
What Should Be In A 72 Hour Kit – Building 72 hour kits for kids can be overwhelming. I know I was very overwhelmed when I started researching what to include in my kids 72 hour kits. I’ve taken everything I’ve learned to put together a good emergency kit for kids and I’m breaking it all down for you today. My mom is really into emergency preparedness, so I used her as my starting point when I was trying to figure out what to pack. I also saw a few websites that I will list below for more information.
CDC Guidelines- The CDC has a great site with lots of information about what they recommend you pack for your children.
What Should Be In A 72 Hour Kit
In order to make it easier for you, I have broken down the articles that I put into different parts. For my own sanity, I wrapped each of these sections separately in plastic ziplock bags and put them in the kids’ backpacks just like that. This will not only keep the items dry in case of wet weather, but will also make it easier to keep the bags organized.
Hour Emergency Food Pack
For my kids’ bags, I used smaller bags that I bought on Amazon, which would be easier for the kids to carry than a large backpack. I made sure that they were strong and strong enough to hold up to wear and tear. I will link the bags below so you can see what I bought. You can also use backpacks for what you have. If you want to save money, you can wait until the back to school sales happen in the fall and you can find good backpacks on clearance then too. We also plan to pull the car out of the water and bring any other things we need if we walk on foot instead of in the car.
Another thing I did that you can think about, if you are also a single parent, is that I did double the 72 hour kits for my kids that I sent to their father’s house to keep there. In this way, if accidents happen and they are at the father’s house, they are not as concerned about having the supplies they will need to be safe as if they had to leave.
With all these recommendations it is important to remember the ages of your children. My children are between the ages of 4 and 10 and they are all potty trained. You may also want to set a reminder on your phone or calendar to check your 72 hour kits for kids every six months or so. This is a good time because the kids are growing fast, and you need to change the clothes that are packed, and you also want to check the food that you packed to throw away anything that has expired or spoiled.
I chose head lamps over my lamps for the kids because I think it’s easier for them to use a head lamp. I think I also use the foot of the head lamp. Whatever fear I can get out of the thing I’m probably afraid of is worth it to me. Sticky is also something that is not only practical, but also fun for the kids to have.
How To Prepare A 72 Hour Emergency Kit
This is going to be very personal. I tried to select what I knew my kids would eat. Im still looking for what is best and trying to copy the web. But here is where we start. I also have access to a cup/bowl that can be used over the fire to cook things that need cooking or heating. Each kid gets one in their bag. I now put a small bag in cups in my backpack for easy storage. If we don’t have access to a fire, I have a small jet cooker if I need to cook something. Don’t forget to include a metal fork and eating spoon.
One important thing to remember is if you have babies or small toddlers, be sure to pack baby formula or dry/boiled milk for them. This is especially important to remember for babies, because you don’t want to worry about them going hungry. For toddlers who still take a bottle or sippy cup of milk before bed, I recommend adding that to the list of foods they need.
Kids activity bags are not necessary. I included them to give my kids something to do if we were stuck in a shed or somewhere for a few days. If I need space in the bags for other things, I will remove the activity bags and leave them. Remember my kids are between the ages of 4-10yrs old. Choose activities that are age appropriate for your children. I don’t recommend putting crayons in the activity bag for a young toddler, but I would put cartoon cars, a small baby doll, or some type of action figures.
For the hygiene bag, I had to make some substitutions because of the pandemic conditions we are dealing with now. Pay attention, and know that you can always change things from behind. If you can’t find travel size toilet paper, just use toilet paper that doesn’t have much TP left on it, and put it in a small ziploc bag to protect it from getting wet. If you have a child with longer hair, consider including a hair clip or barrettes in this bag.
Home Emergency Kit
Because I don’t have any babies or toddlers, I didn’t pack diapers/wipes in my packs, but I’m including them in this list because they’re important if you have kids or small babies. Guarantee for the ages of your children when you arrange your clothes for 72 hour kits. Also, remember where you are leaving, and the times you experience in your country. If you live in a colder climate, you want to throw away items that keep you warm during the winter. If you’re in a warm climate, you won’t need wool socks.
The extra stuff I include in my 72 hour kits for kids are some of the most important, I think. It is always important to have some ID on everyone’s person/purse. Not only for safety, but also to separate yourself from the accident. Having a small amount of cash in every moment is good. You do not know what situation you will be in and how much money you will have to take care of your emergency needs. Remember, the credit card machine will likely not carry the result of a true need.
I hope this post has helped you to see that you are ready for whatever comes your way. I know I will sleep better at night knowing that I went with these bags ready for my kids. To see what’s included in the 72 hour kit I made for myself, click HERE.
I’ve created a few printable lists for you to download and use to build your own 72 hour kits for the kids, and as a bonus I’m including some printable ID tags that you can print for each of your kids. Click the button below to print your email address!
Norfolk County Recognizes Emergency Preparedness Week
There may be an issue with the Instagram access code that you are using. Save yours also to Instagram this time. Good Monday to you might not connect to Instagram! While no one ever wants to be in a disaster, it is always a good idea to be prepared for emergencies. It is wise to have 3 months to a year of food on hand in case you lose your job. It’s a pain to have money saved sometimes when the timer breaks.
My hubby and I worked on our 72 hour kits. This is a natural disaster kit. We can take this backpack and these buckets at a moment’s notice and live quite comfortably for three days.
To be honest, I hope we never use them. But let them be justly expedient. Behold what we have within;

Is she fantastic? I’ll give you a list at the end of this post if you want some ideas of your own to start your own series 🙂
The Items That Should Be Included In A 72 Hour Kit
I really like using buckets that you can buy at local hardware stores to hold everything. I added a cushion on top of it, which can also be used as a stool. A pillow should also be a pillow. How cool is that?!
My husband cut some wood in a circle with a suitable top. I had some old foam that I made a cover from old upholstery
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