Nannies/Parents: do you make your own babyfood?

Ironically, giving babies jars does mean the nutritional content is highly regulated, as the laws surrounding the production of processed food for this age group are so strict. I tried to explain this to my nanny, who was giving Felix lots of bread (i.e. high salt content) yet being sniffy about jars (no added salt, high vitamin content as fruit and veg have not been lying around for days and days). It's counter-intuitive.

However I do balk at paying 50p for some little bit of apple puree in a jar when there is invariably a bit of yoghurt in the fridge somewhere, which with half a grated eating apple in it makes a lovely little snack. Likewise a bit of baked potato and cottage cheese with chives for lunch is relatively effortless. Pureeing is a bit of a faff admittedly, but it's not long before things can just be mashed up with a fork a bit. That's my approach.

I thought, when I began giving the baby proper food, that I would give him a bit of home-made and a bit of jars, so that he would be used to jars when they would be needed. But in fact I find I've hardly used jars and have made most of the food - what small impulse to motherhood I have I've channelled into knocking up AK recipes, page by page, I think

The real loser has been my DH who, pre-baby, who I used to cook lots of exotic (and time-consuming) recipes for - now he gets a baked potato whilst the baby dines on salmon a la gratin or whatever. I've decided that I'd better get some non-exotic cookbooks (Delia, Tana Ramsay or something) so that we can all start eating the same thing.

And to the OP - it seems self-evident to me that home-cooked is better - fresher veg, higher quality ingredients etc. But I like cooking (so do you by the sound of it) and the baby (at the moment) seems to like eating it. What I am saying I suppose is that the human psyche is a wondrous thing - maybe those that defend jars on grounds that 'you can see what's in them' (rather than convenience) are in the 'don't really enjoy cooking' camp... Just a thought...

When caring for babies sometimes I make things - usually based on what the other children are eating, so it's just something put through the blender. Jars/Tubs however are also used as they are very convenient, especially when out and about as they don't need refrigeration. The Plum Baby range are wonderful, if a little bit more expensive than other brands. It also helps support a small (12 person) local - based in Hampshire - company, rather than a large multi-national.
Carrot, Lentil and Cheddar is still a favourite of the nearly 2 year old I care for - handy when he refuses to eat anything else, such as when he's feeling poorly. Could I make it myself, probably - all the ingredients are listed along with percentages used (apart from percentage of water). Can I be bothered though... no. Time is better spent with the children, rather than slaved over a kitchen stove.

Babies vary, some are easy, others are very demanding. When baby finally has a nap, the last thing some parents/carers will be wanting to do is to slave over the kitchen stove. Jars/Tubs are convenient, they free up more time for you to spend with the child. Thus I feel there should be a balance between making food at home and using Tubs.

I don't know which country OP lives in but my personal experience is that in some European countries is less common to use jars mainly for economical reason. You have variety of cheap fruits in local markets and the --imported - jars are costy. In UK jars are cheaper and fresh fruit costs more so is not very practical to puree fruits (and i agree with blondes about pears ).
When it comes to savoury i always prefered home cooked. As long as you have freezer is easier and cheaper.

I always had this idea in my head that if babies eat many jars they get used to the synthetic taste and they 'll not appreciate real food later in life. However many of my friends's babies had jars and are now very good eaters. So maybe my fear was irrational, i don't know...

I make all mine from scratch for my youngest - in fact for all my charges.
Even things like fish fingers. I like to cook though so it isn't a problem and if you're organised it's not a question of time. I like to know exactly what's gone into what I'm feeding my charges.

The other day someone said frakkin and then looked at me blankly when I mentioned Admiral Adama. She was just using it as an alternative to the eff word.

So say we all!

Erm, might be. Whyyyyyy?

Does the nickname give it away a bit?

Totally off topic, but frakkin, are you a Battlestar fan?!

I think, but might be wrong, that some fruits are more of a choking hazard than others - but nothing instrinsically wrong with fruit when properly spervised.

