Storm Preparations with Toddlers

Storm Preparations with Toddlers

            This article covers great tip on storm preparations with toddlers.  A lot of your friends might tell you to just pick up the necessities, like milk and bread, but what if you have a younger child that is a little bit picky with what they eat?  What about things to keep them occupied if the power goes out?  How about what you may need in case you cannot get out of your house for a few days?  I’m going to give you all of my best advice on all of these great questions.

            The most popular question for storm preparations with toddlers is, “what food should I buy?”  Yes, you are going to want to have all of the normal items, such as milk, eggs, bread, and all other normal staples.  Toddlers are at an age where they need to be receiving something from every food group, so it is important that you keep this in mind when shopping.  My best advice to anyone is making sure you have peanut butter and jelly.  This will give a child protein, and you can get a serving of fruit in if the jelly is made mostly from real fruit.  Another great way to give your child protein is by hard-boiling eggs before the storm hits.  In cooler temperatures (which sadly, your house will probably be without heat) hard-boiled eggs last for a while without spoiling.  Check the eggs for any foul odors before serving.  You can mash them up with some mayo to make egg salad for sandwiches, make deviled-eggs, or just serve them plain.  Another great thing to have is fruit that is not refrigerated (like apples, bananas, and oranges) and raw vegetables (like carrots and celery).  The fruit can be eaten alone, added to cereal, or put banana slices on a peanut butter sandwich.  Serve the veggies with some dip for a crunchy snack.  Cereal is also a good thing to have on hand.  Poptarts and other junk foods like chips can be offered as well.  They might not be the best thing for your kiddos to eat, but it is better than eating nothing at all.

My two goofballs

Julia and her snowman

             The next question I get asked a lot is how I keep my toddler happy when there is no TV to watch.  First off, my daughter only watches about an hour total of TV every day, so not having the TV is nothing new to her.  Most of your toddler’s toys should not depend on electricity to function, so this should be a no-brainer.  Have you tried playing any board games with your toddler yet?  I’ve found that Candy Land and Chutes and Ladders are great games that will not only keep them from climbing the walls, but also teach those colors and numbers.  My daughter actually enjoys using flash cards.  We have simple ones from the dollar department store that have basic words for her to repeat, numbers, shapes, and colors.  Puzzles can be a great boredom fighter.  Try playing with playdough.  This is going to help your child learn some hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.  If all else fails, try a craft or coloring.  When the storm is over, go play outside if you can.  

Julia relaxing in her snow chair

            The next thing you should think about is the worst-case scenario.  A lot of my friends with little ones are going through the flu right now.  I feel so awful for them, and it reminds me that we have to be prepared for illnesses and accidents.  Make sure you are stocked up on medications and bandages.  Extra blankets are a good thing too, not only for warmth, but also in case some get dirty from sickness.  You won’t be able to run your washer and dryer or wash dishes if there is no power.  That’s right, I said it.  Do your laundry and dishes while you can.  If you do have anyone sick in your household, and you are lucky enough to have more than one bathroom, designate one bathroom for being sick in if this can be controlled.  Get baby wipes, even if your child no longer needs them.  These can be great for cleaning things like dishes and your child’s face after a meal if you have no water.  Make sure you have extra batteries for all of those toys.

            If you have an emergency, always call 9-1-1.  If you can get out of the house and are in need of warmth, call your local health department for listings of shelters.  These are typically located at schools with large generators.  Since you may be stuck at home for a while, it could be a great time to potty train your little ones.  Check out my blog on Early Potty Training for helpful advice.  Best tip I can give to anyone worried about storm preparations with toddlers is to relax.  It’s not the end of the world.  You will be okay.