How to transport homemade baby food

How to store and heat baby food on the move

how to guides

First published on Monday 1 August 2016 00:00 BST Last modified on Monday 19 April 2021, 13:32 BST

Lucy Dimbylow

Writer

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Once you’re into the swing of parenthood, getting out and about with your baby is relatively easy.

But when you start weaning, you face a whole new challenge: feeding your baby when you’re away from home.

Working out how to keep food fresh on the go, and how to heat it up when it’s dinnertime can be tricky, so read on for the must-know guidelines on travelling with baby food.

Keeping baby food fresh on days out

Many parents, even if they usually cook homemade food for their baby, prefer to use jars or pouches of readymade baby food for days out.

Neatly sealed in sterile containers, they can be kept at room temperature so you don’t need to worry about how to keep them fresh.

If, however, you want to take homemade food out and about, you’ll need an insulated cool bag and some freezer blocks to keep the food at the right temperature.

You can either buy a bag specially designed for transporting baby food, or just use a normal insulated lunch bag, widely available from supermarkets.

1. Baby Polar Gear Little One's Lunch Bag

See more at Amazon

*Insulated cool bag with re-freezable ice pack

*Adjustable shoulder strap with clip to attach to prams

*Also available in blue

This roomy cool bag comes with an ice pack included and has been specifically designed with babies and young children in mind. With a handy pocket on the front, and an adjustable shoulder strap it can be attached to a pram or buggy handle.

2. Babymoov Airtight Containers (six-pack)

See more at Amazon

*Stackable for storage

*Ideal for travel and days out

*Dishwasher, microwave and steriliser-safe

These air-tight storage pots by Babymoov can be popped into the dishwasher or microwave and come in a handy pack of six. Ideal for travel, they can be stacked for easier storage. They are just what you need to transport your baby's food on days out.

3. Disposable Weaning Bibs (20-pack)

See more at Amazon

*Perfect for meals out and about

*Waterproof backing and crumbcatcher

*Adjustable neck with sticky tabs fastening

Using disposable bibs for days out can be a great idea. We like these brightly coloured ones from Tommee Tippee that come in a pack of 20. They have an adjustable neck that fastens with sticky tabs and waterproof backing and a crumb catcher to keep mess contained.

4. TUM TUM Children's Food Flask

See more at Amazon

*Can be used to keep food hot or cold

*Comes in three attractive designs

*Bpa-free and dishwasher-safe

This flask will keep your baby's food hot for up to five hours, but don’t forget to allow time for it to cool before you feed it to them. It's available in three funky designs and can keep food hot for around five hours.

You’ll also need to remember to pack any snacks your child might need.

Pre-packed snacks like boxes of raisins, cereal bars and packets of rice cakes are ideal for days out, but if you want to take your own snacks, pack them in lidded containers or a special non-spill snack pot: these have flexible lids with an opening that allows your baby to get the snacks out but not tip them everywhere.

Don’t forget to put in cutlery, your baby’s sippy cup and bibs, too; disposable bibs are handy for meals on the move.

How do you keep baby food warm while traveling?

If you don’t think you’ll be able to microwave food on the move, you’ll need to heat it before you leave home.

Heat until it’s piping hot in the microwave, in the container that you want to transport it in (as transferring hot food to a cold pot will immediately start to cool it down).

Put a lid securely on the pot, and then put it inside an insulated lunch bag.

This should keep the food at the temperature required to prevent bacteria growth (60C) for two to four hours.

Don’t put cold food in the same bag as pre-heated food, as neither will stay at the correct temperature.

Before feeding your baby, taste the food yourself to make sure that it’s cooled down to a safe temperature.

The alternative is to invest in a small Thermos flask or travel mug, and put your homemade baby food directly into this.

How do you store baby food on the go?

Getting out and about with a weaning baby might seem like a lot of hassle, but like all parenting routines, the more you practise, the easier it will become.

