• Whether you’re breastfeeding on holiday or formula feeding on holiday, packing the right essentials makes feeding easier anywhere. 
• Travel-friendly products like The PrepGo formula feeder maker kit and self-sterilising bottles can help you keep feeds safe and convenient. 
• The key is sticking to your baby’s usual feeding cues while giving yourself flexibility to enjoy the trip. If you’re weaning whilst on holiday, check that any restaurants you go to haven’t cooked with a lot of salt and avoid honey for under ones. 
• In a hot climate, food goes off quick so avoid having prepared baby food sitting out for more than an hour or two. 

Let's be honest, the idea of going on holiday with a baby can feel equal parts exciting and completely overwhelming. You've got the packing, the logistics, the "will they sleep anywhere other than their own cot?"... and then there's feeding.  

Whatever stage you're at, the good news is that feeding on holiday is genuinely more manageable than it might seem. A bit of planning goes a long way, and you'll likely surprise yourself with how well you adapt once you're there. 

Here's everything you need to know, from the airport to the sun lounger. 

What to feed my baby on holiday 

The short answer? Exactly what you'd feed them at home. Holidays don't need to mean a complete overhaul of your baby's diet - and in fact, keeping things as familiar as possible will help your little one (and you) enjoy the trip far more. 

That said, what your baby eats will depend on their age. 

Under 6 months: At this stage it's all about breast milk or formula. Keep doing what you're doing and focus your energy on maintaining that feeding routine as best you can. 

Around 6 months: This is when weaning typically starts, and yes, you absolutely can begin (or carry on) while you're away. You don't need a fully kitted-out kitchen - soft first foods like mashed banana, ripe avocado, or baby rice are easy to pull together wherever you are. 

6 to 12 months: Your baby is getting more adventurous with textures and flavours, which actually makes holidays easier. Soft-cooked rice, plain pasta, well-cooked veg, or flaked fish from the local menu can all work brilliantly. Just watch out for anything heavily salted or spiced. 

Over 12 months: Toddlers are easy to feed on holiday. A version of whatever the family is eating is usually fine, making eating out a lot less stressful. 

Baby feeding schedule changes while travelling 

One of the trickier aspects of a holiday with a baby is that travel, particularly across time zones, can throw feeding schedules completely out of sync. 

Jet lag and general travel disruption affect babies just as much as adults, so it's completely normal for your baby's feeding rhythm to go a bit wobbly for a day or two. Rather than stressing about feeding at exact times, try watching your baby's cues instead - if they seem hungry, feed them. If they're unsettled, offer a feed and see if that helps. 

If you're crossing a big time difference, you can try nudging feeds forward or back by half an hour each day in the run-up to your trip - it won't fix everything, but it can take the edge off.  

Once you arrive and settle in, most babies naturally fall back into a rhythm within a couple of days. Build a bit of flexibility into your days out too, so you're not trying to squeeze a feed into a ten-minute window between activities. 

Formula feeding on holiday takes the most planning, but once you've got your kit sorted, it really is straightforward. Here's what to think about. 

Water safety: At home, tap water is fine for making up formula. Abroad, it depends on where you are. If you're not sure, go with bottled still water - check that it's low in sodium and sulphate, and still boil and cool it before using it. 

Making up feeds on the go: It is recommended that you make up formula fresh each time using boiled water that's above 70°C. The PrepGo Formula Feed Maker is perfect for making the feed to the perfect temperature after using boiling water, cooling in just two minutes*, anytime, anywhere. 

Ready-made formula: They're pricier, but the convenience can be worth it.  Just check in advance whether they're available where you're going or bring enough to last. 

Sterilising: You can't skip this for babies under 12 months. If your accommodation has a microwave, you can easily sterilise your Tommee Tippee bottles as they are all self-sterilising, or use our portable Microwave Steriliser. If you need to sterilise other items, sterilising tablets and microwave sterilising bags are compact and easy to pack. 

Packing list: Your baby holiday essentials for formula feeding should include plenty of bottles, any sterilising items, a bottle brush, more formula than you think you'll need (plus extra for delays), and a cool bag for keeping pre-made feeds chilled. 

^{*Based on preparing a 120ml feed with boiling water and cooling to 40°C.} 

Managing breastfeeding on holiday 

Breastfeeding on holiday has a lot going for it — no kit to sterilise, no formula to source, and you're never caught out without a feed. That said, there are a few things worth thinking about before you go. 

Feeding in public:In Australia, breastfeeding is protected under the sex discrimination act 1984. In lots of places, feeding openly is totally normal, but in others, you might prefer to have a muslin or light wrap, or seek out a quieter spot. You know your own comfort level. 

