Thinking About Switching to Jarred Baby Food

Try beechnut baby food. There are no additives. My 6 month old really loves it! You can get it a Kroger and HEB. Another option...http://www.happybabyfood.com/
You can get it at Whole Foods.

Do YOU eat canned vegetables? At this age, she can eat what you eat. Just be conscious of what you're eating and you'll both do fine. I know so many moms who are so worried about their baby's food but as soon as they magically become a toddler then it's off to McDonald's! Just use common sense. I have 4 healthy kids who are growing up aware of what's going into their bodies. That's all any of us can hope for.

Just do both. She is at the point now where you can mash up some of the things you are eating for dinner. The rest of the time, get jarred baby food.

I did both for my oldest. At home, I would make his food, but at daycare and when we were out and about, I would use jarred.

What my mother in law did with my daughter was to take a small grinder and groung up what was on the table. that way my daughter learned to eat all kinds of food. She would grind up certain foods, but she would cook for the rest of the family and then take 5 minutes to make my daughter's food instead of making food. That way, you still control what your baby eats without all the fuss. Jarred food tasted nothing like the real thing, and you have finicky eaters. Try grinding her food.

She gets all her nutrients from your milk so there is no need to overdo the food. My third daughter is 8 months now. What I do is make her enough rice or oatmeal cereal for that one feeding (1/4 cup) maybe 2 times a week. I grind the rice (organic short grain brown rice) to powder and heat on stove with water (1 cup). Takes 10 minutes. Same as the oatmeal (organic Scottish, NOT rolled/instant) but it's already grinded up. When we eat green beans or carrots for dinner I just make sure to cook them until tender and give them to her as is. No need to mash. Same with potatoes. I just give her unflavored spoonfuls while we eat. Apples, pears, peaches, etc. just cut into itty bitty pieces and heat on stove or even microwave with a little water until tender and put on highchair tray like the veges. They get the satisfaction of feeding themselves and practice their pincer grasp. Oh and pasta, they looove pasta. When you make some just wash the seasoning/sauce off, if you want. Organic barley biter biscuits or other crackers are good too. At 10 months it is fine to give shredded/pureed pieces of meat too. Same as before, whatever you are already making to eat. HTH!

Elizabeth,
I absolutely know how you are feeling! I have a two year old and a 8 1/2 month old. I made all of my son's baby food, and breastfed until he was 13 months old. I, like you, felt so guilty about giving him anything other than homemade baby food. I sucked it up and never gave in. Now, with my daughter, everyone expected that I would do the same for her. It started out that way, but through the holidays, I just couldn't keep up with making her food AND everything else we had going (especially while traveling). So, now I feed her jarred food about 70% of the time and homemade when I can. Reach for things like bananas, avacodos, freeze dried fruits and veggies and cheerios. I feel alot less guilty giving her these things, without having all the prep and cooking time! Also, when cooking dinner, think about what she might be able to eat, and fit that veggie in as a side dish. Double duty cooking is always a time saver!
So, hang in there! You obviously want the best for your baby... and it's amazing that the most judgemental people rarely even hold themselves to the high standard they seem to expect of you! Your baby will thrive regardless of weather you or Gerber prepares her meals!!!

These maybe cold and harsh words but I'm not sure how to say it any other way. Who is providing for your daughter? (you) Who is raising your daughter?(you) So who cares what others think, it only matters how you feel. If you feel like she is missing out by buying her food then make some of her food and buy some of her food that way you still have more time and you are still making her food part of the time. Both of my boys grew on Gerber and they are both strong healthy children. My boys love fresh fruit and fresh veggies and I bought there food. It doesn't makeyou a bad mom because your still caring for her the best way you know how.

Go ahead a switch her food if you want to because I dont think that anything is wrong with you wanting more time for yourself.Its time for you to ease up and relax.None of my 3 kids ate baby food in the jar.When I got tired of bottle feeding I put them on table food,so they ate what I ate form the age of six months.I just made theirs softer then mine.My sister did just what you are doing and when she got tired of doing it she went to table food also because her son would'nt eat the jared food,he just didnt like it,so be careful and make sure that your baby will eat the jared food after having the other food for so long.And dont worry about what everyone else will say make yourself happy and you will feel better.B. F.

