Packing for an Emergency

Having a baby with CDH will always come with a list of challenges. However, many of them can be eased when you prepare ahead of time. While you may never feel fully prepared to have a child, and CDH only helps to multiply your anxiety, it helps to start by thinking of what you might need for any given scenario and what can be done ahead of time. From simple things like your baby spitting up more due to their reflux or having blowouts more often, thanks to their medicine — to more scary scenarios like a spur of the moment hospital stay. Here are a couple of ideas to use as starting points to prepare and give yourself a bit more peace of mind for the future.

What is a “Go-Bag?”

With any child, but especially a child with CDH, you never know when you might need to drop everything and head to the hospital. It is a great idea to prepare a backpack or duffle bag as a “Go-Bag” ahead of time with everything you may need to stay multiple days at the hospital, just in case. Having everything you need will keep you from needing to leave your child if the ER decides to admit them or from frantically running around packing when your focus should be on obtaining medical help and helping your child feel more relaxed.

What should be in a Go-Bag?

• Two outfits for your child

• Two outfits for whichever parent is most likely to stay with the child

• Pajamas for each of you

• Comfortable socks and/or slippers

• Toiletries

• Any must-have medicine for both parent and child

• Shower shoes

• Favorite books

• Favorite stuffed animal 

• Crayons, coloring books, and a few small toys

• Cell phone charger (consider an extension cord and/or external battery to go with it)

Use your trunk - When you have a baby, it can be easy to overpack the diaper bag. You want to be prepared but definitely do not want to lug it all around. However, if you don’t bring everything, you will inevitably need the one thing you are missing every time. This is where trunk storage is fantastic. You can get a small three-drawer organizer, trunk bag, or even a crate and organize it with everything you commonly need. This will allow you to pack lightly in your purse (no need for a big diaper bag anymore!) and still always have what you need on hand when you need it! 

What to pack in the trunk?

• Diapers and wipes

• Change of clothes

• Swimsuit and sunscreen

• Peel and stick placemats

• Cart cover

• Sanitizing wipes

• Hand sanitizer

• Brush and hair elastics 

• Extra bottle and formula, bibs

• Necessary medicine (Benadryl, Tylenol, Motrin, gas drops, etc.)

• Blanket

• Pacifier or other comfort items

• Medical sheet (see our template here)

• Disc of important X-rays or MRIs 

• Syringes

• Basic first aid kit

Setting aside an hour or two now to pack a go-bag and setting up your trunk now will be invaluable in the event of an emergency. It will save time when every second counts and allow you to remain focused on your Tiny Hero. Check out our blog on Prepare for the Unexpected for more helpful tips and tricks.