And with an insulated bag, some freezer blocks and some decent, leak-proof food storage, you’ll soon find that there are no limits to the places you can explore.

The easy way to cope with mealtimes when you’re out and about is to take no-cook food that your baby can eat at room temperature.

This could be a jar or pouch of shop-bought baby food, finger food like sandwiches, or if you’d prefer her to have a fresh meal, you can simply take a ripe banana or avocado and mash it with a fork when it’s time to eat.

Frozen baby food will stay frozen in a cool bag for about six hours, and refrigerated food will also stay cool for that length of time.

Take the food out of the fridge or freezer just before you leave home and put it straight into the bag along with the freezer blocks.

If you’re not sure if you’ll be able to defrost the food on the move, it’s best to do this before you go out.

Make sure your food is stored in airtight pots with close-fitting lids to avoid leaks in your cool bag.

What temperature should baby food be?

Homemade food should be heated until it’s piping hot, so it’s not recommended that you warm it by standing it in a bowl of hot water (although you can do this for jars).

Many restaurants, service stations and family-friendly facilities like soft play centres have microwaves for customer use, or the staff can microwave food for you; if possible, phone ahead to check whether this can be done.

You can also check whether highchairs are available at the same time.

For homemade meals or foods that your baby prefers to eat warm, it’s best to heat the food when you need to use it, if possible.

This helps to reduce the risk of bacteria breeding in the food.

Do you feed baby food warm or cold?

Homemade food should be heated until it’s piping hot, so it’s not recommended that you warm it by standing it in a bowl of hot water (although you can do this for jars).

You can also check whether highchairs are available at the same time.

For homemade meals or foods that your baby prefers to eat warm, it’s best to heat the food when you need to use it, if possible.

This helps to reduce the risk of bacteria breeding in the food.

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Travel with Homemade Baby Food | Taking Homemade Baby Food on Vacation, to Play Dates, on Car Rides and Day Trips

Traveling with Homemade Baby Food is easier than you may think

Traveling with Homemade Baby Food is easier than you may think. At the same time, it does take some pre-planning and calculation. Depending on where you are going, how long you are staying and what types of “creature comforts” will be available, you may not have to rely on a single ounce of commercial baby food. Our tips below address camping, air travel, day trips and restaurant outings.

A good hint that will help ease traveling with baby – with or without homemade baby food, is to try to serve some meals at room temperature. Serving meals at room temperature will allow your baby to become accustomed to food that is not “hot”. You never have to worry about a meal being rejected because it is not heated.

“Homemade” Baby Food to Go – The Traveling Trio

Many parents feel that if they make homemade baby food, then they will be restricted to staying home because it would be difficult to travel with homemade food. We become so accustomed to cooking, pureeing and storing that we often think of toting along containers of cubes. I find that the many parents don’t even think of the easiest method of taking homemade baby food to go – the banana, the container and the fork. Think of it as the traveling trio!

If you are going on a day trip, or on a plane, the traveling trio is probably all that you will need for your little one. So grab your small food tote and toss in a banana, a fork and a container with a lid. When it comes time to feed baby, peel the banana, mash it in the container with a fork and VIOLA, fresh baby food to go! You could also take along an avocado or even a prebaked sweet potato to mash up for baby’s meal.

** Taking fresh food through an airport security check point might be a bit difficult however most shops within the departures terminal will have bananas for sale.

Travel with Frozen Baby Food Cubes – Storage and Packing

For those of you who are adventurous enough to go camping with your wee one, take along a mini-cooler packed full of the frozen food cubes you will need. This will require you to plot out how many cubes of each particular food you will feed to your baby during the given time frame you will be away from home.

If you have been using the freezer bag storage method – simply take out each freezer bag of food cubes and arrange in the cooler with ice packs. As the cubes are already frozen, they should be able to withstand a journey of 6 hours with minimal thawing. You can also take your cubes to a hotel as many hotels provide mini-refrigerators. The food cubes should keep for approximately 5 days if stored in a refrigerator.

