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?

I have teens. They still have a tube or pouch yogurt in their lunchbox as there’s less washing up of an eve and it’s handy to take out. I assure you that other foods are also eaten!

I doubt two mins a day sucking from a pouch damages anyone teeth - it’s not a dummy. This is a definite wind your neck in issue.

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.

As is usually the case on threads about other people's parenting choices, you are looking at a brief snapshot of a child's day and making assumptions about their life. If you see a baby being given an Ella's Kitchen pouch in the park, that doesn't mean that same baby doesn't have a varied diet with home-made food and lots of different flavours and textures at home most of the time. It also doesn't mean they don't have "a routine of eating at mealtimes" or that their parents can't be bothered to teach them "to eat properly". Plenty of people make homemade food for their babies or toddlers the majority of the time but keep a couple of pouches in the changing bag for convenience when out and about. If you see an adult eating a cereal bar on the train you wouldn't assume they never sit down with their family and eat a proper meal.

I remember eating Cow & Gate jars of tapioca pudding and a chocolate flavour dessert which I adored in the 70s/80s!

Yes it’s possible to buy fruit and yoghurt pouches for any age. They taste fine and are common in lunch boxes instead of a chocolate biscuit or whatever.

I fed some pouches to my dd; I weaned her on home made purées but once I was working I couldn’t face the faff of making purée after a long day in the office and racing home to fetch her from daycare. My dd really enjoyed them.

I am pleased to report both my kids are well nourished and have perfectly healthy teeth.

They eat far worse now they are older … you wait until your kids have a choice of food to purchase at secondary school… my dd lives on sausage rolls, chicken wings and donuts at school and comes home literally craving fruit and veg.

Absolutely. But as part of a balanced diet or if your child can/ will only consume purées they’re a really good, time saving product.

Meh, what's it to you? My only concern would be from a plastic waste perspective.

I buy fruit/yoghurt baby food pouches as treats for my dog. I think they’re pretty good 😂

I always had a few handy in the change bag in case I couldn’t get any other baby suitable food when out and about. They came in really handy once when we were stuck in traffic on the motorway for hours and hours and at least I could feed DD. But as with most junk foods, I didn’t let them form a main part of my kids diet.

Tbh I’m just glad to see a kid eating what with the CoL crisis and all that

And of course, no adult ever ate a compote 🙄

They don't learn how to eat by refusing to pick any food up either.

I do wish people would stop claiming that spoon feeding a baby is basically force feeding them. I thought this judgemental crap would have changed since DD was a baby.

all three of mine were spoon fed (the older 2 because that's what was the done thing at the time). Guess what. They all learned to eat just fine.

Nothing wrong with Ella pouches. They’re 100% the fruit/vegetable and no other ingredients, so literally no different from the saintly mums puréeing their own carrots, apart from being more expensive and more convenient. But whatever you need to make yourself feel special.

@Tiredalwaystired - do they / you not care about the waste of packaging?

Pouches and tubes are ok for a one off, especially with little kids, but making them form part of your day to day routine with older kids is a step too far imo.

Convenience eating is totally understandable but it’s something we need to actively teach kids not to do. It’s a partial cause of obesity epidemic.

When DS1 was little (he is 15 now) I feel like they were a new thing - they were marketed as a convenience factor because rather than a jar that you could either feed directly from the jar, which contaminated the contents of the jar and meant you had to use it all up or throw away, or scoop a set amount out and then you have to feed them all of that or throw it away or then use the same (dirty) spoon to scoop more out, introducing bacteria into the jar - you could just squirt a small amount directly onto a spoon, no waste, no contaminating the contents. Reseal the pouch and take it home for later or another day.

We thought they were great for that reason, I do remember being warned not to let the baby suck directly on the pouch. They also used to sell these little screw on spoon attachment things you could use which I remember being judgy about at the time because to me they defeated the point

I do think it is potentially an issue if a 6mo is sucking food out of a pouch because at that age, they really need to be able to see and process what they are eating. Just sucking food down like it's a drink is an issue because they will get full quicker than their body is telling them they are full.

After they turn about 1yo you don't need to be squeezing it onto a spoon any more, but I do think it's a good idea to get into that habit if you are using them when they are little. I don't think they are a problem for toddlers or older to have as a snack, most kids don't need to eat them every day and they are really great for autistic kids who struggle with food aversions. I used to eat them myself when pregnant when I didn't fancy anything. There is something nice about the texture of them.

When I was in and out of hospital for some of my 40+ surgeries, I relied on these pouches to ensure I was able to eat something. The ones I could get were organic, preservative free, sugar/salt/emulsifier free, and had no ingredients other than the vegetables and/or fruit listed. They were a life-saver, tasted great and when I needed a backup for my DC, I was fine to occasionally use them.

Stop judging and realise that you don’t know anyone else’s circumstances.

Imagine a wee pools where people simply minded their own business about parenting choices...

Clearly I mean things that aren't harmful etc before anyone chimes in
And no, pouches aren't harmful in a really dangerous sense

Imagine a wee pools? What is my phone doing lol

Imagine a world!

YABU. They are a bloody godsend when you’re on holiday/ on a plane.

I've not read the full thread, but honestly, what is the point of the OP and those in agreement other than making other parents feel like shit?

Think about how other people might feel before you spout your holier than thou vitrio.

It's not like pouches are poison ffs.

Except people are using them for out and about. Baby can't have a meal deal, McDonald's, gregs or a share bag of flaming cheetos etc.
Humans are really good at adapting. My first was born in the 80's, there were mums who didn't want mess, so completely spoon fed pureed food. Their children didn't go to school eating purees. Likewise children in other countries who are fed pap until 2. Pick up eating solid food very quickly.

What an awful judgmental thread. You just get on with feeding your kids and let other people make their own choices.

@GonnaBeYoniThisChristmas
Well aren’t you little miss judgy?

would it make you feel better if I told you that my supermarket recycles soft plastics and they go straight in the recycling bin when they get home?

I am assuming you have never ever bought a pre packaged sandwich at work if you feel able to make this comment?

Honestly this thread has pissed me off royally. Mums have ENOUGH to worry about without this level of judgement.

New mums, as a veteran of this I can say do what you need to do. These pouches are not evil as part of a balanced diet. Bottled milk is not evil - no one will be able to tell if your kid was breast or bottle fed as they grow up.

Do not buy into this sanctimonious pressure from posters like these. Just love your kids your way.

oh and PMSL at obesity comment looking at my five foot four teen with a size 4 waist (who eats fruit and veg (and other food) like it’s running out before someone suggests someone suggests anorexia or some such crap)

Wait til they're necking a greasy kebab on their way home at 4am absolutely stinking drunk.

I laughed at the thought of “wee pools”… 😂🤣

No for health reasons. I make the time to prepare home food which is not that time consuming it is just being bothered. OK in emergency or travel but not everyday for me personally. The main reasons there are some many health problems these days including SEN problems that research has proved is the result of poor processed food being consumed the last few generations. I was never raised on this kind of food so I choose not to use it. My choice. If others choose to use it is none of my business. I know I have done my best. A lot of these pouches are not healthy in my humble opinion. That is just my choice and if pouches work for others if is not my child so not my business. The environmental impact of these items alone should come into question.

My 4 year old can eat just fine and eats a very varied diet. She was weaned the same way. I also give finger foods. I didn’t ask for advice on weaning.