Temperature and hygiene. These are the two key factors you need to control when you’re away from home to ensure your baby’s food stays in perfect condition until it’s time to eat. Discover the best tips.

Whether it’s for trips, getaways, spontaneous plans, or days spent out of the house, it often means bringing lunch, snacks, or even dinner—or at least some snacks and drinks to keep energy levels up, stay hydrated, and satisfy hunger at any time of the day. If your plans involve babies or children, it’s essential to bring something for them to eat and drink, as finding suitable food for little ones can sometimes feel like an impossible mission.

Rules for storing baby food outside the home

The first rule for storing baby food when you’re out is to keep it at the right temperature to prevent the growth of bacteria that could spoil it. Thermal flasks for liquids and solids (which maintain both hot and cold temperatures), airtight containers, and insulated cool bags are great allies.

Airtight containers should be suitable for food use and made of glass or BPA-free plastic—materials that help preserve food from odours and contamination. As for cool bags or insulated lunch bags, they are lined with insulating material. Ideally, you should place ice packs inside along with the food containers to keep the interior cool and protect the contents from heat.

Containers, thermal flasks and coolers for baby food

Thermal flasks, bottles and cups

Airtight containers

Insulated cool bags

Whenever possible, it’s advisable to keep containers and insulated bags in the fridge—or at least in the shade and in the coolest place available—until it’s time to eat. As a general rule, baby food should not be left at room temperature for more than two hours. It should never be left in direct sunlight, in the boot, or inside a car.

Tips to keep food safe until it’s consumed

• Choose safe foods. Prioritise options that are easy to transport and can be eaten at room temperature, such as fruit, fresh vegetables, nuts, wholegrain bread, or purées.

• Bring serving utensils. To avoid cross-contamination, don’t use the same spoon for serving and feeding the baby.

• Heat gradually. When reheating food, make sure it is well mixed and evenly heated, especially if it was previously frozen.

• Consider the BLW method. Baby-Led Weaning avoids purées. If you follow this method, you can offer your baby food in pieces (such as cooked vegetables or tubers, pasta, boiled eggs), which is nutritious and easy to transport.

• Aluminium and silicone. These are versatile materials for serving and feeding your baby outside the home. They are lightweight and very hygienic: they can be washed in the dishwasher or sterilised at home.

• If travelling by plane. Most airlines allow you to carry baby food, bottles, and jars in your hand luggage. However, it’s advisable to check with your airline for any specific rules.