To think pouches are awful?

[AIBUnamechanger9]

I have two DCs and have never fed them from pouches. I see babies and toddlers sucking on them everywhere and it seems horrible for their teeth? Also for having a routine of eating at mealtimes or teaching them to eat properly. I recently spoke with a friend (who I am quite close with and believe she’s a wonderful mum) and she told me her 8 and 10 yo children still eat from pouches, especially if they’re on a day out, etc.

AIBU to despair at the prevalence of pouch feeding?

Wow really?

I am sure if someone mentioned 'my mil told me unicorn urine laced with dodo droppings would cure haemorrhoids' there would a poster who could link article to lecture, I mean, inform others about it all

I’d say op is getting slammed because of their choice of wording eg ‘despair’

I'm giving my baby loads of pouches atm. I'm so overwhelmed, and also constantly worried about him putting on weight - he's never wanted more than a lick of my food, but will quite happily eat Ella's pouches - from a spoon, if that makes it better for you? 🤔

Ughh, was already feeling a bit shit about it.

Don't feel shit. You're doing what you have to do to survive atm! I have two under 2 and I don't even have time to go for a piss let alone be making everything from scratch and pureeing all day, I'm in no rush to start weaning but when I do pouches are welcomed here.
Of course fresh is best but a few pouches here and there I can't get worked up about, as a pp said it's not a pouch full of crack!

No need to feel shit about it :)

Thanks both :) Having a demanding nearly 4 year old on top of things does up the ante... (I do feed her food I've cooked rather than pouches, I hasten to add🙊)

My nephew was weaned mostly on pouches. He's now 10, doesn't have a single filling or anything wrong with his teeth, and is the least fussy eater ever. He's a joy to cook for, as he just loves everything!
Don't judge.

I buy these for my hamsters :D

I love pouches! Take them on long drives/bike rides/paddle board outings!
You just do you and dont judge others.

What do people think happened before such crap was invented? We cooked and pureed food, stuck it in a tupperware pot.
Dear god, we even washed nappies!!

Sooo glad I don't have to wash nappies 🙏

Despair? Nah, I despair for the kids who have nothing to eat.

I'm in France where pureed fruit is a very popular dessert for adults and children. ALL the children eat the pouch version of the pureed fruit for snacks, e.g. at the park.

My kids are 9 and 12 and take them daily in their lunchboxes. Much easier and cleaner than spoon and pot (especially as they are both dyspraxic).

Usually disclaimer: both very healthy weights, very sporty and have no cavities (6 monthly dentist checkups). Yadda yadda

It’s actually okay to be lazy sometimes

Do you live your life not using crap that’s been invented? That must be so difficult

I gave my now-16 month old lots of pouches when she was younger because BLW wasn’t for us but I found the puree stage overwhelming, and she’s now known at daycare for enthusiastically and voraciously demolishing 95% of what they put in front of her. This thread will have lots of horrible posts because people online get a weird little kick out of establishing their superiority over random strangers, but that’s all it is. You’re not dooming your baby by giving them a pouch!

Yabu and take your despair elsewhere 🙄 a pouch is the only way my ds will eat fruit, is it ideal? No ! But we are where we are! Better to have fruit in a pouch than none at all.

The pace of life is quicker now, parents are busy .often both parents have to work so things need to be more convenient and some parents choose to miss pouches. My friend gives her toddler one on the way to nursery each day and one on the way home as her hours are such that she’s travelling at times her baby needs to eat and he has issues with food textures so won’t eat much at nursery. Everyone is just trying their best

Miss-use

I'd have loved pouches. But my babies were both 'spirited' and would grab the pouch and throw it at me at best or squeeze all the stuff out, climb out of the highchair (no strap would hold them) and smear it across the wall in defiance. Then they'd get upset because they were hungry. I mean honestly.

🥇

They definitely have their place when feeding babies and toddlers. Especially when out and about, on holiday or as a quick fix.

I also used them in early weaning to get a variety of different tastes.

My only issues with them was taste and the amount of water in ready made baby foods. But that's just me.

OP, is it the presumed failure to move on to home cooked foods and luck of teeth brushing that you are worried about?
If so, I don't think the pouches are the issue...

I think they have a place.
I used them when out and about weaning but as soon as my dd knrw what "real food" tasted like that was it.

Surprised older kids would want these.

Lazy - yes / maybe?
Harmful - unlikely

Kids had sweetened tea out of bottles? Dummies dipped in sugar?

Couple of my mums "good food" guide.

No pouches when mine were little, I don't think. Can't say I looked for them.

I did try a jar food once in an emergency.
Completely tasteless, so yanbu in not feeding your little ones processed, tasteless stuff.