The baby travel essentials for mealtimes are the things that let you feed your baby safely wherever you stop: milk feeding supplies, soft foods and spoons, cleaning gear, a cooler bag, and a seat that lets your child sit up for meals. This checklist is written for domestic trips around Australia, including road trips, school holidays, caravan parks and cafe stops. It does not cover overseas travel.
Use it as a starting list, then adjust it for your baby's age and how you feed them. If you have a question about your baby's feeding, ask your GP or child and family health nurse.
The mealtime checklist
|
Category |
What to pack |
Why it matters |
|
Milk feeds |
Clean bottles with lids, formula powder in a container, cooled boiled water if you formula feed |
Pregnancy, Birth and Baby lists formula items, including cooled boiled water, bottles and powder, to pack for car trips |
|
Keeping things cold |
Cooler bag with ice packs for expressed milk, prepared food or perishables |
Check storage instructions for any milk or food you carry |
|
Solids |
Soft foods suitable for your baby's stage, spoons, a bowl with a lid |
Raising Children Network says first foods should be soft |
|
Seating |
A portable booster seat, if your child can sit upright unassisted |
Gives your child a place to sit for meals when there is no high chair |
|
Clean-up |
Bibs, wipes, a sealable bag for dirty bottles and bibs, a spare top |
Mealtimes get messy, and you may not have a sink nearby |
|
Water |
Water for drinking and rinsing, and a way to wash your hands |
Useful when you cannot get to a basin |
|
Nappies |
Nappies, wipes and a change mat |
Pregnancy, Birth and Baby advises expecting unscheduled stops for nappy changes |
Pack a little extra. A delay or a long wait for a table is easier to manage with a spare feed or snack in the bag.
Feeding baby on a road trip
Pregnancy, Birth and Baby recommends planning regular breaks of around every 2 hours of car travel and expecting extra stops for feeding and nappy changes. It says to never breastfeed in a moving car.
Some practical ways to make those stops easier:
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Keep a small feeding kit within reach so you are not digging through the boot.
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Choose stops that have shade, a bench or a clean spot to sit.
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Plan stops around feeding times, so you can feed your baby before they get upset.
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Take your child out of their car seat to feed. A car seat is for travelling only.
Flying within Australia
If you are flying and carrying expressed breastmilk, Raising Children Network advises checking with the airline beforehand about restrictions on carrying liquids. Check the airline's rules for formula and other baby food at the same time.
School holidays and caravan parks
Caravan parks and holiday rentals may not have a high chair. Before you leave, check what the park or rental provides, then pack to fill the gap.
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Ask whether a high chair is available. If it is not, plan for a seat you bring yourself.
-
Pack a washable mat or cloth for the floor under the table.
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Think about how you will wash and dry bottles and spoons. If a kitchen is shared, a lidded container helps keep clean items together.
-
Check whether you will have a fridge for milk and food, or plan to use a cooler bag.
Eating out at cafes
Cafes can make a convenient stop, if you plan for the seating. Some may offer a high chair, so ask when you arrive, and consider bringing your own seat as a backup.
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Ask for a sturdy chair, not one that rocks, swivels or has wheels.
-
Fit your seat to the chair with your child out of it, and push and tilt it to check it holds.
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Fasten the harness firmly every time.
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Stay with your child for the whole meal.
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Keep hot drinks out of reach, including your own.
For more on how to test a seat on a chair, see our portable booster seat guide and our guide to choosing a toddler booster seat for the dining table.
Foods and safety
Raising Children Network says babies can start solids at around 6 months but not before 4 months, and that they need to be able to sit up with support and hold up their head first. It advises avoiding honey, raw or runny eggs, reduced-fat dairy, whole nuts, large seeds and similar hard foods.
Raising Children Network also notes that sitting while eating is important to prevent choking. That applies on the road too. Keep your child seated and supervised while they eat, and stop somewhere safe to feed rather than feeding in a moving car.
A seat that travels
A portable booster seat does not replace a safe feeding setup, but it can give your child a seat when there is no high chair. It relies on an existing chair, so the chair check matters, and a booster seat is never a car seat. Child restraints used in Australian vehicles must comply with AS/NZS 1754.
High Kiddie is a booster seat, not a high chair, and it may not replace all the functions of a traditional high chair. It is designed for children from 9 months to 5 years, up to 20 kg, who can sit upright unassisted. It weighs 1.5 kg and packs down to 20 cm x 20 cm x 14 cm in a reusable fabric pouch.
High Kiddie is launching on Kickstarter. You can join the launch list on the High Kiddie website to hear first.
Frequently asked questions
What should I pack to feed my baby on a domestic trip?
Pack clean bottles, formula and cooled boiled water if you formula feed, soft foods and spoons if your baby has started solids, a cooler bag, wipes and a spare top, plus a seat for your child if they can sit upright without help.
How often should I stop on a road trip with a baby?
Pregnancy, Birth and Baby recommends regular breaks around every 2 hours of car travel and advises expecting unscheduled stops, for example for nappy changes and bathroom breaks.
Can I feed my baby in a moving car?
No. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby advises never breastfeeding in a moving car, and Raising Children Network says children should sit while eating to prevent choking. Stop somewhere safe to feed.
Summary
A good mealtime kit for domestic travel covers milk feeds, soft foods, cooling, clean-up and a safe place to sit. Pack a little extra, plan your stops around feeds, and test any seat on the chair before your child uses it.