Bugging out with babies.

[Defeater]

To start off, a quick aside, this subforum (Family Prep) has been desperately needed. Massive kudos for whomever is responsible for it.

In the typical bugout scenario, most people assume the worst-case scenario - that roads are impassable and your mighty vehicle must be abandoned, with all of your useful worldly possessions on your person. But what to do if you have very young children? My two year old isn't going to be able to carry more than a couple pounds in his baby backpack, and my six month old isn't doing anything. I have been trying to assemble bugout specific items that will allow us to take babies assuming this worst of worst case scenarios. Here are a few that I have found to be very useful and in keeping with typical bugout philosophy of being light and easy to carry, and I'd like to hear any more ideas anyone wants to kick around.

Single-use formula packets. There are a lot of opinions out there regarding formula versus mother's milk. I don't really want to get into that. It is worth knowing, however, that single-use packets exist, obsolescing the need to measure out scoops, etc. Formula is sticky, and stinks (and makes baby and baby's BM stink likewise), and stains, as well as uses a lot of water, so be aware.

Baby food. This is a no-brainer. The best thing about baby food is that it tends to keep for a very long time, so you can build up a large supply. It can also be used as a snack for an adult, but they don't provide many calories given a typical 2k daily diet. For children less than 6 months old, 50 to 55 calories per pound per day is needed; up to a year they require 40 calories per pound per day, and 20 calories per pound per day forever after that. (For example, my 2 year old son who is 30 pounds requires 600 cal/day; my 6-mo. baby is 13 lbs. and needs 650 calories.)

Cloth diapers. We have gone cloth versus disposable for a myriad of reasons, not the least of which being that it is much less expensive in the long term - but has a significantly higher cost at the outset. The key qualities you need in a good CD is a removable (usually microfiber) liner, waterproof exterior, and adjustable sizing with snaps, not hook-and-loop. There are dozens of brands of cloth diapers so it's not really worth getting into.

Various useful items I like to have with me as EDC at the least are Vitamin A+D ointment, baby powder, a sippy cup and bottle, baby flatware, and wipes. It is always worth your while to stockpile wipes at the least.

There were a bunch more things I wanted to discuss but forgot about. Anyways, I am interested in hearing what others have to say; in particular, off-road capable strollers or pull carts, those framed child carrying backpacks, and anything else.

[movieman1500]

Great post we have a Jeep 3 wheel offroad stroller that has good storage space and is tough as nails

[whisk.e.rebellion]

We keep (or kept, rather since we've gotten lazy and complacent. Need to rectify that!) a bunch of the Enfamil single serve packets on hand for when we'd travel. My main complaint is that my oldest daughter (now 3 years and well off of formula/milk) wouldn't take them since the mixture was no warmer than room temperature (we kept a stash of bottled water in the trunk). However, when she got hungry enough she would eat the tepid formula.

My youngest is now 3 and a half months, and she's less picky about the temperature of her formula. I really need to buy another couple boxes of the single serve stuff and keep it in the diaper bag.

And, FWIW, there's no shame in formula feeding babies. Sometimes, the milk supply just cannot keep up with the baby's demand.

As for bugging out on foot with a baby, we have a chest carrier (Baby Bjorn) that works pretty well. I've not loaded up a pack and carried the baby, though.

[Vic]

Single-use formula packets. There are a lot of opinions out there regarding formula versus mother's milk. I don't really want to get into that. It is worth knowing, however, that single-use packets exist, obsolescing the need to measure out scoops, etc. Formula is sticky, and stinks (and makes baby and baby's BM stink likewise), and stains, as well as uses a lot of water, so be aware.

You could also look at getting a plastic formula dispenser. I used to have one which was divided into 3 sections, each would fit a pre-measured amount of formula, up to enough for a 250mL bottle. The lid moves around to open a pouring spout over each section. I used these on day trips, to make a bottle when needed instead of pre-making bottles of formula. You just measure out the powder from your can, so it is better on your budget than buying the single use packs.

However, if you are using formula for a very young child, you need to remember to up your water supply to have enough to sterilise the bottles & teats (in addition to cleaning them).

[Necrodamus]

We keep (or kept, rather since we've gotten lazy and complacent. Need to rectify that!) a bunch of the Enfamil single serve packets on hand for when we'd travel. My main complaint is that my oldest daughter (now 3 years and well off of formula/milk) wouldn't take them since the mixture was no warmer than room temperature (we kept a stash of bottled water in the trunk). However, when she got hungry enough she would eat the tepid formula.

My youngest is now 3 and a half months, and she's less picky about the temperature of her formula. I really need to buy another couple boxes of the single serve stuff and keep it in the diaper bag.

And, FWIW, there's no shame in formula feeding babies. Sometimes, the milk supply just cannot keep up with the baby's demand.

