Many parents and children spend a lot of time in the car. I know we do. Sitting in traffic is hard enough without having to deal with a hungry little tot, whom you don’t want to feed because you are scared he is going to spill everything. In this post I will outline some tips on how you will be feeding your toddler in the car without creating the huge mess that you fear.
1) Backseat feeding from an adult:
My husband used to feed Nicky breakfast all the time on the way to work. He would grunt and DH would give him another spoon of yoghurt and banana. This was a fun bonding session for them. At the moment it seems that Nicky is waking up a lot earlier so these days we have breakfast before we leave the house.
2) Play ‘n Snack Tray:
When I saw this advertised it looked like a really good idea. It is a tray that you can put over the car seat and put objects and food on. There is also a strap that you put around your child’s neck. The other day I put some yoghurt on it and Nicky had his IPad going as well. He gave me the yoghurt container pretty quickly though, so I can’t honestly say how far it actually would have made it without spilling. Also the sides are not as stiff as they look in the pictures. Nicky also doesn’t like it when it’s hot as the plastic feels a bit uncomfortable. So I think this is one item that is good to have around, but you might have to pick the right moment and food for it. (I got it at 4akid.co.za and I also got the safety car seat strap (which prevents him climbing out of his straps) at the same time.
3) Non spill drinking bottles / sippy cups
There are a lot of non spill cups and bottles on the market. Tommy Tippee has a special valve. (I have to say it works well but after months of giving Nicky hot tea in it has pretty much had it! The one we use for water is fine.) Avent also have a nice one with a straw which is great for water.
4) Pouches. These are great for non spill. You can even go economical and get the re-usable ones.
5) Non spill snack box
Spilt food in the car is a huge irritation for parents. There is nothing worse than cleaning up sticky food. I will never forget the time I let Nicky eat a nectarine as is in the car going home from grocery shopping. Suffice to say that the car seat clip has never been the same since. It still works but it doesn’t make that distinct click when you put the pieces together. You kind of have to force it now. This just shows how important it is to have a system of keeping food in a container and not all over the car.
I bet you didn’t know there was such a thing as a non spill snack box! Amazingly NUK have designed this really cute snack box with easy to grip handles and silicone slats so that your tot can reach in and grab the food without it spilling. There is also another lid you may place on top to keep the contents fresh. You can even pop the bottom part out so that the handles come off if you want to save space in the fridge. Suggestions for food for this container would be: cucumber, cherry tomatoes, grapes or apple slices.
Nicky really loved this little snack box. Although we used it in the car with blocks of cheese (as per his request: he stands in front of the fridge and points!) we did not limit its use to the car journey. I initially put some grapes in and then Nicky also took it along for jumping on the trampoline and when we were sitting playing by the pool.
Jump and snack
Splash and snack
It is easy to hold and the contents won’t fall out.
Now that’s a great idea.
I wish I had known earlier about all these options before my car got messed up. However, there’s nothing like experience to teach you what you should have done. Here’s hoping your next car trip with your little one will be less messy and a lot more fun all round.
This post was not sponsored but I was provided with the snack box from NUK for review.
Thanks this is going to help alot as we going away on Holiday soon and will be spending allot of driving around with the toddler 🙂 and wasn’t sure how i was gonna feed her in car with out mess
Have a great trip!
I must say I have a no eating in the car rule. Not because I am precious about my 16 year old car, but because I am wary of choking in the car. The most I allow is a drink of juice or water, and I find the cheap sports bottles work fine, and they fit better into the cup holders.
It must be the ocd in my personality.
Nicky is so cute.
Great tips here!
We also have to drive around with breakfast cereal in the mornings!
That snack box looks amazing! We are thinking about a long trip with our boys soon, 20+ hours and that would be great for it!