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Easy and practical baby led weaning travel food ideas for babies 6 months & up

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It’s summertime and guess what… no one wants to have to stay inside when it’s beautiful and sunny out! 

That being said, when you have a BLW baby, sometimes the hassle of figuring out what to feed them while traveling, or on-the-go, seems like it’s more work than it’s worth. But it doesn’t have to be stressful!

I’ve got a list of easy, MINIMAL MESS and portable baby finger food ideas you can pack as a snack, or combine to make meals. Keep reading for 12 easy options for baby led weaning foods while on-the-go!

I know how hard it can be to think of what to feed your baby when traveling, on the road, or out having fun at summer activities. That’s why I came up with this list – I’m all about making things easier for you!

These foods work whether you’re on a plane, at the park, or at a restaurant. While the occasional purée pouch, other store-bought baby food option, or even homemade baby food in a reusable package, will always have its benefits (hellooo convenience and mess-free eating!), packing whole foods means that you don’t have to deal with wrappers and messy containers or utensils. Plus, you’ll be continuing to expose your baby led weaning baby to a variety of real food, real flavors and advanced textures . 

I’m a big proponent of minimizing processed foods for babies (and adults!) as much as possible, as well as keeping those more advanced texture exposures coming. I FULLY understand that it’s hard – time doesn’t allow for it sometimes – and that a bit here and there won’t hurt. 

But helping you keep it top of mind as you navigate this world of feeding your babe is my job, so this list will hopefully help take away the guesswork as to what can fit into this category of foods.

Travel Food for Babies should be mess-free!

The above is definitely not a scenario you want to get stuck in when out and about with your baby! While it’s super cute and funny when it happens at home, this is less than ideal on a plane, or in a restaurant, for example. 

That’s why, in general, most people are looking for mess-free foods (or minimal mess… nothing is really mess-free with baby led weaning ). For this reason, I like to recommend avoiding anything with sauce, that’s in a casserole type format, or anything that requires a utensil unless you’re feeding the baby yourself (and they let you). Think yogurt , applesauce…that type of thing. 

Nothing is more messy than a baby refusing to let you spoon feed them and then dunking their hands into a container of applesauce!

And while I know moms love to be prepared for the worst – and often pack more for an outing than is needed. Let’s save those extra clothes for blowouts…those happen when you least expect it and you don’t want to have wasted your spare outfit on a messy meal!

So here’s some examples. If you pack meat, make it plain chicken. If you pack pasta, keep it plain with no sauce to minimize mess. If you pack fruit, opt for a banana or freeze dried varieties over messy ripe berries. That type of thing.

With that being said, here are my go-to baby led weaning travel foods.

The best travel baby food options for baby led weaning

One thing I want to make sure you keep in mind is the age and development of your baby. Some of these options are going to require pincer grasp …so if your baby is just starting out on solid foods, they won’t be ready for these options yet. 

Make sure you choose the options that are in finger shapes so they aren’t struggling to eat, because this will just end in frustration for both of you. If your baby is a bit older and already has their pincer grasp developed, or is practicing it, any of these options will be a good fit!

Boiled Eggs

Keep in a container with an ice pack and feed the baby anywhere! Provides an easy source of protein for babies , and healthy fats .

Cooked Pasta

This is perfect as an easy snack or meal idea on the go. Pair the pasta with cheese or beans for a full meal ! You can also opt to pack pulse based pasta, such as chickpea pasta for an added protein boost on its own.

Nothing beats a food that comes in its own packaging! Need I say more?

Canned Beans or Chickpeas

No need to cook! Just rinse, dump into a container, and go! I like to buy ones that are canned with a BPA free lining, and that have no added salt, especially when offering to babies because we need to be a bit more cautious when it comes to salt for babies (but I don’t want you to panic either, just give them an extra rinse and monitor salt intake over the rest of the day/next day to balance things out).

You may want to slightly smush chickpeas before offering, just to be extra safe. Depending on your baby’s skill level, and how soft they are, they can be a choking hazard .

Shredded Cheese

Cheese is a great source of protein for babies, as well as a good source of fat – both of which babies need for proper growth and development. And as an added bonus, it’s usually a favorite amongst most babies! 

Please note that I’m recommending shredded cheese, not slices. Slices can be a choking hazard for babies, as it can be difficult to cut the cheese in a thin layer so it won’t pose a risk. Therefore, shredded is best, especially in the beginning as you just start baby led weaning. Watch this video below for more info on how to safely prepare cheese for babies.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Edwena 🙋🏻‍♀️| Dietitian & Mom (@mylittleeater)

Freeze Dried Fruit

Like I mentioned above, fruit is a great option, but you’re gonna want to stick with mess-free varieties! 

Freeze-dried berries are an excellent source of vitamin C, and therefore pair nicely with beans to boost iron absorption – something babies need a lot of! And if you pair that with the pasta and shredded cheese, you have all the pieces of my FFP+P rule for a complete, balanced meal that’s perfect for baby led weaning ! 

While freeze-dried berries are great for this, fresh berries are not great from a mess-free perspective. So, freeze-dried fruit for the win! It will literally hold up in any weather (no need to pack a cooler), and is mess-free!

A similar alternative would be to pack yogurt-based melts – they’re typically freeze-dried as well so they’re not messy like packing yogurt would be! Our favorites are the Amara Smoothie Melts. These are actually plant-based, so if your little one has an allergy or sensitivity to dairy these will be perfectly fine for them too. They have no added sugars, fillers, or other additives – just simple, clean ingredients which we love! They come in lots of yummy flavors with various fruits and veggies blended right in and they come in a resealable bag, making them perfect for snacking on the go. Check them out here and use code LITTLEEATER15 for 15% off your purchase.

Baby Led Weaning Toast Strips

Super easy for on-the-go! Just toast bread and cut into thin strips – coat with a bit of butter to soften them up slightly. But, for the sake of mess-free travel foods, avoid things like nut butter or hummus, unless you’re able to wash up somewhere! 

Remember, fresh, untoasted bread is a choking hazard. If you’re looking for more info on toasting bread for your baby and serving it in a safe manner, check out this post all about toast toppings for babies and toddlers .

Roasted Veggies

Sounds complicated, but I’m actually going to suggest that you keep a bunch of these prepped ahead of time for easy meal ideas throughout the week. I personally always keep some on-hand in my fridge for snacks or quick meals. I make a big batch a couple times per week, and pull from it as needed. 

If you’re able to set aside the time to meal prep these (listen to my other fav meal prepping tips here ) then there’s nothing easier than just putting these in a container and offering them to your baby, any time of day. 

Some good veggies to try are bell peppers and zucchini. I’d avoid things like roasted sweet potato because it becomes so mushy that your baby will end up with orange mash all over them!

Baby Pancakes (only 3 ingredients!)

Ok, this one involves some cooking, but I swear it’s easy!

Mix together 1 ripe banana, 2 eggs, and 1 1/2 teaspoons of coconut oil. Scoop batter into a skillet and cook on low-medium heat until lightly brown, flipping once when you can see bubbles along the outer edge. Let them cool, cut into strips, and pack into a container. There you have it – simple, baby banana pancakes for on-the-go!

Fresh Fruit

I know this goes against what I just said above, but hear me out. There are fruits that are less messy that you can bring. Stewed pears or apples would be my top choice – no staining! You can also do kiwi wedges, plums, or oranges. These may be ever so slightly messy in that there may be a bit of fruit juice running on your baby’s hands, but nothing a baby wipe can’t handle.

I stand by my comment that fresh berries are just too messy – mashed bits of berry plus juice that stains…no thanks! But if you’re feeling risky – go for it!

Tofu Strips

Another super simple iron and protein source for your baby! You have two options here… 

• Pan fry tofu for 1-2 minutes on each side. Include a bit of flavor in there too for your baby, try some turmeric, dill, or paprika. Let cool, and pack in a container to go! 
• I love using Soyganic smoked tofu as another option – it’s non-gmo, organic and there’s no need to cook it. Just slice it, pack, and go. It doesn’t get any easier than that!

Tofu is my favorite to-go protein! It’s the perfect texture for a baby, no crumbly mess, and offers lots of calcium and protein! Plus, pair it with a fruit high in vitamin C, like some freeze dried strawberries, and you’ve got a great source of iron too!

Thawed Peas (from frozen)

No need to cook these! Just dump some frozen peas into a container and let them thaw out over a couple hours until ready to eat. Plus, the cold peas keep everything else you pack nice and cold too. Fast food at its finest!

And I know what you’re thinking…peas need to be mashed right? No, they don’t. They’re actually not considered a choking hazard because they’re so soft and are so easily mashed in your baby’s mouth. It’s round, hard foods that you want to look out for, think like grapes. But if it makes you feel more comfortable, there’s no harm in giving them a quick squish before offering them to your baby.