I hate the taste of most babyfoods but pureed fruit is suprisingly nice. The little pouches that you get in Boots...mmmm....

I never puree fruit I give it as a finger food; is that bad?

blondes dropped a pear slipped and woofa was eating it before it had barely touched the ground!!

I do agree with you re slippery conference pears, blondes!

I have one of those little green baby food processors, forgot what it's called... anyway it has steam and blend functions, and it's mini, so is in proportion to a baby's food (ie you don't waste loads sticking to the side like on a giant blender). It's really easy to use/clean so I do a lot more than I would if just using pans/big blending machines etc. Did cost about £70 but I reckon I've saved that and beyond in not buying any jars. I LOVE it.

I make most from scratch as am a CMer so am cooking for others anyway so just make a smaller pot for weaning children. I don't sweat it though if we have to use a jar now and again.

I just give my offspring a salt free version of whatever human food we're having, without the meat. I do keep a jar or two in changing bags and so on in case we're held up when we're out, though. But tbh even then I am just as likely to much up a banana or something. Babyfood is a bit dull and I think it breeds fussy eaters because there aren't enough layers to the flavour.

(just to add personally i like to make EVERthing from scratch, always have and plan to with my own children too!.... homemade food just tastes SO muvh nicer and actually like real food tastes like, i gues cause it is real food!)

yes but that is 6+ whole pieces of fruit to make just 4 portions of fruit puree

i agree that when pureeing fruit you dont get much in return for effort...

i would expect 1 apple to make 4 baby portions of apple, not 6 whole pieces of fruit to make 4 portions!

lcw- you mix fruit - def easier, but to do plain apple,pear,blueberry etc, you seem to use a lot of fruit to get little puree - and conference pears are slippery little buggers when peeled

Blondes - re sweet purees - I peel and roughly chop 4 apples and 2 pears, maybe a handful of strawberries/blackberries or whatever's there. Stick in steamer 10 mins. Go have coffee/read mag. Come back, blend. Makes 4 BIG portions, not a tiny amount. Stick in freezer. Occasionally make sugar-free custard from powder and milk to pop in (tastes just as sweet as sugary custard once mixed with the fruit).

Simples!

I can be the world's laziest mare but I honestly find it pretty easy to make up batches of babyfood and freeze it in the storage pots with lids, from Mothercare/Tommy Tippee. I would use jars for travelling or emergency but to me they're like ready meals ie synthetic and not very satisfying on a long-term basis. Personally I wouldn't want to eat ready meals all day every day so why should I expect the baby to?

I use Annabel Karmel's recipes and a lot of them could not be simpler and even my DH likes the tastes so they must be OK .

I combine the purees with finger food - never sure why people think it has to be one or the other.

At least with savory purees I can put 5 or 6 different type of veg in and sweet purees 3 or 4 different fruits in so I know the basics are covered and he's getting his fruit & veg, then bits of chicken, or mini cottage pie or fish fingers for protein etc.

i 90% make my own food for baby - always did the savoury - cooked veg, pureed and ice cubed then did same with chicken/fish/mince etc

but tbh it makes more sense to buy the jars of fruit then spending hours peeling skin of pears, cooking, pureering etc to get a tiny amount

bubba has had the odd savoury jar but normally as an emergancy (ie always had one in changing bag)

now she eats whatever the older 2 do

athene did you ever use heinz chocolate pudding?

I BLW when possible, but if not I consider it a nannies job to cook 'baby food' from scratch (though friday night is pizza night for eldest ones hehe). As for my own I like to THINK I'll do the same - but i guess only time will tell!

I have to say if I've got babies and time then I will make everything, and I have been known to make, puree and jar food for bosses to take with them. Very similar to jam making.

But then I am paid to do it and probably won't with my own children! BLW is so much simpler, but some people don't seem to like it for some reason. Not entirely sure why.

Oh sure K75. Make the rest of us look bad.