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?

Are you getting confused with processed and ultra processed food? As I’m assuming you don’t grind grains to make flour or mince your own beef? Etc.

This, I had quite short maternity leaves with both of mine and between working full time and keeping the house ticking over and spending some time with my children batch cooking went by the wayside.

Oh well done you for not using pouches!

Why is being lazy a bad thing, though?

It's not inherently lazy, no. It's convenient. As are disposable nappies, shop bought clothes instead of home-sewn, kettles instead of boiling water on the stove etc etc etc. I am absolutely certain we could pick apart your lifestyle and find some terrible crime of "laziness" that you commit on a daily basis.

Women work more hours now than ever before (I'm talking at population level so not interested in arguing about anyone's great granny who worked 60 hours a week outside the home. Most did not). It is not achievable for every parent to provide home-made food at every single meal, on top of every other demand of modern life. When I was a SAHM to one "easy" baby, I did home-cooked food for every meal. When I was working 32 hours and had 3 kids, one of them an autistic 3 year old, I most certainly did not. So my youngest ate some pouches. Not being a time wizard who can create additional hours in a day, or a robot who can forego sleep and work 24/7, does not make someone lazy.

I have a 4 year old and a 6 month old. I have been doing purees for the baby, but we took a pouch for her when we were staying with in-laws at the weekend. My 4 year old loves a mango pouch as a snack in the car after nursery. I agree that they probably shouldn't be used for every meal, but they do have their place (and surely better than many other options?).

I never used them much, but kids just get hungry out and about sometimes. I would think a pouch would be far preferable to other types of packaged food.

Sorry earth mother,

why do people think if you aren’t keeling over burnt out you aren’t doing a good enough job?

Things have been made to make our lives easier, just because you choose the harder route don’t judge others

I think for young kids they’re fine I despair at my nearly 9 year old nephew eating them though

I think you sound horribly judgemental. No, pouches aren't great for teeth. But many of them are either yogurt or 100% fruit and/or veg. That's not a bad thing for children to snack on.

Not everything is black and white and no child needs a perfect diet... just one that is good enough.

Do you not know what probably means?

No it was a joke based on the post I quoted.

The marketing machine behind these pouches and baby food is extremely effective.
I do realise many people are time poor, but it is a shame that nutrition is the area where corners are being cut. It’s such a key area for the physical and social development of little ones.

Another stick to beat mums on maternity leave with. Perhaps all the partners if they are around could puree all the veg up the night before for them. But no. They wont

The pouches are fine - they don't go off the way fresh food does. Very handy to keep a stash in a bag for snacks/emergencies when out.

Meh. Easy wins. I'd rather see pouches than the ubiquitous iPads.

I have a second baby now and i’m thinking of starting a thread to ask what parents make for the whole family inc 3 year olds that is also weaning-friendly

I know some advice is to ‘feed them what you eat’ but then some of what we have also has salt content eg pesto pasta, nice sausages etc. I don’t want to cook lots of different food. On this basis, i can see why lots of parents turn to pouches.

Fairly sure the packaging isn't recyclable, so they will end up in landfill taking centuries to break down.

My youngest has to have 3-6 pouches everyday as directed by the hospital 🤷🏻‍♀️ sometimes they are necessary. I would have preferred BLW but I can give him as much fresh fruit sticks as I like he is still going to vomit anything more solid than a puree. He was losing weight and has completely fallen off the centile graph, with the purees he has gained a whole 800g in a month. Like previous posters have said, you don't know individual circumstances, my child was dying, now he isn't, it's extremely expensive but keeps the hospital happy and he is gaining and able to be more active 👌

I’d say that giving your child vodka and cocaine is worse but that’s just me 🤷‍♀️

For some people it’s the only way their children will eat any fruit or veg. How about you stop judging others and just concentrate on your own parenting. It’s hardly abuse and it’s not even slightly comparable to the Greggs paper bag.

Puritan!

Neither of my dc ate my pureed food so we went for pouches and bits of my food on the high chair. I couldn't care less what anyone else thinks. It worked for us.

This is an example of shaming. There's enough for parents. Breastfeeding? Natural birth? Co sleeping?

I purposefully avoided anyone who tried to do this to me.

We should be encouraging and supportive not dragging others down.

Same with everything for convenience though isn't it? I assume you bake your own bread and make all food from scratch? That's what others used to do after all.

Just like the good old days?

Things change, progress happens. Doesn't make anyone better than others. If pouches were available in your day maybe you'd have tried them for your children?