Planning to travel with your little one? Traveling with a baby or a toddler is no joke. Apart from all those changes of clothes and things to pack, you need to consider their food as well. So, what do you feed a baby while traveling? What toddler foods to take or avoid when traveling? Come, let's take a look.
Toddlers and babies are forever hungry. Especially when you are on the move and are already carrying multiple bags, it can be tricky to carry the right food items for your little one. Packing the food, the cutlery, and other meal requirements can be overwhelming.
Remember, after all that careful packing, your baby might refuse to eat. When you are traveling, it is okay to take it a little easy from time to time. This does not mean you should carry only instant or unhealthy food items. You can still carry a variety of healthy food items but don't be too disappointed if everything does not go according to plan.
Wondering what food to carry for babies while traveling? Here is a list just for you. You can use this as a quick checklist when packing or even when shopping for food at your destination.
1. Formula—If your baby is still on formula, ensure you carry enough of it. Alternatively, you can check ahead to see if your destination sells the same formula you use for your baby. This way, you can stock up after reaching the destination.
2. Fruits—Babies over 6 months old can carry a variety of fruits. If you are traveling internationally, it is important to note what fruits you can carry and what you can't. Carry the raw fruits so that they can ripen by the time you reach your destination.
3. Cakes – Yes, you can carry cakes. They are solid and easy to pack and carry in any bag. You can make them at home or choose the variant you always feed your child.
4. Cheese – Cheese slices are an easy-to-carry snack. Alternatively, you can break a cheese cube into bite-sized pieces and carry it in a box for your little one to eat on the go.
5. Biscuits & Cookies—Homemade or customised cookies or biscuits(Nutri- Choice) can be great food for babies while travelling. They are dry, easy to carry, and healthy, too.
6. Cereal—When it comes to food for toddlers while traveling, cereals are one of the easiest options. You can carry small packs of two or more varieties of cereals if you have a picky toddler. You can let them eat them dry when on the move or with milk when at the breakfast table.
7. Food Mixes – You can carry porridge mix for babies and breakfast mixes for toddlers. You can prepare them at home and pack them in small pouches.
8. Puffs and Bars—Jowar puffs, roasted makhana, peanut, or sesame candy bars are easy to carry when traveling. They are a great snack for babies, toddlers, and adults. Since they are dry, they are mess-free and won't spoil easily.
Here are some food items you should refrain from carrying along when traveling with your little one:
1. Wet Foods – Avoid wet foods like drinks, milk, or fudgy foods. they can get messy when traveling. Babies and toddlers tend to spill their food, and cleaning up wet foods can become tedious, spoiling the clothing or bags around.
2. Oily Foods—Toddlers can love oily foods if they are used to them. Oily foods don't spoil easily, either. However, the oil can leak from the package and seep into the clothes or other items packed with it. It can also leave a stench on the items it spills on. Also, eating oily foods when traveling can make your child fall sick.
3. Small Food - Small food particles can lead to choking. Even if your baby is used to eating those small food items, they may swallow it when on the move.
4. New Foods—As tempting as it can be to buy readily available baby foods or toddler snacks, refrain from trying anything new when traveling. Buy them two weeks ahead and let your child try them at home. If they can digest them well, you can buy more and carry them along.
These tips can help keep the mess to a minimum and also help you clean up real quickly.
● Carry small packs of wet tissues instead of one big pack. They are easy to carry along in any bag. Wet tissues are great for cleaning up your baby, toddler or even the mess they made.
● Carry small trash bags or paper bags to dispose of your trash. Leakproof bags can also be used double as vomit bags.
● Take a few small boxes to store the opened snacks in. Children don't tend to finish all the snacks from a pack in one go, so you can store them in these boxes and use them later.
● Carry a bib or two for babies. Opt for the easy-to-clean plastic-coated variants over cloth bibs.
● If possible, carry colorful foods. If your baby or toddler gets cranky, interesting-looking foods can help calm them down and encourage them to eat more.
● Stock up on their favorite snack. Anytime things get out of control, their favorite snack can help them calm down.
Traveling with a toddler or a baby can be very challenging and exhausting. Children tend to get fussy about foods due to the change in their environment, disruption of their sleep cycle, and weather conditions. Be patient and handle your little one as calmly as possible to make the trip memorable for both you and them.
Pack toddler foods in small portions in easy-to-carry pouches or sealable bags. This enables you to use one pouch per meal and avoid measuring every time. It is also easier to pack them in small spaces in the luggage.
Yes, you can bring toddler food in a carry-on as long as it is not liquid or bulky. Small portions of dry foods are allowed. You can also mix it with water on the flight. Anything that can leak or smell too much may be rejected.