I dont think anyone will think you are a horrible mom! You sound awesome to me. It just makes me think you want to spend your time doing other awesome stuff for your child. With so may brnads of jarred baby food out there Im sure some one make all natural or organic babyfoods that will be just as good nutritionally as homemade. Just research babyfoods when you go to the grocery stores Im sure you will find something that ease your mind and the amount of time you have on your hands~! Good luck!

Hi, maybe I am too old to be giving a modern mother advice,
but I raised four sons, who are now 56, 53, 49 and 43. So you can see its been a while. By ten months my children were eating from the table, anything that could be mashed or cut into soft small pieces. I know that styles have changed, but babies haven't. I used jarred food, starting at six weeks beginning with cereal made with formula and added fruits and then veggies. As soon as I felt they could eat things from the table, soft food of course, I fed them anything they could eat. I changed from formula to whole milk at eight months. Now that sounds old -fashioned I'm sure. But I was following what the pediatrician told me to do. Doctors have changed their minds so many times in the last fifty years, that I do belive your instinct as a mother is the best guide. My sons are not over weight adults nor have they had any food allergies, and that seems to be the biggest concern now.
And Elizabeth, remember you are the mother and this is your child, follow your instincts and do what you feel is best for you and your little one. Just a word from a seventy-two year old great-great grandmother. Hope it helps.

Elizabeth - Who says that it has to be an "all or nothing" decision? When my little one was as small as yours (he's nearly 16 months old), I made nearly all of his food so I can definitely relate to the feelings you have. I found some jarred foods that my LO liked and then concentrated on only making the foods that I couldn't find in the jar or that he didn't like. For example, he liked the Natures Own Chicken and Noodles so I didn't bother making that but I didn't feel like he was getting enough green veggies so when I did cook, I cooked things that rounded out his diet. Just a suggestion. Oh and I didn't feel guilty at all, somehow it seems that a lot of little ones prefer the texture of meaty foods from the jar over homemade. Seeing that to be the case, I saved myself a lot of work. Hope that helps.

I thought I was going to make all my foods until I had to supplement breastfeeding with formula...so I was pumping and bottle feeding. That takes alot of your time. My first child I used Gerber foods and the Gerber Organic. If you look at the ingrediant list...it's just the food and water...no preservatives. So that made me feel better. As she got older, I gave her fresh when I could...like mashed bananas or if I steamed fresh vegetables for my husband and I...I left some in longer so it would get softer and gave it to her. I still keep the toddler bites vegetables on hand for her since I don't cook big meals for my husband and myself anymore since I have added an infant to our family. The jarred toddler vegetables have alot less sodium than regular canned vegetables. And canned vegetables are better than no vegetables. You have to pick what you are going to worry about...and I do understand since I am somebody that likes to cook with fresh ingrediants...I don't like to eat frozen or canned foods myself.

As I recall, I never made baby food, nor did I use commercial jarred food. I just ran our good through the blender. I also nursed for a long time.
Cathy

There is nothing wrong with buying commercial baby food.
I adopted my daughter at 10 months from China and she HATED baby food, even though her papers said she ate it. I put her on table food right away, and everything went well. She ate everything I ate (and ate a ton!)...until she was 18 months old and somehow transformed herself into a picky toddler!

I was even a little disappointed about not buying baby food--I had waited so long to be a mom, and I had dreamed of buying those cute little jars at the store! LOL

Anyway, I think you should feel free to buy whatever you want for your baby. If you are uncomfortable about it, you could consider organic, or just go to table food. Your pedi can tell you which table foods to hold off on until age 1.

I'm in the same boat at you. My daughter is 11 months, breastfed, and I made all of her food. We moved a couple months ago so I stopped making food about a week before because I didn't want to make some and it go to waste. Through the unpacking and the holidays I never really got back into the habit of making her food again.
I feel really bad about it too but I do buy organic baby food for her so I know that helps. I feel like I'm cheating her, too, but only like 6-8% of women make it this far in breastfeeding so we CAN feel awesome about ourselves for that!
I've found that bananas are good and easy because I just share it with her.
Don't feel too bad - you're doing a great job!

