I need to feed Darlin’ away from home twice a week usually (one at playgroup, the other when we’re just out for lunch). I am finally getting it down to a science. Here are a couple of tips I have discovered that make my life easier:
Skip-Hop Bottle Bag — I don’t use it for bottles as I prefer to mix a bottle on the spot, but this little bag is perfect for packing baby’s lunch. It can fit a small container of yogurt, a jar of babyfood, spoon, small tupperware of puffs, a few teething crackers, individual wet wipe packets, bib, and sippy cup of water — everything we need. The bag itself is small enough to fit inside my larger diaper bad, or it has a convenient shoulder strap to carry alone.
Babyfood cubes keep yogurt cold – The Litter Darlin’s lunch these usually includes plain yogurt mixed with homemade sweet potatoes and cinnamon. I’ve found that if I place a cube or two of sweet potato into a small container with yogurt, the food cube thaws perfectly and keeps the yogurt nice and cool 1-2 hours later. That way Darlin’ can have her homemade lunch even though we are out and about. I like to feed her the yogurt because she needs the extra calories, fat, and protein; plus, she likes how it tastes and eats more willingly if babyfood is mixed with yogurt. If it doesn’t work out to pack this, I pack instead an Earth’s Best Wholesome Breakfast, since I know she will eat that.
Pack Extra Finger Foods — In particular, finger foods that take her longer to eat are best, allowing me to finish my meal. Extras are necessary due to the inevitable dropping things on the floor; whereas at home or a friend’s house I would just give it back to her, I don’t want to do that at, say, Chipotle.
