What to bring for baby's food?

[xmasmum]

hi, I have a 1yr old child and will be taking her back to the US for one month. I can't imagine taking his home made frozen food along with me. I plan to buy ready made like Gerber etc. but not sure if its healthy for my child to eat such food every day for a month. Any idea how to and whats the best way to deal with the food. As for formula, should I bring along just enough then buy it there. Am I allowed to bring it on the plane? Sorry for asking too much. My first child and this is the first time we are going on a long vacation. Please share.   

[same food]

Can't your 1 year old eat some of the same foods that you will be eating?

[same routine]

Won't you have a kitchen in the US and thus be able to prepare the same you have here?

[Another mummy]

Surely a 1 year old can eat normal "human" food and drink cow's milk?

[Beentheredonethat]

Take enough formula for the flight and a little extra to cover 3 extra bottles, then buy formula when you are there.  If you use Similac or Isomil??, I know it is available there.  It's perfectly fine to feed your child on gerber jars and even if you don't have a kitchen, you child may be able to chew on fresh vegetable from your plate when you eat out.  Don't worry, it's really not such a big deal.  Also check with the airline you are flying with - some airlines do carry baby food onboard.  Hope this helps.

[rice rice rice]

I'm just off with a 9mth old. I have packed a few jars, but I don't expect I will need them - I will just mash up our food where poss, rice, small bits of veg/bread, pasta (chopped) and the good old banana/avocado staple. If all else fails, I'll treat him to a jar!!!

[First time mummy]

I'm reading this thread and now a bit confused. My 2 year old still has jar food and drinks formula, is that wrong?

[Parenting Class]

I would suggest you talk to a paediatrician to convince you that your are not giving your two year old adequate nutrition.

A 2 year old should have the same diet as its parents.  Formula milk is not necessary if he/she is obtaining adequate nutrition from food!

[gerber]

my mom does not cook for anybody. my sister along with myself we raised on baby food jars alone as babys. we are both healthy adults.
that was in the 70's when additives we added and allowed in baby food jars in the usa. we did not even have the luxury of gerber we got the store brand special.so no 1 month will not harm your child. i suspect most babys are feed jars everyday it is a helpful convience for working moms.

i agree with the posters above who say a 1 year old should start eating solid food along with you. at 1 they can also have cows milk or soy or whatever you decide.

[Lili Von Shtupp]

Hi XmasMum. I cook for my son, and when he was 15 mo old flew with him back to the States. I brought Gerber jars for the plane, and he had no interest in them, he just wasn't used to the flavors and textures. (He ended up eating a lot of bread and snacks I'd brought along - I also recommend sweet talking the first class hostesses for a banana or two!) If you really want to go jars, I recommend getting your daughter used to them well before the trip, otherwise it may all just be too foreign for her.

You can bring jars of unopened commercial baby food on the plane - enough that's considered reasonable for the length of the flight, but I advise you to pack it in a seperate plastic bag at the top of your hand carry luggage - you will be required to pull it out at every security checkpoint, and there are lots.

Formula powder is fine to bring. I packed a tupperware with as much as I needed for the plane (don't forget to bring the measuring scoop too!), then packed the rest of it in a ziplock in my checked-in luggage.

Another thing - the airlines that carry baby food on board - the stuff is freezing, and they give it to you that way. Heating it is up to you, meaning you'll have to bring something to use as a double warmer and ask them for hot water from the galley, which they are sometimes nice about, and sometimes not nice about. Preapring baby food in a cramped airline seat is a nightmare.

Also, bring as many bottles, nipples etc as you'll need on the plane, because the only place to wash them out is in the toilets, which are just nasty. Bring plenty of ziplocks on the plane for used bottles etc to be washed when you get there.  

While in the US, when I stayed with family he ate mashed up "people food" or I would cook little things for him. When we stayed in hotels, I made sure they had microwave, fridge and hot water in the room, then would buy take away from a diner - mashed potates, meat loaf, veggies sort of stuff, then mash those up and reheat. I just avoided salty, deep fried, peppery and spicy foods and he was just fine.

But I understand your concern. I was really worried about how to feed him, but it all turned out OK. If your daughter is really unhappy with what's on the menu, it certainly won't hurt her to eat fruit and bread for a few days. Hope it helps! Bon Voyage!  

[xmasmum]

Thanks so much for sharing. I have more confidence with the food issue now. Maybe its better for me to start her on our food now so she would get used to it by the time we are there. I really appreciate all your advise. She is currently on enfapro which I think is enfamil in the US?

[momma]

My eight month old is even eating a lot of what we eat, including French toast, little quiches with lots of veggies, soft fruit, fried rice, etc. There's really no need for jars at 12 months although I understand it's much less messy than letting them go for it themselves (especially on an airplane..)We still sneak in purees in between her bites of normal food to make sure she's had enough and to speed the process along. Do a search on 'babyled weaning' for more info.