Baby Food Cubes do travel well and may be thawed/heated as you do at home if appliances are available OR may be thawed over a gas stove or camp fire via the submersion method. If using a camp stove or camp fire – warm a pot of water over the fire and place the number/types of food cubes needed into a container that will not melt and thaw the cubes. Be sure to keep a close watch on the cubes as they are thawing so as to avoid overheating.

Travel with Other Types of Foods for Feeding Baby – Storage and Packing

Cereals will also travel well and you may either take your ground grains and cook as needed or take cereal that has been frozen in ice trays and prepare as usual.

Fruits are a bit tricky when taking along on a vacation. Unless they are already pureed and frozen into cubes, be sure to purchase fruits that are “almost” ripe. If you take along fully ripened fruits, you may find they will rot or go bad before you are able to use them.

Vegetables will travel well and if you will be preparing them during your stay, we recommend peeling, and if possible, cutting/dicing prior to leaving your home. Store them in an airtight freezer bag and if possible, fill the bag with some water to help maintain freshness. This method works will if you will be going on a camping trip. Another option is to purchase fresh vegetables wherever you will be staying and prepare them as needed.

Dairy/Eggs should be of the dry powdered kind, especially if you will be camping and won’t have access to refrigeration. If you will have full refrigeration where you are going to be staying, purchase your needed dairy and eggs at your destination and point of stay.

Air Travel, Day Trips and Restaurant Outings:

Air Travel with Baby Formula, Breast Milk, Juice, and Other Liquids

“The TSA (Transportation Safety Administration) has outlined the following regulations when traveling with infant related items:

Medications, baby formula and food, breast milk, and juice are allowed in reasonable quantities exceeding three ounces and are not required to be in the zip-top bag. Declare these items for inspection at the checkpoint.

All items including formula, breast milk, and juice will be inspected, however, you or your baby or toddler will not be asked to test or taste breast milk, formula, or juice. Our Security Officers may test liquid exemptions (exempt items more than 3 ounces) for explosives. Click here to learn more about TSA restrictions.”

You may also pack your baby food cubes in a container with ice and check the container in at the airport. Please be sure that you let the ticket-agent know that your container has ice and baby food cubes in it. Ensure that the container may be easily opened and inspected if needed.

We do not recommend taking frozen baby food cubes with you when traveling outside of the United States to a foreign country. Many foreign countries have restrictions on bringing food items such as fruits and vegetables into their countries.

Travel with Homemade Baby Food – Most Recommended Tools You May Need

Manual Food Grinder will allow you to grind as you go. This is great for when you will be eating out in restaurants as well. You will be able to order fruits and veggies and grind them up fresh right there.

Extra Storage Containers/Freezer Bags for when you leave your quarters to go day-tripping. It is also good to have extras if you need to divide servings and save them for another feeding.

Whisk or Potato Masher in case you need to further mash or mix up foods to the right consistency.

If all of these Tips seem too overwhelming or cumbersome, don’t hesitate to pack jars of commercial baby food and boxes of commercial cereal. If you decide to go this route, we suggest serving your baby some commercial baby foods a week or so prior to your journey.

There are babies that will refuse to eat commercial baby foods, especially if they have been brought-up thus far on only homemade baby food. You do not have to use only commercial during this time, simply offer either a fruit or veggie or cereal for one meal along with your homemade baby food.

Happy Traveling!

* I have traveled with homemade food cubes, enough for 4 days of feedings for 7 month old twins. The journey itself was 5 hours by car and the accommodations were Trailer Camping with a gas stove, several industrial sized coolers and a Fridge powered by ice blocks. There were no problems or issues encountered other than those that are typical when lacking all the creature comforts of home.

Remember, always consult with your pediatrician regarding introducing solid foods to your baby and specifically discuss any foods that may pose allergy risks for your baby.

This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.

