The short version
- Stock snacks you can eat with one hand and no preparation.
- Aim for some protein or fat in each, not just quick sugar.
- Keep them where you actually sit: the feeding chair, your bag, the bedside.
The feeds are long, the hands are full, and hunger arrives at the worst possible moment. A small, well-chosen snack stash is one of the simplest ways to look after yourself in the early weeks.
The ones that earn their place
- Oatcakes or wholegrain crackers with nut butter or cheese.
- A handful of nuts and a few squares of dark chocolate.
- Yoghurt pouches, or a yoghurt with a spoon left ready.
- Flapjacks or energy balls made with oats and seeds.
- Fruit that needs no peeling: grapes, berries, a banana.
- Hummus with oatcakes or chopped veg, prepped ahead.
The best snack is the one already within arm's reach when the feed starts.
Set yourself up
Once a day, restock the spots where you spend the long hours: a tin by the feeding chair, a few bits in your changing bag, something on the bedside table. Add a water bottle to each. Future you, twenty minutes into a feed with a sleeping baby pinning your arm, will be very grateful.
Bubba & Me tip
Batch a tray of oat-and-seed energy balls at the weekend. They keep in the fridge, freeze well, and are the perfect one-handed feed-time bite.
General guidance only. If you have specific dietary needs, our registered nutritional therapists or your GP can help you tailor things.