My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

Use our Single Parent forum to speak to other parents raising a child alone.

Lone parents

What do you keep in the house 'just in case'

53 replies

NearlyHeadlessNick · 26/02/2024 16:12

My kids are 3 and 6 so we're an early-ish bedtime routine household and I'm stepping into single parenthood.

I'm trying to get organised in thinking of the things I might need i.e. what should I keep in the house as a just in case? If I can't leave if my two kids are in bed for example?

My list so far:
Paracetamol
Calpol
Piriton (allergy child)
Chocolate and bubble bath (for me)
Potatoes/pasta/tuna/bread/eggs for quick teas.

What else can't you do without? What makes your life easier?

I'm so used to knowing that I can nip out or send STBEX out to pick stuff up...

OP posts:
Report
ItsAllMoo · 26/02/2024 16:14

Plasters of all sizes!

Report
Homewoes22 · 26/02/2024 16:17

dioralite for after vomiting bugs

Report
WinchSparkle80 · 26/02/2024 16:18

Loo Roll
Sanitary towels/tampons etc if you use

a pint of milk in ur freezer or uht if not got a freezer?

Report
PuttingDownRoots · 26/02/2024 16:18

Anything you need for packed lunches and breakfasts.

Batteries and light bulbs

Report
WinchSparkle80 · 26/02/2024 16:19

A secret stash of loo roll I mean for utter emergency (bugs, just run out completely)

Report
PuttingDownRoots · 26/02/2024 16:19

Nappues/pull ups if you still need them

Report
LividBath · 26/02/2024 16:19

I have a milkman who also brings eggs and yoghurt.

It means I never run out and usually have too much 😂

Report
MarshmallowsOnToast · 26/02/2024 16:20

A thermometer incase kids are poorly?

Report
Cuppachuchu · 26/02/2024 16:20

Sudocrem (inspired by another thread).
Wine.
Gin.
Haribos.
Wipes, tissues, thermometer, torch. First aid kit.
Did I say wine? 😆

Report
MarshmallowsOnToast · 26/02/2024 16:21

Tampons/pads..?

Report
TheFormidableMrsC · 26/02/2024 16:21

Small tool kit, spare light bulbs, wine.

Report
pastypirate · 26/02/2024 16:21

Uht milk!!!! Always!!

Do a bulk shop of dry and long life goods once a month.

But also cereal and pasta and a pasta bake sauce and tin of sweetcorn.

Report
Autumn1990 · 26/02/2024 16:23

Chocolate for yourself.
Bit of cash
a few easy meals. Either tinned or frozen or jars or combination
bread in the freezer

Report
BoohooWoohoo · 26/02/2024 16:23

Spare phone chargers
A Charged battery pack for emergencies (eg you could be in A&E for hours )

Report
AutumnCrow · 26/02/2024 16:25

I recall having:

An actual, proper First Aid kit and medicine box
Spare light bulbs and fuses
Set of screwdrivers
Powerful alarm (got persistent and unpleasant door steppers off the doorstep before the Council and Police cracked down on them)
Torches and candles for power cuts
A book of useful numbers and locations of stop cock etc (mostly for babysitters)
Tinned food and long life stuff
A spare plug in phone

There must be other stuff!

Report
AutumnCrow · 26/02/2024 16:27

BoohooWoohoo · 26/02/2024 16:23

Spare phone chargers
A Charged battery pack for emergencies (eg you could be in A&E for hours )

Yes, definitely, we've got a battery pack now.

Report
FusionChefGeoff · 26/02/2024 16:28

How much space do you have?

Managing household supplies / food is key - we have Alexas around the house so can add everything quickly to a shopping list no matter what which reallly helps random things eg toothpaste / loo roll.

I'd also have a general stores area for all the key bits and it goes on the list when you take the last one out - NOT when the last one is running out.

Report
NearlyHeadlessNick · 26/02/2024 16:31

We have plenty of space so not concerned about storage

OP posts:
Report
N0Tfunny · 26/02/2024 16:34

Spare torch with batteries beside disruption board (that electrical box with the switches, probably near your meter )

some battery operated night lights ( safer than candles with small children).

emergency cash hidden away

spare lightbulbs

a large bottle of plain water ( for drinking of water goes off ).

Report
ImInACage · 26/02/2024 16:35

A vomit kit, which is a bucket containing towels, kitchen rolls, rubber gloves, wipes and bed pads. It's in an upstairs cupboard and easy to grab quickly if needed in the night. I also keep a single duvet with a cover on, ready to change the bed quickly.

Report
Goldwakeme · 26/02/2024 16:38

Batteries for the smoke alarms!

Report
N0Tfunny · 26/02/2024 16:39

Do you have somewhere outside that you can SAFELY hide a spare door key? It needs to be VERY well hidden ie not under a plant pot.

Report

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

onwardandupwards · 26/02/2024 16:44

Teabags/coffee
Milk/ bread in freezer
First aid kit
A vomit kit
A couple of decent ready meals/ microwave rice just in case
Lots of loo roll
A box of useful easy to find bits, batteries, light bulbs, screwdrivers, spare charger, some cash and coins ect

Report
Terrribletwos · 26/02/2024 16:46

All of the above!

What's a vomit kit?

Report
PurplePim · 26/02/2024 16:47

As well as some cash for emergency spending, make sure you have some change for emergency tooth fairy duties

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.