Are Ella’s pouches okay to use?

[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 …

My DS1, now 13, was weaned on Ella's and Plum meals.

DS2 was fully blw as I couldn't afford pouches and as DS1 was eating what we ate at that point, it was easier to give him it too.

DS1 has always been the far more adventurous eater. Never had an issue with him.

They're not the end of the world.

I never once gave my child who is now 5 years old a pouch because its not really food. I feel really strongly about children trying lots of different foods, playing with it, smelling it and even throwing it on the floor. I did BLW and it was messy. I also did not want a fussy eater and I don't he will eat anything. At that age OP food is fun and experimenting with, dont stress out how much they are actually eating as it wont be much of any. Don't give your DC a bottle before a meal so they are hungry. Of they don't eat much give them a bottle afterwards.

Omg please don’t listen to some of these idiotic people who are telling you these pouches are no good/full of sugar.. it’s utter shite! Sorry for swearing! Give yourself a break. Breastfeeding didn’t work for me either and I think that’s where it all stems from. Feed your baby however it works for you.. some of the comments above are so damaging to a new mom. I don’t understand it.. earth mothers in full force who think that they know best even though we’re all on this planet for the first time and are all trying out best to work it out for ourselves.

@Rightthen24 did you not read all the many other anecdotes from other parents who made different choices and still have children who will eat anything?
Including mine? My eldest will literally try any new food you put in front of her. And it’s for bugger all to do with whether she was fed home cooked organic veg or not.
I don’t know if you mean too but what you’ve written come across as smug and sanctimonious.
Many, many mothers feed their babies ready made food, for a variety of reasons nearly all of them grow up fit and healthy.

In the Ella's kitchen book it suggests starting for the first 2 weeks with single veg purées, and then moving on to other veg and fruit. We did that for the first 4 weeks.

We started at lunch time, giving her a try (around 1/4 or 1/2 of a pouch) One day she demolished a whole bowl for puréed sprouts, the next day she wouldn't entertain a puréed parsnip!

After the first 4 weeks, we then combined purées (defrosting ones I'd made or using an EK pouch). After about 6 weeks, we then started on porridge for breakfast (either a pouch or baby porridge with a squeeze of pouch or some blended fruit)

She's now 18 months and will happily use a spoon herself to eat cereal, as well as eating toast or yoghurt and berries for breakfast. She uses a fork to eat her lunch or dinner without much help too.

And to the person asking if I'd eat puréed food, I do. I often make and eat smooth vegetable soup - same thing.
The same as buying DD a piccolo stir in pasta sauce. They're ideal for those days we are out for lunch or I don't have any homemade sauce to defrost. DD is more than happy eating both!

If it makes you feel better, I had a go at lovingly prepared mush, and my ds firmly rejected it, but would eat bought stuff 🙄 He eventually took more interest in what we were eating, and now eats everything and is six two at twelve.. 😂

@Rightthen24

I never once gave my child who is now 5 years old a pouch because its not really food. I feel really strongly about children trying lots of different foods, playing with it, smelling it and even throwing it on the floor. I did BLW and it was messy. I also did not want a fussy eater and I don't he will eat anything. At that age OP food is fun and experimenting with, dont stress out how much they are actually eating as it wont be much of any. Don't give your DC a bottle before a meal so they are hungry. Of they don't eat much give them a bottle afterwards.

For someone who say 'don't stress' your post comes across full of stress.

FYI, it also makes you seem like a massive knob

@88soph88

Would you eat food out of a pouch? Meat that's been pureed, put in a pouch and then left unrerfridgerated for who knows how long? It's emergency food but what's wrong with steaming and pureeing a few veggies? If you going to the shops to buy the pouches anyway just buy proper food?

Oh dear, I hope today you wake up a happier person.

Maybe try not to shame mums and you know, just be nice?

I steamed and mushed a large variety of organic veg and fruit. DS ate none of it.

Don’t listen to the righteous ones, @cornflowersandpoppies

I'm working my way through the Joe Wicks book and my DS would highly recommend the avo and butterbean mash, the butternut butter and the courgette, pea and mind blend!

Also, as a PPer said, Solid Starts are absolutely amazing, they have an instagram account which is updated regularly and the owner is a real, totally normal Mum who comes across as being down to earth, non judgy and seems to genuinely want to help families. They also have a website and free app containing a database of foods and suggestions of age appropriate ways to serve them. It's thanks to them that 8month DS will eat an entire chicken drumstick!

You can feed your child whatever you like, everyone has a different opinion, do you what you think is right for you and your baby.

OP you’re the same poster as a few threads down right with the slow to wean baby? Please don’t worry. It’s incredibly early in weaning and he’ll eat when he’s ready.

For what it’s worth, I’d say pouches are ideal for the single veg purée stage! Assuming you’re not going fully baby led. Save proper cooking for when things are getting tried properly, but really, just do whatever you need to and try to take the pressure off yourself.

I started off doing it all home made, a mix of puree and finger food and the occasional pouch. It was a faff, but doable at first. Then as he got more into food, it became too much faff so I switched to mostly pouches plus bits of what we were having. Ds is 19 months now and eats really well most days, he sits at the table and feeds himself, will try most things etc. Obviously because he's a toddler we get days where something he loved on Tuesday is ignored on Thursday because he has decided he only eats yoghurt that day 🤣 But the next day he's back to eating well.
You're doing fine op. Give him the pouches, don't stress, just keep trying different things alongside /in between. It will be fine 🙂

Oh an please, for the love of God, ignore some of the absolute sanctimonious twats on this thread xx

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with them now and again - I cook all of my daughters food from scratch and batch freeze however once a week she will have a pouch for dinner and once a week for lunch - not on the same say - as it just saves time.
I think if you’re going to just do ellas - no judgement here - but maybe offer some steamed veg on the side as finger foods?
I also find the Freddie’s pounces better - again their more expensive but I think the content it better.