Beyond snacks and socks: how to pack a child’s go bag with familiar comforts that help them feel safe when the family has to leave home.
Adults pack go bags with practical things: water, documents, medications, chargers. Those essentials matter for kids too. But when a family evacuates, children often need something else just as much: comfort. A favorite stuffed animal. A familiar blanket. A small game. A photo of the family. Items like these can turn a frightening, unfamiliar experience into something more manageable.
A child’s go bag is one of the simplest and most meaningful preparedness steps parents can take. This guide covers what to pack, how to involve kids and how to keep bags updated. It is general information; follow official preparedness guidance for essentials.
Why comfort matters
Evacuations disrupt everything children rely on: their bedroom, routines, toys, school and friends. They may spend hours in a car, sleep in a shelter, hotel or relative’s house, and sense adult stress. Familiar objects provide a sense of continuity and security. Being involved in packing gives kids a sense of control.
The essentials
Start with practical items appropriate for your child’s age:
- Water bottle and favorite snacks
- A change of clothes, pajamas, socks and a warm layer
- Sturdy shoes
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Medications, with adult supervision
- Glasses or other needed devices
- A child-size mask if recommended for smoke
- A small flashlight
- Diapers, wipes, formula or bottles for babies and toddlers
Label the bag with your child’s name and an emergency contact number.
Comfort items
Let your child help choose comfort items:
- A favorite stuffed animal or a duplicate of one
- A small blanket or pillowcase
- A family photo
- A favorite book
- Coloring book and crayons
- Small toys, puzzles or card games
- A notebook for drawing or writing
- Headphones and downloaded music or audiobooks
If your child has a beloved toy they need every night, consider buying a duplicate for the go bag, so the original can stay in their room without the bag being incomplete.
Information cards
Include a card with:
- The child’s name
- Parent names and phone numbers
- An out-of-area emergency contact
- Allergies or medical needs
- The family meeting spot
For younger children, keep the card in a pocket of the bag. Older kids can memorize key numbers.
Involving kids in packing
Packing together turns preparedness into an empowering activity:
- Explain that the bag is for adventures when the family needs to stay somewhere else for a while.
- Let them choose comfort items within a size limit.
- Let them decorate the bag with patches or a tag.
- Show them where the bag is kept.
- Practice grabbing it during drills.
Keep the tone calm and positive. Many children enjoy having “their own” emergency bag.
Age-specific ideas
Babies and toddlers
Diapers, wipes, formula, bottles, pacifiers, a favorite small toy, a familiar blanket and a portable sound machine if your child uses one.
Preschoolers
Picture books, crayons, a small stuffed animal, stickers and favorite snacks.
School-age kids
Chapter books, card games, small puzzles, a journal, a family photo and a small game.
Tweens and teens
Phone charger, headphones, books, a journal, a deck of cards and a few personal items they choose.
Kids with special needs
For children with medical, sensory or developmental needs, pack items that support their routines and comfort: noise-canceling headphones, sensory toys, visual schedules, communication devices and medical supplies. Include a card describing needs and helpful strategies for caregivers or shelter staff.
Keeping bags updated
Kids grow fast. Check bags every few months or at the start of fire season:
- Replace outgrown clothes and shoes
- Rotate snacks
- Update medications
- Refresh comfort items as interests change
- Update contact information
Make updating a family activity, like a seasonal “go bag check day.”
Where to keep the bag
Store bags somewhere easy to grab: near the front door, in a hall closet or in the car during high-risk periods. Make sure everyone knows where they are.
Talking about the bag
Kids might ask why they need a go bag. Keep explanations simple: “It’s like a camping bag. If we ever need to stay somewhere else for a little while, you’ll have your favorite things with you.” Avoid scary details. Emphasize that the family is prepared.
A kids’ go bag checklist
- Water and snacks
- Clothes, pajamas, socks, warm layer
- Toothbrush and toiletries
- Medications and devices
- Mask, flashlight
- Comfort items
- Activities
- Information card
- Baby supplies if needed
Questions parents ask
How big should a child’s go bag be?
