Baby yoghurts : A scam?

[Katherine]

DD2 is now moving onto solids.

I decided to get her some baby yoghurts for those times when I haven't really got time to heat or prepare food. Grabbed the petit filous first fromage frais ones and a big tub of organic bio-yoghurt for DD1.

When I got to the check-out I was thinking how doaft it was that DD1 could have organic but not the baby. It was only on the way home that I questioned why I'd bought what I had. I went for them purely because they said "suitable from 4 months" on the label but surely they are no different to other yoghurts and fromage frais. Would make much more sense to get hers from the big tub so I can get what I need rather than wasting half a pot.

So do you think baby yoghurts are a scam. Surely as long as its smooth it doesn't matter?

Also is there any reason why you can't give a baby the bio-yoghurts?

I'm going to place an order now - all your fault Sue ... Do you get commission if I click through on your link?

What about the Danone ones made with Follow On milk? My prob is that I don't want to give her dairy yet.....

Davros, I'm confused. Isn't follow on milk just a fortified cows milk (ie dairy)?

We used to add sugar, jam, fresh fruit and/or granola to our yogurt back in our hippie berkeley days.

My kids just eat plain (unsweetened, unflavoured) yogurt. Maybe you have to flavour & sweeten it if you always have flavoured & sweetened it, but my kids devour the plain stuff. I think most kids like sour flavours; we used to pick a weed that grows all over Southern California to eat it, but as an adult I can't stand it. DH who originally turned his nose up at it, now loves Greek yogurt in place of cream on puddings & cakes.

sofiames, I'm confused too! I think I've confused myself as, now I think about it, I suppose its just formula milk (based on Cow's) and it must have extra vits or something added. I haven't got any at the moment, but I'll have a good read next time I see them.

Oooh hadn't thought about making my own. Mind you I have horrible memories of my mums home-made yog as a child. It was never smooth just bits of curd and liquid. More like gone off milk! We used to have a ceremony every morning break where we poured it down the loo. Mum never knew poor thing. Bit things have probably moved on now. I'm afraid I'm a bit of a sucker for the organic label and hadn't thought about all the stuff added to those as well. Not heard of the Rachels ones though but its a bit limited round here. Will have to investigate further. Thanks for the support though. Definielty no more baby ones in this house.

Lol, Kmg - now there's a thought!

Message withdrawn

Zebra - my dd is like your kids - plain, unsweetened (full-fat) natural yogurt is all she ever gets (18 months). It's cheaper than all those baby pots, we always have it in the fridge because I have it for breakfast, and there's plenty of time for her to learn the joys of fruit-flavoured yogurts. Right now plain yogurt is her idea of a huge treat.

Suedonim - my Lakeland parcel arrived today

The yoghurt maker talks about boiling the milk beforehand because of chance of bacteria. Is this necessary? (Seems a bit of a faff that's all, boiling it, then waiting for it to cool down, etc.)

Dh is at Tescos now buying milk ... I can't wait!

Does anyone make drinking yoghurt? My kids love the bought stuff, and I was wondering if you could make it cheaply. Is it yoghurt that's just not 'brewed' for so long? Or is it yoghurt mixed with milk? Anyone know?

Oops - just read the instructions properly and realised it said best to use UHT milk Too late, I've already boiled the milk.

I can't wait til tomorrow to try it Thanks for inspiring me sue.

So you succumbed to Lakeland's lure, Kmg! If using fresh milk you do need to boil it first otherwise it curdles rather than turning into yoghurt (I think - not 100% sure!). I use UHT milk - Sainsbury's sell a variety of milks including organic. I don't know what's in shop bought drinking yoghurt but it would be v easy to make from your own yoghurt.

PS Did you get the new Lakeland catalogue? Mine came in the post this week!

Saline - this is an ad. You are not supposed to use Mumsnet to advertise your products.

And anyway, if you buy a yoghurt maker like I did you can make your own lovely, yummy yoghurt forever and put however much fruit in you like.

But at least it is an ad in response to someone elses question - not a thread started simply to advertise...

sorry I just thought you would like to know about a product which is actually good for children and not packed with sugar, stabilisers etc. I thought you may be interested in a couple of mothers trying to do something about the awful food in the supermarkets for children. Its hard to keep quiet when I'm reading about mums who want a better alternative to Petit Filous - and there is actually one out there.

I apologise!!!! I think it's great that some people are making their own yogurt - there is nothing better, at least you know whats in it! but unfortunately not everyone has the time

I liked the Mums4 yoghurts, but now tend to give ds Rachel's yoghurts mixed with honey and banana or pear.

I do think congratulations on finding a real niche in the market though.

Anybody knows where to find natural fromage frais full fat ?? They only have the healthy one at my local Tesco and we don't want that , oh no ...???
thanks... ( a mum fed up with the petits filous...)

Argh gaelou I have seen them somewhere but can't remember where. I shop in Asda a lot, maybe there?

for my 10 mth dd i just mash up banana in full fat greek yogurt or add some apple puree, strawberries etc...

is greek yogurt not good? its cheaper and lasts longer and has less ingrediants inc nasty sugar.

KMG1 - I am thinking of buying a yogurt maker - please can you let me know how you get on????, what your children think, what recipies you use etc???

Thanks
sonnet

Sonnet (I've changed my name - was kmg1) - the yoghurt maker is fantastic. We've had it about 3 weeks now, and have made a litre of yoghurt every day, which has been all been eaten - mostly by my two boys (4 and 6). It has totally transformed their calcium/dairy intake.

I bought a 'spare bowl' from Lakeland, and make yoghurt every day during the day, then it chills at night to be eaten for breakfast/tea the next day. I use whole UHT milk, as this is easiest, plus a couple of teaspoons of the previous days' yoghurt. It's so easy!

We mix the yoghurt 50:50 with fruit juice to drink, or pureed fruit, or milkshake flavouring. They love it mixed 50:50 with apple puree. We also use the Easiyo flavourings from Lakeland - just a small squirt with a bowl of yoghurt.

At first they turned their nose up at it a bit, as they were used to 'bought' yoghurts and drinking yoghurts with lots of sugar in. But once they realised we weren't going to buy them any more, they just got used to it.

I am looking forward to summer and using more fresh fruit - peaches, raspberries, and strawberries, but there's not a lot around atm.

Hi Everyone

This may seem like a dumb question............

I bought a Lakeland bulk yogurt maker and it really is fantastic. I make the yogurt using whole UHT milk and a couple of generous tablespoons of skimmed milk powder (as I like it thick and it's easier for the kids to eat that way).

However, I have a question - my yogurt is really really delicious and creamy tasting, so I ask myself, as I finish another bowlful, how many calories fat grams are in it. I don't mean precisely (Pls excuse my ignorance) I mean does the act of making the yogurt increase the fat content or is it the same amount of calories and fat per gram as the litre of whole milk, 2 x tbs skim milk powder and initial 10ml live yogurt that it started as. Sorry, I may not have explained my question very well and I know it seems a bit stupid but IT JUST TASTES SO CREAMY! I don't want to be consuming bowls full of fat thinking I am being healthy. God, i've embarresed myself with my ignorance here