Ultimate Travel Guide for Baby Led Weaning on the Go

Traveling with a baby can be both exciting and challenging, especially when it comes to maintaining your little one’s nutrition, hydration, and happiness!  

In this ultimate travel guide for baby-led weaning on the go, you’ll be equipped with practical tips, an essential packing list, and hacks to ensure your baby (and you!) enjoy their meals, no matter where you’re going. Whether you’re heading on a weekend getaway or embarking on a long flight, this guide will help you navigate BLW on the go with confidence!

Are you looking for a quick guide to BLW on the go? Download a BLW on the go checklist here!

Best BLW on the go no-mess finger foods 

These foods will work whether you’re on a plane, in a hotel room, or in a restaurant. I’ve included homemade food along with packaged baby food because it’s a great option for convenience and staying mess-free. 

Packing some homemade food is a great way to expose your baby to a variety of textures, flavors, and allergens (to reduce the risk of developing allergies)! Minimize the mess by avoiding sauces and purees like applesauce, yogurt, and pasta sauce (unless it’s in a pouch).

Here’s a list of baby-led weaning on the go foods to try!

• Plain meat (chicken, ground meat, steak or pork strips)
• Boiled egg
• Canned beans
• Shredded cheese
• Freeze-dried fruit
• Cooked plain pasta
• Banana
• Cheerios or other cereal like wheat or corn Chex for older babies
• Roasted veggies
• Toast with nut butters, butter, mascarpone, or ricotta cheese
• Fresh fruits
• Pancakes or waffles
• Egg muffins
• Lentil muffins and other no added sugar muffins
• Roasted tofu sticks
• Canned or thawed from frozen peas
• Serenity Kids food pouches
• Unsweetened applesauce pouches

What is Baby-led Weaning (BLW)?

Baby-led weaning (BLW), also known as baby-led feeding, is a feeding approach to introducing solid foods to babies in which a mix of soft finger foods (served in an age-appropriate way) and purees are offered. Parent-led, traditional spoon-feeding is entirely skipped. 

Babies are ready to start solid foods around 6 months of age, or when they are showing all signs of readiness for solids. 

Baby-led weaning allows babies to eat and explore food on their own time while still being a part of family meals. There are many benefits to baby-led weaning including the freedom to sit down and enjoy your own meal alongside baby, decreased pickiness later in life, development of speech and fine motor skills, introduction to different textures, and much more!

Best first foods for BLW

Breastmilk or formula will be the main source of nutrition through your baby’s first year of life. However, around 6 months of age the iron stores your baby had from birth become depleted. Focusing on iron-rich foods as your baby starts solids will be the best way to ensure your baby gets adequate iron.

Along with iron, you’ll want to pair iron-rich foods with a vitamin C source to help absorb the iron. Be sure to include a lot of fat sources too such as full-fat dairy, fatty-fish, and nut butters to grow baby’s brain! Need help creating a balanced baby meal? Check out my top 10 best first foods for baby-led weaning and meal ideas for babies for more ideas when starting solids.

Best BLW on the go baby snacks 

Babies really don’t need “snacks” until 12-15 months of age. Until then, they’ll often eat with the rest of the family at regular meal times.

However, when traveling it’s almost inevitable that your baby’s regular schedule will be out the window and your baby will need a snack! In general, look for snacks that do not have added sugar, are low in sodium, and are appropriate textures (easily squished between your fingers).

Avoid common choking hazards for babies and kids like hard, crunchy or crispy foods. Also avoid round, firm foods like whole grapes, cherry tomatoes, large blueberries, and whole nuts. 

Here are some go-to easy BLW on the go snacks: 

• Banana
• Avocado
• Peanut butter puffs or almond butter puffs
• Shredded cheese
• Freeze-dried fruit
• Unsweetened applesauce pouches
• Cheerios or other cereal like wheat or corn Chex for older babies
• Boiled eggs

How to reduce the mess while doing BLW on the go

I understand the struggle of wanting to enjoy a restaurant meal but also not wanting the extra stress of eating out with young children.