As for bugging out on foot with a baby, we have a chest carrier (Baby Bjorn) that works pretty well. I've not loaded up a pack and carried the baby, though.

I had the same problem!
Solution: Instant hand warmers! just activate two and wrap them around the bottles for a few minutes.

[whisk.e.rebellion]

We keep (or kept, rather since we've gotten lazy and complacent. Need to rectify that!) a bunch of the Enfamil single serve packets on hand for when we'd travel. My main complaint is that my oldest daughter (now 3 years and well off of formula/milk) wouldn't take them since the mixture was no warmer than room temperature (we kept a stash of bottled water in the trunk). However, when she got hungry enough she would eat the tepid formula.

My youngest is now 3 and a half months, and she's less picky about the temperature of her formula. I really need to buy another couple boxes of the single serve stuff and keep it in the diaper bag.

And, FWIW, there's no shame in formula feeding babies. Sometimes, the milk supply just cannot keep up with the baby's demand.

As for bugging out on foot with a baby, we have a chest carrier (Baby Bjorn) that works pretty well. I've not loaded up a pack and carried the baby, though.

I had the same problem!
Solution: Instant hand warmers! just activate two and wrap them around the bottles for a few minutes.

Nice! I do have a few of those stashed. What works well in a non-PAW scenario though is a bottle warmer that plugs in to your car's 12VDC system. Though, do you wait for the bottle to warm up or do you give the kid a less than perfect temperature bottle in hopes that she'll stop screaming?

[Defeater]

We keep (or kept, rather since we've gotten lazy and complacent. Need to rectify that!) a bunch of the Enfamil single serve packets on hand for when we'd travel. My main complaint is that my oldest daughter (now 3 years and well off of formula/milk) wouldn't take them since the mixture was no warmer than room temperature (we kept a stash of bottled water in the trunk). However, when she got hungry enough she would eat the tepid formula.

My youngest is now 3 and a half months, and she's less picky about the temperature of her formula. I really need to buy another couple boxes of the single serve stuff and keep it in the diaper bag.

And, FWIW, there's no shame in formula feeding babies. Sometimes, the milk supply just cannot keep up with the baby's demand.

As for bugging out on foot with a baby, we have a chest carrier (Baby Bjorn) that works pretty well. I've not loaded up a pack and carried the baby, though.

I had the same problem!
Solution: Instant hand warmers! just activate two and wrap them around the bottles for a few minutes.

Aha! That is a fantastic idea. Baby girl won't eat unless it's very warm, or she's practically starving, which I want to avoid if possible.

Because I love you guys, I found a table which details water intake requirements for little ones. The caloric intake chart that I referenced in the first post is in there, too. The whole page is a good read overall.

[Necrodamus]

Use your own judgement... and ear plugs!

[Rhep]

in hopes that she'll stop screaming?

Crying helps strengthen the ab muscles, which is a good thing for the little ones - though it can be taxing on the parents.

[Bonecrusher Doc]

Here are a few links I bookmarked before the Family Prep section was added (hooray!):

"Family BOB" viewtopic.php?f=14&t=64875

"What about family when SHTF?" viewtopic.php?f=6&t=63664

"Survival with a family" viewtopic.php?f=6&t=62072

I'll chime in with my own two cents once kids are down for their nap!

[Istvan56]

Thanks for this thread folks. While you'd think that a 54 year old guy would be past the diaper/formula stage I'm not since I'm a foster dad. Add to that I have grown kids who may start reproducing soon.

Now consider that you have neighbors, friends, etc. with infants and toddlers. Or, like in the famous story "3 Godfathers" with John Wayne (the best of the variants, IMHO) you end up with someone else's orphan child. So this is good information to have and preps to make as a priority 2 item if you aren't in the baby making stage ATM.

[ZombieGranny]

That's a good chart, Defeater.
I dug around and found out it's called the Holliday-Segar Method, and found one that translates the amounts into Imperial measurements for us 'metrically-challenged' folks. Also includes some cautions.
http://www.articles.complexchild.com/00037.pdf

[gettinready]

I love the idea of the single use formula packets - I wasn't aware they made them. Even if you breast feed, you may need a backup for various reasons. Medical care may not be available for mom, mom may get sick, or you may not be able to get meds that are safe for use while nursing so you may need to take a break for a bit.

[donjulio]

We spent a week camping and hiking in death valley about 5 or 6 years ago when there was an epic wildflower bloom going on. My boy was 9 months old and just began crawling on this trip. This pack was invaluable.

[Caenus]

TX Trinity and I just had our first baby (girl) in March of this year. I have been working on a plan for babies as well, and come up kinda short.

Basically, all of our burp cloths are cloth diapers...I also have lots of towels if need be.