Drink more water than you think you need: Hot weather plus breastfeeding is a dehydrating combination. Keep a large water bottle on you all day and keep topping it up - your supply will thank you for it. 

If your supply dips: Some mums notice a temporary drop in supply while travelling, usually down to heat, dehydration, or just the stress. The best thing you can do is keep feeding on demand and stay well hydrated.  

Airports and planes: Most airports have feeding parents' or family rooms if you want the privacy. On the plane, feeding during take-off and landing can be useful - the sucking and swallowing helps with the ear pressure that causes babies discomfort at altitude. 

Expressing while away: If you're pumping, keep in mind that expressed milk keeps for a few hours at room temperature (less in the heat), up to 24 hours in a cool bag with ice packs, or up to five days in a fridge. 

Managing weaning on holiday 

The idea of weaning on holiday might feel a bit chaotic, but in practice, it can work well. Some babies even seem more willing to try new things when they're somewhere different and exciting. 

Starting weaning while away: If you're thinking about starting weaning while on holiday, look for the key signs that your baby is ready: they can sit up fairly steadily, hold their head up well, and show an interest in what you're eating.  

Baby-led weaning is your friend here: Baby-led weaning is great for on holiday as there’s no pureeing required. Soft finger foods are easy to find pretty much everywhere: ripe banana, avocado, steamed veg, plain soft pasta, flaked fish.  

Things to keep in mind when feeding baby solids on holiday:  

• If you’re eating out, double-check that nothing has been cooked with a lot of salt. 
• Honey is a no-go for under-ones.  
• Always prepare food safely to avoid choking hazards - no whole grapes, whole nuts, raw carrot sticks, or raw jelly cubes. 
• You may want to avoid common allergens until you’re home so you can go to your usual GP if there are any symptoms. 

Weaning essentials on holiday: A soft-tipped spoon, a suction bowl that won't go flying off a restaurant table, a handful of pouches or familiar food for travel days, some disposable bibs, and a portable highchair strap or travel booster seat will cover most situations. 

This is mostly what you do at home, just somewhere different. 

• Keep your hands clean before preparing any food or making up a feed. Hand sanitiser is fine when you're on the go, but try to use proper soap and water whenever it's available. 

• If you're somewhere where the tap water isn't drinkable, don't use it for anything that's going near your baby's mouth - that includes rinsing bottles, mixing formula, or washing food. 

• In a hot climate, food goes off faster so don't leave prepared baby food sitting out for more than an hour or two, and if you're out for the day, keep everything in a cool bag. 

If your baby does pick up a tummy bug while you're away, keep up their usual milk feeds and see a local doctor or pharmacist sooner rather than later. 

Tips for feeding a baby during a long-haul flight 

Many people dread this, but with a bit of prep, feeding on a long-haul flight can be manageable. 

Feed on take-off and landing: This most useful feeding tip for flying with a baby. The pressure change can be uncomfortable for little ears. Swallowing helps this, so a feed or even just a dummy can make a huge difference. 

Look into a bassinet seat: If your baby is young enough and under the airline's weight limit, you may be able to book a bulkhead seat with a bassinet (sometimes called a skycot) so your baby can lie flat between feeds. Book as early as possible - there aren't many of them. 

Bring way more formula than you think you need: Delays, diversions, a baby who suddenly wants feeding every hour - you just don't know.  

Bottle feeding on a plane: The PrepGo Formula Feed Maker Kit will be your saviour for in-flight feeds. Ask for your hot flask to be filled with boiling water at a restaurant or bar as you wait at departures or by the airplane staff, then simply pour into your cold flask when baby's hungry to prep their feed perfectly in minutes.  

Breastfeeding on a plane: It's convenient and most airlines are completely fine with it. A window seat usually gives you a bit more privacy if you want it. Your trusty muslin doubles nicely as a cover and a baby blanket. 

For weaning babies: Food pouches are brilliant for flights - easy to pack, no preparation needed. They count as liquids so you may need to show them at security. A snack tray of various foods is a great idea older babies. 

Your in-flight feeding kit: Pack enough formula or expressing kit for the whole flight plus delays, two or three clean bottles, sterilising tablets, a few bibs, a spare outfit for baby (and one for you too), and snacks if your baby is weaning.  

Feeding your baby on holiday is one of those things that feels much more daunting in the planning phase than it turns out to be in reality. Once you're there, you adapt, your baby adapts, and somehow it all comes together.  

More than anything, give yourself permission to relax. A chilled, happy parent is worth far more than a perfectly executed feeding schedule. Enjoy the holiday.