Homemade Muffin

One more yummy option is a homemade muffin, or mini muffins, – and I’ve got two ideas for them.

Option 1: Bake a tasty pastry muffin for your baby.

Choose baby led weaning recipes with no honey and no added sugar, besides some fruit. You can even freeze muffins and pull them from the freezer anytime you need one in a jiffy. One of my favorites, that’s popular with toddlers too, are shrek muffins – check out the recipe here .

Option 2: Egg muffins!

These are also great to keep in the freezer and pull out when you need them. I have a recipe available in my 60 Day Baby Led Feeding Meal plan – take a look here to get access to over 80 baby led weaning recipes perfect for your baby and family! Now, with this option you will need to pack those in a cooler, but there’s no mess and tons of nutrition so they make one of the most perfect on-the-go meal ideas !

Travel Baby Food: Top Tips

Now that you have some meal ideas for what to feed your baby while on-the-go, let’s go over some of the other important details.

What About Food Safety for Travel Baby Food Options?

While you absolutely need to consider whether a food needs to be kept cold or not, you don’t need to worry about serving it cold or hot. Don’t stress if you can’t heat some of these foods up, room temperature is fine. 

With the exception of maybe the eggs, although I’ve definitely seen toddlers eat eggs at room temperature, as long as you follow food safety rules, they’re fine to eat that way.

Which leads me to my next point. If you’re out for more than 4 hours, or you’re traveling in the heat, make sure you throw an ice pack in your bag to preserve the food for longer. Babies are more susceptible to food borne illnesses, so you don’t want to take any risks with their food, just pack the ice pack (or frozen peas).

How Many Finger Foods to Pack for Baby Led Weaning While Traveling

Something to keep in mind when traveling with a baby led weaning baby (or any day, even at home), is that babies don’t need snacks between 6-10 months of age . After that, they need no more than 1, maybe 2 solid food snacks. 

Check out my schedules for how many meals to offer based on their age, including milk feedings as well, here .

This means that if the time comes and your baby is hungry, breast milk or formula will continue to do the job most times! It may just be main meals, and as mentioned, 1-2 solid food snacks (maybe one mid-morning and one mid-afternoon) that you offer as they get closer and closer to one year of age. 

So, really you don’t need to pack very much, especially if you’re just starting your baby on solids . I’d go with a few pieces of each food that you’re bringing per meal. And remember, if they eat all of it and they still seem hungry – don’t fret! Breast milk or formula can fill in this gap for now. They won’t starve, and it won’t cause any confusion or anything else you may hear – promise.

What to Bring (Besides Travel Baby Food Options)

As much as we prepare for no-mess meal ideas , we also need to prepare for our baby to surprise us and make a mess anyways…it’s just what they do! So make sure you also pack…

• Bibs – long sleeved ones are the best for keeping clothes clean
• Baby wipes or washcloths
• A silicone suction mat (this is helpful to keep food contained as much as possible in one place)
• Silicone plate with a lid to store all the food – these Bumkins ones are my favorites
• Travel Booster Seat

Safety Tips When Feeding BLW Baby On-The-Go

Feeding babies comes with a risk no matter where you are, or what type of feeding you’re doing (purées or baby led weaning). 

That being said, when on-the-go, you should be extra careful of choking, especially if your baby is not seated in a proper highchair, or is moving around while eating. Both of which are likely when you’re out and about doing fun things – it happens! 

Here are my major tips to keep in mind…

1. Seat baby in someone else’s lap, if possible.

That’s right, let grandma or grandpa get some snuggles while the baby eats, because choking is usually a silent occurrence. This way, you have the best front view of your baby eating to make sure you catch anything happening right away in case, God forbid, they begin to choke. 

That’s why I recommend having someone else hold them in their lap while you do the feeding, so you can watch them better that way.

It also helps if you’re prepared ahead of time by taking an infant CPR course. Our favorite online option is by Safe Beginnings – it’s taught by a certified instructor and child safety expert, so you’re getting the best info available to be prepared for the worst case scenario. Take 20% off with code MYLITTLEEATER and enroll here !

2. Pull over before feeding in the car.

If required to feed in the car, try and pull over while feeding. Feeding in a car is not my favorite, but I know that sometimes it’s just unavoidable. A moving car is even more of a risk, so if you can, pull over first before offering food. 

Feeding while in a moving car can increase their choking risk as bumps and turns can cause babies to lose control of the food in their mouth making it more likely to become lodged in their throat.

And then you have to find a safe space to pull over to have enough room to perform any kind of maneuver on your baby, which takes up precious time, and that’s not a panic I want you to experience ever.

My second point on this is that I really don’t recommend feeding in a car seat, if at all possible, anyway. Again, your baby is not in the correct position for feeding, they aren’t fully upright. This means that their airway isn’t fully open, which again, can increase their choking risk . 

Instead, try to find a safe place to park where you can get out of the car to stretch your legs, and take your baby out to sit on someone’s lap to feed. At least this way they’re able to sit upright and have an open airway.

3. Avoid feeding in a stroller.

I think we’re seeing a theme here, but again, keep them sitting upright. So if a highchair isn’t available, someone else’s lap is the next best option as opposed to a stroller, car seat, etc.

Ok – there you have it! Keep things simple, remember that fast food can mean simple whole finger foods from home, and enjoy your summer out with your babe!

Want to learn how to feed your baby led weaning baby all these foods mentioned in this post, and more? Check out my Baby Led Feeding online course for a complete walk through on starting solids, including videos that show how to safely serve all foods like a pro!

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meet edwena

Registered pediatric dietitian, mom of two and lover of all things related to baby and toddler feeding!

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Travel food recipes for your baby: photos

Feeding your baby while on the go

Readymade baby cereal mixes, fruit or vegetable purée, oats banana porridge, wholewheat biscuits, mini vegetable idlis, banana bread fingers, wholewheat carrot cake, well-cooked eggs, stuffed paranthas, cooked pasta shapes.

Once your little one starts on solid foods, travelling with your baby needs a bit more preparation and planning. Try our travel food options that are easy to prepare and carry and won't get messy while feeding your baby. We suggest you feed your baby these foods a few times at home before your planned travel. This will help you see which foods your baby accepts well.

When you're on a trip, nothing can be as handy as readymade baby cereal mixes. These are readily available in stores and come in a variety of flavours. Choose one that is appropriate for your baby’s age and palate. Powdered cereals can be mixed with expressed breastmilk , formula milk or even with boiled and cooled water. You can also make your own cereal powder mix. Ingredients

• 1 cup rice ( chhota chawal )
• 1 cup wheat grains ( gehu )
• 1 cup finger millet ( ragi )
• 1 cup split green mung ( hari moong dal )

Method Wash the rice, wheat, ragi , moong dal several times over in plenty of water. Sun dry them and then roast the mixture in a pan, oven or microwave. Once the cereal is dry through and through, grind it to a fine powder. Transfer to an airtight container. For preparing the cereal, just add in expressed breastmilk, formula milk, boiled and cooled water or any fruit or vegetable purée that is easy to carry.

Choose your baby's favourite fruit or vegetable purée and jar it in an airtight container. Make sure the container is really airtight so that mould cannot set in. Store the prepared purée in the fridge. These generally keep in the fridge for up to two days, provided there are no power cuts . Since purées have a limited shelf life, they are good for a day out, but not your best choice if you are taking a trip of several days. You can also use store-bought purées that might have a longer shelf life. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions on using and storing purées.

Oats are a good source of protein, vitamin B1, dietary fibre, and other micronutrients. You can add any soft fruit of your baby's liking to this recipe. Bananas are usually a favourite with babies and readily available in most places, so this is our fruit of choice in this recipe. Ingredients

• 1 ripe banana ( kela )
• Roasted oats (as needed)
• Baby's regular milk

Method Prepare a batch of powdered roasted oats first. You can take one cup of oats or more, depending on how often you use it or how big a batch you want to make. Roast the required quantity over a low flame, stirring intermittently for 2-3 minutes. Once done, transfer the oats to a wide plate and allow to cool completely. Transfer to a mixer and grind to a consistency that your baby is able to eat. For 6-months-old babies, just starting on solid foods, grind the roasted oats into a fine powder. For older babies, the consistency can be coarser. Store in an airtight container.  When making the porridge, use a fork to mash a peeled banana in a bowl. Add 1 to 2 tsp of the roasted oats powder to the mashed banana and mix. Add breastmilk or formula to make the porridge more runny if required. For older babies and toddlers, you can increase the quantity of oats to 3 to 4 tsp and use regular milk .

