4 weeks into weaning - what to do when out and about without using jars?

[potatoes]

Weaning going really well, we're on 3 meals a day - breakfast fruit and porridge, lunch veg mixed with a bit of milk, tea baby rice and fruit. Just wondered what other mums have done when out and about as I can't get my head round the practicalities of carrying little tubs of veg around, warming them up and mixing milk in while sitting in a cafe and not giving my baby food poisoning! Prefer not to use jars and don't want to stop going out! Any advice really appreciated.

I used to take out the tubs of puree - finding cafes with bottle warmer/microwave/or willing to give you a tub of boiling water.

You won't give the baby food poisoning if it's just veg puree and you heat it well. Can you try some finger foods when you're out as well?

just give more milk - he or she won't know it is 'mealtime' and they are missing it
or wait till old enough for finger food (6 months) and just give bits of what you are having - bread, banana, etc

if you're not doing finger foods then just take a banana or a ripe avocado with you and a bowl and a spoon and mash it up wherever you are.

I sometimes took out a soft avocado and a spoon in the first couple of weeks and sandwiches after about 7 months.

How old is your lo?

Thank you - did not expect so many helpful replies already! Will take the plunge and take out a pot of veg. Will try the avocado/ banana thing too. Only a couple of weeks til he can have finger foods then it'll be much easier.

I BLW (from 6mo) my DD and took things like a banana or raisins, even sliced apple with me. I progressed on to sandwiches cut into thin fingers with usually cream cheese etc.

How old is your lo?

a yoghurt or a fruit pot or a banana always went down well with ds. I also used to heat the puree to piping hot before I went out so that by the time it was time to eat it had cooled down to the right temperature.

have mentioned this before but you can always head to a debenhams/john lewis etc - ie places with microwaves in the eating area...

If you get ellas kitchen or plum baby or pots like that, then it is just pure veg or fruit puree rather than the jars that are 'sunday roast' or other such bollocks!

I always gave my LO's little sandwiches, or banana/raisins/chopped grapes/cucumber when out and about. Always worked for us

USe a food thermos if main meal . Then you can prepare what you want and take with you .

Thank you everyone for your helpful ideas - I've never posted on here before as i was a bit put off by some of the very strong viewpoints I've read but will definitely get more involved now. Have loads of things to try - thanks

What's wrong with jars once in a while?

Just prefer to use fresh stuff with no preservatives etc - have used jars twice which were supposed to be organic etc etc, LO's clothes stained orange and still not clean after being washed several times! makes me worry about what was in the jars! If I'm out every lunch time that's a lot of jars and lots of ruined clothes!

At the start I knew we'd be going out so defrosted portion of whatever in fridge overnight and then when leaving house, used one of those thermo bag thingies that keep cool things cool and hot things warm? I also took a thermos flask of boiling water and a plastic jug so I could warm things where ever I was, I hate relying on places to help and have been told in lots of places that they can't warm or give me boiling water for h&s reasons incase it's too hot and I giveit to ds without checking

After a while, I did end up using jars as was easier and ds prefered to eat food room temp than warmed. The little freak

potatoes Re: the orange stains on clothes, hang them in the sun and it'll bleach the stain out so when you wash it, it'll come out clean, you've just got to find a bit of sun!

I would just give ds 2 a bit of what I was having, never went out to restaurants as such in the early days so sandwiches were easy. I always have a banana in my bag if we have to wait and he can't!

Bit of a late addition to the topic, but if baby rice is on the menu and you are at a more substantial meal time, I have bought a bowl that seals and has a spoon attached to it - hence all sterilised. I can then put a couple of ice cubes of fruit or veg in there along with some baby rice. It has defrosted by the time baby ready to eat and the warm milk can just be added - fresh meal done! Re. heating milk up - flask and jug great fall back - they do a heater in tesco for 10 pounds, but found this fairly crap - or Asda is a really good one - they have microwave or proper avent heater if you prefer -a cup of coffee is only 90 pence and u get a free re-fill!!!!

Where did you get the bowl from sounds v handy?

oh and I saw a baby food thermos thing in the jojomamanbebe catalogue today that would do the job - apparently it would keep food warm for 4 hours.