To say 'Fuck you, Ella's Kitchen, I'll boil my own carrots!'

[missmillimentscardigan]

Obviously I get that those pouches can be convenient; I just don't understand the blind adherence to the Ella's Kitchen 'feeding a baby everything from a pouch' idea. Why would you pay probably ten times the cost of a carrot to buy a pouch of pureed carrot? I hate the twee packaging and the stupid baby talk on the packets and cynical marketing guff.

I think parents are led to believe that they couldn't possibly prepare something for their baby to eat themselves, and that it's better and somehow safer, to buy them a pouch of fruit or veg and feed them that instead. So many of my friends, when starting off on weaning their babies, have just bought a load of EK pouches and given them that, and only that. And I find that a bit sad, that parents think that they couldn't /shouldn't cook a parsnip / bit of broccoli for their child, and that the first flavours their baby tries are from a weird vacuum pouch that doesn't even need refrigerating.

I'm no Annabel Karmel, and my children certainly don't eat lovingly prepared homecooked food all the time (hello, beans on toast). But I do enjoy cooking for them and my DH, and so does he. Those pouches have a place, but not at the exclusion of everything else. It's satisfying to see your child eating something you made and that you know is nutritious.

I'm not criticising mothers and fathers for using them; I just feel a bit sad that we are losing and abandoning simple skills, like very basic and inexpensive cooking for children, because baby food companies want us to think that they know better than we do. And they don't!

[ThymeLord]

You do what works for you and other people will do the same. Don't kid yourself you aren't judging iron criticising other people though, you blatantly are.

[HatePaperDoll]

Meh. Before pouches it was jars so pre-prepared baby food is hardly a new thing. I can't summon the energy to care what and how other people choose to feed their kids.

[ThymeLord]

and, not iron

[StillStayingClassySanDiego]

I'm not criticising mothers and fathers for using them;

Oh yes you are.
oh no I'm not

[DXBMermaid]

You can buy reuseable pouches on amazon. You still get the convenience of pouches but not the cost or twee packaging.

I make batches of puree, fill my pouches and freeze them.

[comedycentral]

Get off your high horse. I say this as someone who makes her own too.
Honestly why do you care? Why are you sad about what they feed their babies?

Save your sadness for the ones that don't get fed.

[AppleJac]

Dd was weaned purley on ella kitchen until she was over 12 months.

Only on mumsnet do people not give their children jars and pouches.

Everyone i know feeds their kids jars and pouches

[DailyFaily]

Everyone I know (including me) used these pouches as well as giving their baby food they'd made themselves, I don't know anyone who exclusively fed from jars/pouches. Mind, weaning at 6 months meant the time span where puréed food was necessary was short, most babies I know we're chomping on rice cakes/breadsticks/chopped fruit and veg pretty soon into their weaning. I imagine people do it for all sorts of reasons - convenience, confidence, laziness - not really anyone else's business and not something I feel sad about. I was back at work full time, sometimes that stuff was a godsend.

Also, I get that it's satisfying to see your child eat food you've lovingly prepared but, in my experience, the stuff I spent sometimes a long time preparing was just as likely to end up being spat straight back out, never to reach DS's stomach - that was not such an edifying experience. But maybe your kids never did that.

[orangebird69]

I used them when I started weaning my ds. I'm not about lovingly cook a batch of something to find out he hates it one teaspoon in.... and they're v handy for out and about and when I can't be arsed. You open a can of beans OP, I open a pouch. What's the difference?

[Feilin]

I agree they have their place which for me will be when on days out etc . Weaning doesn't truly start in this house for another 4 wks however I am giving baby rice at the minute . I'll be delighted to cook for my little one but I won't be worrying about what she gets on days visiting family etc as I will buy some of the ready made stuff too .

[StylishDuck]

"Save your sadness for the ones who don't get fed".

This.

[Passmethecrisps]

I sometimes made my own and sometimes used pouches.