Please stop making your babies food... you are putting the rest of us to shame!!! You are an exception to the rule for making the baby food for this long. As your baby starts to be awake more and move around more you will find yourself having less and less time. Don't belly ache anylonger... take the much deserved time for yourself. Your baby needs you happy more then homemade baby food!

Hello and as far a baby food in a jar, well at 10 months old the baby should be trying table food. You are not a bad mom because you are not making her food, but as a mother of 3 boys, try to get your baby use to table food. She will be 1 year old soon. When you eat dinner, make healthy food and I am sure the child has some teeth and mush it up for her. This way your child will start getting the concept of the pincher grasp. Hope this helps.

M.

don't be so hard on yourself. you are still breastfeeding and that is huge! keep it up! maybe instead of making her food separate, include something she can have in your meals and just mash it up for her to eat. it's good for them to try different textures so they aren't too picky anyways. try to pick one day a week or even one day a month and just make a ton of food so you aren't doing it so often. mine wouldn't eat the jarred stuff after having homemade food, so that solved my issue :)
good luck. you're doing great and try not to worry about what others think.

Mama, you gotta do what you gotta do. You aren't a terrible mommy. While I think that jarred food is great and fine and normal, I will give you my feedback on homemade foods as well.
Babies who eat homemade baby food tend to transition to big food better. Whole vegetables will taste normal to them and so will meats. Kiddos that eat jarred tend to hate the stronger flavors of green veggies later (the jarred are processed and lesser in flavor). Don't worry about the nutrients either way. It isn't that big of a difference. The best you could do is grow it, pick it and mash it. If you're not doing that, the nutrient content doesn't change that much from jar to fresh from the grocery store.
That being said, you're in the home stretch. You have 2 more months before things get much, much easier in terms of food. You may try making and freezing your veggies and buying your fruits and meats in the jar. That may give you the best of both worlds and take some of the burden off you. Frozen veggies are higher in vitamins than fresh store-bought because they are ripened where they are and frozen immediately rather than ripened on a truck or in storage. Frozen veggies are also easier to process and much cheaper to buy organics if you're into that. That may help you as well.
Or just throw in the food processor and know that you've done great thus far. Sometimes we get so tied up in doing everything right and just drive ourselves mad in the process. If you know you're done, be done. No sense resenting a carrot! :)

I think you are an outstanding mom! I do encourage you to give yourself a break! You've already done so much more than most of us! Gerber has been making baby food for so long now - and you can buy the organic type if you want. If anyone is critical, just ignore them.

I have a 10 month old, too, and have been pondering the same thing. The more he eats, the more I have to prepare for freezing! I found that I was spending more time in the kitchen some evenings than with my husband and son. About 2 months ago, I switched my son to half homemade, half jarred food in order to save some time. Also, I was afraid that my son wouldn't eat jarred food in a pinch, so I wanted to get him used to it a little. Plus, it can be difficult to find/make certain foods during certain parts of the year and I wanted him exposed to a wider variety of foods.

With all that said, he is moving to more solids now anyway. It is exciting because I watched him eat broccoli last night BEFORE potatoes and I know that's because I have pureed broccoli for him in the past. I feel like I might be reaping the benefits of all that hard work!

It's true that when the mommy is happy, the baby is happy. Trust what your instinct is telling you. Once you make the switch you'll feel better just because you'll have more energy and time to devote to your daughter and you will probably still see the benefits of making her food for so long.

Best of luck to you!

