24+ Items for an Emergency Car Kit for Baby

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Ahhh, babies. Bundles of joy that will change your life…mostly for the good.  I have had three babies, each with its unique challenges.  Let me tell you, as hard as you will try, you are going to find yourself underprepared one day.

It’s the nature of having a baby.  From lack of sleep to being constantly on guard (both level out eventually) you are going to forget something…something critical.  It’s going to be bad at the moment, but you will live through it.  

So, in an effort to spare you a couple of the trials and tribulations of parenthood.  I will share with you what needs to be in an emergency car kit for babies.  (BTW, it doesn’t have much to do with the car at all.)

Emergency Car Kit for Baby List

All right, let’s start this off by getting this straight. Your diaper bag IS your emergency kit. It’s got almost everything you need it. And if you are a first-time parent, it’s got stuff you don’t need.

So an emergency car kit for a baby is basically a second diaper bag that you keep in your car. Because one day…you…will…forget…your diaper bag at home, or in the store. Somewhere. 

Then when the diaper bomb goes off, you are scrounging for anything that can become a wipe.  It’s not pretty, but if you’re prepared, then you will be able to handle almost any situation like a champ.  So let’s get into this.

Carrying Container

This is where all emergency car kits start, isn’t it?  You have to have something to put all of your emergency supplies in.  And as I stated, a baby’s emergency car kit is a backup diaper bag. So, this is what I recommend and used for my baby’s emergency kit.

Get a second diaper bag, or a backpack, something you can pick up and take with you easily.  Yes, it’s more expensive than a tote or a plastic container but having a bag is supremely more convenient.

However, all of this depends on what your style is.  So, there are always options.  Having a small plastic container or a trunk organizer may be your style.  Whatever it is, you will need a container to hold your supplies.  

Now, there are levels to being prepared.  We will take this through from bare minimum to uber prepared. Let’s get to the list. 

Bare Minimum

• Diaper
• Wipes
• Change of clothes
• Bottle
• Water / Formula

For those of you who are brave souls, the bare minimum is all you need. I was never brave enough to carry just the bare minimum. So what’s included?

Diapers

Never underestimate when you will need a diaper. And never carry just one extra diaper, have at least three, because you never know. 

Oh and always make sure you have the right size.  Kids grow out of diapers at an amazing rate.

Wipes

You know, wipes are one of those things you should always have in your car.  Even if you don’t have kids. 

But especially when you have kids.  The wipes and diapers go hand in hand.  But you will also need them to clean up spit up, baby food, milk, etc.  The list goes on and on.

Not to mention when you drop the tomato out of your burger.  You’ll be happy that you have the wipes on hand.

Change of Clothes

Funny, these three items are all related.  Because one day it’s going to happen.  The blowout.  I didn’t know what it was with my first kid.  That’s an education you don’t forget.

Just make sure that you have the correct size clothes or close to the correct size.  Kids grow so fast, before you know it they will be out of the clothes in your emergency car kit.  

Bottle or cup

Well, we talked about the mess, let’s talk about how the mess gets there.  You need a way to administer food.  Bottles go in and out of a diaper bag all of the time.  Make sure you have an extra one.  

Formula & Water

You need something to put in the bottle or cup.  Baby formula comes in premade containers or small powder containers.  That along with some water and you have a baby meal.  Of course, if mom is there, you may not need the last three items.  

Just be mindful of extreme temperatures.  Keeping premade formula in a very hot car could cause it to spoil. Conversely, keeping it in a freezing cold car could be bad too.

Baby First Aid Kit

Babies have unique needs.  A regular first aid kit will not do for a baby.  You should always have a first aid kit in your car anyway.  If you have a baby, you may need two, one for the baby and one for everyone else.  

The Everything I Need Baby Emergency Kit

• Includes Everything in the Bare Minimum Category
• Pacifier
• Changing pad
• Burp Cloth
• Blanket
• zip lock bags
• Nasal suction
• Anti-bacterial wipes
• Soft book
• Bib

This is the category I fell under by the way.  

Pacifier

You know what’s funny about these.  They are never around when you need one.  But when you don’t need them they are everywhere.   My kids are in or near double-digit ages right now, and as recently as last year I found a pacifier buried in a box somewhere.

The point is, have an extra one or two.  If your kid uses them you will be happy.

Changing Pad

You can get away with not having one of these, but I always liked having one.  You never know where you are going to have to lay your baby down.

