Is Ella's kitchen full of Crap ?

[davegrohll]

Baby is 5 months, has cmpa and is on aptimal pepti 1 for this.
I've started giving her little tastes of carrot and broccoli puréed myself at home. We're waiting for an appointment with the dietician.

Was just in the shop and thought I'd grab a couple of Ella's kitchen pouches to see how she gets on, it says on the back what's in them but just wondering is there anything hidden ? I'm worried about any dairy being in there that isn't stated !

Thanks

Pic

They have to state dairy s it's one of th allergens they have to make obvious.

those ingredients are exactly what they say - just the veg.

No, this would be illegal. You have to put all the ingredients on packaging.

I think in and of themselves they are harmless.and they have their benefits absolutely.

However….. I’ve found that babies who are introduced to purée through pouches etc initially, are less inclined to enjoy homemade purée going forward

Allergens have to be stated, & emphasised, by law (they're usually in bold but a different colour or an underline is sometimes use).

The ingredients have to be correct, by law.

Obviously if it's something you don't recognise it would be sensible to Google and check what it is, but that isn't the case here.

I really like the ready meals!! Had a big chunk of coconut shell in one of my meals though and they sent me a lovely box of treats to say sorry for the inconvenience!

Ahh thanks everyone ! My anxiety takes over sometimes !

They are fine but they are quite high in fruit and therefore sugar whereas with homemade purées you can go more veg based. Baby is too young for weaning though.

As others have said all ingredients have to be listed with common allergens in bold. With pouches though I would still check the ingredients as a common marketing ploy is they advertise themselves as a particular ingredient such as a pureed brocoli mix but brocoli is actually the smallest ingredient within and the main ingredient is something sweet like apples. That way babies love them they sell well to parents who want to see their children fed but when you try an older child with the ingredient you thought you were feeding them, brocoli for example your child finds that they're not in fact sweet and refuses them. Weaning should help open your child up to lots of tastes/flavours but with these pouches you will often see the same ingredients repeated.

Don't worry I won't be using them a lot ! I just wanted to give her a taste because she hated carrot and broccoli! But I have some frozen ready to go that I puréed the other day.

I have the Annabel Karmel books and she says weaning is fine from 17 weeks but never before ? Only fruits and veggies though. She also states if you leave it until 6 months you don't have much time to play around and need to get the critical nutrients into them... so I'm just giving myself some time for her to get used to it.
My baby is 20 weeks now.

Weaning should be at 6 months according to NHS and WHO. Formula is enriched with vitamin, if you are breastfeeding it's advised to add vit D via drops. Annabelle K is talking nonsense.

Perhaps it's an old book. Back in the early 90s when my children were babies 4 months was the earliest time recommended to introduce solids. I believe it used to be even earlier a few decades earlier.

@littleducks I thought around 6 months was a guideline ? So some babies will be ready before, some after. You'd think she was talking some truth though, pisses me off all this conflicting information...

I used Ella’s Kitchen at times with my baby. They’re really handy for when you’re out, don’t have much time etc.

Regarding the age to begin weaning, the NHS does say 6 months (and so health visitors will follow this), but I do believe that you know your baby best and if they’re eyeing up your food, seem hungry after milk, not sleeping as long as usual…I’d go for it. I started weaning at 5 months. My HV is lovely and has always said that the guidelines are there but that babies are individual and will send you clear messages when they’re ready to eat/toilet train/walk etc.

Just checked the book it says 2018

I really thought purées were fine after 17 weeks if the baby is showing signs of being ready. Finger foods etc definitely 6 months +

Thank you, she loved the pear one

Annabel K’s advice is quite different to most these days. She suggests starting with sweet stuff or baby rice purées - opposite to most. I’d take her with a pinch of salt. Try How to Wean Your Baby for something a bit more up to date.

Re allergies, read the ingredients thoroughly. If it’s not in there, it can’t legally be in the pack.

Thanks, I'll take a look

These are good sources of information
www.nhs.uk/start4life/weaning/ready-or-not/?gclid=Cj0KCQiA6LyfBhC3ARIsAG4gkF-hcmQTYSuoOA_zxUybiGeBx9IqEn1aQCd-LVcpGpRuImL05h_vXoAaAoqOEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

www.firststepsnutrition.org/childrens-food

Obviously with older children 6 weeks is a short period of time but in infants it's a large variation from the guideline. In answer to your actual question though the pouches won't have hidden dairy in and are fine for sometimes but as another poster says they have a very specific flavour that isn't on gone cooked food so not too be relied on consistently as babies tend then you reject other foods

I wouldn;t go eith fuit yet tbh. It gives them sweet cravings when it comes to food. I did the 3 day thing as it takes a while for them to become accustomed to tastes and helps rule out intollerances. So for eg. 3 days of only carrot puree, 5 days of pureed jacket sweet potato/potato/peas/butternut squash. Then after a few weeks alternating at them at meal times or mixing ingredients.

These are good for cooking in bulk and freezing.

babyfoode.com/blog/12-vegetable-only-baby-food-purees/ Good recipes here for later when mixing ingredients

It’s fine to start weaning earlier than 6 months. It’s been predicted for a while that the advice will change as introducing potential allergens to babies at a younger age is beneficial in preventing long term food allergies. Obviously don’t give your baby dairy if you know she has an issue.

By 6 months babies who are breastfed need the nutrients from food so starting at 6 months is not ideal.

There is evidence that starting your baby on very savoury tastes and bitter vegetables leads to them eating more vegetables in childhood. Don’t be tempted to give lots of very sweet tastes like carrot, parsnip and sweet potato.

*wouldn't go with fruit

Annabel Karmel doesn't have any qualifications in child development or nutrition AFAIK, babies should only be weaned early on medical advice. NHS guidelines say that weaning should start at 'around 6 months' and that signs of readiness are babies being able to:

stay in a sitting position, holding their head steady

coordinate their eyes, hands and
mouth so they can look at their
food, pick it up and put it in their
mouth

swallow food (rather than spit it
back out)