This post, How to Easily Feed your Toddler while Traveling, was originally published in 2017 and has been completely updated in September 2022.
Are you getting ready to fly with a toddler?
Nervous about it? Freaking out a bit?
I totally understand!
Flying can be stressful enough, right? Now add in a toddler and it’s just that much more to think about, plan, and pack.
I’ll assume since you are here, reading this post, that you are planning a trip and that you have a toddler tagging along 🙂
And you’re looking for some mealtime must-haves for your on-the-go little one.
I’ve got you covered!
In this post, we will cover some of the basic meal-time accessories for toddlers that will work well on a flight…or in general.
I love to travel and when I had my little one that didn’t change….but the process did, well, sort of.
Mostly it’s just adding more stuff to your packing list.
More clothes, more toiletries, and more snacks.
This means more gear to help those meal times to go more smoothly – if that’s possible 🙂
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So let’s get started:
These are some great mealtime accessories that we found, used, and were great to have along during our trip.
They’ve also been great here at home and when we’re out and about.
Feeding your Toddler
Spoons
Now, I’m not talking about just any kind of spoon.
The ones we have and love are called rest easy spoons. They are super awesome because they have a little ‘leg’ on them which keeps the spoon part up and off the table.
Waterproof sleeved bib
A waterproof long-sleeved bib is a must during a trip!
‘Cause, the last thing I wanted to be doing during our flight was changing my little guy after every meal or snack. This bib works great.
One great feature, is they’re waterproof so all you need to do is wipe it down with a damp cloth afterward and let it air dry for a bit before putting it away.
And having it be sleeved will keep their arms cleaner too.
Oh, and I forgot to mention, they also have little pockets at the bottom that help catch the inevitable crumb that will fall, keeping their laps cleaner too 🙂 Double win!
Disposable placemats
These table topper placemats have been amazing.
They have sticky edges so they will stay in place and when you’re done simply pull it up, ball it up and throw it away.
We never want to think about how dirty those trays really are on airplanes, let alone the pockets, seats, etc. So, at least with these, you can have a little more peace of mind while feeding your little one. And of course, they can be used at restaurants too.
Sippy cup
‘Nuf said I think for most parents, but we’ve found one to be specifically helpful because if it tips over it won’t spill anything.
If it has a little fall it won’t spill either. If your little one throws it or it lands hard we have found that liquid will come out but it’s not too horrible.
So, a sippy cup of some sort is a definite must-have!
Water bottle
Just like we as adults need to stay hydrated, especially while traveling, our little ones need it too.
Water bottles come in many different shapes, sizes, and features but the one we use and love is by Contigo.
It has a latch feature on its handle so that you can attach it to a bag, stroller, etc.
I have a cheap, non-working, carabiner that I attach to the handle to have a little more flexibility in attaching it to things.
It also has a locking feature so that the mouthpiece can’t accidentally open if it’s in your bag or a seat pocket, etc.
Snack holder
What toddler doesn’t like to snack?
And what parent doesn’t want to help keep their kid happy during a trip with snacks?
This snack holder is great for holding those goodies your little one loves to chomp on. Super simple to use and for your little one to carry around.
Are you looking for some great snack ideas for your little one too? Check out this post: 5 Easy and Simple Baby Snacks for Travel.
I hope this was helpful!
I’d love to hear what your must-have mealtime accessories are! Please share in the comments below. Thanks!
Feeding the littles on the go can be so much work (they’re always hungry right?!) but these tips are fantastic. Those spoons sound so cool and I love the idea of carrying disposable placemats and bins to keep them clean and germ free (or at least germ- fewer lol).
Thanks…. yea germ-fewer is a better term lol!!!
What incredible ideas! I had not ever thought of the placemats! Great tips my friend!
Thanks so much:) Yea, the placemats are great.
Disposable placemats are so awesome! My toddler had to eat off the table for a long time – weird phase and they came in so handy!
No doubt! That’s great 🙂
This is such an awesome compilation of tips! We love the placemats, too! Enjoyed reading – thanks so much for sharing 🙂
Thank you!!!
Great list! I try to pack something full of protein too. When my kids travel they are exhausted and sometimes filling their tummies with food that won’t make their blood sugar drop helps…a little. 🙂
Lol, your so right! Thanks 🙂
In my case Feeding toddler during travel is a tough issue to deal with. The tips your shared here and the suggestions of items you shared here are really of a great help. this time while packing will refer to your blog.
Oh my gosh, I’m so happy to hear these will help. Please let my know if there is anything else maybe I clould help with! Don’t hesitate to contact me. 🙂
Great tips! Thank you for sharing. I can see how this would make things so much easier. Sharing with my parent friends ♡.
Thank you so so much:)!
Such a good post! This is one of the trickiest parts of traveling with toddlers. I’ve never seen the disposable placemats but I will be on the look out now. Thank you!
Thanks so much. Yup, they’re great!
We have one of those reusable tiny diner portable placemats which we usually bring with us when we go to restaurants. I wasn’t aware that there were baby disposable placemats. We’ll consider getting this for our next vacation.
Thanks for sharing!
I’m so glad you found this then 🙂 They are great. Easy to use and colorful for the little ones. Thanks.