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Storage of baby food: terms and requirements for the storage of baby food

Glinskikh Elena

Published: 01/15/2023

Reading time:

853

All parents want to see their baby cheerful, active and healthy. The harmonious development of the child largely depends on the correct and high-quality diet. The market for special baby food is striking in its diversity, and everyone strives to choose the best for the child. But for the safety of the baby and its full development, it is not enough to buy high-quality products. You also need to know how to properly store baby food.

The importance of proper storage of baby food

All children need warmth, care and attention. But the child is gradually growing, while he needs to eat varied. And here the question arises: is it possible to save the cooked product until the next feeding? Here it is important to pay attention to the fact that the child's immune system is not yet strong enough, so the storage of baby food should be given special attention. The well-being and health of the baby often depends on the conditions in which and how long they are kept.

On the safety of baby food

In the Russian Federation there is a whole regulation on the safety of food for children - that's what it is called. This document sets out requirements for manufacturers and sellers of children's products related to the protection of children from toxic and chemical substances. This applies not only to baby food produced in our country, but also imported from abroad. That is why when buying infant formula, porridge, puree or other product, you can be sure of its quality and safety. The regulation requires not only the correct production, but also the packaging, storage and disposal of baby food:

Children's products are sold only through special stores or dedicated departments of supermarkets (therefore, it is better to buy them there or, in extreme cases, in a pharmacy).

Expiration dates are set by the manufacturer, who is fully responsible for the quality of his product.

Transportation of baby food is carried out in accordance with the requirements of the technical regulations for the transportation of any products.

At the same time, a number of conditions must be observed in the production of baby food:

Do not use highly acidic curd products.

Do not add soy flour or grains contaminated with impurities.

Offal is prohibited except for tongue, liver, heart and blood.

Do not include in baby food beef with a fat content of more than 12%, pork - 32%, lamb - 9%.

Do not use salted butter or products with a fat content below 82%*.

For a complete list of products prohibited in the production of baby food, you can follow the link attached to the article.

Rules for storing different types of food

Undoubtedly, breast milk is the most valuable and beneficial for a child. But there are situations when a mother needs to leave the house and she expresses milk in order to feed the baby on time. In addition, the child grows, over time he needs complementary foods. Expressed breast milk, formula-fed infant formula and complementary foods require a special approach, and it is very important to know the conditions and shelf life of baby food.

How long can open packages of infant formula and cereals be kept?

Opened jars (packages) of fruit, vegetable and meat puree should only be stored in the refrigerator. And after opening the package, you can eat only within 12 hours **. After the expiration date or 12 hours after opening the package, the product must be disposed of, since it can no longer be eaten. Yes, not only for children, but also for adults.

Many people are also wondering how long homemade baby food, such as freshly prepared vegetable or fruit purees and juices, can be stored. There are two main options to use immediately after preparation (the best) or freeze. Such a product will also be suitable for eating for 12 hours, after which it will begin to deteriorate. Frozen fruits and vegetables can be stored in the freezer for up to six months, depending on the culture. However, even frozen products have expiration dates, after which it would be wiser to throw them away than eat them.

General storage rules

A huge variety and affordable cost of products greatly facilitate the worries of preparing complementary foods for children. But along with this, many parents face another problem: where to store baby food? So that the products do not lose their qualities from the influence of external factors, the following basic rules must be observed.

Hygiene. Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly before preparing food and feeding your baby. The child's dishes should always be clean and stored separately in sterile conditions.

Storage location. Dry cereals and mixtures should be stored in a ventilated cupboard out of the reach of children. In caring for a baby, mothers are loaded with various problems and worries. It is difficult for them to remember everything, so it is recommended to stick a label on each product with the date of its opening. This will help you meet the deadlines.

