To give a pouch of baby food

[weaningtime]

Just that really. Shamelessly need validation. I am absolutely sweltering in this heatwave with a Velcro baby who only wants to contact nap. DD is nearly 8 months and I’ve watched the panorama on shop bought baby food so not fed her any shop bought jars or meal pouches. I try and be conscious with her food, she has a healthy homemade porridge for breakfast every day with nut butters, seeds and fresh fruit and then usually a BLW style tea or a recipe we’ve followed from a baby cookbook. She usually really enjoys her food. We are getting takeaway, so can’t share that. Last night I cooked a vegetable and cheese pasta for her and she had two mouthfuls and wasn’t bothered, probably the heat I’m guessing. I’m putting so much pressure on myself and have run out of ideas for tonight and food shop doesn’t come till tomorrow.

Would it be that bad nutritionally to just buy and give her a pouch tonight? I have seen people compare it to junk food and fast food so feel like I’m not doing good enough and not prioritising her if I default to that. Is it ok or any other food ideas that are very minimal prep?

Sorry - 20 years since I had my kids and please tell me - what on earth is BLW and what is PFB???

I wouldn’t trouble yourself with going out and buying a pouch anyway. In this weather, she is unlikely to eat very much. A banana or some yoghurt will probably do the trick - keeping them hydrated is most important.

Baby lead weaning was definitely around back then 😂

Mine is obsessed with dried cat food. I think it’s the salt combined with a power move over the cat.

OP, not to diss pouches but mine has always outright refused the veg ones. If I cba I just do her a bowl full of frozen peas and she’s delighted. Don’t get too stressed with the BLW three course meal, homemade fennel hummus or whatever.

I also think you’re overthinking this way too much as baby is 7 months old. A pouch is fine but I wouldn’t go out of your way to purchase one if you don’t need to pop out.

At 7 months, milk is their main nutrition. A bit of yogurt and banana will do.

Dear lord, we did a kitchen extension and had no kitchen when DD was 7m - 1y. She exclusively had pouches and ready meals. It's fine. If you're really struggling with doing it , buy the Annabel karmel ones

I thought you were going to say '..to a dog..to a homeless person..'
Of course it's ok to give it to an actual baby! That's what it's for? Convenient food for infants. Unless you're Jennifer Aniston who apparently uses it as a diet aid?!

It will be absolutely fine. I did the odd pouch when I weaned mine on days when I just couldn't be bothered, I'd spread it on some toast or rice cakes so they could feed themselves still. But you could also save yourself a trip to the shop if you've got some bits in the house to do a picky tea, toast with cheese spread on or nut butter, fruit and veggies and some rice cakes and maybe a bit of yoghurt if you have one would be fine too.

She'll be fine.

Although if you are looking for minimal effort dinners, I used to do toast / pitta bread fingers with tuna and houmous and whatever raw veg was available to slice.

It's definitely better than a pouch IMO. It's actual chewable food for a start...but then I only said beans on toast as something the OP might already have in her cupboards so wouldn't need to go out and buy something.

DC1 used to pretty much survive solely off fruit pitches between the ages of 1-2. They also barely ate a single scrap of fruit “proper” food until they were nearly 4. I used to tear my hair out and get so upset, but looking at them now….I wish I’d been a thousand times easier on myself. Pouches are not the food of the devil. Go a lot easier on yourself and do what works for you. Your baby will be fine.

Just give her the pouch. Both my dc were practically raised on the pouches with finger foods offered too.

They thrived

In this heat I'd give cold finger foods, cheese, pitta, cucumber, hummus, apple slices, peanut butter, Greek yogurt etc no effort. DS is 7 this year and I never gave him a pouch or jar and I'm not the lentil weaving kind!

Baby will be absolutely fine with the odd pouch! An alternative however that I've found handy with my 8 month old is to buy soup. Obviously not as good as homemade soup but there are still some pretty clean ones out there! Handy to give when big siblings are having sausages and chips 🤣

Please stop trying to be a perfect parent, it will be detrimental to your health.
And for what it's worth my eldest 2 always had whatever me and their dad was eating I've puréed a whole Sunday lunch, lasagne, moussaka the works - they have loads of health issues and are both ASD, ADHD, ODD plus most of the rest of the alphabet. My youngest because I was doing a lot of health care for her brother's mainly ate jars or pouches. He's the healthiest of all no health issues at all and is part of a nationalally competing sports team.
So I'm sure a couple of pouches won't hurt

@weaningtime what did paranormal say? Obviously we know home cooked it better what did it say

DD had a few of them thrown in with mostly "real" food. She's fine, she eats well.

Today she's mostly living on fruit, cheese and ice lollies because she doesn't want anything else. Nor do I tbh.

In the same way it's fine for the odd takeaway or bit of junk for us, a pouch here and there will do no harm.

I completely second this comment

Mashed potato with some stewed apple? You could boil or do a single potato and apple in the microwave.

Our household is crazy busy some days which means occassionally we have microwave meals from the shop or a pizza and the youngest has a pouch of food. Everyone is fed, everyone is happy. Every now and then isn't going to hurt us. If anything, an already mega stressed and exhausted mum with even more to do will have more of a negative impact on the family as a whole than a bit of processed food. We're all doing our best! Don't stress yourself....it's far too hot for that 😅

Can’t you just nip out to a farmers market or the like OP and pick up some fresh produce to prepare a meal for this evening?

My 8 month old is currently working her way through a handful of frozen peas. As in the peas are still frozen. She'll probably have a nice fridge-cold pouch of something sometime today, along with a lick of her sister's ice lolly. It's ok to make it easy for yourself sometimes, especially in this heat, and baby will learn different things from all varieties of food they are offered. When I'm feeling guilty about this stuff I look for what benefit it's bringing her besides nutrition: fine motor skills, for example, a new flavour, or a social experience. As part of that big picture I really think pouches are fine here and there. Please don't beat yourself up. You're doing great.

I'll also add I always have pouches in the cupboard for emergencies or if little one is ill and hasn't had an appetite. He gets tonsillitis a lot, if he's not eaten anything proper for a while, I give him that as its better than nothing. It tends to restart his appetite and we move forward with it from there.

@JustSaying10

that sounds gross

I bought some while travelling so I’d have a back up to the usual homemade fare. DD wouldn’t touch them 🤦🏼‍♀️

Mashed avocado and banana went down well at that age as a cold food alternative when it was boiling hot. Cold pasta with some chopped tomatoes and cucumber. You could add a little bacon(but salty), or chicken/tuna , or cheese ?