Comments on: Why do people buy baby food?

By: Baby Food Grinder

Baby Food Grinder — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 08:47:59 +0000

Great comments, thanks everyone.

As with many things in life, a balance is generally the way to go. Making your own baby food is generally a good thing to do, but time isn’t on your side – sometimes you just need to grab a jar and go.

Having said that, the last time my boy had a jar (pureed cottage pie!) it made him sick! So that discouraged us from buying more jars.

The good thing is that is does get easier, as once they are over one year, then the range of food choices is much wider.

Take care,
- Stewart

By: Tilly

Tilly — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 08:06:43 +0000

Hi, I’m with CityPixie but I totally get RP – I found weaning so stress and being blown away by the jarred food do’s and don’ts. Agree making babyfood could be messy, and of course the jars do carry a convenience factor. This is by no means a ‘bigging-up’ of The Wean Machine but I did invent it because I was so frustrated and stressed out by what to do! I have a pragmatic approach to parenting and that includes babyfood. I hope it helps. I think we all work hard, we all care but all have to be realistic and what is more important to one family is different to another.

By: Recovering Procrastinator

Recovering Procrastinator — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 03:28:24 +0000

I plan to try to make baby food this time but here’s why I didn’t for the first two kids.

1. I didn’t know how to
2. I didn’t have time to research how to
3. It’s not as portable/convenient because you have to keep it cooled
4. Jarred food involves virtually no clean-up
5. My day care provided jarred food during the day
6. For the short amount of time that babies eat baby food, it didn’t seem like a very important difference

By: citypixie

citypixie — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 18:00:47 +0000

I advocate DIY baby food but understand that it isn’t for everyone.
When it comes time to introduce first foods, there is a certain amount of confidence that packaged baby food provides to a new parent. If a parent buys “baby food” off the shelf, they feel safe that the ingredients are age appropriate, the serving size is adequate and the ingredients have been prepared correctly. Then there is the creativity issue — jarred baby food takes the inspiration effort out of the equation. If Gerber thinks mashed potatoes and peas go well together, then who can argue with that, right?
I don’t feel it is fair to label baby-food-buying parents as lazy as I think the vast majority of parents want to provide the best they can for their child, but I do see how those who are not DIYers lean on the packaged food selections to offer quick and easy variety.
I do work full time, as does my spouse, and our daughter has never had a jar of baby food. I make time to make her food. I also blog about it as I feel that it is actually very easy, I believe it is more nutritious and I think anyone can do it too if they have the interest.

By: Kd3

Kd3 — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 07:43:59 +0000

I see what you're saying. I breastfeed all 3 of my kids because I thought it was healthier and cheaper than formula. It was! I did buy baby food though for a few months until I realized that I could just smash up my food and feed her that. My 3rd child never had baby food. It is more time consuming but if you have the time and don't have the extra money, you do what you gotta do.
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By: daryavaush

daryavaush — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 07:21:59 +0000

Cooking your own baby food can be time consuming though I agree it is healthier (no additives or preservatives)
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By: redrum42482

redrum42482 — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 07:03:59 +0000

My sister worked full time and still had time to make her own baby food. But she wanted to use organic food and sometimes there just wasn't an option for food. Or the food wasn't as suitable to grind up, like peas. So she bought some jars of baby food. And sometimes she just needed it for the convience.
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By: Melissa R

Melissa R — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 06:45:59 +0000

I agree. I mashed bananas, oatmeal, soggy cereal, etc. I got one of those really small food processors and did fruits and veggies. Look at the back of one of those little jars. There are all kinds of additives in it. I always gave my kids stuff of my plate, what I ate they ate. I think it makes you eat healthier and they get a variety of food in their diets.
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By: vanessa h

vanessa h — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 06:29:59 +0000

youre very right
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By: sporeformer

sporeformer — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:47:59 +0000

I made my own baby food. … once….

I buy baby food because it takes something like 0.001 of **my time** (and energy – in short supply these days) to prep it and clean up the resulting mess, plus I don’t have to thaw it out. Convenience is not a small incidental issue for a new parent. The extra cost seems totally worth it. Even though the food processor I bought would have paid for itself by now. I am fortunate enough that I can indulge.

It also probably uses less energy (the manufacturer cooking and processing it in mass quantities versus me in my inefficient kitchen). Baby food from a jar is really not significantly different from what I made in the kitchen, anyway; I couldn’t taste a difference in the sweet potatoes and I thought the pears were a better texture than what I made. Processed is processed no matter who does it where, and baby needs purees.
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