Wholewheat biscuits are a good option for travel food and quick snacks. Ingredients

• 2 cups wholewheat flour ( gehu ka atta )
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 cup butter
• A pinch of cardamom ( chhoti elaichi ) powder

Method Preheat the oven to 450°F (230°C). Meanwhile, whisk the flour, baking powder and baking soda in a bowl. Add butter into the flour mixture and mix well until it resembles coarse crumbs. Add milk and stir into a smooth dough. Put the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead briefly for a few minutes. Pat and roll out the dough to about three quarter inch thickness. Cut circles with a 2-inch biscuit cutter, or a cup or katori and arrange on a baking sheet. You could also use cookie cutters in interesting shapes such as animals, stars or hearts. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until light brown. Remove from the oven and place on a cooling rack. Once cool, store in an airtight container and use within two weeks.

Here's an interesting twist to the good old idli . This recipe provides balanced nutrition in the form of proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, fibre and fats. Ingredients

• 2 cups idli batter
• 1/4 cup carrot ( gajar ) - grated
• 1/4 cup boiled peas ( matar )- mashed
• Roasted cumin ( bhuna jeera ) powder - optional

Method Mix the carrot, peas and cumin powder in the idli batter. Pour spoonfuls of the batter into greased idli moulds and steam in a steamer for 10 to 12 minutes or till they are done. Once they cool, pack in an airtight container and use within a day.

Ingredients

• 1 banana ( kela )
• 4 wholewheat bread slices
• 1 pinch cinnamon ( dalcheeni ) powder - 1 pinch (optional)
• Oil or ghee for frying

Method Cut the bread slices into long strips and keep aside. Blend the banana, milk and cinnamon powder until you get a smooth and slightly runny mixture. Heat a non-stick pan over medium flame. Grease with a little oil or ghee . Dip the bread fingers into the banana mixture and lightly fry on each side until golden brown. Remove from the pan and place on a plate lined with paper towels to drain out excess oil. Once done, store in an airtight container and use within a day.

This healthy cake is easy to make and carry and provides a host of nutrients and interesting flavours for your little one. Ingredients

• 150g wholewheat flour ( gehu ka atta )
• 300g carrots ( gajar ), coarsely grated
• 20 almonds ( badaam ), powdered
• 20 raisins ( kishmish ) - finely chopped
• 2-3 walnuts ( akhrot ), powdered
• 4 tsp ground mixed spice (optional)
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 2 large eggs
• 100ml sunflower oil, plus a little extra for greasing
• 3 tbsp semi-skimmed milk

Method Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Meanwhile, grease and line the base of a cake tin with baking parchment. Put the flour, almonds, raisins, walnuts, mixed spice and baking soda in a large bowl and mix thoroughly. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs, oil and milk together and fold in the grated carrot. Add the egg mixture to the dry ingredients, stirring to form a thick batter. Pour the batter into the prepared tin and spread to the sides.  Bake in the oven for about half an hour, or until the cake is well-risen and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Leave to cool in the tin. Take the cake out of the tin and peel off the lining paper. Cut into slices and keep in an airtight container in the fridge until you pack it. It's best for your baby to eat this within 4-6 hours after it's removed from the fridge.

Cooked eggs are convenient to carry and a great way to handle hunger pangs. They work best for short journeys. You can try hard-boiled eggs, scrambled eggs, omelette or egg bhurji . For a more filling meal, offer the eggs with buttered toast, chapati or parantha . Take a look at our slideshow on egg recipes for your baby for more options!

Wholewheat paranthas stuffed with cooked vegetables or purées make filling and yummy breakfast, lunch or dinner options.  Paranthas cut into small pieces or strips make great  finger foods . Ingredients

• 1 cup wholewheat or multigrain flour
• Stuffing or purée of your choice
• Oil or ghee for lightly frying

Method Prepare the dough and use any stuffing of your choice. Good options include potatoes ( aloo ), cauliflower ( gobhi ), peas ( matar ), radish ( mooli ), carrots ( gajar ), beetroot ( chukandar ) or any cooked, leftover dry sabzi . For a more protein-rich option, try stuffing the paranthas with cottage cheese ( paneer ), soya mince or minced meat ( keema ). If using purée, knead it into the dough. Vegetable purées such as pumpkin ( kaddu/sitaphal ), bottlegourd ( lauki/doodhi ), and spinach ( palak ) can also be kneaded into the flour. Another variation is to knead the flour with high-protein food items like different types of cooked and mashed lentils ( dals ), kidney beans ( rajma ) and chickpeas ( chhole ). Gram flour ( besan ) or different types of mixed flours can be used to make delicious multigrain paranthas . Cut into bite-sized pieces or in strips and store in an airtight container. Use within a few hours after they have been cooked.

For short trips, cooked pasta works well. You can carry any vegetable or non-vegetarian purée in a jar and mix it for additional flavour and nutrition. Just make sure you use the purée within a few hours and don't keep any leftover pasta for later.  See our slideshow on nutritious purées for more ideas! These baby recipes have been put together by BabyCenter with the help of Dr Shaveta Kaushal, a pharmacologist with a passion for creating healthy and nutritious meals for babies.

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Before we dive into the world of travel foods for babies and toddlers, let’s embrace the evolving trends of parenthood. Gone are the days when parents had to wait for their children to grow up before embarking on adventures. Nowadays, little ones join in on the exploration, their curious eyes witnessing the vast wonders of… Read More

Soya Wheat Porridge Powder Recipe

Published: December 5, 2014 | Last Updated on: May 25, 2023 | by Dr Hemapriya

Soya Wheat Porridge can be given to babies after 8 months. It is an ideal travel food for babies. How to make Soya Wheat Porridge Powder at Home? Ingredients Whole wheat 80 g. Whole Soyabean 20 g. Methods of preparation for soya wheat porridge powder recipe: 1. Clean whole wheat & soyabean separately. 2. Roast… Read More

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• Guide to finger foods
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• Banana & apple bread pudding
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Baby sign language:

• A guide to baby sign language
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Tips for travelling with baby:

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Taking baby abroad

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Useful travel accessories :

• Baby beach tents
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• Travel tips on our blog

Tips For Travelling With Baby

Travelling with baby is never the nightmare we imagine – and a little forward planning can go a long way towards avoiding a “bumpy ride”!

When your baby is very young – and you take a suitcase-full of equipment just to visit the supermarket – the thought of travelling any further can be a bit intimidating!

Your main concern at this stage is often how you will cope with feeding your baby in unfamiliar surroundings, particularly when he is used to homemade food.

Don’t go reaching for the jars of baby food just yet, though – it’s possible to continue to feed your baby fresh, healthy food no matter where you go.

And, if your destination is overseas, he may even be able to try some exotic new fruits or vegetables that weren’t available at home.

NOTE: We’ve received a few messages indicating that we’ve spelled the word ‘traveling’ incorrectly. This page actually uses the British or Canadian spelling ‘travelling’ rather than the US ‘traveling’ with baby, with only one ‘l’. Nevertheless, we hope you’ll find the information on this page useful wherever you are!

Preparing For Your Journey

Travelling by road

Travelling with baby by air

Flying with baby food and milk

Essential supplies

There are certain essentials you’ll need for any trip with your baby – check each item off the list as you pack them … and start well in advance of your journey!

What You’ll Need When Travelling With Baby

• Enough food and milk for the trip (see the “feeding” section below for more information)
• First aid supplies
• Nappies/diapers and wipes (bring more than you think you’ll need)
• Nappy/diaper rash cream (if necessary)
• Scented nappy sacks and plastic bags for garbage
• Baby’s bowl and utensils
• Travel high chair (making it easy to feed baby wherever you go)
• Sun protection – (please click here for baby shade tents and sun pods, perfect for trips to the beach)
• Baby blanket – the reassuring scent of your baby’s own blanket will give him comfort in new surroundings
• Travel cot/portable crib (if necessary)
• Spare clothes for baby and you, in case of spills and accidents
• Equipment for warming food
• Disposable bibs, or a wipe-clean soft plastic bib
• Spare dummies/pacifiers (if necessary)
• Water/juice
• Breast pump (if necessary)
• Nightlight – for night-time feeds in dark, unfamiliar hotel rooms
• Baby sling – perfect for use when travelling with baby, or once you’ve arrived at your destination
• Sterilizing equipment (if necessary)

Feeding Tips

Breastfeeding is, of course, the easiest option when travelling with baby as it requires no equipment and can be done almost anywhere!

If you feel uncomfortable feeding in a public area – on an aeroplane, for example, where there is little privacy – then you can express milk before you leave. Breastmilk can be safely kept in a cooler with ice for up to 24 hours.

If your baby has never had breastmilk from a bottle before, it’s a good idea to have a few “trial runs” before you leave – not all breastfed babies will be happy to accept a bottle!

If your baby is formula fed, there are several options available.