Small enough for your child to carry, if they are old enough. A small backpack works well.
Should I pack electronics?
For older kids, a tablet or phone with downloaded entertainment can help, but bring chargers and do not rely on them alone.
What if my child wants to pack too much?
Set a limit and help them choose favorites. Explain that the bag needs to be light enough to carry.
Key takeaways
Pack essentials and comfort items, involve kids in choosing, include an information card, adapt for age and needs, store bags where they are easy to grab and update them regularly. Comfort makes hard moments easier.
A sample go bag for a seven-year-old
Here is what one family packed for their seven-year-old daughter:
- A small reusable water bottle and three of her favorite granola bars
- Leggings, a T-shirt, pajamas, two pairs of socks, a hoodie and sneakers
- Toothbrush, a travel toothpaste and hair ties
- A child-size mask and a small flashlight
- A duplicate of her favorite stuffed bunny
- A pillowcase from her bed
- A family photo in a zip-top bag
- Two chapter books, a mini coloring book and colored pencils
- A deck of animal cards
- A laminated card with her parents’ numbers, Grandma’s number and the meeting spot
She decorated the backpack with patches, and it lives on a hook by the door. During the last drill, she grabbed it without being asked, and proudly showed her little brother where his was.
Thinking about pets as comfort
For many kids, the family pet is the biggest comfort of all. Including kids in packing the pet’s go bag, with food, a favorite toy, a leash and a photo, can reassure them that their pet is part of the plan. Older kids can take responsibility for helping with the pet during drills.
Comfort beyond the bag
Comfort also comes from people and routines. During an evacuation, try to maintain small rituals: a bedtime story, a song, a special snack. Familiar routines help children feel grounded even in unfamiliar places.
A note for parents
If packing a go bag brings up your own worries, that is understandable. Many parents feel a pang when they choose which stuffed animal goes in the bag. Packing together, calmly and with a bit of fun, often helps adults feel more prepared and less anxious too.
Making go bag day a tradition
Some families turn the seasonal bag check into a small celebration: pizza for dinner, everyone empties and repacks their bags, kids swap in new books and comfort items, and the family reviews the meeting spot together. Turning it into a tradition makes preparedness feel normal and even a little fun.
Questions kids ask
“Will we need to use it?”
Probably not often, maybe never. It is there just in case, like a spare tire or an umbrella.
“Can I bring my real teddy?”
Of course. If your teddy is in your bed, we will grab it. The bag has a buddy too, just in case.
“What about my other toys?”
Toys are special, but the most important things are people and pets. We will bring the things we can, and we will be together.
Honest, gentle answers like these help kids feel safe without adding fear.
Teens and their go bags
Teenagers often want more control over what they pack, and that is a good thing. Give them the essentials list and let them choose the rest within a size limit. Encourage them to include a phone charger, a portable battery, headphones, a book or journal, and a few personal items that help them feel like themselves. Some teens find it meaningful to pack a small item for a younger sibling too. Respecting their choices builds ownership, and teens who feel ownership are more likely to keep their bags updated.
Finally, remember that the go bag is for the child, not for perfection. If a seven-year-old insists on packing a rock collection or a plastic dinosaur, that may be exactly the comfort they need. Within reason, let their choices stand. Feeling heard is part of feeling safe.
A go bag packed with love tells a child something important: even if we have to leave home for a while, the things that make you feel safe are coming with you, and so are we. That message can carry a child through a long night in an unfamiliar place.
Small things that matter most
Parents who have evacuated often say the same thing: the stuffed animal mattered more than they expected. Small comforts help kids feel that their world is still intact.
The same is true during the holidays, especially after a hard year. Personal touches, like a letter from Santa that remembers the brave things a child did and the moments that mattered to them, can be a powerful comfort.
This article is general information, not professional safety, insurance, legal or medical advice. Always follow instructions from CAL FIRE, your local fire authority and emergency officials.