The short answer
Keep 3 days of nappies and wipes, as GOV.UK Be Ready suggests. If your baby has formula, the NHS says formula comes as a powder you make up with water or as ready-to-feed liquid, which costs more and must be used more quickly once opened. Powdered formula isn't sterile, so the NHS says make it up with water boiled no more than 30 minutes earlier, so it's at least 70°C. NHS trust guidance says keep an opened ready-to-feed carton in the fridge for no more than 24 hours. Know the NHS signs of a baby who is too cold, join the Priority Services Register (it includes families with young children), and talk to children calmly and honestly about what's happening.
Official advice first
GOV.UK Be Ready's 3-day kit includes nappies and wipes, and baby formula if your baby has it. For how to prepare and store formula, we use NHS advice only. We don't link to or recommend any formula product.
Feeding
If your baby has formula
The NHS says formula comes in two forms: a powder you make up with water, or ready-to-feed liquid. Ready-to-feed tends to cost more and, once opened, must be used more quickly.
Powdered formula in a power cut. The NHS says powdered formula isn't sterile. Make it up with water left to cool in the kettle for no more than 30 minutes, so it's still at least 70°C, which kills harmful bacteria. Don't use water that's been boiled before. If you have no way to boil water safely, you can't make up powder the NHS way.
Ready-to-feed liquid. NHS trust guidance (Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust) says:
- sterile ready-to-feed liquid is recommended for premature or low-weight babies
- once opened, keep the carton in the fridge, cut corner turned down, for no more than 24 hours
Bottled water. The NHS says bottled water isn't usually recommended for making up formula. In rare cases, such as when drinking water is unavailable or contaminated, you can use it, still following the NHS step-by-step guide.
Throw away any made-up formula left in the bottle after a feed (NHS).
Talk to your health visitor about what to keep for your baby, and keep enough of what your baby already uses for 3 days. Check the dates.
Sterilising without power
The NHS gives two methods that don't need an electric steriliser:
- Boiling: boil the feeding equipment in a large pan for at least 10 minutes, with everything under the water. This needs a working gas hob, or a camping stove used outdoors only: camping stoves make carbon monoxide and must never be used indoors (see our cooking without electricity post).
- Cold-water sterilising solution: soak for at least 30 minutes and make fresh solution every 24 hours.
Nappies, wipes and washing
- 3 days of nappies and wipes (Be Ready). Check sizes every few weeks, as babies grow fast.
- Hand sanitiser and wet wipes for you (Be Ready).
- A no-rinse body wash saves water if the taps are off.
Too cold or too hot
Cold. The NHS says a baby with hypothermia may be cold to touch, floppy, unusually quiet and sleepy, and may refuse to feed. Go to A&E or call 999 if you think your baby has hypothermia. For keeping a room warm in a power cut, see how to keep warm without power, safely, and our baby emergency plan guide for safe sleep.
Hot. The NHS says babies and children aged 5 and under are at higher risk in hot weather. Never leave a baby or child in a parked car (Be Ready). See keeping cool in a heatwave.
Plans that help families
- Priority Services Register. Ofgem says you can ask to join if you're pregnant or have young children. Members get priority support in an emergency and, wherever possible, notice of planned power cuts. Contact your energy supplier and your network operator separately.
- School and nursery numbers. Be Ready says check your child's school or childcare has your right contact details.
- A meeting point that children know (Be Ready).
- A head torch for night feeds leaves both hands free.
Talking to children about frightening news
UNICEF UK's advice for talking to children about war and conflict, in short:
- Watch for signs of worry, such as poor sleep, mood changes or more arguments.
- Listen first. Ask what they know and how they feel, and correct anything that's wrong.
- Be honest and calm, in words that suit their age. Reassure them they're safe. It's fine to say you don't have all the answers.
- Point to the helpers, the people showing kindness and courage. Small actions can help children feel more in control.
- Keep checking in as things change, and limit social media.
- Look after yourself and limit your own news. Children pick up on adults' worry.
See also our guide on talking to children about emergencies.
Where official sourcing is weak
- Opened ready-to-feed cartons with no fridge: we found no NHS advice. Ask your health visitor or call NHS 111.
- How much formula or how many nappies to keep: the NHS doesn't give a number for emergencies. Be Ready's 3 days is the only official figure.
- The NHS formula pages we used were last reviewed in 2023 and were due for review in 2026. We'll check them again when they're updated.
- We couldn't open Childline's advice pages (blocked to automated reading), so they aren't cited.
