Feeding Tips for Roadtrips

Are you taking a road trip with the kids this holiday? Unfortunately, traveling in the car for several hours means hungry and thirsty kiddos. So, in this blog, I provide a list of must-have feeding products (+ tips) for your upcoming adventure!

Drinking

Believe it or not, every 4 hours, a child in the United States is taken to a hospital due to injury from a bottle or sippy cup. Keep your kids safe when traveling with the following drinking tips:

Cups to Avoid

Avoid drinking from a hard- or soft-spouted “sippy” or “360” cup in the car because it places a child at risk for injury (in the case of a sudden stop or an accident). In addition, avoid hard metal cups as well. These items can become dangerous flying projectiles if a toddler decides to throw them or in the event of an unexpected stop.

Cups to Use

I prefer to use a cup made of silicone when on a long road trip. This softer texture makes for a much safer traveling alternative. So, I designed the ezpz Tiny Cup (2 oz open-cup for babies) and the ezpz Mini Cup + Straw Training System (4 oz open-cup & straw-cup for older babies/toddlers). Both cups are made out of silicone and are dishwasher and microwave safe.

Drink Breaks

Try to pull over every 2-3 hours to stretch your legs, get in a few selfies, and offer a drink to your children. I know it sounds inconvenient, but giving liquids to a child while in a car seat is dangerous because the seating angle promotes an open airway. Additionally, the chest clips & harness, as well as the covers & cushions, obstruct your child’s ability to maintain an upright & safe position for eating & drinking. These materials are there to optimize the seat’s ability to protect your little one in an accident, but they are not optimized for safe swallowing.

Eating

Choking is the 4th leading cause of unintentional death in children. Also, since it is silent, you might not notice your child choking, especially in the back seat. Most medical professionals agree that parents should avoid having their children eat or use food pouches in the car when it is in motion. Here’s what you can do instead:

Food Breaks

Most car seats for babies & toddlers have a reclined position. This body position is critical for safety in a car crash, but this is not the correct body placement for safe swallowing. Car seats were constructed to keep children safe while traveling, not while eating or drinking. To help avoid feeding your child while driving, schedule a break every 2-3 hours to offer a small snack. As a bonus, this quick stop will allow your littles to go to the bathroom. This will help limit toileting accidents and give children some time to break up the redundancy of the road too. Score!

Travel Mats

The ezpz Tiny Bowl (bowl + placemat) or ezpz Mini Mat (plate + placemat) are the perfect sizes for traveling! And, you can purchase lids to make mealtime on the road organized and simplistic. The ezpz Tiny Bowl Lid and ezpz Mini Mat Lid are designed to store snacks, leftovers, and meals on-the-go.

Snacks

Plan on packing some healthy snacks and low-sugar drinks to keep your kids calm, satiated, and hydrated.

Additional Feeding Gear

Meals on the road require some extra feeding gear. Here are a few items that are game-changers for snack time on a car trip:

• Essential Oils: A few drops of essential oils can help keep a child calm, comfort a child to sleep, or help a kiddo with car sickness.
• Baby Wipes: Wipes are perfect for cleaning hands & faces before a snack, wiping up mealtime mess, and freshening up a smelly car – try placing essential oil drops right on the wipe!
• Sanitizer: Sanitizer is a must, like after pumping gas, or to clean little hands for a quick roadside snack.
• Wet Bags: This is my organization go-to item on a road trip! I hook one Kanga Care Wet Bag on the back of the driver’s seat and another one on the passenger seat. The first bag gets filled with snacks, drinks, dishware, and all of the above items. Then, the other wet bag holds trash, wet bathing suits, baby blankets, pet gear, or soiled clothing/diapers.

What are your go-to feeding tips and products for traveling in a car this holiday? How far away do your family road trips take you? If you try traveling with the above products I mentioned in a car or RV, share your travel pics with me using the hashtags #MsDawnSLP or #MsDawnRV. Safe travels!