We never heated her bottles, so she takes them room temperature and just now she is working on cereal.

I usually have an unopened box of diapers the right size and a couple cans of formula and several cases of bottled water. I suppose I could keep a case of water and a large can of formula in a large tupperware with the diapers and some blankets.

That's all I can think of she'd need.

[rpc]

Single-use formula packets......a plastic formula dispenser

The following idea is not a good idea for packing formula and then storing it away for use in the future. But if you're packing a bag for a day or two, it can prove very helpful.

Our kids also got powdered formula, and what we often did is measure the powder into a clean bottle, or into one of the Playtex liners, which was sealed up with a twist tie.

Then, when it's time to use it, just add the correct amount of water. The powder is easier to mix if you add the powder to the water, but if you shake it sufficiently, it works the other way around.

If you're a perfectionist, you need to note exactly how much water to add. When you add the powder to 6 ounces of water, you wind up with 6.1 ounces of formula, or whatever. So make a note of how much finished product you should wind up with, and add water accordingly.

Again, I wouldn't pack this in a bug-out bag for use in the future (nor would I use one of the plastic dispensers for long-term storage). But for a few days, it comes in very handy.

[organized chaos]

I go with a child carrier as well. My son is 2 almost 3 ant the carrier I have goes up to 40lbs for the frame. I found it at a garage sale looked barely used and spent $20 on it. I had an off brand one that i used until he was 25lbs that i bought from a garage sale for $7. But this is a very nice way to be able to bug out as you can hold other stuff as well.

Here is a pick of the off brand one:


In use:


Don't have any pics of the new one yet but should soon.

[Mole]

Great thread!

I've got a formula fed baby (he decided at five months old that he didn't want to be fed by mummy any more ). We use the ready mixed cartons when we're out and about. They're very handy but heavy and a little too much for a single feed so there's some wastage.

I can't say how great child carriers/papooses are! I've used them with both my kids. We tend to go with the higher end models. A bit spendy but worth it IMO. The one we're currently using has a sunshade and rain cover. It also has built-in storage under where baby sits and a detachable backpack/nappy bag. I don't think I've ever managed to fill it completely yet.

[Kutter_0311]

GOATS

As annoying as these unholy beasts are, goat milk is as close to human breast milk as nature provides (quoting our midwife) and I would actually try to get my hands on some for any lengthy SHTF scenario.

That's saying a lot, cuz I freakin hate goats...

They keep biting me...

[Regular Guy]

Off Topic----

GOATS

That's saying a lot, cuz I freakin hate goats...

They keep biting me...

I keep getting bit by horses. Maybe 'cause I'm a vegetarian? Goats bite me too, weird.

[Kutter_0311]

GOATS & HORSES

Neither need gas or roads...

Both contribute to family evac/survival...

Both will eat the shirt off your back if they get hungry?

[thorian]

My contribution is that when one is pumping and feeding for latching problems. that one pick up the kit for a medela lactina. they are $40 from a pharmacy but the thing is that with a partner one can manually double pump if one keeps a constant rythem. The other thing is that the plunger assembly screws into the back of the horn valve for single pumping, One can get the suction of a lactina with the go anywhere convince of a manual.

I also keep a sample can of simalac for those times when the wifes production is unable to keep up with the baby's wants.

[JT_of_JFF]

Layering bags & kits when you have a family shows our offroad stroller and backpack carrier along with our ideas/experience in using them. Short version... they're expensive but be patient and get them on sale, yard sale or craigs list. They're worth every cent you pay for them.


For formula, I buy by the case from Sam's Club well in advance. We breastfeed until six month then switch to formula. Once you know you need it stock up. It will age on the shelf just fine and you will use it sooner or later. Even if you breastfeed, its worthwile to have in an emergency since something tragic could happy and daddy's breasts don't work the same. Formula one shots are awesome, but can be expensive. We save them for trips and emergencies.

For heating bottles I go one better than hand warmers. I keep MRE heater bags handy. PLEASE EXPERIEMENT and add a limited amount of water per bottle. If you add water as directed for a foil encases meal IT WILL BURN YOUR CHILD.

Look in your baby food section. A company has started putting out organic baby food in MRE style envelopes. Very convenient and easy to pack and reheat. Use the same MRE heaters as above.

BEST possible bug out food for children and infants is Cherrios. They keep forever, pack into anything and are eaten by hand/mouthful by every child I know.

[pyratemime]

Having an almost one week old in the house this is just an awesome thread that I am learning a lot from though I have virtually nothing to contribute based on lack of experience. The one thing I might suggest is keeping some of these handy in case you don't have the time or water needed to mix formula. My wife and I carry some with us that the hospital gave us so that if we don't have a handy place for her to breastfeed we can still get something in the munchkin until her milk comes in fully and we can pump and build a supply in the freezer.