• Pre-make the feeds in the bottles and keep cool, ready for heating when necessary.
• Buy cartons of “ready to drink” formula – although these can be useful for the journey, some countries do not allow you to bring in ready-made formula, but will allow sealed containers of powdered formula.
• Add pre-measured formula powder to the bottles, then top up with boiled water as needed. (Unless you’re sure where the water is coming from, bring your own Thermos of boiled water or, for long trips, bring pre-boiled water and ask for it to be warmed.)
• Consider using disposable bottles and liners.

If baby’s breastmilk or formula needs warming, you can either use your own bottle warmer, submerge the bottle in hot water, or ask someone to warm it for you.

Wherever possible, ask well in advance … no one but you will appreciate the urgency of your baby’s hungry cry!

And ALWAYS check the temperature of the milk when it’s returned to you – bottles will sometimes be heated to near-boiling temperatures by busy or unthinking staff!

Solid foods

Prior to travelling with baby, prepare and freeze enough food for the journey (see baby food preparation and storage for tips on freezing your baby’s meals).

Always pack a little more food than you think you’ll need – your baby’s routine will probably be completely out of the window and you’ll need to “go with the flow” for a while.

For long trips, pack baby’s food cubes in a cooler, along with ice or cool packs.

  If using frozen food cubes, remove each cube ahead of feeding time to allow it to thaw.

Before travelling with baby, it’s a good idea to introduce him to a few meals served at room temperature. If he’s happy to have them, then it means you won’t need to warm his food during your journey.

This doesn’t work well for all foods, of course, so keep this in mind when planning his menu for the trip.

Alternatively, bring foods that you can easily prepare “en-route”, such as avocado or banana, that can be quickly mashed and served.

If you do need to warm foods, either submerge them in hot water or ask for them to be heated.

An electric warming dish can be very useful and means you don’t need to rely on anyone else to warm the food for you.

Always check the temperature of foods warmed on your behalf as busy flight attendants or restaurant staff may over-heat them.

Don’t forget finger foods …

If he is already enjoying finger foods , they can be invaluable when travelling with baby on a long trip as they will help keep him occupied!

DON’T GIVE YOUR BABY FINGER FOODS IN THE CAR UNLESS THERE IS AN ADULT SITTING BESIDE HIM – this is to avoid the risk of choking.

Try to choose foods that don’t create too much mess – dry foods such as rice cakes or pre-toasted bread fingers are ideal (you can find more suggestions for baby travel snacks here ).

Tips for taking baby to a restaurant

Sterlizing equipment

How you sterilize your bottles and feeding equipment when you’re away from home really depends on where you will be going.

If you are staying within your own country and travelling by car (so luggage is not such a big issue), then simply bring along your usual steriliser.

For longer trips, however, there are other options.

• If you will have access to a microwave, consider using a microwave sterilizer bag. Check out the Medela Quick Clean Micro-Steam Bags (Amazon US) - ( click here to buy from Amazon UK )
• If not, a cold water sterilizer could be used. Although these seem bulky to pack, you could fill the steriliser with spare bottles, bowls etc., making good use of the space it occupies.
• Consider using Bottle Liners , which occupy very little luggage space.

Baby feeding travel accessories

Health Tips

Visit your doctor WELL AHEAD OF TIME to discuss whether or not your baby will require any immunizations for the trip.

Make sure you are adequately insured – when travelling with baby, you need to expect the unexpected. Ear infections, for example, are fairly common in infants and could mean changing a flight – notifiable diseases such as measles would also make flying out of the question.

Safety tips for traveling abroad

More top tips, advice and baby travel accessories…

Travel cots/portable cribs

Baby beach tents and sun pods

Baby travel toys

Other baby travel accessories

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Tasty Kids Nutrition

Travel foods for babies: what to pack when you are travelling with a baby.

Kids are always excited about trips. And yes!! Picnics are fun and we make many memories along the way. But when you plan trips with kids you need to think about everything. It can be clothes, toys and most importantly travel foods to pack for baby. ( What are baby’s first foods? )

And when it comes to foods and travel, every parent’s mind is flooded with questions about the  type and amount of travel foods to carry? It is also important to take something which is simple and hassle free. So that everyone, including yourself, has a good time on the vacation. There are a few great travel foods that can be considered, regardless of the mode of transportation, such as a car or plane. This article highlights the baby food for travel along with their recipes. ( What are some remedies & tips to stop postpartum hair fall? )

BABY FOOD FOR TRAVEL:

If the age of your baby is between six and twelve months, it’s important to choose the right meal for them. Since they are fairly new in the process of being introduced to solids.

Below are few baby foods for travel:

Milk is the complete food for babies and toddlers. Especially for babies below 12 months of age, milk is the major nutrient source. While travelling in a private vehicle, you can nurse your child, but it can be a problem in public areas. However, you can pump breast milk in advance and feed your baby at mealtimes. ( Which milk is best for babies? )

You can always carry fruits or veggie purees as travel foods for your baby. Keep the mash ready and add a little amount of water or milk while you feed. 

Porridge  

Porridge can be prepared using moong dal , rice or any other cereal. These are easy to digest and require less time for preparation. It  is a great source of nutrition and keeps the baby full during the journey. ( Food chart for 6 months old baby. )

Travel foods for toddlers :

Infants and toddlers between the ages of one and three are now more familiar with eating solid food, but they still require travel foods that are hygienic, not spicy, and well-cooked.

Veggies and fruits

Different fruits and vegetables are also a great option while travelling. Veggies and fruits provide a satisfying crunch with a load of vitamins, fiber and minerals. It’s easy to carry fresh vegetables like cherry tomatoes, blanched broccoli or cauliflower, and small carrots and fruits such as grapes, bananas, apples and  berries. ( Why banana and apple are so good for kids? )

Energy bars

Energy or granola bars can be easily made at home with healthy components. They are delicious and filling, on top of that, they also keep your child energised throughout the trip. 

Children can enjoy date and dry fruit chikkis, rajgira or peanut chikkis while traveling. This type of food is healthy and has a longer shelf life.

Traveling with this superfood is a breeze, and it’s loaded with minerals like calcium. They are light on their tummy and kids love the taste of different flavours. Pack in proper containers and keep it in a cool place.

Nuts and dried fruits are arguably the greatest snacking options that can help maintain energy levels, ease digestion, and help you fuel up for the rest of the day. As long as there are no nut allergies in your home, nuts are a fantastic and nutritious baby food for travel. ( How nuts & seeds are good for health? )

Muffins are always the kid’s favourite and healthy grab-on-the-go snack especially while travelling. When it comes to foods and travel, home-made foods are the best.   You can make home-made muffins using healthy ingredients like whole wheat, fruits (apple, banana) and seeds. ( Recipe for muffins )

Roasted Makhana

Makhana is a great healthy food for kids as it supports brain development. They are also loaded with bone strengthening minerals. Moreover, it is loaded with protein, fiber, calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus and carbohydrates. ( Why makhana are a healthy snack option for kids? )

Ideal drinks for babies and toddlers are milk and water. Also carry a few fruit juices that your child likes. Keep them hydrated. ( What are some summer drinks for kids? )

8 healthy Travel foods recipes:

Foods and travel are always the best combo.Kids love snacking while travelling.Here are some of the tasty and healthy baby food for travel:

Banana and Apple Muffins

Dates energy bars

Roasted sweet potato wedges / Fries

Pumpkin Seed Millet Crackers

Ragi Chocolate Cream Biscuit

Pumpkin millet pancakes

Radish Paneer Paratha 

Mixed sprout chaat

Travel Foods to avoid while traveling with your baby :

When traveling with a newborn, there are some travel foods you should avoid. To ensure a stress-free trip for you and your baby, cross these foods off your list:

• Packaged oily snacks should be avoided as they may cause problems related to digestion.
• Soft drinks – with high sugar
• Spill-prone liquid foods should be avoided. Children cannot handle liquid foods and they easily spill it.
• Never carry new and untested foods that may not go well with your baby.
• Do not carry foods that are prone to spoilage. 

Travelling with your baby should be a special experience to both of you. Carry foods that are easy to feed your baby and make sure the whole journey is stress free. To make the trip enjoyable, you must exert some effort and have a lot of patience. 

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Foods and Remedies recommended by a Nutrition expert.

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Baby and Toddler Foods To Carry & Avoid While Travelling

Video: Travel Foods for Babies and Toddlers (What to Carry and What to Avoid)

Food for babies while travelling, food for toddlers while travelling, foods to avoid while travelling with your baby or toddler.

Travelling with a baby in tow may seem challenging, but the key to ensuring a smooth journey that both you and the baby enjoy is to be prepared for anything you may need. A major part of travelling with your baby is having the right food around, as babies stomachs are delicate, and can’t handle outside food. Many parents are unsure about what kind of food to carry when travelling with a baby and toddler. To keep your baby’s hunger satiated and her mood happy, it is important to carry food that is both, travel-friendly and delicious. Here are some baby and toddler travel food ideas.

