Bottle-feeding outside the home

Stroller essentials, if you're breastfeeding

If you want to feed your baby with your own milk from a bottle during a walk, warm the food in a bottle warmer before going out. Do not heat it in the microwave, as the appliance heats unevenly and heating to too high a temperature causes the milk to lose valuable nutritional value. Put the heated milk in the insulated packaging. If you are planning a long winter walk and are worried that the food will cool down, you can use the LOVI gel bottle warmer, which works without electricity, or take a thermos with hot water and a cup to put the bottle in before serving.

Stroller essentials, if you're feeding with formula milk

If you want to serve powdered formula milk during a walk, prepare a bottle with boiled and very hot spring water before going for a walk, screw on the cap with the sealing disc, and put it in the insulated packaging. Don't forget the feeding nipple. Separately, prepare a container with a measured portion of powdered milk. Add the milk to the water during the walk, at feeding time. Never prepare the mixture at home, as it will no longer be fit for consumption later.

You can also bring cold boiled water. If you find the water is too hot, you can equalize the temperature by adding cold water. If the water is too cold (below 40°C), ask a nearby cafe or restaurant to warm it up slightly. Otherwise, the mixture will not dissolve.

Reminder: Never re-feed unfinished milk. Discard the remaining milk. If you are going for a longer walk, pack two bottles of water and two portions of milk.

Preparing for your trip

Before traveling, take a moment to think about the difficulties you might encounter on the way and at your destination, as good trip preparation largely depends on this. It is sometimes helpful to consult websites and online forums, or call a guesthouse or hotel to ask if there is a kitchenette, microwave, or cordless kettle on the ground floor or in the room.

Regarding the travel bag

• Bottles and teats
• Powdered milk
• Water
• Insulated packaging
• Gel bottle warmer
• Bottle cleaner
• Bottle brush
• Bib
• Wet and/or antiseptic wipes
  

Then (as appropriate):

• Sterilizer/Self-sterilizing bottles
• Travel kettle
• Bottle warmer
  

It is advisable to take a few bottles and pacifiers with you. A baby, even if they eat regularly at home, may change their feeding rhythm while traveling. Unfinished food is not reusable, so you need accessories to prepare the next portion. Before leaving, scald, dry, and carefully pack bottles and teats so that they do not lose their cleanliness.

You can pack powdered milk in its original packaging or divided into portions in special containers. Remember that powder is sensitive to high temperatures: it should be stored in an airtight container, in a cool, shaded place. In hot weather, an insulated bag or thermal packaging, or an air-conditioned storage compartment in the car, will be useful for transport.

Prepare several portions of hot spring water for bottled milk and put them in an insulated package or thermal bag. You can also prepare a larger amount of water in a thermos. If the water cools before serving, you can use a gel bottle warmer or a car bottle warmer.

Hand luggage should include wet and/or antiseptic wipes to wipe your hands before preparing the mixture. Even on a short trip, you should bring a bottle cleaning brush and the appropriate liquid to wash the bottle before the next use.

It is important to remember that after the child has finished eating, rinse the bottle with water or wipe it thoroughly so that food residues do not dry inside. When the baby is less than six months old, it is necessary to sterilize pacifiers and bottles. Depending on what we have at our destination, we can take self-sterilizing bottles (for microwave sterilization), a sterilizer, or a travel kettle to scald accessories with boiling water.

Feeding break during the trip (by car)

Feeding your baby on the road is very dangerous, so whenever you want to give your baby milk from a bottle, take a break. Depending on the time and weather conditions, you can stop by the side of the road, in a roadside parking lot, stop at a restaurant, or have a picnic in the forest. It is best to take the baby out of the seat and hold them in your arms. However, if you decide it will be more convenient to leave them in the seat during feeding, be sure to unfasten the belts so that in case of choking, you can immediately remove them from the seat.

Reminder: Never feed your baby when the car is in motion. After feeding your baby, discard any unfinished milk and rinse the bottle.

Wash your hands. Before preparing the mixture and feeding the baby, wash your hands. If this is not possible, wipe them with an antiseptic wipe.

Prepare the milk. Pour the milk mixture into hot water, in the proportions recommended by the manufacturer, shake vigorously a few times so that the powder dissolves completely.

Always check the temperature of the liquid before giving it to your baby: drop a few drops on the inside of your wrist and assess if the milk is not too hot.

Discard the rest. After the meal, discard the rest of the milk. Even if the child has not eaten everything, what remains is not suitable for another feeding. The rest of the food combined with the baby's saliva is an excellent medium for bacteria, which multiply extremely quickly in such residues. Wash the bottle and pacifier, and if you do not have access to running water, rinse with bottled water and/or wipe thoroughly, for example with a wet wipe. After feeding, remove your baby from the car seat and let them rest in a different position.

Eva Kool

With 15 years of experience as a maternity nurse and a mother of three, I am truly passionate about the world of babies and baby care. At Difrax LOVI, I support professionals and specialized stores as a trainer and advisor, while also assisting the sales & marketing team. My goal: to share my expertise and provide parents with reliable and reassuring information for their baby's well-being.