There are some great frozen, organic baby foods out there. Check Central Market and Whole Foods. I think one kind is called Plum Organics, or something like that. They are just as good as the home made kind. Don't feel bad about not making all of her food...it's more important that you take some time for yourself every once in a while. No one is going to think you are a terrible mom if you buy some of her food. Good luck! :)

Morning Elizabeth!
I don't think it will hurt any to switch to baby jar food. Most of them come with DHA and ARA for Eye and Brain development, so they're BETTER than anything you could cook for her right now. I think the first year is soooo important. After she turns 1yr, then maybe you could think about feeding her "people" food.. Until then, your sanity counts just as mucch as she does. Take that time and do something for you. You don't want to get so wrapped up in doing everything for her that you lose yourself. As a new mommy of a precious 9 1/2 month old daughter, I knoow I do the best for her at all times. I give her jarred food and she actually PREFERS it over stuff that I've made. I, like you, started a couple months ago and she hated it. Carrots didn't taste the same, Pears went bad ...etc
Do yourself a favor--and you're NOT a bad person for doing it---buy the jarred food and you'll be surprised how much less stressed and happy you are. Because Happy mom equals a Happy baby.

Oh honey, it's wonderful that you make your baby's food. In fact, I've honestly never heard of that. But it sounds like you really know what you're doing. Why don't you improvise? Make her foods for supper, and buy jarred for breakfast or lunch? Or vis versa. I've worked in four different daycares and in two of them I worked in the nursery. Jarred baby food is wonderful, and convenient in every way. I've never had problems feeding it to my first born. My second isn't quite old enough yet to start but man, she's ready. I think you owe it to yourself after about 4 months of making food for her to get some jarred baby food and do a little of both if it makes you feel better. And also, pretty soon she'll be on table foods right? So enjoy the jarred foods while you can, I say.

You have got to do what's best for you and your baby. I am a mom of 6(ages 9,7,6,4,2 &5 months) and if I've learned anything, I've learned that when I am happier they are happier. Most people feed their kids jarred food, so you don't have to worry about the "bad mom" stigma. It's a convenience, like disposable diapers.

You should know that most of the jarred baby foods are just as natural as making your own. Just look for the ones that say "NO PRESERVATIVES" as that is probably what you are most worried about anyway. Gerber has even started making some organic jarred food.
I hope this helps you feel better!

I think that is so neat that you do make her food. I tried it but didnt do well. I also felt that if I used the jarred food that I would have more time to spend playing with my babies, and as we know play is really what helps them grow and learn and bond. That is very important time. When I had to keep the house clean all the time the kids would be sad and say, why do you always have to clean, so after a bit of that I had to let go of some of it and spend more time with them. Today I have a 17 year old son that I am very close with and a 13 year old daughter that has taken a little longer because of certain circumstances, but not only did they get to bond with me, but I also got to bond with them. They are both such a blessing to me and a light in my life. She wont remember that you made her food and she wont brag to her friends about it, but she will do both when it comes to the quality time you spend together and the special place you hold in her heart and her life. I did use cloth diapers on my son and not my daughter as their father didnt want to do it again, but believe me neither of them remember the cloth. Would it ease your mind if you go to jarred food, but get her organic jarred food? Also, if i remember correctly, she will be ready for finger foods soon, so it wouldnt be all that long of time, and then when you cook you can cook for the both of you and sit and eat together, just make sure hers is in little bites etc. And Super Kudos to you for breastfeeding, that is such a great thing a mom can do for her children and you have succeeded at that!

First of all, stop making yourself feel guilty about using jarred baby food. There are wonderful, organic baby foods available in the stores now and the important thing is for you to feel happy and centered around your child. Another thing you can consider is getting a small baby food grinder to use during meal time. You can grind up whatever you and your husband are eating and the baby will feel part of things. As she develops- and this happens more quickly than you think, she will start eating things cut into small pieces anyway. Do not worry so much about this. You are doing a wonderful, concientious job. I made baby food when my kids were babies and breast fed too. My daughter is 25 and my son is 30. There were no organic, healthy options for baby food at that time. When I started using the baby food grinder, it was for a brief time until they started eating table food. J. K.