When feeding a child with vegetable and fruit juices, puree or fermented milk products in jars, it should be remembered that after the integrity of the package, the use of its contents is allowed on average up to 12 - 24 hours. Different manufacturers may have different terms, read carefully what is written on the label! Be sure to ensure that the integrity of the packaging has not been violated even in the store. Most manufacturers on the jars have a special protection against opening. Fresh puree in jars emits a characteristic “pop” when opened, juices must have either a protective foil film or a special opening mechanism. Unopened jars of juices and purees can be stored in the cupboard, while dairy products should only be kept in the refrigerator.

Vessels for storing baby food can be glass or plastic, but must be labeled accordingly, indicating the absence of toxic impurities in the composition of the material.

Food for a child is a source of energy and a guarantee of full growth and development. Therefore, it is very important not only to buy quality products, but also to learn how to properly store them. The health and well-being of the baby, the resistance of his body to the adverse effects of the external environment often depend on this.

*FZ Technical regulation "On the safety of baby food"

**Hygienic requirements for the shelf life and storage conditions of food products. Sanitary and epidemiological rules and regulations. SanPiN 2.3.2.1324-03

Information verified by an expert

Glinskikh Elena

Pediatrician

About the author

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Contents of the article

The importance of proper storage of baby food
About the safety of baby food
Rules for the storage of different types of food
General storage rules

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what products can be transported - Kupibilet's blog

On flights longer than three hours, you will be fed, but if you, for example, fly with a low-cost airline without food, it is better to take a snack with you. What kind of food you can take on a plane and how to carry food - let's figure it out.

Can you bring your own food on the plane? It all depends on whether you take food in your hand luggage or carry food in your luggage, what exactly you want to take and in what quantity.

Intending to take a snack on the flight - there should be no difficulties, except for restrictions on the volume of liquids. But if you, say, have prepared delicious gifts for your loved ones and fill your suitcase with food, it is better to find out in advance what products can be carried in the luggage of the aircraft.

If you are bringing products from abroad, make sure that they are not prohibited by the rules of the airline and customs control, do not fall under sanctions. And do not forget that with such an international transportation, additional clearance may be required. The same applies to the export of products from Russia - there are restrictions, which are better to familiarize yourself with before departure.

What products can be taken on the plane

Let's see what you can take on a plane and what not. Basically, food can be taken to the salon without problems: even if you are not hungry, it is useful to chew something so that your ears do not block up. If there is no desire to eat, grab gum, lollipops, lollipops.

For a quick snack in the air, passengers often choose fruits, nuts, dried fruits, cookies, sandwiches - you can take as much solid food as you like. If you haven't packed your sandwiches ahead of time, take the bread and cheese in a container: knives are not allowed in hand luggage, so cut the ingredients at home.

But liquids and soft foods with a volume of more than 100 ml are not allowed in hand luggage. More precisely, you can take them, but on the condition that the products were purchased at the airport store after passing through the security screening, then you can carry at least a liter on board. In order not to have to throw away your favorite yogurt in the control zone, study the rules and leave “oversized” products at home.

What foods are prohibited

It is forbidden to take items that may deteriorate or do not meet hygienic and safety requirements in hand luggage. These include meat, fish, milk - they often carry diseases and cause infections. They will not let you on board with strongly odorous products like durian - this exotic fruit is strictly forbidden to take in hand luggage. They will also ask you to put too fragrant cheese or spices in your luggage.

As we wrote above, you can’t take pastas, purees, gels with a volume of more than 100 ml in hand luggage - soft cheeses, jams, sauces will not work. In addition, airlines classify as liquids:

• caviar,

• canned food,

• yoghurt,

• jam,

• sour cream,

• butter,

0003

• olives in oil,

• jelly.

Is it possible to take drinks into the cabin

You can take water and other drinks with you into the cabin if they are purchased after inspection and customs control. Often there are wine boutiques in the departure areas - if you want to grab a gift, but you are afraid to carry fragile cargo in your luggage, this is your option. Restrictions do not apply to drinks from Duty Free, the only rule is to keep the receipt and not open alcohol in flight.