What to buy
About these links: plain links to ordinary retailer pages. We may earn from some links in future; we don't now. We haven’t tested these and we don’t rank them: they are examples that were in stock when we checked. Prices change. Check what you already own first. Full kit list
Torch or head torch, plus spare batteries
Look for: Runs on the same AA or AAA batteries as your other kit, so one spare pack covers everything. A head torch leaves both hands free.
- Alpkit Ionic 350 Lumen Head Torch · Alpkit · £15.99 (price on 1 November 2026) Shop
- Lifesystems Intensity 155 LED Head Torch · Lifesystems (UK brand store) · £19.99 (price on 1 November 2026) Shop
- Alpkit Kula 550 Lumen Head Torch · Alpkit · £19.99 (price on 1 November 2026) Shop
- Lifesystems Intensity 480 LED Hand Torch · Lifesystems (UK brand store) · £29.99 (price on 1 November 2026) Shop
- Dynamo Powered Wind-Up Pocket LED Torch · EVAQ8 · £3.60 (price on 1 November 2026) Shop
No-rinse body wash
Look for: Lets you wash without running water.
- No Rinse Waterless Body Wash 200 ml · EVAQ8 · £5.40 (price on 1 November 2026) Shop
Frequently asked questions
What about nappies, formula and baby things in an emergency kit?
GOV.UK Be Ready lists nappies and wipes in its 3-day kit, along with baby formula if your baby has it. Keep enough of what your baby already uses, check the dates, and add any medicines with the doses written down.
Is ready-to-feed formula better in a power cut?
The NHS says ready-to-feed liquid formula tends to cost more and, once opened, must be used more quickly. Powdered formula isn't sterile and needs water boiled within the last 30 minutes, so it's at least 70°C, which may be hard without power. NHS trust guidance says ready-to-feed liquid is sterile until opened. Talk to your health visitor about what suits your baby.
How long does an opened carton of ready-to-feed formula last?
NHS trust guidance says keep an opened carton in the fridge, with the cut corner turned down, for no more than 24 hours. We found no NHS advice for an opened carton when the fridge is off. If that happens, ask your health visitor or call NHS 111.
Can I use bottled water to make up formula if the tap water is off?
The NHS says bottled water isn't usually recommended, but in rare cases, such as when drinking water is unavailable or contaminated, you can use it. Follow the NHS step-by-step guide as normal, including boiling the water.
How do I sterilise bottles without electricity?
The NHS gives two methods that don't need a plug-in steriliser: boil the equipment in a large pan for at least 10 minutes, keeping it all under the water, or soak it in cold-water sterilising solution for at least 30 minutes, changing the solution every 24 hours.
How do I talk to my children about war without scaring them?
UNICEF UK suggests listening first and asking what they already know, answering honestly and calmly in words that suit their age, reassuring them they're safe, pointing to the people who are helping, and limiting news and social media. It's fine to say you don't know everything.
Sources
We opened each page on the date shown. Official advice changes: if a source says something different now, follow the source.
- NHS: Types of formula (reviewed 6 April 2023) (read 1 November 2026)
- NHS: How to make up baby formula (reviewed 31 August 2023) (read 1 November 2026)
- NHS: Sterilising baby bottles (reviewed 24 February 2023) (read 1 November 2026)
- Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust: Formula feeding (read 1 November 2026)
- NHS: Hypothermia (reviewed 9 June 2023) (read 1 November 2026)
- NHS: Heatwave, how to cope in hot weather (reviewed 12 June 2026) (read 1 November 2026)
- GOV.UK Be Ready: emergency kit and plan (read 1 November 2026)
- Ofgem: Join your supplier's Priority Services Register (read 1 November 2026)
- UNICEF UK: How to talk to children about war and conflict (read 1 November 2026)
Related guides
- Emergency planning with a baby or toddler (UK)
- Talking to children about emergencies, calmly
- Priority Services Register: a plain guide
Free tools
We're an independent UK site, not the government. We check guides against official sources and link to them. In an emergency call 999.
More from the blog
How to keep warm without power, safely
Keep warm in a winter power cut without risking carbon monoxide: one warm room, layers, blankets and draught-stopping, from the…
FoodThe 7-day no-cook food box: tins that actually taste OK
A ready-made UK shopping list for a week of food that needs no fridge, no cooker and no kettle, a 7-day menu, and how to rotate…
Extreme weatherKeeping cool in a heatwave without air conditioning
Keep a UK home cool without air con: shade sun-facing windows by day, open up at night, use fans only below 35°C, and look after…
Power cutsEmergency lighting for a power cut: torches, lanterns, head torches and candles
Be Ready says torches are safer than candles. How to light a home in a power cut: a head torch each, a lantern for the room…