Here are some tips that I’ve found make eating out with babies easier:

• Bring a splat mat or large clothe/bedsheet to cover the chair and floor. This will make clean up at the restaurant much faster.
• Bring a suction mat and/or plate. You can feel good that the surface your baby eats off will be sanitary if you bring your own plate or place mat.
• Order your own meal and simply share small pieces of food with your baby. This saves money too!

Travel-friendly baby feeding gear

You can eat out with your baby-led weaning baby without buying anything extra. However, these are some items that I’ve found helpful when eating on the go with a baby. 

• Bibs (washable long-sleeve ones work great)
• Baby wipes or washcloths
• ezpz baby suction bowl
• ezpz Tiny placemat 
• ezpz cup and straw
• Spill-proof straw water cup
• Silicone plate with lid
• Travel booster seat
• Portable high chair

Safety Tips for BLW on the go

Any food can become a choking hazard when your baby is fed in an unsafe environment. Be sure you’re feeding your baby in a safe feeding environment that allows you to have your eyes on them at all times. Here are some safety tips when doing baby-led weaning on the go. 

1. Don’t feed your baby in a car seat 

It’s always a good idea to pull over and take your baby out of the car seat to eat. Car seats are reclined and restrict movement, putting babies and kids at an increased risk for choking. Babies are also in rear-facing car seats, making it difficult for you to keep an eye on them, especially if you’re the driver!

2. Pull over to feed your baby

Not only is feeding your baby in a car seat dangerous, a moving car also increases the choking risk. All the bumps and turns cause babies to lose control of the food in their mouth, increasing the risk that food becomes lodged in their throat. 

3. Don’t feed your baby in the stroller

Strollers tend to recline babies just like car seats. An upright position, a footrest if possible, and being allowed to freely move their trunk and arms are important for reducing choking risk. If you don’t have a highchair, sitting in a lap is the next best thing. 

4. Feed your baby in a portable high chair with a food rest

Like we went over above, avoid feeding babies in a car seat or stroller and choose a portable high chair. Being prepared for a choking event is recommended and helps reduce stress. Here are some resources to help you be prepared:

• American Red Cross: Child and Baby CPR
• British Red Cross: First Aid for a Choking Baby

5. Avoid introducing the top allergenic foods on the go

The current recommendation is to introduce the top allergens early and often to help reduce the presence of food allergies. However, on the go is not the best time to introduce these top 9 allergenic foods. 

If you have not noticed any signs of allergic reactions to the top food allergens in your baby then you may feel comfortable offering them on the go. 

How to feed baby breast milk while traveling

Breast milk and/or formula will continue to be your baby’s main source of nutrition through the first year. Traveling while breastfeeding can be overwhelming but know it can provide a source of comfort for babies out of their normal routine. It will also help keep babies hydrated and provide increased immunity. 

If you’re flying, nurse or give your baby a bottle during takeoff and landing to help decrease ear pain for your baby from the pressure changes. Feed on demand and look for baby’s early hunger cues to ensure they’re meeting their milk intake and hydration needs.

Try to stay on your regular nursing schedule to avoid any decreases in milk production. If you’re nursing, make it easier on yourself and wear clothing that allows easy access to your breasts like button down shirts. Keep your baby close to make frequent nursing sessions easier.  

A cover up, loose-fitting clothing, and nursing bras are all a must for me to breastfeed on the go.

How to feed baby formula while traveling

When traveling with a formula-fed baby you’ll need to bring a few things from home. These will include supplies to keep everything sterilized and the formula measured properly. 

To safely mix a bottle of formula for your baby you’ll need:

• measured amounts of formula powder in small sterile containers
• sterilized baby bottles
• portable warm water flask or portable baby milk warmer
• cold or microwave travel sterilizer

If you’ll be at a hotel or somewhere with clean water and room for a portable formula mixer, this one has lots of good reviews!

•  portable formula mixer

Top tips for mastering BLW on the go

• Bring travel gear and clean up supplies
• Give your baby pieces of your own table food at restaurants
• Do not introduce top food allergens on the go
• Bring travel gear like a portable high chair and splash mat to make BLW on the go easier
• Don’t feed your baby in a stroller or carseat
• Bring a cooler with prepared BLW food
• Nurse or offer your baby a bottle during airplane take offs and landings

What have you found that makes feeding a baby easier on the go? Let me know in the comments below!