When transporting alcohol from Russia to Europe, you will have to strain: vodka, whiskey, gin, cognac, liqueurs are considered strong alcohol and cannot be imported. You can take beer and wine - when you put them in your suitcase, pack them well and arrange your luggage as fragile so as not to break the bottle and spill things.

If you want to take water and other liquids in your hand luggage, you should remember that the volume of the container should not exceed 100 ml, and in total you can carry one liter (10 times 100 ml). That is, if you decide to divide a liter of water into 10 bottles, you will have to lay out everything else (like paste, shampoo, soap) from hand luggage. A small life hack: safety rules have nothing against empty bottles, so a combo personal bottle + drinking fountain / cooler is an overpriced amulet against water.

Airplane food for children

If you are traveling with a child, you are probably worried about whether and what kind of food can be taken on the plane. Airlines offer various options for baby food on board, you can ask for a vegetarian or other special menu - you need to order it a day before departure or earlier. However, if you want to make sure your child eats familiar and favorite foods, you can bring a snack from home with you. There are no exceptions: baby food should not contradict the rules of customs control and the airline. For example, a puree like "Agushi" in a pack of 9It will be possible to take 0 g, but 250 g is no longer available. We advise you to bring milk formula, an empty water bottle (the flight attendant will fill it up on request), puree and cookies - universal options for a baby snack.

What products should be put in luggage

To avoid clarifications at customs and not to disturb other passengers in the cabin, it is better to put certain products in advance in the luggage. Here are some items to pack in your luggage:

• large and heavy - so as not to overload your hand luggage and not take up too much space in the luggage rack. Your Thai mangoes will be better in the luggage compartment - a whole box will fit there. At the same time, airlines are against watermelons in luggage: due to pressure drops, they can explode, and yet they do not pardon coconuts: because of the thick wall, it is difficult to enlighten it with a scanner and find out what is inside;

• bulk, over 100 ml — do not deprive yourself of the pleasure of drinking your favorite foreign soda, take a couple of bottles in your luggage;

• loose - we advise you to wrap them properly with cling film and put them in a suitcase;

• perishable - if you take ready-made meals with you, but you are not going to eat them in flight;

• odorous - Seat mates are unlikely to be happy with moldy French cheese exuding aroma throughout the cabin. And the smell of smoked ribs will not be appreciated if they fly hungry.

Domestic flights

On domestic flights, the requirements are not so strict, because you do not cross the border. You can take any products, the main thing is to keep within the framework in terms of weight and dimensions.

Pay attention to the duration of the flight: Aeroflot will offer snacks and drinks during a flight shorter than three hours, and a full meal for longer. S7 will feed passengers on flights for more than two hours, Smartavia and Pobeda will provide only water. Check the rules of the airlines in advance so you don't go hungry.

International flights

If you are flying on an international flight, find out which products are allowed to be exported from Russia and which are not, and check the same information for the country of travel - they have their own rules for import and export. This also applies to connecting flights.

Many countries, such as the United States and South Korea, will not allow milk, animal feed, and meat to be brought in. And in general, they will be skeptical about lard, and even pies with meat filling. For eggs and caviar without packaging in luggage, they can also issue a fine. But in China they will not be allowed with dried fruits without a certificate - they will simply take it away. And while 250 g of sturgeon caviar can be exported from Russia, only half - 125 g - can be imported into the Schengen zone. For example, it is forbidden to export caviar from Finland at all. In Europe, without restrictions, in principle, you can import only products of plant origin: bread, pasta, cookies. With restrictions - honey, oysters, snails, gutted fish, powdered milk and food for babies.

Due to sanctions, new restrictions appear every now and then on imports to Russia. Now there is a ban on the import of dairy products and meat, as well as a huge list of fish like salmon, flounder, tuna, anchovies, sprat. These types of fish cannot be imported as a whole carcass either fresh, chilled or frozen. Seafood there too: no foreign mussels, crayfish, snails, oysters, scallops and shellfish.