Store bought

[shelliz]

Hello...

  I am going to begin feeding my dd solids in 2 days (when she turns 6 months).  I am just curious how many others feed store bought baby food. I am looking into making my own, but I think I will feed store bought as well. After reading many posts, I almost feel guilty not making her food myself.  Does anyone feed store-bought baby food? If so, are there any brands that you prefer and any to steer clear of?  I have seen the organic baby food.  What is it in the regular Gerber babyfood that is bad (if it isn't organic)?  I am just trying to sort all of this out before I begin. 

  Also, how long do I need to wait (after I begin solids) to start finger foods?  Does my dd have to have teeth? That may be a really stupid question (about the teeth).

Thanks in advance

[GabrielleD]

Hi,

I occasionally feed DS store bought baby food. I've only tried the Gerber ones (non organic). In my experience, most of the fruits are ok tasting, except for bananas (which are horrible!). Most of the yellow and orange vegetables are good, peas are OK, but the green beans are absolutely horrible (way overcooked and sour). HTH

[~Angie~]

When my DS first started solids, all I fed was store bought food-only because I could never get homemade food to the right consistancy for him. I mostly bought the Gerber brand. Like GabrielleD said, I would steer clear of the bananas.  This is the only homemade baby food I gave DS, because it is very easy to mash into a consistancy he could eat. Once he could handle chunkier food and finger foods (around 9 months, I think). I mainly gave homemade food, but kept some store bought on hand in case I needed something quick.

[tylersmommy]

There isn't anything in the Gerber baby food that's "bad." If you look at the labels, they usually just contain the fruit or veggie and water (although some of the older baby foods have sugar, so watch out for that). I made most of Tyler's food, except for a few things, but the reason was just because there was more variety of foods he could try if I made them. If you do go with store bought, there's absolutely nothing wrong with that and no need to feel guilty. Just read the ingredients to make sure there's nothing added.

Most parents introduce finger foods around 7-9 mo, but really just depends on your baby. They don't need teeth because they don't actually chew anything until they get molars later on. They "chew" finger foods and lumpy solids by mashing them against the roof of their mouth with their tongues and gumming them.

[Deb_in_oz]

i use more store bought foods this time around due to time issues and dd2 preference for certain jars from Heinz. i was just saying to dh today that i shoudl just buy more jars because she likes them and eats more when i serve them up... but of course i feel guilty about that just like you - although nothing wrong with it even at 13 mo (she eats jars with chunks on them not purees).

the only things i really like to check labels for are fillers and sugars. i never buy jars with sugar in them (and thankfully dd2 only eats fresh fruit so at least that is easy to avoid) and try to find ones with almost no additives/fillers (this has improved tremendously even in the 2 years since i bought jars for dd1) i am sure the % of veggies etc in the jars has improved and most are just veg/fruit and some water for consistency sake.

[Colin Macs Mom]

I make almost all of ds's food, but I do use jars for peaches because they're not in season here yet, and it actually tastes like peaches.    I also usually buy a new food in jar form to introduce, so that I don't buy a ton of whatever it is, cook, puree and freeze and then have him not able to eat it or have a reaction or what not.

I have also been buying jar carrots since I have read that los can't have the nitrates in real carrots until 8 mo.

[shelliz]

Thank you all for all of the tips. I went out and purchased a baby food processor tonight, along w/ two baby food recipe books. The book store didn't have Annabel Karamel's book in stock so I got two other books. I also went and bought some squash, zuccinni, green beans, avacados and bannanas. I am going to try one for 3-4 days and then move onto the next.  Hopefully dd will like one or two of them!  I don't have a sieve, so I am curious how the greenbeans will do. I hope they won't be too stringy.  Thanks again for all of your help!