I stopped actually "making baby food" and just gave my daughter what me and my husband have. I would just cut up in tiny pieces for her since she had teeth already. In my opinion the jarred food is pretty bad, if I would not eat it why should my daughter have too. Of course the jarred foods are not terrible, most babies grew up on them, including myself I am sure. Good luck in whatever you choose.

to be honest, I made my son's baby food (and now my daughter's) for the first few months, but by 10 months he was able to eat most of the stuff we ate for dinner. just cut up whatever you are having very small(as long as it is not heavily spiced) and she should be able to pick it up or you can spoon feed it. even without teeth, your baby should be able to mash stuff with her gums. I also breastfed for 13 months but started my son on cows milk when he was 9 months, just enough to mix with his cereals so i wouldn't have to pump anymore. ask your pediatrician just to make sure. good luck and don't stess!

Do you make completely different food, or are you chopping up your adult cooked food ? A good $15 food chopper will save you time & get that good food in your daughter.

At 10 months, I wasn't feeding my daughter any baby food any more. I, too, made her baby food. But, at her age she's able to eat finger food. I would just chop up whatever we are eating an give it to her. One of those hand choppers is great for this. Pasta is great, but I'd even give her small chunks of meat. She would gum it and suck on it and she ate it just fine! She is now 13 months and eats everything. Spicy, veggies, fish, etc.

We're actually switching from mostly jarred to mostly making his food because of the cost. But I always feel good about giving our son Earth's Best jarred foods. Very natural, organic, good stuff.

You need to be the best mom you can be, and if the whole food-making thing is eating up a lot of your time and you're resentful of it, then you're not doing yourself or your baby girl any favors! Earth's Best is the next-best thing to homemade, and it is a big time-saver. And you don't have to go 100% either way. We've been buying his veggies but making his fruits just because fruits are easier to prepare. I'm going to start making more veggies, too, but it's nice to have some jars on hand for those crazy days...you know what I'm talking about!

Good luck!

Elizabeth - first of all don't beat yourself up! It is wonderful you have provided your baby with so much great nutrition. Clearly you are a wonderful mother. Secondly, I know for myself that I couldn't possibly prepare all of the food needed for my baby. So, my method is to prepare the foods we commonly eat at home like peas, carrots, grean beans then others like squash and sweet potatoes I buy. That works great for me. Having the blending of the 2 I have found to be a good compromise for our family. Hope that helps. B.

You are awesome for still breastfeeding! You should not feel bad about giving her jarred baby food. You can still give her homemade food when you make dinner for your family - like baked potato, sweet potato, avocado.

Dear Elizabeth,

I never made any special baby food for my boy (now 3). We just gave him whatever we were eating. Sometimes it has to be put through a blender, sometimes not. Of course that means you have to make sure your meals include lots of veggies and good proteins and you might have to make a separate one for baby if yours is too spicy. You shouldn't have to use any store-bought baby- food (that stuff is horrible, have you tasted it?). And depending on what your diet is right now, this could actually help make it more healthy!
Good luck,
G.
Today my son is a very good eater.

You should really feel proud of yourself for all that effort. Your child is going to get busier now (walking,etc.) and demand even more of your attention. So don't worry if you don't have enough energy to prepare all that food. You could compromise and do half prepared and half jarred, with the option of switching totally to jarred to spend more time keeping an eye on your child. Your child will be on table food before much longer, anyway. Relax a little and enjoy your baby. In the old days, babies breastfed until they were four years old or their teeth started biting!
Linda C

I can understand how something so small can becomes a big thing to a parent. That just shows your great desire to do what is best for your child. That within itself reveals your heart as a mother. Your ability to be a great mother is not dependent upon what kind of food, (jarred or not) that you are feeding your child but rather that you are nourishing her with something that is giving her the nutrients that she needs. All jarred baby foods have been found to do that. But even at that there are a variety of foods that are available in natural and even organic choices. Check to see what works best for you and your baby and do it. Sometime we as parents have to silence those who may stand in judgement over us and realize that we are the parent. Also note that the less time you are standing in the kitchen 'mashing' food, the more time you have to spend with your little one to nurture her emotional, spiritually, & socially. And if there is anything i have learned over the last 4 years with my 2 boys is this... taking time for me doesn't mean i am selfish or lazy. It does not make me a bad mom. If anything it rejuvenates me and provides me with the energy to be a better mom. It causes us to regain that sense of self and look at the big picture. One day our kids are gonna be all grown up, they are going to be graduating school, choosing colleges, or maybe even spouses. At that moment the last thing we are going to be reflecting on is whether we feed them jarred food or not. We are gonna think about those special moments we shared with them, the way they used to laugh when we blew raspberries on their stomach, the way we felt when they started school, that first moment of letting go when they got their license, and how far we as a family have come since then. Always look at the big picture, it keeps everything else in perspective.

