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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want to bake my own bread whilst also bringing up a small person?

85 replies

Ecgwynn · 27/08/2012 16:28

Is it worth having a bread maker while I have a small baby (currently 4 months) or am I realistically not going to use it? Also any recommendations of models to get?

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 27/08/2012 16:30

I don't get the baby connection?

But most people I know who have bread makers tend to shove them to the back of the cupboard once the novelty wears off.

Just to clarify, I don't mean they shove their babies to the back of the cupboard....

CailinDana · 27/08/2012 16:30

They're ridiculously easy to use, but IME the loaves are quite big and not very nice (this was from my ILs breadmaker, don't have one myself) so I'm not sure they're worth it. Others might say different.

WelshMaenad · 27/08/2012 16:31

You throw the ingredients it, the machine does the work, you get nice fresh bread. Not sure what's for a busy person not to love.

Whirliwig72 · 27/08/2012 16:32

Don't see why not - it will only take a few moments to measure and put ingredients in. I can't see this being a problem especially if you are using a sling. Ours has a function to delay the baking process so that you wake up to freshly baked bread. That would be lovely in those first sleep deprived hazy weeks! Smile

headfairy · 27/08/2012 16:32

I used my breadmaker when the dcs were smaller... still do. Having a baby around won't make a blind bit of difference because it takes minutes to set it all up and later when they're older you can make cake in it!!

dequoisagitil · 27/08/2012 16:32

The breadmaker I had produced small, heavy loaves with a gurt big hole in the middle where the stirry thing was. It was a waste of ingredients, frankly, and ended up in the back of the cupboard for years before I took it to the recycling centre.

RubberBullets · 27/08/2012 16:33

Are you the type of person that sticks with things or do you use for a while and then put in the cupboard and forget about it?

We've started using ours again, it's quite easy. Lately we've been using it to mix the dough and then taking it out and making rolls in the oven

NUFC69 · 27/08/2012 16:33

If I could bring up two under 3s, and make my own bread the old-fashioned way (ie by hand) I'm sure you can use a bread machine. I found I had less time when they were older, to be honest. Good luck with it!

Pooka · 27/08/2012 16:34

I don't have a bread machine, but bake quite a lot of bread. Its the mixing and kneading that I enjoy! Good exercise and more controlled.

SizzleSazz · 27/08/2012 16:34

We use ours almost daily. On delay so wake up to fresh bread.

Chuck 5 ingredients in and press button. Piece of piss.

Don't get baby connection either Confused

freddiefrog · 27/08/2012 16:34

My bread maker lasted about 3 uses before it got abandoned then relegated to the loft.

I make a lot of bread but I find it a million times easier and nicer to mix dough in my mixer with a dough hook and bake it in the oven

Declutterbug · 27/08/2012 16:36

We use one (4 DCs, inc baby) and so do two other families of 4 I know. Much easier to pop the machine on than nip out to the shops with the hordes in tow!

Panasonic are good. MN have reviews somewhere. I have made 2 catches of rolls today with breadmaker dough Smile

Declutterbug · 27/08/2012 16:36

batches Blush

TheApprentice · 27/08/2012 16:36

A tip: this is what my dh does. Collect about 10 plastic tubs (the oval ice cream tubs are ideal). Then when you have an hour to spare (I know, not v often with a baby!) weigh out all the dry ingredients except the yeast, enough for 10 loaves. Store the weighed out ingredients in the tubs, then when you want a loaf all you have to do is add water, butter and yeast. It actually saves loads of time in the long run.

maillotjaune · 27/08/2012 16:37

Well I started with a breadmaker and a baby. Then found I was unhappy with shape.

So I started making bread by hand. Still do after 2 more children although not all the time.

I bought Bread Matters (Andrew Whitely) which is s great book but only tend to have time to make sourdough during winter when I am quiet at work.

The River Cottage Everday (non-sourdough recipe) is an incredibly simple everyday loaf that I make loads.

I got rid of the BM after a few months.

RedBlanket · 27/08/2012 16:37

It takes approx 15 mins to chuck all the stuff in and switch it on, and that's including getting all the stuff out of the cupboard and putting it away again.
We use ours sporadically. It's currently in the ornamental-waste-of-good- worktop phase.

bamboobutton · 27/08/2012 16:38

if i had the room for it in this tiny 3 bed bovis box i would use my bread maker all the time. as it is it's in a box in the garage.

they are so easy to use. it takes about 10 minutes of faff sorting the ingredients out then the machine does the rest.

i miss my bread makerSad

Noqontrol · 27/08/2012 16:39

We've got a panasonic and its ace. The bread is lovely, and it takes no more than 2 mins to weigh and throw in the ingredients.

Original poster
Ecgwynn · 27/08/2012 16:40

The baby thing was because I haven't got a lot of time for faffing around. I might look on freecycle given that half the people who have them seem to think they're a waste of space!

OP posts:
Musomathsci · 27/08/2012 16:41

Another vote for Panasonic. I had another brand before (sorry, can't remember which) and it turned out mis-shapen bullets, but the current one is great. Very quick to use and minimal mess and bother. Go for it!

FiveRingsForDinner · 27/08/2012 16:44

I got one (panasonic) when my secOnd dc was born. Fresh bread makes any meal a feast IME .

eurochick · 27/08/2012 16:47

The point of them is that it is no faff. We have the Panasonic one too. We pop the ingredients in before we go to bed, set the timer and when we get up have a perfectly cooked loaf. What's not to like? We only tend to use ours at the weekend as we both work FT so we are not around to eat bread during the week but it is great.

The only downside is the smell of baking bread makes you want to eat a lot of bread!

teacherwith2kids · 27/08/2012 16:50

Panasonic user here. Bought it when had 2 very young children and lived in a village with nearest shop about 6 miles away.

Have probably bought about 5 loaves of 'shop' bread in the 7 or 8 years since then, despite moving to civilisation in the meantime.

Put it on last thing at night on 'timer' function (about 2 minutes' work as we use it so regularly that everything is stored next to it) Take out loaf when putting coffee on in the morning, is cool enough for sandwiches by the end of breakfast. We are both now working FT, with 2 children, and have never seen it as a faff.

Do buy 'shaped' bread every now and again - pitta, wraps - but on the other hand always make homemade pizzas using breadmaker dough.

lindsell · 27/08/2012 16:52

I'm teaching myself to make bread (by hand) for the first time with a 3mo and a 3.5yo - I have time to do these things now I'm on mat leave so with a bread maker I'm sure you can.

BikeRunSki · 27/08/2012 16:52

I make my own bread by hand, have done since DS was tiny. Now have 4 yo DS and 10 month old DD. I make 4 loaves at once, which lasts us about 7-10 days. Three loaves go in the freezer - they freeze fine.It takes about half an hour, then rising and cooking time; I usually bakevthe breadcwith a batch of scones and jacket spuds too. I get DH sliced for his packed lunch sandwiches, but I personallt hate most shop bought bread.

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