Essential guidance for keeping infants and newborns safe during emergencies — covering feeding, warmth, medical needs, evacuation, and illness recognition.
Infants and newborns are among the most vulnerable people in any emergency. They cannot communicate distress except through crying. They cannot regulate their own body temperature. They depend entirely on a caregiver for every survival need — feeding, hydration, warmth, and safety. A caregiver who has not planned specifically for an infant in an emergency is not prepared.
This guide covers the specific considerations for infants from birth to approximately twelve months in emergency and disaster situations. The needs of this age group are significantly different from older children, and they demand specific preparation.
Feeding is the most urgent ongoing concern with an infant during an emergency. Nutritional deprivation, dehydration, or feeding with contaminated materials can become life-threatening within hours to days.
Breastfeeding is the single safest feeding method during any emergency or disaster. Breast milk requires no water, no fuel, no equipment, no hygiene infrastructure, and adapts to the infant's needs in real time. Breastfeeding mothers should:
If a mother was not previously breastfeeding and loses access to formula, relactation (restarting milk production) is possible but slow. Do not depend on this as an emergency strategy.
Formula feeding requires significant resources that emergencies may cut off:
⚠️ Never dilute infant formula to extend supply. Under-diluted formula causes severe electrolyte imbalances and can be fatal in newborns and young infants. Use the correct ratio exactly as specified, always.
Formula-feeding caregivers should store a minimum 2-week supply of formula (rotating stock) and have a safe, stored water supply for mixing. Pre-mixed liquid formula is safer in emergencies as it requires no water preparation, though it is heavier and more expensive.
Infants under six months should not receive plain water. Their kidneys cannot process it and they can develop dangerous hyponatraemia (low sodium). All hydration should come through breast milk or correctly prepared formula. Infants over six months beginning solids may have small amounts of cooled boiled water, but breastmilk or formula remains the primary source.
A newborn uses approximately 8–12 nappies per day. A 3-month-old uses 6–8. For a two-week emergency supply, calculate:
| Age | Daily Nappies | 2-Week Minimum |
|---|---|---|
| 0–1 month | 10–12 | 140–168 |
| 1–3 months | 8–10 | 112–140 |
| 3–6 months | 6–8 | 84–112 |
| 6–12 months | 5–7 | 70–98 |
Include in your infant emergency supplies:
In a true shortage, cloth nappies or towelling squares can be improvised, but require safe water for washing. Skin hygiene becomes critical to prevent infection.
Newborns and young infants cannot regulate their own body temperature. Hypothermia can develop quickly in a cold environment, and overheating is equally dangerous. Normal infant body temperature is 36.5–37.5°C (97.7–99.5°F).
Signs of an infant who is too cold:
Warming an infant who is too cold:
Layering is the correct approach for infant warmth — thin layers trap air and insulate. A sleeping bag or swaddle in a cool environment is often sufficient.
An infant-specific medical kit should include:
| Item | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Digital rectal or forehead thermometer | Accurate temperature measurement |
| Oral rehydration salts (infant-safe formula) | Dehydration management |
| Paracetamol infant drops (age-appropriate) | Fever management |
| Nappy rash cream | Skin barrier protection |
| Saline nasal drops | Nasal congestion relief |
| Alcohol-free antiseptic wipes | Wound cleaning |
| Sterile gauze pads | Wound dressing |
| Scissors with rounded tips | Safe cutting |
| Bulb syringe | Nasal/mouth clearance |
| Vaccination record (copy) | Medical history at any facility |
Keep all medications clearly labelled. Check expiry dates. Replace all expired items.
Infants cannot describe symptoms. Caregivers must watch for signs. The following symptoms in an infant under 3 months require urgent medical attention. In an emergency setting without medical access, these are high-priority situations requiring the most intense response available:
⚠️ In an emergency without medical access, a sick infant under 3 months is always a priority evacuation concern. Do not wait. Seek the nearest medical facility regardless of the circumstances. Infant illness can deteriorate to life-threatening within hours.
Carrying an infant during evacuation requires hands-free options when safe passage is uncertain:
Baby carrier (sling/structured carrier): Keeps hands free, maintains skin-to-skin warmth, keeps infant's airway accessible. Check infant's face is always visible and chin is off the chest (the TICKS checklist). Best for foot evacuation.
Pram/stroller: Faster on smooth surfaces but impractical on rubble, stairs, through smoke, or in crowds. Have a carrier available as a backup whenever a pram is your primary option.
Car seat: Appropriate for vehicle evacuation. Every infant should have a car seat in the evacuation vehicle. Never place an infant seat on a car seat that has been in a crash — replace it.
Things to carry for infant evacuation:
Premature infants have additional vulnerabilities:
A copy of the infant's vaccination record should be in your emergency bag. In a shelter or emergency medical setting, this prevents unnecessary vaccinations and alerts staff to any scheduled vaccinations the infant may be due for. Laminate a copy or store a photograph on your phone with a cloud backup.
| Situation | Action |
|---|---|
| No formula available | Contact Red Cross, aid station, or shelter. Never dilute existing formula. |
| Infant appears too cold | Skin-to-skin warming inside clothing, wrap in dry blankets, feed |
| Infant has not had wet nappy for 6+ hours | Dehydration risk — increase feeds, seek medical attention |
| Infant has fever above 38°C (under 3 months) | Urgent — seek medical care immediately |
| Evacuation on foot | Use structured baby carrier, hands free |
| No clean water available for formula mixing | Use pre-mixed liquid formula or seek water supply before preparing |
| Power outage with premature infant on equipment | Activate backup power plan, contact emergency services, move toward medical facility |
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