Do you really trust the baby changing station in the gas station bathroom?  For a relatively cheap price, you can peace of mind knowing that there is a barrier between your baby and whatever is living on the surface.

If you are willing to spend 40 – 50 dollars on a frivolous wipe warmer.  You can shell out a few dollars for a changing pad.

Burp Cloth

Again, these things are so handy.  They protect your clothes.  They can be used as a rag and they can clean up the baby mess.  

You can throw them in the laundry or throw them away if they are beyond help.  Have a few in your emergency car kit.

Blanket

It seems like you could never have enough blankets.  Fussy baby?  Swaddle it in a blanket.  Cold outside?  Get another blanket.  Run out of burp cloths? Get the blanket.

Blankets are very useful.

Zip Lock Bag

I saw this on YouTube and thought it was ingenious.  What exactly are you going to do with the clothes your lovely baby exploded in?  Put it in the baggy.  It will contain the mess and the smell.  No one said being a parent was pretty.  This is an inexpensive solution to a stinky problem.  

Nasal Suction

‘Is this a real thing’? you may be asking yourself.  Yes, it is.  How do you feel when you can’t breathe out of your nose?  It’s not pleasant, is it?  Now think about your baby, he or she doesn’t know what’s going on.  All they know is they can’t breathe.

Gently put one of these bad boys in their nose and suck that booger out.  Voila, happy baby. Sane parent.  

Anti-Bacterial Wipes

Babies get their hands on everything. Then put them in their mouth, they love to taste the world around them.

Or maybe you could use these.  Sometimes those diapers just don’t cooperate.

Soft Book

Soft books are awesome, that is some cheap entertainment right there.  Babies can feel these, they can look at them and they can taste them.   There is nothing these books can’t do.  

If you happen to get stuck somewhere, you will be thankful you have a little entertainment for the baby.

Bibs

There are a lot of items to combat messes.  Do you know why?  Babies are messy.  Bibs are light, flat, and they store well.  Again, have a few in your car kit, it can’t hurt. 

The Uber-Prepared Parent (aka First Time Parent) Emergency Car Kit

• Everything from the Bare Minimum and Everything I Need Baby Emergency Car Kits, plus
• Toys
• Tweezers/ Nail clippers
• Diaper Cream
• Baby Tylenol
• Pumping Equipment
• Extra
• Car Genie
• Emergency Car Kit

Baby Toys

If having a soft book is not enough for you, then having a few extra toys may not be a bad idea.  Fussy babies add stress to an already stressful situation.  Having a few extra distractions around could be useful.  

Tweezers / Nail Clippers

I could never find a set of these when I needed them.  Usually they get carried around in the diaper bag.  But they are easy to lose, too.  

Baby fingernails are surprisingly sharp and they can scratch their face pretty easily.  Having an extra set of these just means you are uber-prepared.

Diaper Cream

Again, usually carried with you in the diaper bag.  Also, an item that can easily get left behind.

Baby Tylenol

I am not one to quickly medicate a baby. However, as I mentioned before, if you are broken down and in a stressful situation; a fussy baby doesn’t make things any easier. 

If your baby is teething or has some other underlying condition that a little Tylenol can help.  It doesn’t hurt to have some extra in stock.

As with the formula though, be mindful of extreme temperatures.  Medications usually have a tolerance they can not exceed.

Pumping Equipment

While I can not speak with personal experience in this matter, it is something the uber-prepared would have.  Sometimes, the baby isn’t hungry. That doesn’t stop mama from making food though, does it?

Final Thoughts…

Well, there you have it.  As a parent, I know it’s hard to figure out exactly what you need for your baby.  Truth is, you never know what you really need. You just do the best that you can.

Hopefully, this list will give you a place to start so that you feel confident when you venture out into the big bad world with your baby.

Read over the list, get the things you need, add to it if you need to.  I didn’t include in here specific items.  One thing that was essential in my car was a power inverter.  My son had asthma and we needed to be able to run a nebulizer at any moment.  

Situations and circumstances vary, do what you need to do for yourself and your baby.  Stay healthy and 

Safe travels…

P.S. Maybe your baby isn’t a baby anymore. You are now faced with having a new driver in the house. This brings on a whole new set of challenges, but you can still make sure they are prepared. Check out my article 12 Car Essentials for New Drivers.

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