Do you judge parents who feed their child jars/pouches

[sabrinathethirtysomethingwitch]

Just that really.

And if so, why?

I wouldn't judge. I'd - my baby had loads of allergies and there were hardly any pouch or jar meals that didn't contain at least one thing that she couldn't have.

I often thought about how convenient it would be to shove a pouch in a bag (or nip into a shop) when out and about or on days when preparing something from scratch was a challenge (which felt like everyday, to be honest).

Most of the pouches and jars either don't need to be kept cool, don't need heating or at least are easy to eat with a bowl of hot water. They are popular for a reason!

And also a really good way to test out new foods rather than going to the (time and cost) expense of making a whole meal, for the baby to then hate the taste.

My first year as a mother would have been a hell of a lot happier if I'd been able to use pre-prepared meals.

So I'd never judge (unless jealousy is a form of judgment? In that I might think they have it easier than me, when of course, everyone has their own challenges).

Missing "I'd - be envious" from the first sentence of my post!

I think the jars are delicious

I didn't find it that expensive actually, about 50p a jar I guess and they do two meals.

The instant baby porridge is expensive for what it is but it was worth it for being instant.

I haven't seen any negatives to weaning onto jars. So easy and convenient.

Also, in response to the poster above who said she judges if she sees shopping baskets full of pouches as it's clear the baby lives off them ---- they're usually on a "6 for £x" type deal so it's more economically efficient to buy them in bulk, even if you only use them occasionally. So, people might load up and keep in a cupboard.

Even though there were hardly any we could buy (due to allergies) I'd still occasionally have a basket full of the ones we could use. I liked to stock up and then not bother again for months.

@Orlande if a baby only has jarred food then they are unlikely to be getting anywhere near the level of vitamins and minerals they should be. (https://www.nutraingredients.com/Article/2012/04/16/Baby-foods-may-not-provide-adequate-levels-of-micro-nutrients-Study)

What happened to food before 1 being fun?
Somehow I doubt many BLW 6 month olds sucking on steamed veg are getting the full range of micronutrients either.
That study is pointless unless there's a comparison to what babies weaned in other ways are eating.

I believe the food before one is fun meme is not endorsed by nutritionists.

It would be interesting to see a comparison to babies self-feeding family foods, but nevertheless it still tells you that a diet of exclusively jarred baby food is very likely to be lacking adequate nutrition.

But in reality there aren't going to be many people who actively choose to use 100% jars when they could provide other food.

Home made might not be any better than shop bought
warwick.ac.uk/newsandevents/news/home_cooked_meals/

With my first DC I lovingly pureed all kinds of things for him ... and he refused to eat them! So with DC2 I just fed him off my plate, or with an Ella's pouch if we were out - job done. I don't judge and tbh, when you're out and about (and therefore far more likely to be seen by strangers and judged), it is SO much easier to open a pouch. Some of them are yummy too - I used to love the banana or mango, yogurt and cereal - but there was rarely much left!

The "home made" food being studied was actually recipes chosen by the researchers from the top selling 55 cookbooks aimed at babies/children. Not sure how that relates to what children are actually fed by parents that home cook. But interesting that recipes in best selling books aren't necessarily nutritionally ideal.

Interesting that jars apparently don't meet nutritional guidance for 6-9 month olds yet many of those babies will only be having first tastes/one meal a day and won't have dropped milk feeds yet either.

I agree that the claim that there isn't enough nutritional value in the jars is odd. The jars I buy are full of proper ingredients and I can't see how all those nutrients can be lost.

Another use for jars/pouches for me is that I use them to feed DD pulses which is a food group I'm allergic to and don't want to be cooking myself.

Ultra heat treatment would destroy nutrients - not sure if jars are subjected to it or not though

I would imagine they are though, otherwise heating them in hot water would be very ill advised

Yes, seeing toddlers in buggies (or anywhere else for that matter) sucking liquid gloop out of pouches makes me feel bad for them.

No, nothing at all wrong with jars.

I sometimes used pouches when I was out and about but they're expensive, mainly just apple and generate loads of packaging so I would be surprised if many people solely use pouches and jars.

The purées are usually heat-treated at high temperatures as part of the manufacturing process, it's not about how the parent re-heats it.

The high heat treatment (sometimes more than once depending on how it's manufactured) is what destroys the nutrients.

This thread is amazingly predictable.

I'd absolutely love to see the male equivalent of it.

Darren: "Steve, do you judge dad's that give their babies jarred food?"

Steve: I couldn't give a shit, why are we talking about this you weird bastard? Why on earth would I care what someone else feeds their kid, they do what's right for theirs and I'll do what's right for mine.

The end.

No because I did it quite a lot! I was knackered breastfeeding and DP worked away so I had no help and definitely no inclination to make baby food

I used the pouches and jars. I never noticed anyone paying much attention. And if people are judging how you feed your child, then they can't be busy with their own. I used to be super sensitive - I just CBA any more

@Strokethefurrywall except maybe Jamie Oliver

@Stroke

But, have to say, I did / would because none of my 3 ever had a jar or a pouch.