Customer Reviews

Zo-Li On-The-Go Travel Formula & Snack Dispenser

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I had been debating between the Zo-Li On-The-Go Travel Formula & Snack Dispenser and the Innobaby Packin' SMART Formula Dispenser and Snack Case - Sweet Honeydew, iParenting Media Award Winner for Best Products 2007, and ended up getting the Zo-Li because it was the first one to be available (at the time) with Amazon Prime.

To be honest, I loved the idea and was so jazzed with the item that I paid NO attention to the size of the container. I just assumed (wrongly, it turns out) that it was a tall and skinny container. I know the containers I currently use for formula (the smaller size of the Powdered Formula Dispenser Combo Pack, although taller!) and was expecting it to be about that size. So you can imagine my surprise when I opened the box and saw just how big the Zo-Li was!! I uploaded photos to show the size...but it is 3" wide and 8" tall!! It's HUGE! I don't remember seeing the dimensions listed in the product information section...but honestly, even if they were, I didn't pay attention because I was just so enamored with this container! As far as it taking up less room than say, the more common Philips Avent Formula Dispenser / Snack Cup, BPA-Free...well, overall it doesn't because it's a bigger container, LOL, but it's a more consistent shape which makes it seem like it takes up less space. But it's not NEARLY the space savings I had anticipated. It's smaller in diameter but about 2.5 times the height!

That said, even with the size, this thing is great. It says it can hold formula for an 10oz bottle...and it can! The actual formula dispenser piece just fits on the top-most container (so, if you had formula in other layers, you would just need to rotate layers so the formula was on the top). It would also make a great toy (once empty) since the layers can be mixed and matched in any order.

As far as construction...the pieces unscrew VERY easily (it's only about 1/8 of a turn, which worried me--but I tried to pull them apart and they stayed tightly together) and they screw together fairly easily (to be honest, about half the time, I have to unscrew a layer to try and re-thread it correctly). The plastic is very heavy-duty in both appearance and feel. The formula dispenser portion works nicely, but as with any other dispenser, you do have to tap it a few times to get everything out (but since it is angled, everything easily does come out).

I do wish it came in a choice of colors (or all clear)--which is one thing I liked about the Innobaby.

Overall, I would highly recommend this item!

I LOVE this product!

I bought this for traveling with my little guy. It eliminated 5 different tupperware containers I would take to the babysitter. Now I can store his cottage cheese, oatmeal, applesauce, macaroni and cheese, etc. all in the same compartment! I REALLY like the fact that it is long, roughly the size as a bottle, so it fits nicely in my diaper bag and lunch cooler.

It's also PERFECT for the travel since I can pack different kinds of snacks to keep my toddler satisfied at the grocery store, airport, or at a restaurant while our food comes out. This eliminates 5 different snack baggies in my purse and no more crushed Elmo crackers!

I never had to use this product for formula, but the top domed compartment is nice since I can stuff more inside (like apple chunks or noodles or pretzel sticks).

I only wish this product came a separate lid so I could store one of the compartments in the fridge. And it would be even better if it came with a "snack-trap" lid so I could give one compartment to my kid while in the stroller or shopping cart.

Regardless I love this product and buy it for everyone I know with a toddler!

At first I wasn't sure if this dispenser/storage system would work, but after using it since it arrived I have nothing but praise and smiles to share. It travels well in my diaper bag or tote bag and because it's modular you only fill and bring what you need. It is super easy to dispense. I always have formula in one section or more depending on the trip out and about and then cheerios or a handy snack in one section. I wish I would have found this product much sooner! Another great and worth mentioning plus... It's BPA FREE. Since I use organic formula that does melamine testing with every batch and even uses natural DHA/ARA as well as BPA free dispensers this was a big plus... BPA free is hard to find when it comes to containers for formula storage. The only type I found were the typical round tub container with the 3 sectioned compartments and it was always bulky when trying to fit it in my bag or tote. I'm putting this on a "must have" list for all new moms.

I was so excited to buy this formula after my cheap Sassy one wasn't it for me.

I had hoped for the Zo-Li Formula Dispenser to provide these:

Formula won't spill into other compartments - CHECK!
BPA free - CHECK!
Hold up to 4 scoops - CHECK!
Ease of use - Oops, Have to CROSS THIS OUT! There is no way to use this dispenser with one hand when baby is turning into Incredible Hulk and wants to eat NOW!
Formula can flow easily without getting caught up anywhere - NOPE NOPE NOPE, you still have to shake it, swish it and tap tap tap tap to get all the formula out.

So, 3 out of 5.

As my title says, it's not for formula. Maybe it would be better for snacks, but that's not what I bought it for.
It gets messy with the formula because in travel, the formula of course swooshes around in the individual bins, so when you unscrew each, the bottoms all have formula stuck to it. So:

1) It leads to waste of formula
2) It's not really very sanitary, because if you accidentally screw a bin that had been placed on a dirty table on top of another bin with formula or snack in it, then you just contaminated the formula/snack.

So I'm back to my $[...] Sassy after paying $[...] w/ shipping for this. Still searching for the right formula dispenser... I may try the Raz Pak, it looks like it's what I'm looking for. Wish me luck!

My complaint about this product is that the pieces don't screw together easily. I have difficulty lining up the thread and screwing it together. Otherwise, the idea is great. I have been using it for on the go formula and snacks. You can take one container, 2, 3, or 4.

I've put in up to 9 oz. of formula in these little containers and not more only because my bottles are only 9 ounces. Getting the formula out is mess free and easy. Just pour it out through the spout into hot water and voila, instant milk! These days, I use it more for snacks and since the containers are see-through and individually colored, I can easily tell what's in which without opening them all. You can use all 4 containers at once or just one or two or three on the go. Up to you. Very convenient and handy to have though it will take up a good amount of space in your diaper bag. Still, very well worth it! AND, it's BPA-free!

We have now used the Zoli stacked containers for 2 years in our preschooler's lunch box/bag. We can fit 3 stacked containers with different foods in each (fruit, veggies, cut up lunch meat, cheese, etc.), along with a Thermos "funtainer" drink container and a reusable ice pack. These were one of only 2 kinds of containers that our preschooler was able to open/close easily, and the only reusable option that fit well in our lunch boxes/bags. I know these are primarily thought of for baby formula/snacks, but I wanted to let other parents know how useful we've found these for the post-baby/toddler years.

i found this at a boutique and didn't realize it was a formula dispenser until months later. we exclusively used it for solids when my DD first started and then later for snacks. she's now 17 months old and we still used it all the time!

it's great because we can pack a variety of snacks or just a few things, depending on how long we'll be out.

we've gotten a lot of compliments on it and it's really useful.

I'm pleased with this product. Here are the things I like:
1) Pours easily into a bottle with the funnel-like lid
2) I can take just one or I can take all four of the compartments
3) Each compartment is large enough for five scoops of formula
4) It will be useful for carrying snacks as our baby gets older
5) Looks cute!
6) No danger of the items in one compartment mixing with the items in a different compartment

I absolutely love this product! It doesn't take up much space in the diaper bag and it is really easy to pour the formula out of it. So much easier than having to measure out formula on the go, and also great for having formula measured for those in the middle of the night feedings!