Weaning out & about

[Blankiefan]

Weaning is going well. DD is 7mo, we"re on 3 meals a day (pretty much all homemade annabel Karmel recipes - purées but veg, fruit, lentils, some meat, Etc) plus 4 x 9oz bottles per day. Portion sizes increasing and we're planning to get lumpier this weekend.

But - its all been in the house. How do you do this outside? What kinds of places will hear up food for you? How do we manage without our high chair (dd can't sit in a normal high chair yet)? How much paraphernalia do we need? Help!

Thanks much for your hints and tips.

Hello! My DD is also 7months. I make all my own stuff, and it really concerned me about heating my frozen food through when out an about as 'just warm' isn't good enough for home cooked. I bought a Thermos Cool Kidz steel flask. It's basically a little thermos flask...(I can't seem to out a pic on here as I'm on my phone) which you put some boiling water into for about 3mins, heat your food to really hot and then throw away the water and put your food in. If for example I heated food at 8am, it would just be an edible temp at 12.30pm. I use it everytime I go out around lunch or tea, and it makes it so easy and prob free for me. It's a nice little size. I also bought a little kids sandwhich bag carrier thingy where I keep all DD food stuff when we are out. I just take my flask, a couple of spoons, feeder cup with water in and bib all in the little bag. I'm v OCD, so like to be organised to reduce anxiety levels.

I often have to feed DD in her pram if there aren't any highchairs...I just take a muslin cloth to try and protect the pram as it's a messy affair!! I also carry some flash wet wipes with me...as some highchairs are disgusting and DD likes to bite on anything and everything...(prob OTT with the wipes, but never mind).

Sorry for the waffley reply...

Sorry...just to add...places like mothercare cafe or debenhams have baby food heating facilities - microwave etc. Some restaurants will ehat food too...some are tied by health and safety I think. Best of luck with the al fresco approach though!!

I also got one of those flasks. I know they're expensive, but DD is 10 now and it still gets used.

I'm not sure what you mean about a special high chair but most places have high chairs or you can sit them on the floor, in their buggy or do a makeshift harness with a sling. or we have a travel highchair from mother care which attaches to a seat or can sit on the floor.

most places will heat something up - I usually take bibs, cutlery and wipes. I tend to just take a packed lunch if I'm unsure of facilities or something they could have cold, like leftover pasta or pancakes, bread cheese fruit etc.

hope that helps!

When DD was little, I used to take things out that she could eat for lunch - fruit, bread for sandwiches, pasta, basically anything that didn't need heating. I'd also order something which I knew she might be able to have a nibble on, or buy a little extra something for her. It depends on the cafe. Some are great for kids, others are terrible. I never resorted to them but you can get plenty of pouches / finger foods from the supermarket. Have seen many a child having those cold for lunch!

My dd always just had jars or pouches whenever we were out and about. Obviously if I was going to family/ friends then I just took her normal homemade food and used their microwave, but town/ day trips I found it SO much easier to use a 1 off pouch/ jar!
Doesn't necessarily answer your question, but now dd is 17mo I can take her a 'proper' packed lunch with sandwich/ fruit etc