Prompted by the excellent Brexit and toddler thread, would anyone fancy a prepper with baby thread (not a Brexit thread). What are your ideas for prepping with babies, toddlers, older children?

[bellinisurge]

Here's a start - think about reusable nappies. Think about feeding.
Think about entertainment. What works for you?

I'm slowly buying ready made formula bottles as you don't even need water to make them. Does anyone know if you can use boiling water to sterlise bottles should there be an issue with the steriliser for any reason?

I use ready made formula every now and then and rolling boil the bottles for three minutes after they've been washed up.

I would say when weaning, get them used to things like plain porridge oats etc that you can store for everybody. I imagine it might be tricky if your baby is used to a specific fancy baby cereal and then supplies are suddenly disrupted. Also easier to make up one breakfast for everyone if milk/water limited.

I store clothes and nappies in larger sizes as budget allows. I can pick things up when they are on offer and less worry about future price increases.

Milton sterilizing tablets, th en you just need a bucket or tupperware box big enough. Fill with water in the morning, drop in a tablet and its good for 24 hrs, bottles need to be in for 30 mins to sterilise and dont need rinsing after.

Babies - next size clothes as they get through sizes quick, same for nappies.

For brexit i dont think water will be an issue but i would have a couple of tins of formula to hand in case of supply issues, same for any essentials like dummies, calpol that could end up stuck on a lorry in calais when you need them.

If you have the funds now, having a stock of the expensive stuff.like formula and nappies wou ld help.if there are price hikes because of import fees/supply problems.

Older kids, next season clothes, treat foods, a supply of staple foods you know they will eat with minimal complaint and thats nutritios/filling.

• Short grain rice for risotto or rice pudding
• UHT milk or milk powder which works for cooking
• Pasta and sauce
• Soup
• Baking ingredients including cake stuff. The sachets of cake in a mug mix are often discounted, quick, easy, just need milk and satisfy the need foe a hot pudding. Flatbreads are easy to make too.

Suitable multi vitamins for all and basic first aid kit is always useful.

I've just read this thread and been musing. It's hard with such tiny ones unless you have a definite timescale for what you're preparing for, isn't it? For instance, right now DS is exclusively breastfed so no need for any feeding stuff, but we'll be weaning him in the next couple of months so then he'll need food but I wouldn't know quite what to get now - am I preparing for a 6 month old, a 12 month old, both? What if he loathes the food I've stockpiled - I can't explain to a baby that it's all we've got.

Are we thinking of energy shortages as likely? If so I'd probably want a couple of those really high tog baby sleeping bags in storage - we don't use them now as the heating is on, but they'd be useful if no heating.

@LisaSimpsonsbff - power cuts are unlikely with Brexit if that is your particular concern. No deal and it's a bit less unlikely, if you see what I mean. Already been warnings it might happen in NI with No deal.
It's hard to know what a soon to be on solids little one will like but , at a push (my dd is 11 now) I'd probably have thought about puréed tinned veg.

For weaning and into toddlerhood, these are good to have whether there are shortages or not

• Rice/oat cakes/ homemade flatbreads
• Nut butters
• Potted meat - the pate type jars of spread
• Tinned fruit and vegspread
• Tinned tuna, sardines, silts
• Homegrown - potatos in bags, strawberries in gro bags, hanging planters of tomatoes, herbs and salad leaves on windowsills
• Porridge
• Dried or freeze dried berries, apricots, raisins, prunes, apple, bananahav
• UHT nut, rice, oat or cow milk
• Cereals
• Lentil/dahl/rice/pasta
• Jars of sauces
• Just add water mashed potato - the 'Idaho' brand packets are great and their dauphinious potatos are fab

I am a huge fan of charity shops & regularly visit 2 that sell childrens clothes for 20p an item!

I've got bundle of clothes in the next size up for all 3 of my dc (although younger ds has a few hand me downs as well)

I've got multiple jeans, t-shirts, hoodies in the next 2 sizes up & few coats. I've also got welly boots & some snow boots in the attic.

I buy packs of underwear & socks (new) in bigger sizes if I see them on offer.

This is for my own peace of mind if something financial happens (both myself & DH have been through redundancies) so at least the kids have decent basic clothes appropriate for all weathers.