the whole time. I'm obviously not hardcore enough. Lol.

We do not have any. Hardcore!

[arch01]

Oct 25, 2012 14:14:05 GMT -5 bunch said:

Am I the only one that always has disposables on hand? I mean there are just times when hauling a wet bag is a pita or when we're out and I don't want to do a mid trip diaper change and know a disposable can make it the whole time. I'm obviously not hardcore enough. Lol.

We always do, but we have to have them for DC. Even if we didn't, we use them in the diaper bag since they take up less space and are easier to deal with on a day out.

[Deleted]

RE: formula, just keep a sample. Get on the lists now. I hate formula companies, but I take their handouts and donate them and leave the cheques at the store.

Diapers: You'll probably end up buying a pack in the sizes you need as you go, and the leftovers would typically get me by a few days. We cloth diaper normally but don't really go crazy about doing it while travelling. So right now I have 3/4 of a pack of size 3 from our last trip. This has perpetually been the case. Just get a small pack of size 1 for now, and let it evolve as the baby grows.

Wipes: I never use enough disposables to form a brand preference. But it's nice, again, to have some for travel.

Cheap formula is typically made in the exact same plant as expensive formula.

[Brie]

Ditto just keeping formula samples. I signed up with Enfamil and Similac and got probably 6-8 free cans in the mail. I have given some of it (and the coupons) away but having it in the house it has in no way tempted me to stop BFing.

[Brie]

Oct 25, 2012 14:15:44 GMT -5 karinothing said:

Oct 25, 2012 14:14:05 GMT -5 bunch said:

Am I the only one that always has disposables on hand? I mean there are just times when hauling a wet bag is a pita or when we're out and I don't want to do a mid trip diaper change and know a disposable can make it the whole time. I'm obviously not hardcore enough. Lol.

We do not have any. Hardcore!

We don't either. We used up what the hospital gave us and have been CDing since.

H is really into it and has decided to turn into a game--how long can we have a baby before buying disposables? LOL.

[karinothing]

This post is making me feel like I should have more of an emergency kit. I do live 2 miles from the Pentagon after all.

[Deleted]

Oct 25, 2012 14:26:22 GMT -5 karinothing said:

This post is making me feel like I should have more of an emergency kit. I do live 2 miles from the Pentagon after all.

We just have a well stocked pantry, a flat of bottled water, and a tenant with a gun collection.

The baby has no special emergency supplies.

[Deleted]

Oct 25, 2012 14:13:33 GMT -5 CloudBee said:

Oct 25, 2012 14:10:47 GMT -5 jenny1980 said:

I think the thing that's hard about diapers, though, is that a size 3 (or whatever) could be virtually useless if that's not the size you're using. I mean, it's not going to work on a three month old or a kid close to PLing.

I think your CDs, while more of a PITA, are a better emergency option as at least they'll fit.

Duct tape if they are too big! heh

But you are right.

Just like the can of cheap formula may not even be suitable for baby bee's stomach.

Have you tried to put a size 3 diaper on a NB? The whole baby would be covered, head to toe.

[CloudBee]

Oct 25, 2012 14:26:22 GMT -5 karinothing said:

This post is making me feel like I should have more of an emergency kit. I do live 2 miles from the Pentagon after all.

Honestly, it doesn't take long or cost much to fill 2 backpacks with simple items that could get you a really long way in an emergency. Keep one at home, and one in your car. (Or cars.)

We have bags in our cars because there can be bad snow storms up here. If we were stuck on the side of the road, I don't want to be without a small amount of food (granola bars, even), water, and a cheap foil emergency blanket.

It really feels good to be prepared. We could honestly last for a few days on what we have in our small car backpacks. We wouldn't starge, dehydrated, or go cold. So simple. I only tap into the bag for food/water only if I really have to, and then replace ASAP.

Our bag at home is larger, and then we have things like large unopened cannisters of dehydrated fruits on our shelves in the basement. We snack on these so they are on a good rotation, though the expiration date is say, 20 yrs off, lol.

Being without phones, electricity, and in an area with a wintery climate have pushed me to be prepared.

It's pretty simple.

[karinothing]

Oh yeah I don't think it is hard. When we do travel I make sure that we have good supplies in our car (we always have water and blankets, but not food). Our house we always have water, but we don't have that many non perishable items. I think living in an urban area it is harder to think of being without something since I could walk to a ton of grocery stores restaurants and during snowmagedon a lot of them were open and having happy hour specials