Does anyone really truly believe that they must blindly feed their child a pouch for every meal rather than make their own?

Why do you think people believe they shouldn't cook their own?

[facepalming]

erm, I've lost my cooking skills because I use a pouch of baby food?!

get over yourself.

Your post comes across as extremely judgey - what makes you better than someone who opens a pouch of ek??

I have a 2 year old and a 7 month old and guess what - I regularly use pouches!

Of course I can boil a bloody carrot but I choose not too!

I rarely rise to these goady posts but go away back to boiling your carrots so you don't lose your kitchen skills and I'll carry on spending the 5 mins I've saved myself by using a pouch on something else

[Youremywifenow]

I don't know why people buy Ella's kitchen prices when the Aldi ones are exactly the same and half the price (59p instead of £1.19).

[PerryHatter]

Let's parents do what is convenient for them. I made my own because I had the time and thought the pouches would taste shit (yes, I ate half the purées during feeding time for quality control). Other people don't have the time to spend steaming/boiling various veg, or just don't want to. As long as their child is being fed well and is healthy from it, I don't care.

[Nanunanu]

If you don't want to use them. Don't.

If you do. Do. There's worse things than a simple mashed carot in a pouch.

And a hell of a lot easier than trying to cook your own when out and about.

Of course there's sappy blurb on the back. That's their selling point.

What does it matter to you how your friends choose to spend their money? I think they are overpriced. But I'm sure many people will think the same of others things I buy my children.

Step back from the judging

[milpool]

I dunno, your friends don't sound like my friends, OP. I don't know anyone who has fed their kid exclusively on pouches and jars. Must cost a fortune!

(But then tbh most people I know have done BLW so I guess it's different.)

[Augustbaby22]

When dd was first weaning I admit I used pouches as she'd only eat half but when I realised how much I was spending I put a stop to it especially as her appetite increase I really couldn't afford £3 a day for her food and then puddings on top of that (I'm a LP so money is tight) I just cook up a load of food once a month once she's in bed, blitz it up put it into bags and chuck it in the freezer my mum also does that with any left overs she has. I've saved so much money now.
I'll give her one if we go out for the day and I don't have anywhere to heat up her dinner properly as she can eat it cold if needs be. It's ridiculous how much they cost but it can be hard finding the time to cook and they are healthy so each to there own

[Passmethecrisps]

I would also suggest that I fed my dd with just as much love whether is was sooked directly from a pouch, spooned from a bowl of food made by me or bits picked up herself from a tray.

She was fed and she was loved. The end

[60sname]

missmilliment My baby eats a lot of pouches. Am I capable of cooking for him? Yes. Do I think buying pouches is a waste of money? Yes.

Unfortunately pouches are currently his preferred food, soul destroying as it is to watch him shun my home cooking for the packaged stuff. But they won't poison him in the meantime.

[Feilin]

DXB thanks for the heads up about reusable pouches! Will get some! Each to their own folks I have a cousin who cooked everything for her kids and her sister in law point blank refused and just fed hers all ready made. Both sets of kids are fine.

[WordGetsAround]

I loved them and uses them for both DC. Will probably use them for next DC too. I can purée my own carrot but usually I can't be bothered.

[HoneyDragon]

Dd self weaned on pizza. I didn't purée anything, or buy pouches for her.

The pouches were totally new when ds was born, and advice was still to wean at four months. I loved then, it was like feeding small people toothpaste. But even ds only got half arsed smooshed food that we were having.

[Eatthecake]

If you don't like them don't use them, I've never used them pre made baby food is way to expensive but unless somebody is using them at every meal all week I can't see the problem with somebody using them

For my youngest I've got a little gadget that lets me feel up my own pouches, it's a great little gadget

[Youremywifenow]

Also, the fruity ones make nice cocktails.
Peach purée + proscetto = Bellini.
They make good daquaris as well