Babies between six to 12 months old are fairly new in the process of being introduced to solids , so it essential to be smart about the type of food you carry along for them. Here are some travel foods for babies.

1. Baby Food

Baby food is nutritious, yummy, and quite easy to prepare while travelling. This kind of food is generally given to infants above six months. There are various baby food premixes that are easily available and travel-friendly.

This is a complete food for babies and toddlers, due to the rich nutrients it contains. You can rely on breastfeeding the baby if you are travelling in a private vehicle, but it can be an issue in public places. Store breast milk beforehand, using a breast pump, and feed your baby during meal times. Formula milk is a great option, as it needs water and formula powder to make the mix.

3. Fruit Purees

These are wholesome, loaded with essential nutrients, and easy to prepare when travelling. This can be prepared on-the-spot since all you need is fruit, milk, a bowl, and a fork. Mash the fruit add milk and feed it to your tiny tot.

4. Carrot Cake

Travel isn’t fun without something sweet, right? Carrot cake is soft, healthy and delicious. You can always substitute flour and sugar with healthier ingredients such as whole wheat and jaggery or honey. Your child will be super happy when you bring out the carrot cake you’ve packed.

5. Porridge Mix

If your baby is over 6 months, you can carry easy-to-make porridge for him. Some easy and delicious porridges made out of sattu or ragi are easy to prepare as you simply need to pour hot water and mix. They are nutritious, easy to carry and a sure hit for your child.

6. Vegetable Puree

Boil vegetables like broccoli and carrot , and mash them until they reach a puree consistency. These can be seasoned and fed to your baby during travel to ensure his nutritional intake is sufficient for the day. Vegetables purees are easy to feed your child, and he will surely love the taste.

Between the ages of one to three, toddlers are now more accustomed to eating solid food, but require non-spicy, hygienic, and well-cooked dishes. Here are some food ideas for toddlers when travelling.

This superfood is easy to carry while travelling and is packed with essential nutrients such as calcium. Kids love the tasty flavours of yoghurt, which is light on the stomach. Ensure you pack yoghurt in travel-friendly jars for an easy feeding session. Ensure that you store yoghurt in a cool environment.

Choose O-shaped cereals while shopping for your trip, and it can prove to be an ideal travel food for one-year-old children and above. Slide them onto his fingers and let him enjoy this engaging activity while travelling. You can add dry fruits to make it healthy and enhance the flavour too.

This superfood is rich in calories and helps to boost the immune system. The unsaturated fats in eggs help in developing the brain. As you’re travelling, you can stick to serving them hard-boiled eggs, as they are the least likely to create a mess.

This Middle Eastern dish is rich in iron, which can prevent anaemia. Its thick texture means that kids are unlikely to spill it, and can be eaten with pita bread, which is filling. Make sure to refrigerate it before carrying and store it in a cool environment.

Parathas are filling, delicious, and can be prepared according to your baby’s tastes. You can prepare theplas at home and pack them for your journey, and your baby is sure to love them. Ensure that you let them cool completely before packing them.

6. Granola Bars

You can make soft energy bars or granola bars at home, loaded with healthy ingredients that are nutritious. They provide your little one with energy throughout the trip and are delicious and filling as well.

Date and dry fruit chikkis, rajgira or peanut chikkis are a good option for toddlers while travelling. These are healthy and stay fresh for a longer time.

8. Baked/ Roasted Makhana or Jowar Puffs

These are delicious, healthy, and filling, and a great option when travelling with toddlers. You can also add some milk flavours to them, which your child is sure to love.

Who doesn’t love cheese? Definitely not your toddler! Carry cheese cubes or cheese sticks and simply pass them to your child as finger food during the journey. It will keep him entertained and satiated for a while.

10. Cookies

You can bake healthy cookies out of ragi flour and jaggery before your journey and pack them. These are a great snack for long journeys as they are sweet and delicious, and last for long when packed well.

If you have a long journey, pack some idlis with sugar or jaggery for your little one. These are filled with nutrition and easy to hold and eat, so you can avoid any mess while travelling. For an extra zing, add spinach puree or beetroot extract to the idli batter to dye them green or purple.

12. Instant Upma or Poha

You can dehydrate some veggies and make a poha or upma mix with very little oil. Once the dry base is prepared, you can pack it along and simply add hot water when it’s time for your baby to eat. These are easy to make and nutritious too.

There are certain kinds of foods to be avoided when you are travelling with a baby in tow. Strike them off your travel list to ensure you and your baby have a hassle-free trip:

• Oily snacks (especially the ready-made variety) should be avoided, as they can lead to issues like heartburn and obesity.
• Soft drinks are rich in sugar and can erode the enamel of your kids.
• Cereals that are high in sugar can lead to early diabetes.
• Thin liquids are easy to spill and cause a mess. Kids have less control over their motor functions and can easily spill and drop food.
• Foods that are relatively small can get lodged in the windpipe and are a choking hazard.
• New and untried food which may not agree with your baby’s tummy

Travelling with your baby should be special for you and your baby. Feeding your baby or toddler during an outstation trip should not cause any stress. All you require is effort and loads of patience, so the journey becomes enjoyable with food and feeding times are the least of your worries.

References/Resources:

1. Feeding your baby: 6–12 months; UNICEF; https://www.unicef.org/parenting/food-nutrition/feeding-your-baby-6-12-months

2. Prohibited Item List; Airports Authority of India; https://www.aai.aero/en/airports/security-info/kullu-manali

3. Travel Recommendations for Nursing Families; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/infantandtoddlernutrition/breastfeeding/travel-recommendations.html ; July 2021

4. Foods and Drinks to Avoid or Limit; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/infantandtoddlernutrition/foods-and-drinks/foods-and-drinks-to-limit.html ; June 2023

5. When, What, and How to Introduce Solid Foods; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/infantandtoddlernutrition/foods-and-drinks/when-to-introduce-solid-foods.html ; August 2021

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Easy and healthy baby food options while travelling

Planning a trip with your baby? Whether it is a few hours of outing or a vacation, a mom’s holiday planning bloats with ‘What should I feed my baby while travelling?’ Fortunately, quite a few healthy yet easy to make or ready-to-eat meals & snacks options are possible.

Read more to find out quick and easy healthy food options for your baby while travelling.

Should you carry baby’s food while travelling?

source: https://goo.gl/VnQbz1

With the right facilities, a baby can accompany parents on fun trips, social events or even for running errands from 8-12 weeks. Thanks to modern-day conveniences which facilitate such travels with very young tots. However, one big worry for parents is “what to feed my baby while travelling”.

Many parents in India are sceptical to expose their kids, especially younger than 1-1.5 years, to outside food especially from new pantries/eateries. Parents also fear using packaged & ready-to-eat foods due to the presence of preservatives, colouring agents etc..

You can opt for carrying baby’s food while travelling. If you intend to take the baby’s food, plan a bit in advance. Because, depending on your baby’s food preferences, you may need to prep for baby’s travel food. Choose from the easy to make and healthy travel food options.

Also, these days many hotels/resorts are very baby friendly. They take great care to prepare baby food as per request.

Based on the cooking facilities at your travel destination and type of food your baby enjoys, you can also opt to carry raw ingredients (or buy fresh local ones) and cook baby food at the destination.

Planning for baby meals when travelling

Travelling with a baby means inflated luggage. You want to minimise the hassle of carrying, preparing or feeding baby food while travelling.  Remember the following when planning to pack your baby’s travel food:

• Plan age-appropriate travel food
• Avoid introducing new food during travel to avoid allergy scare
• Carry food that is easy to store and not highly perishable
• Procure containers for carrying/storing that are compact and spill-free
• If headed to a destination, check facility for storing/heating/cooking food 

When travelling with a baby who has not started solids, no planning is required. If your baby is formula-fed arrange boiling water and Formula.

For babies who have solids, plan for snacks & meals during your time outside. Also, you can (and should) explore the local food at the destination if your child shows interest.

But babies, especially when new to solids, are unpredictable when it comes to adjusting to an unfamiliar place/food and hence it is safe to plan for all of baby’s meals in advance rather than be sorry in a new place.

Healthy & easy baby food options during travel

There are various ways to plan your baby’s meals when you are travelling. You can either pack ‘ready-to-eat’ meal options. Or carry ‘instant-to-cook’ food. Or plan to cook fresh meals. Depending on the place you travel and your comfort with serving locally sourced food, you can also opt to feed your child from local eateries or fresh local produce. 

