Helpful Tips for Feeding a Baby Through a Hurricane

 helpful tips for feeding a baby through a hurricane | Jax, FL Hurricane Preparedness for Baby

Helpful Tips for Feeding a Baby Through a Hurricane

We have some helpful tips for feeding a baby through a hurricane! Hurricane season 2018 is already in full effect. Preparing for the unknown with a  is children unsettling, challenging, and completely exhausting, especially if you have more than one life to think about. At The Jacksonville Baby Company, we understand. We made two videos for you in addition to this blog. Read or watch, up to you!

Things to Consider:

  • When winds reach above 40 mph they will close our bridges. If you need to cross a bridge to pick up your kids, evacuate or get supplies, keep this in mind and plan to do it early enough you’re not stuck on the wrong side of the bridge.
  • Emergency vehicles and certain access points may not be available.
  • Know your evacuation zone: Duval County Emergency Preparedness, Nassau County Emergency, Clay County Emergency Preparedness, St Johns County Emergency Preparedness
  • Alternate routes should be part of your evacuation plan.
  • Gas up early, don’t wait, worse case scenario you overpay and have full tanks!
  • Buy a generator now, before hurricane season if possible and keep it in excellent working condition.
  • Fill up as many containers as possible with water including kiddie pools, tubs, and jugs to use for flushing toilets, cleaning hands, washing up.
  • Fill and freeze water in jugs or containers to fill the dead space in your freezer. It will help you keep everything edible longer. You can also put frozen containers into your fridge to help food keep longer there. Bonus: when it thaws you can use it for drinking water, sanitation, and to cook with.
  • Keep your freezer closed unless completely necessary.
  • Foods that thaw out can be cooked on a grill or camp stove if you stock up on charcoal and propane, or even on your stove if you have gas!
  • If asked to evacuate PLEASE leave! Don’t wait.

 helpful tips for feeding a baby through a hurricane Jax, FL

If you’re pregnant:

  • Contact your provider and ask about their protocol during a hurricane.  Ask specifically what they would like you to do to prepare should you need medical attention or go into labor during the hurricane.
  • Consider booking a hotel room inland, as close as safely possible nearest the hospital you’plan to deliver at or as close to any hospital with a labor and delivery unit.

For the Breastfeeding Parent:

  • Keep Nursing!  If you’re in the process of weaning I would nix that until the storm passes. It is safest to breastfeed than to try and safely prepare formula and or food for your baby. It also provides the comfort they need and is less stressful overall during the hurricane.
  • Get a car adapter for your electric breast pump.
  • Invest in a handpump if you don’t have one!
  • If you have frozen breastmilk in the freezer keep the door shut! I wouldn’t open it until 48-72 hours.
  • Breastmilk can double as a coffee creamer for your own coffee and milk for your children, no I joke not! It’s rare to access to fresh milk, feel the cereal bowls up and let them enjoy!
  • You can refreeze breastmilk as long as there are some ice crystals present.
  • If you’re traveling to get out of the path of a hurricane take your frozen breastmilk with you! Follow these helpful tips for feeding a baby through a hurricane while traveling!
    • Place it in an insulated cooler with ice packs when traveling on short trips, anything less than 12 hours. Don’t have any ice packs? That’s ok you can totally make your own! Filling some of your milk storage bags with water and freezing them is an easy way to make short work of it. The alternative to that is any small container safe for freezing such as water bottles but remember to remove a little off the top so you don’t have spillage as it freezes. For longer trips, anything over 12 hours dry ice is recommended but can be avoided if you’re replacing the ice often.

Formula Feeding During a Natural Disaster

“Natural Disaster”, now there’s a term I use regularly when people insist “it’s completely safe since it’s natural”! Anywho, in this event ready to feed formula is best. If you can, stock up! Since no mixing is required there is less risk for contamination, therefore it’s considered safest. If you can’t and you must use a powdered formula here are some helpful tips for feeding a baby through a hurricane as safe as possible:

  • If you have the option to use bottled water that should be your first choice.
  • Any water source that you aren’t sure is 100% safe for consumption should be boiled for a full minute and allowed to cool naturally. This method will kill most disease-causing organisms, but it will not remove chemicals. Allowing the water to cool naturally is important to the purification process. If the water is cloudy or has particles in it you must filter the water before boiling it.
  • If you can store bottles and nipples in single Ziploc bags.
  • Avoid using water that has been treated with iodine or chlorine tablets to purify water unless you do not have bottled water and can’t boil your water.
  • Bottles and hands must be cleaned properly to lower the chances of illness. The first choice for your hands is clean soap and water. If you don’t have access to clean water, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

If you’re in a mandatory evacuation zone, PLEASE evacuate! We hope you agree that these are helpful tips for feeding a baby through a hurricane! From all of us here at The Jacksonville Baby Company we want you and your babies to be safe and happy!

Warmly,

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