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Weaning

Find weaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Weaning forum. Use our child development calendar for more information.

Original poster

Are Ella’s pouches okay to use?

115 replies

cornflowersandpoppies · 28/06/2021 17:30

I mean obviously no babies will be harmed from using them but I am feeling bad about it. I had envisioned organic veg and lovingly prepared meals but it isn’t happening …

OP posts:
Ameanstreakamilewide · 28/06/2021 17:38

@cornflowersandpoppies

I mean obviously no babies will be harmed from using them but I am feeling bad about it. I had envisioned organic veg and lovingly prepared meals but it isn’t happening …
What isn't happening?

The food is lovely, but it's puréed baby food, y'know? 🤷🏻‍♀️

bishbashbosh99 · 28/06/2021 17:40

There's nothing wrong with them. I mainly cook but defo use every now and again if I can't be arsed. And I only cook because I have time, I know lots who don't and they use them and they're absolutely fine. Don't feel guilty for feeding your kid!

WimpoleHat · 28/06/2021 17:41

They’re very convenient and a great way of getting the baby to try new flavours with minimal hassle (eg you can try, say, mango without having to faff around with a whole one). Mix it up with a few finger food bits, maybe?

Kanaloa · 28/06/2021 17:41

I don’t see why not. Aldi do their own ‘Mamia’ version which is very cheap, lots of the same flavours as Ella’s Kitchen.

Original poster
cornflowersandpoppies · 28/06/2021 17:41

Just a bit worried I’m not exposing him to a range of food. I’m trying but if he won’t eat it it seems a bit daft. Him not eating a pouch is no effort!

OP posts:
WimpoleHat · 28/06/2021 17:46

They have a very wide range though! Why not do the easy bits yourself as well as using the pouches (eg give him a chopped banana rather than buy a banana pouch, but try him on a chicken curry pouch where it would be a faff to make one yourself and a waste if he didn’t like it).

pitterpatterrain · 28/06/2021 17:47

😂 as someone whose DC are now practically all in school - relax

Give yourself half a chance on parenting

Ella’s pouches are fine

snowy0wl · 28/06/2021 17:54

My daughter is 1.5 years old and still loves them as a snack when out and about. I did attempt to make my own versions (I even bought reusable pouches) but my daughter rejected them. We all go into parenthood believing our children will be raised on organic, home-cooked meals, no TV until they are about 10 (ha!) etc. … and then the realities of life take over (especially if you have more than one child). Smile

PurpleyBlue · 28/06/2021 17:56

Absolutely fine. You could let baby try a bit of what you're eating along with it.

R0tational · 28/06/2021 17:59

Feeding babies is a pain in thr backside. Their tummies are so small. I remember freezing home cooked food like lentils and pureed sweet potatoes in ice cube trays. I also remember a lot of waste. Ella's packets are fine. It got spinach into my kids. Some of the jars looked a bit iffy I remember. I would eat Ella's myself but some of the other brands were not something I would eat / feed kids.

Randomuser9876 · 28/06/2021 18:06

Obviously it's fine when you're in a rush or having a takeaway but I think they're not a great option nutritionally.

They're pasteurised so not as many nutrients as actual carrots etc and the amount of sugar in them is really high (pureed pears/apples etc) which is fine now and again but can't be great long term. I think children who are weaned on them must have a really sweet tooth growing up.

My kids are literally at the co-op now buying sweets so not judging AT ALL but reckon when you're able babies should have finger foods (eg pitta bread / cheese chunks /fruit and veg sticks) or smaller portion of what you're having (maybe mixed with Ella's to start with?)

Original poster
cornflowersandpoppies · 28/06/2021 18:10

Thanks Smile just a quick question, there isn’t any sugar in the ingredients so where is this (sorry for daft question.)

Eating what we eat is very tricky. DP food tends to be very heavy on meat, salt, too rich for babies. Mine is probably not suitable for the opposite reason. I did try giving him some salmon and broccoli but he didn’t seem to enjoy it.

OP posts:
Wanttocry · 28/06/2021 18:13

I mainly gave DD just mushed up stuff that we had but we did use pouches. They’re so convenient if you’re out and about. I didn’t use them much though because of the cost.