Following are some of the travel food options for your baby. Ensure age-appropriateness:

Travel food to prepare at the destination:

• Fruit/veg puree
• Instant hot meals: Khichdi/Poha/Upma
• Cerelac/SathuMaavu
• Sandwich*: Veg/Cheese/Butter

Ready-to-eat, t ravel food options :

• Puffed rice/Puffed jowar (plain or roasted)
• Homemade laddoos/biscuits/cookies
• Milk/Formula
• Roasted makhana
• Homemade Chivda
• Packaged baby snack options

Travel food for the baby you can buy locally:

• Seasonal Fruits
• Yoghurt / Smoothies
• Seasonal Veggies
• Cheese slices/cubes
•  Local food specialities

Note: * Idli, sandwich are great options during the commute, especially when you have a long journey to travel destination.

Readymade travel food options:

Some of the food options, especially to be prepared at the destination may need prep like pre-roasting/grinding before the travel. If you are pressed on time to prep for baby’s travel food, or you want to have a variety of options, buy from some baby food brands which are tried, tested and vouched for by many many moms:

Some of the popular travel food options from popular baby food brands are:

• Gerber – cereal snacks
• My Little Moppet Foods – Instant mixes: SathuMavu, porridges, cereals, Indian pancakes,  Khichdi
• Early Foods – Instant mixes: Porridges, SathuMavu, Khichdi, cereals, cookies
• MTR – Instant meals: poha/upma/ halwa, Indian pancake mixes
• Soulful – Multigrain loops, Ragi bites/flakes, Millet muesli

Points to remember for preparing baby meals while travelling :

If you are planning to prepare baby’s meals when travelling, have items to aid cooking/storing/cleaning.  Pack items that can be used for multiple things or buy items easily available at the destination to reduce your luggage. Plan for the following items:

• Baby cutlery:  steel plate (also converts as cutting board, cover), baby sipper/cups/glasses, spoon (for mixing/serving)
• Utensils & cooking items:  Flat base pan (doubles for cooking hot meals including pancakes), knife/peeler, travel cooker/hot plate to make hot meals*
• Cleaning accessories: soap, scrub, bottle cleaning brush, drying napkin
• Basic tastemakers: oil/ghee/roasted jeera powder/ajwain/ hing (use sugar/salt from destination)
• Storage containers:  Compact thermos/flask to store milk or water; spill-free unbreakable and compact jars for carrying raw ingredients/meals

*You can also use tea-pot in hotels to boil water to prepare instant meals/formula. 

Note for flights & international travels

Verify compatibility of voltage rating/plug point of your electrical equipment (travel cooker/breast pump) when travelling to foreign destinations.

Check for carry-on liquid & food restrictions (water/milk/formula) with your airlines & at airports for carry-on meal arrangements.

Some quick recipes to cook baby food when travelling

1.Porridge recipe

• Main Ingredients:  Ragi powder, water
• Optional ingredients:   Jaggery, Fresh fruit, dry-fruit powder, milk
• Dry roast ragi powder
• Take 2-3 spoons ragi powder, add water as per consistency required
• Mix well to remove chunks
• Heat for 5-8 minutes stirring occasionally
• Optional: Add jaggery, grated fresh fruit, dry-fruit powder or milk as per taste after heating
• Note:  If no heating equipment, add boiling water to the powder, stir to remove lumps and covered for 5-8 minutes
• Easy replacements: You can use sooji, Dalia, oats, Sathumaavu, or Makhana instead of ragi powder. Dry roast the ingredient. Depending on your child’s preference you can grind it if required.

2. Instant Khichdi recipe

• Ingredients:  Yello moong daal, rice, water, ghee
• Optional ingredients: Tastemakers like Jeera powder/hing/salt; grated veggies 
• Wash moong daal and rice separately (ratio 1:2),
• Dry well (avoid excess sunlight)
• Separately dry roast
• Let it cool then grind
• Note:  If you have no time to wash & dry daal and rice, directly dry roast them
• Take 2-3 spoons of khichdi mix, add water as per consistency required
• Stir to remove lumps
• Optional:  Add tastemaker, grated veggies as per taste
• Heat for 5-10 minutes stirring occasionally
• Add ghee after heating
•   Note:  If no heating equipment, add boiling water to the khichdi mix, stir to remove lumps, add tastemaker & veggies (optional) and cover for 5-8 minutes  

Note: If a baby prefers regular khichdi, carry Yellow moong daal & rice grains mixed (1:2 proportion). Soak the mixed grains for 15-20 minutes & cook (in hotel kitchen/in travel cooker/open vessel).

4. Pancake Recipe

• Ingredients: Raagi powder & besan mix (2:1), oil/ghee
• Optional ingredients:  grated veggies, tastemakers like salt/jeera powder etc., curd 
• Prep before travelling: dry roast ragi powder and besan separately and then mix
• Take 2-3 spoons of ragi besan mix, add water to make a smooth
• Optional:  Add chopped/grated veggies, curd and tastemaker of your choice
• Keep pan for heating, grease pan with oil/ghee
• Pour batter on the pan,  flip after 2-3 minutes
• Cook well on both sides
• Easy replacement:  Use green moong daal powder, sooji in place of ragi & besan

Travelling with your baby is fun if you are sorted on food-front. Carry easy-to-make and yummy food options for fuss-free meals while travelling. Plan a bit and prep for baby’s travel food if required. Happy travelling with baby:-)!

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Homemade Baby Food Recipes

Medical review policy, latest update:, how do you know if your baby is ready for solid foods, read this next, how do you make your own baby food, best homemade baby food recipes, homemade baby food purée recipes for 6-month-olds, homemade baby food recipes for 7- to 9-month-olds, homemade baby food recipes for 10- to 12-month-olds.

What to Expect the First Year , 3rd edition, Heidi Murkoff. WhatToExpect.com,  Introducing Solid Foods to Your Baby , December 2020. American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Starting Solid Foods , October 2020. Phuong Truong, a clinical dietitian at Seattle Children’s Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic (OBCC), in Seattle, Washington. Erin Palinski-Wade, R.D., C.D.E., nutrition consultant and founder of Healthy Mom, Happy Family. National Health Service UK, Recipes and Meal Ideas , 2021.

Go to Your Baby's Age

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Spring is in the air – but is it in your baby food maker ? The change of season is a perfect time to mix-up your routine of baby food recipes with some fresh, new inspirations for your baby or toddler.

But how can you break away from the winter staples of sweet potatoes, apples, turkey, and more?

It’s easy with the right healthy baby food recipes and the right tools in your kitchen – like a baby food maker that keeps things simple and meal prep fuss-free! These organic, easy baby food recipes will have you cooking up quality meals for baby in no time.

Bright Beginnings – Breakfast with Your Baby Food Maker

They say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day – but babies need good nutrition all day long! This is one of many easy baby food recipes you and baby will both learn to love.

Still, starting with a hearty, nutritious breakfast will give your little one a great start to the day and become a lifelong habit.

Try this Cherry Banana Quinoa for a fruity taste sensation at breakfast time.

Cherry Banana Quinoa

Ingredients:

½ cup of cooked quinoa

1 cup of cherries, washed with pits removed and cut in half

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in the bowl of your baby food maker. Blend until smooth and serve.

Recipe Notes:

Quinoa is packed with plenty of protein, works well in organic baby food recipes, and will help baby feel satisfied while the cherries pack a punch of antioxidants to boost the immune system.

Super Side – Steamed in Your Baby Food Maker for Simplicity

One of the standout homemade baby food recipes, this healthy combo is sure to make baby happy at mealtime! For a tasty and healthy side that channels the green of spring, make a minty pea puree that will put a smile on your little one’s face.

Minty Pea Puree

2 cups of sweet peas (fresh or frozen)

1 sprig of mint

Veggie broth, breast milk, or formula – if needed

Combine the peas and mint into the bowl of your baby food maker. Set to steam & blend for 20 minutes, then let the machine automatically blend it into a super smooth puree.

If the texture is too thick, you can add broth, breast milk, or formula to achieve a thinner consistency.

Peas and mint are a natural combination in baby food recipes, with the bright taste of mint offset by the sweet peas. Introducing your baby to fresh herbs can help to broaden their taste buds from an early age, and it works great in plenty of healthy baby food recipes.

Main Event – Kale and Chicken Baby Food

Kale is a super veggie packed full of vital nutrients, and it plays nicely with this combination of chicken, kabocha squash, and apples and white beans. Mix up this super combination of tasty options in homemade baby food recipes  to be excited about.

Kale and Chicken Baby Food

½ cup of kale

¼ cup kabocha squash

½ apple, cored and peeled if desired

½ cup white beans, rinsed

½ chicken breast, cooked and shredded or cubed

Sometimes, easy baby food recipes are the best way to start your homemade baby food journey, and this is a great example! Place kale, squash, apple, and white beans into baby food maker and set to steam only. Once ingredients are soft and cooked through, add chicken and set to blend mode.

