Best Emergency Go Bags for Kids: Age-by-Age Guide
Every child old enough to wear a backpack can and should have their own kids emergency backpack: pre-packed, properly sized, and within their carry capacity. Getting children involved in preparedness at the right level builds competence, reduces panic, and ensures your family can distribute supplies effectively in an evacuation.
This guide breaks down exactly what a child can carry at each age, what goes in each bag, and the best kids disaster kit products for toddlers through teenagers.
Toddlers (2–4 years): No Independent Bag
Toddlers cannot safely or practically carry an emergency backpack. Their supplies: diapers, food, clothing, medication: should be distributed across the adult bags. A parent using a front carrier or child carrier pack allows the child to be transported hands-free while the adult carries emergency supplies.
What goes in the adult bag for a toddler:
- Diapers (24+ for a 72-hour period)
- Baby wipes (2 packs)
- Familiar foods and snacks
- Change of clothing (3 sets)
- Comfort item (small stuffed animal)
- Children’s fever and pain reducer
- Child-specific allergy medications if applicable
Young Children (5–7 years): Symbolic Bag
Children aged 5–7 can carry a very small pack (10–15L) with personal items only. This is primarily about involving them in the process and giving them a sense of ownership and responsibility: not actually distributing the load. The bag should feel meaningful but not burdensome.
What a 5–7 year old carries:
- Their own water bottle (full)
- Snacks they like
- One comfort item (small toy, favourite book)
- Small flashlight
- Change of underwear and socks
- A card with family emergency contacts and meeting point
School-Age Children (8–12 years): Real Contribution
Children aged 8–12 can carry a properly fitted 20–30L pack with a meaningful share of supplies. This age group should have their own dedicated emergency bag, kept pre-packed in their room or a family staging area. Involve them in checking and rotating the contents: it builds preparedness habits that last a lifetime.
What an 8–12 year old carries (target weight: 8–15 lbs):
- Full water bottle (1 litre)
- Personal snacks and 1-day food supply
- Change of clothing (including warm layer)
- Emergency mylar blanket
- Headlamp with spare batteries
- Whistle
- Basic first aid: bandages, antiseptic wipes
- Small comfort item
- Printed family emergency card (meeting points, contact numbers)
- Small entertainment (book, cards)
Teenagers (13+): Near-Adult Load
Teenagers can carry close to adult loads if properly trained and if the bag is well-fitted. A teenager aged 13–17 can realistically carry 20–35 lbs in a quality 40–50L pack. By the time children reach their teens, they should have a complete individual 72-hour kit and understand how to use everything in it.
A teenager’s emergency bag should include:
- Everything in an adult 72-hour kit, proportionally sized
- Full water supply + filtration
- Food for 72 hours
- First aid kit
- Emergency shelter (mylar blanket or bivy)
- Headlamp + spare batteries
- Phone charger and power bank
- Their own prescription medications
- Cash ($20–$50)
Recommended Kids’ Emergency Bags
Teton Sports Scout 3400 Kids’ Pack: 22L
The best school-age emergency backpack. The Scout 3400 has an internal frame (crucial for child spines under load), an adjustable torso, and a padded hip belt. It’s built to handle real weight without causing discomfort. One of the most recommended kids’ packs in the prepper community.
- 22L: right-sized for school-age children
- Internal frame and hip belt for proper load transfer
- Adjustable torso: grows with your child
L.L.Bean Kid’s Pack: 10L
A well-made, durable small pack ideal for young children carrying their personal items. L.L.Bean’s build quality is reliable and the sizing is right for 5–8 year olds. Padded shoulder straps and a chest clip keep it stable during movement.
- 10L: correctly sized for 5–8 year olds
- Padded straps and chest clip
- Durable construction from a reliable brand
Condor Assault Pack: 46L
For teenagers ready for an adult-level bag, the Condor Assault Pack provides excellent capacity, MOLLE webbing, and solid construction at a budget price. A great first “real” BOB for a teen who is old enough to carry and maintain their own full kit.
- 46L: full adult capacity for teens 13+
- MOLLE webbing for customisation
- Affordable entry to quality tactical packs
Kids Emergency Bag FAQ
At what age should a child have their own emergency bag?
Children can have a symbolic small bag from age 5–6, carrying only their personal items and snacks. A child aged 8+ should have a properly fitted emergency bag with a real contribution of supplies. By age 13, a teenager should have a near-complete individual 72-hour kit.
What’s the maximum weight a child can safely carry?
Medical guidelines and paediatric orthopedic recommendations cap children’s backpack weight at 10–15% of their body weight. A 60 lb child should carry no more than 6–9 lbs. Exceeding this regularly can cause back pain, poor posture, and spinal strain. In an emergency context, keep weight at the low end of this range for sustained carry.
How do I involve children in preparedness without scaring them?
Frame it as a game or adventure. “We’re building a camping kit in case we ever need to camp in a hurry” works well for younger children. Practice drills should be low-key and positive: focus on competence and fun, not fear. FEMA has free children’s preparedness resources at ready.gov/kids that frame preparedness as empowering rather than scary.