Tuberoses · 28/06/2021 18:14

I cooked fresh organic puréed meals for my DC who wouldn’t touch them. Ellas pouches got eaten no problem! Kids are funny like that. The dog enjoyed the puréed chicken and veg though!

Garman · 28/06/2021 18:15

People have to try foods about 16 times to give a definitive like or dislike on it, babies don't dislike new flavours instantly, they're just not used to the bitterness, sweetness, texture, etc. Some salmon, broccoli and potato mashed up a little bit (not pureed into mush) with a bit of butter would be ideal dinner for weaning.

Xyzzzzz · 28/06/2021 18:17

DD enjoyed them. They do lots of different flavours too which I found helped.

Randomuser9876 · 28/06/2021 18:17

The sugar content is from the pureed fruit. The baby ones are often 50% pureed apple or pear which isn't what you'd have in a normal main course.

Maybe use an appropriate one with some mashed up salmon or veg?

Not sure how old your LO is but mine were always heaps better on finger foods as could sort it out themselves

Original poster
cornflowersandpoppies · 28/06/2021 18:19

The thing is garman he just doesn’t really eat it! So it’s not that he’s trying it and thinking ‘no’ / that would be fine, just doesn’t seem interested.

He is six months Smile

OP posts:
Garman · 28/06/2021 18:22

Well he eventually like, if he's 6 months he's only just started trying foods, he's just tasting them and actually learning how to eat for now.

SquigglePigs · 28/06/2021 18:24

We used them alongside homemade stuff, finger foods etc. Much like with older children and adults diets - variety is the important thing. DD is now 2.5 and has eaten a massive variety of flavours and dishes since we weaned her.

ShinyGreenElephant · 28/06/2021 18:30

Nothing wrong with them except they cost a fortune, we did BLW so never really used them much but dd2 does have the fruit / yoghurt pouches sometimes as a snack

Heyha · 28/06/2021 18:36

I don't think you'd want them three meals a day but they are absolutely fine as part of a mixed diet! Your baby is still very small and trying lots of different things is really good- as PP have said I wouldn't bother buying pouches of things I'll happily make myself (I absolutely won't buy a cheese and tomato pasta pouch for example) but some of the pouches have got things in I wouldn't normally do, like fish pie, or in funky combinations.
DD preferred the Piccolo range of pouches especially when it was 'real' meal flavours rather than just the fruit and veg but Ella's are easy to get hold of and keep in handy. As others have said the Aldi ones are pretty good too and a much nicer price, just less variety.

We did mixed weaning so she always had porridge/cereal and some real fruit for breakfast then it depended on what we were eating and how the day was going as to how often she had a pouch but probably one every other day on average, tried to not do more than one a day just to keep the variety up. Although she would sometimes have a fruit & veg pouch as a snack instead of a milk feed and she probably had more pouches when she had a sore mouth from teething.

You'll find what works for you but I think they are a useful tool. I couldn't stomach the jar versions though and I also found the tray meals for toddlers absolutely disgusting as well 😂

whatswithtodaytoday · 28/06/2021 18:37

Nothing wrong with them, they're very useful. I didn't like the look of jars but the pouches (there are others with more interesting flavours) are fine. We used them a lot between about 8 and 11 months when he wasn't really interested in proper food but needed more than just milk. I always served them with some finger food too - toast or soft veg or similar.

They do all taste quite similar and he got bored of them after a while, which was when we moved into giving him what we were eating.

BrilliantBetty · 28/06/2021 18:58

I used them a lot with mine.

At least it meant they were eating something! My homemade would go untouched.

Add in finger food too, as you mentioned, broccoli & salmon = perfect.
But if baby enjoys a pouch and it means you're less stressed then great.

The fruity ones are sugary (from the fruit) but the savoury seem fine to me. The lentil bake one is still a big hit with my almost 18mo. And the Moroccan chicken and veggie cous cous. It's flavours we wouldn't have that much at home!

disculpe · 28/06/2021 19:11

We used them quite a bit when weaning our DS. I made him home cooked purées too and gave him the usual hand held foods to feed himself, but when I went back to work when he was 7 months old it was handy to have a few in the cupboard for the days when cooking etc wasn't an option. So long as they are trying lots of new things and getting fruit and veggies then I wouldn't worry about using a pouch when you need to.