Combine until desired consistency is reached. You can add water to thin the mixture if necessary.

Kabocha squash has a smooth texture and sweet taste. But if you can’t find it, feel free to substitute a sweet potato in your own homemade baby food recipes.

Spring Recipes to Grow By

Spring is the time of new beginnings, and no doubt there are many new food options and baby food recipes waiting for your baby! With the right nutrition, your little one will keep right on growing and changing before your very eyes.

Use these baby food maker recipes as a starting point to grow your baby’s palate and taste for new foods. Experimenting with your Baby Brezza baby food maker is the perfect way to pass a rainy day or relax on a Sunday afternoon, especially once you find fun and healthy baby food recipes to try out.

Before you know it, spring will have turned to summer and your baby will be enjoying even more new organic baby food recipes  and special moments!

Kick off the season with a delicious Strawberry Puree homemade baby food recipe!

• What Can You Not Put in Baby Food? 
• When making baby food recipes, knowing what NOT to put in baby’s food is as equally important knowing what to put in it– this can save your baby from unnecessary health risks, wasted time remaking dishes, and keeps you informed on what’s always going to be best for baby. A few of the main things to avoid when feeding your little one are honey and anything that contains honey, due to the risk of botulism; dairy products; undercooked meat, as well as fish; eggs; and poultry. Essentially, anything unpasteurized!
• How Long is Homemade Pureed Baby Food Good For?
• Homemade baby food recipes are a great way to keep up with your baby’s diet, and are fun to learn how to make and see what your baby really takes to– however, it’s crucial to know when baby’s food is no longer safe to eat. To stay completely in the safe zone, pureed baby food should be refrigerated then consumed within 48 hours or less.
• What Consistency Should Homemade Baby Food Be? 
• For a baby just starting on solids for the first time, it’s important to keep all dishes made from your homemade baby food recipes as thin as possible– this means pureeing until the mixture of food is completely smooth, so that baby has the easiest time eating and digesting.
• What is the 3 Day Rule for Homemade Baby Food?

For new parents, it can be a lot of fun to find new healthy baby food recipes to try out with your little one– finding fun new ways to blend up your homemade/organic baby food is a great way to find what your baby likes and doesn’t like– however, it’s heavily recommended to wait 3 to 5 days before switching to a new type of food. This can help avoid upset stomachs, potential allergies, and keeps your baby’s diet in a rhythm that parents can plan for. 

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9 Best Pack 'n Plays and Playards, Tested by Experts

From nap space to play space, a portable playard can really help a parent out.

We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.

Our Good Housekeeping Institute list of the best playards includes some actual Pack 'n Plays, along with offerings from other companies, so you can find what best fits your needs.

Our top picks:

Best Overall

Graco day2dream pack 'n play.

Graco On the Go Pack 'n Play

Best for Travel

Guava family lotus travel crib.

Best for Doubling as a Baby Bassinet

Nuna cove aire go.

Best for Toddlers

Silver cross sleep & go.

Easiest to Set Up

4moms breeze plus.

Compact Option

Century travel on lx.

Biggest Option

Newton baby travel crib & play yard.

Best for Play

Century play on.

Some playards are lightweight for travel, others include a changing pad to use for diaper changes and others have that fun zip-open sides for toddlers. For the uninitiated, here are the basics of how most playards work: There's usually a raised bassinet level that you use during the infant months and then you remove that and your older baby or toddler can sleep or play with the mattress at the floor level. "Playards are designed for convenience," says Cindy Panish, expert baby gear specialist at buybuy BABY . "They are meant to be portable rather than a long-term sleeping solution."

At the end of this guide, we'll explain more what differentiates a playard from a mini crib or crib. We'll include some vital Pack 'n Play safety information, too. The short of it is, per the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) rules for safe sleep : Treat a playard like you would a baby's crib and don't fill it with blankets or bedding not sold specifically for your playard, since those can be suffocation hazards or used as a boost for your child to climb out.

The original folding playard, the Graco Pack n Play, is still a favorite. The Day2Dream model has useful extras including a portable bassinet and a diaper-changing pad. The small bassinet can sit on top during the early months, or you can take it off and use the bassinet around the house. (Sometimes your infant has to join you in the bathroom, for instance. It is what it is!) Cool part: There's a carry bag for just the bassinet so you can take it around to a new mom group or to Grandma's.

This model also features a changing station and a storage organizer where you can keep diapers and wipes. As with most playards, there's a bassinet insert for newborns and then you use the bottom of the playard as a travel crib and play space for your older baby or toddler. The playard has a travel bag of its own. This does not come with a sheet; Graco sells waterproof sheets made to fit.

"As a first time mom, I loved this product," a parent told us. "In the early infant days we had the Pack 'n Play set up downstairs with the changing station and the bassinet so we didn't have to go up and down the stairs for every diaper change or nap." With its extras, this is the heaviest playard on our list. But if you travel with just the playard and no attachments, it's lighter. Wheels on one end allow you to tip it and move it around the house (without the baby inside, of course!).

Though this doesn't have the portable bassinet and changer, we find the On the Go Pack 'n Play to be a durable traditional playard and travel crib at a value price. We appreciate that this includes an arch with dangling toys and a storage pocket, providing a little entertainment and convenience, respectively. Don't forget to get a Graco sheet for the mattress. Like the fancier Pack 'n Play, it has wheels that make it easy to move around your home. It's got more than 27,000 five-star reviews on Amazon. "I used this for weeks at my in-laws when my daughter was an infant and it was great," a parent told us.

Not everyone is a fan of how the Graco Pack 'n Plays fold and unfold. They all work the same way, and it's a multi-step process that takes some practice to learn. There are simpler playards to set up, but once you get used to the Graco method, it's no big deal. However, if you do expect to pop your playard open and closed frequently — due to travel, or wanting to hide it away during parts of the day at home — you might read on for other brands that have a faster assembly.

In awarding this piece of gear one of our Family Travel Awards we wrote that the Lotus "stands out for its ability to be folded compactly in a backpack storage bag that makes it easy to carry while in transit." It comes with a waterproof foam mattress to use. We love the side that zips open for easy access — it makes it fun for toddlers, who can crawl in and out on their own.

"I know the brand pitches the Lotus as being lightweight for travel but I also find it makes a huge difference in how easily this fits in the closet at home and in the trunk for overnights," one parent told us. "But while it's super versatile and lightweight, I'm not sure if it ranks as high on comfort for the babies. The lightweight mattress sits right on the floor. But I do love and have purchased the brand's soft organic sheet , which helps." Note that this version does not have the raised bassinet for infants. If you want that, the brand sells a crib and bassinet bundle on its site, but it's more expensive and both our Lab pros and testers have found the conversion to be a little tricky.

The AAP recommends that parents sleep in the same room, but not in the same bed, as their baby, preferably for at least the first six months. We have a lot of favorite bedside bassinets that have special soothing features or are built to make middle-of-the-night feedings easier. But some families want to use a playard as the bassinet in their adult room, because then it can still be useful as a travel crib for years. For its beautiful look, how substantial it feels and how premium the mattress is, we like Nuna Cove for that purpose.

"It does feel like the Rolls-Royce of playards," notes one of our Parenting Lab pros. The mesh sides are taut and strong but silky to the touch, the mattress sits on ventilated plastic boards for extra support and the included crib sheet is organic cotton . However, the same expert (and our testers) could not get it folded back up tightly, though it did fit easily into its roomy carry bag regardless. Of bigger concern might be the price; it's high-quality and the most expensive playard on our list.

Silver Cross Sleep & Go

A winner of our Parenting Awards , we like how the Sleep & Go zips open on the short end , which in a travel situation with your toddler (such as staying in a small hotel room) can really make a lot of sense. So easy for them to crawl in and out! This is another playard that, in the toddler position, just uses the mattress sitting on the ground. Silver Cross marks it as good up to 50 pounds, which means it should take your child through preschool.

The Sleep & Go has a cool shake-open assembly as shown in its brand video . We like that the travel bag is weather-resistant. This does not come with a sheet so you'll want to buy the $40 Slumber sheet as well. If you have a newborn, this does have a raised bassinet you can install with a zipper. But new parents might want something with more bells and whistles for the price — we find this to be mostly a great option for moving around with a toddler.

You literally just press down on the floor of the Breeze to lock the sides in place. Watching the assembly video on YouTube you can see that it takes maybe two seconds to unfold it, or to fold it back up, pushing to set it up and pulling to take it back down. Adding the attachments takes a little longer and is a bit trickier, so the video is helpful for walking you through that, too. The changer top flips out of your way on this one which makes toggling between changing diapers and putting an infant down for a nap in the bassinet super easy.

If your baby is approaching toddlerhood and you don't need the bassinet or diaper-changing pad, there's a less expensive Breeze Go that's a few pounds lighter and nice for travel. Neither of the Breeze playards weigh less than 20 pounds which is the price you pay for the genius assembly mechanism. Don't forget to buy Breeze sheets .

When square footage is at a premium you'll need a compact option, and the Travel On takes up less room than most other playards. It's a little shorter and more narrow than any other on our list but still has the raised bassinet and also wheels so you can more easily shift the position of it in your home. This one comes with a sheet (hooray!) and a privacy hood with two dangling toys. "If you stay with your baby in tight hotel rooms or sleep in a small guest room at a family member's place, it can help to save an extra few inches with this compact playard," says our Lab pro.

Century, which is owned by the same parent company as Graco, differentiates itself by using fabrics made from recycled materials in the design. The price stays low because this is minus some nice extras like a diaper-changer topper or sides that zip open.

Newton Baby Travel Crib & Play Yard

If your baby is a bit older and you want them to have more room to sleep and play in their playard, the Newton option is one of the largest we know at 51 inches long on the bottom level. The bassinet insert is long as well at 31.5 inches. "It's easy to set up and the side that zips opens is nice," says a tester who noted that the wide door is especially nice for a toddler who wants to play half in, half out of the playard, using it like a little fort.

When assembling, be sure to put the mattress loops around all four legs of the playard to hold it in place. This mattress is bigger than that on a standard Pack 'n Play. Like with the Newton Baby crib mattress , your baby can safely sleep on this playard mattress and pad with no additional sheet necessary. Both pieces can be washed clean! But this also comes with an organic cotton muslin sheet if you want your baby to have an extra-soft landing pad. Newton sells direct to consumers and the brand promises a 100-day trial period during which you can return the playard if you don't love it.

Playpen isn't a word that's used much anymore, but if you have a toddler, that might be exactly what you're looking for: A safe and contained place for them to have a romp. The Play On comes with toys and an activity wall to encourage fun, and the toys stick to the wall to be safely out of the way if your toddler falls asleep. You can also add their favorite toys while they're awake and take them out at nap time. One online reviewer says she uses this to keep her youngest away from the choking-hazard toys her oldest kids have out in the house.

The Play On, which the brand dubs "the creative cube," has a zip-open side door. It's the only playard on our list that's a square and not a rectangle, intended more for a living room or playroom rather than being something you'd put alongside your adult bed. That said, it is safe to use as a travel crib. But it doesn't some with a sheet, and none are made to fit the square mattress — Century asks that your baby just use the mattress without the additon of a sheet.

RELATED: The Best Toys for 1-Year-Olds

How we chose the best Pack 'n Plays

The playards in this story have been vetted by the Good Housekeeping Institute Parenting Lab. Some were extensively evaluated in-Lab and in homes as part of our annual Parenting Awards . Others have been personally used by Lab pros and by consumer testers, all of whom provided feedback for this story. We also scour online reviews to be sure we have a full picture of how thousands of families are using the products. We considered 20 playards before narrowing down our favorites to these nine.

When choosing baby gear for any list like this we lean into trusted brands that submit their products for third-party testing with organizations such as the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) and UL Greenguard Certification .

What to look for when shopping for a Pack 'n Play

Gauging what playard features you need and what you can live without? Use this checklist:

✔️ How old is your baby? If you're still expecting or have a newborn, a playard with a raised bassinet will be a lot easier to use than one without. Leaning over to lay your tiny one on a mattress at floor level can make your back ache, so look for that bassinet! It's during the early months that you'll also most benefit from a diaper-changing topper on your playard or a toy arch for them to gaze at.

If your baby is already approaching their first birthday and toddlerhood, you can shop for a more pared-down playard that doubles as a travel crib. They'll be too big for a bassinet insert, so you don't have to worry about that anymore!

✔️ How big is your space? As with all baby gear, you want to consider where you're going to put your playard and check the measurements. Playards are all approximately the same size, but some are a few inches shorter or a few inches longer than others.

✔️ Will you be traveling with it often? If you're primarily in the market for a travel crib, the lighter the better, in our opinion. One of our top choices which is not marketed as a playard is the BabyBjorn Travel Crib Light which is only 13 pounds and very easy to set up. If you get a playard, however, especially one with a zipped side, you can get double use out of it by taking it on the road, then using it as a play space at home.

✔️ Can we talk about sheets for a moment? Some of these playards come with a sheet, others don't. For safe sleep, it's critical to get a sheet made by the same manufacturer that makes your playard, which may mean buying them as an extra. The brands do not guarantee safety if you buy sheets from an outside third party. However, brands don't make especially cute playard bedding. It's a bummer of a situation but remember, your baby can also sleep on a mattress without a sheet and be fine.

A crib vs. a Pack 'n Play

What differentiates a playard from a crib or mini crib is construction: Instead of a fixed wooden structure, a Pack 'n Play is made, for instance, of lightweight metal, polyester and mesh. The most distinguishing characteristic of a playard is that it folds and unfolds for easy storage or transport. That's also what makes it potentially harder to safely use than a crib, since caregivers need to be sure a playard is assembled correctly and locked in place every time they set it up.

Some parents do opt to make a Pack 'n Play their bedside bassinet during the infant months. A big pro is that it's a small piece of furniture, maybe smaller than a mini crib. A con is that a playard has fewer options for cute bedding than a mini crib, and again, it's less of a fixed structure.

" A playard can function as a crib or bassinet but it is not recommended as a permanent sleeping solution. Parents often find playards are best for travel since most of them fold into a bag," says Panish. "A playard is primarily designed for providing a safe space for baby to play, rest or learn. Parents looking for a long-term, compact sleeping space for their baby might be better off with a mini crib."

Using a Pack 'n Play safely

Here are guidelines worth remembering as you use and enjoy your playard, from our experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute and the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) , which marks a playard as safe for both play and sleep :

• Follow any weight and height guidelines listed in the user manual. Once your baby is too heavy for the bassinet, remove it and use the mattress at the lower level. Once your baby reaches the weight, age or height limit for the overall product, it's time to say goodbye.

• A toddler who is trying to climb out the sides of the Pack 'n Play is too big for it, whether they've reached the top weight, age or height limit or not, unfortunately.

• Make sure all latching features of the playard are in place and secure before you put your baby inside. Never leave your baby in a mesh playard if its drop side is in the down position. The baby could roll into the space between the pad and the loose mesh, which is a suffocation hazard.

• Don’t tie items across the top of the play yard as they can pose a strangulation hazard.

• Infants can suffocate in gaps between a mattress too small or too thick and the playard sides, or on soft bedding. Never add a mattress that didn't come with your product, nor a pillow, comforter or blanket until your baby has reached their first birthday, when the risk for SIDS is largely past.

More safe sleep tips for playards

Do babies sleep well in a Pack 'n Play? Some can, and using a playard or travel crib for your baby's sleep can be safe as long as you follow all the safe sleep guidelines set by the American Academy of Pediatrics, which include:

• Put your baby on their back for every sleep, including naps. "It's crucial for their safety. This position significantly reduces the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) by ensuring unobstructed breathing," says Kelly Brown , R.N., a night nurse and director of nursing for Harbor , a new baby sleep-monitoring system. "Whether your baby is sleeping in a Pack 'n Play or any other sleep environment, always lay them down on their back."

• Have your baby on a firm, flat, non-inclined surface. Use the mattress that comes with your playard.

• Never co-sleep with your baby in your adult bed. "Cosleeping with your baby or letting them sleep in a swing or baby seat is discouraged due to the risk of suffocation," Brown says. "Using a Pack 'n Play provides a designated and secure sleeping space for your baby, minimizing these risks."

• Avoid having any soft objects or loose bedding in your baby’s sleeping area until they reach toddlerhood.

• Keep your baby from getting overheated . For instance, dressing them in both footie pajamas and a swaddle could be way too much, so just choose one of those. Brown adds, "Proper ventilation around the Pack 'n Play and maintaining a comfortable room temperature also help regulate your baby's body temperature and prevent overheating."

Why trust Good Housekeeping?

For more than 100 years the Good Housekeeping Institute has tested and recommended consumer products for families, including parenting products such as the best infant car seats and best lightweight strollers . Our team of Lab pros and journalists also combine forces for major annual awards such as the Parenting Awards and the Best Toys .

Contributing Writer Jessica Hartshorn has spent 25 years reporting on the juvenile product industry, previously for Parents magazine and American Baby magazine. She's appeared on the TODAY Show, CBS and Fox to give product suggestions. More recently, for the Good Housekeeping Institute, she's reviewed the best nursery gliders and the best nursing bras for new parents.

Jessica (she/her) is a freelance writer with several decades of experience writing lifestyle content and evaluating home and parenting products. A mom of two teens and two cats, her previous work can be seen in American Baby and Parents .

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