You know what? I felt the same way when I quit breastfeeding. I breastfed my daughter for 11 months before she decided she was "too busy" to sit still anymore. So I assumed I would breastfeed my son for just as long. Well, at 4.5 months he up and starts weaning himself! I guess I could have been more strict and not given in and given him formula, but I had a 2 year old running around, and he was mad and frustrated, and I started drying up... and well it was all downhill from there! To make it worse, right after he was weaned, he got sick for the first time and all I could think was that my daughter didn't get sick her whole first year, and it was my fault he was sick and... Needless to say, my pediatrician assured me that it wasn't that I quit breastfeeding, but that my 2 year old was bringing in new germs, etc. and it wasn't my fault.

Here's the point. You want to do the best you can for your kids, and you try to. But things don't always work out the way we want them too. And you realize that maybe what you thought was the best, really isn't. Think of the extra time you will have to spend with her instead of just fufilling her dietary needs! My kids have never had homemade baby food and they are totally happy and healthy! When I can find it, I buy the organic baby food (I wish we had a Whole Foods here!) but I use the regular stuff too. And my daughter grew up loving vegetables and fruits and as a 2 year old, eats a wonderful diet!

Changing the way you do something for your child IS a big deal, but it doesn't mean it's bad or wrong, you know? Change is often very good!

I think it takes a special mom to breast feed. I don't care if you do it for 30 days or until she/he is 3 months or 9. Any amount of time strengthens the immune system. You've done your desire, now if your instincts tell you to back off some (regardless of the reason). Then do so. IT IS okay. Don't start the mommy guilt trip now. You've got a life-time to go. If you can, don't start it or allow anyone else to instill it into you ever! Being you will make you all the mother you need to be for the beings God entrusts to you. If God entrusted him/her to you, you have what you need to do the job right. All the best...Ms. Shoelaces!

I made baby food for my first child and felt so guilty anytime he ate out of a jar. Now with my second, I haven't had time to even think about making her food. I do buy the organic jarred food and those with the DHA. I also am at peace with it. As long as her tummy is full and she is growing that is all that matters. I also breastfeed, so I know she is getting those nutrients. Now she is almost 10 months and I can cut up pieces of banana, chicken (from our dinners), sweet potatoes, grilled peppers, Kashi O cereal, pasta, fish, pieces of cheese, broccoli florets and she will feed herself. Organic yogurt, and cottage cheese are things she also loves. So, at 10 months you may not need much more jarred food anyways. Sending you a great big {{{hug}}} cut yourself some slack and have some time for yourself. :-)

Have you tried Earth's Best? If you can't order it in your area maybe you can get it online. I breastfed both my boys for almost two years and made my first sons food for a while- then I discovered Earth's Best. He LOVED it- and it was all natural. I am planning of feeding it to my third when the time comes- I know I won't have time to make hardly ANY of his food! Not with the two others! Good luck!

Although we made all of my daughter's baby food and we plan to do the same for my son, you should not feel bad for buying baby food. Everyone does things for different reasons. Our reason for making hers was because you can't control what additives you give them if you buy jarred food. And she NEVER NEVER ate sugar the first year of eating food (our main requirement)...additionally, she didn't have salt...our main reason for making food. Determine what your goals are and don't let anyone decide for you:)

Don't let your perception of what other people think of you ruin your day. Keep your focus on what is right for you and your child. If somebody criticizes you, have an answer ready. If they repeat the criticism, repeat the answer, word for word. Usually they'll quit then, but if they repeat the criticism again, repeat the answer again. Works like a charm. If the homemade baby food is feeling like a burden, switch to jarred. There are several organic varieties out there so that the baby will be eating better than most adults.

I would suggest that you go to whole foods and see if they have a selection of baby food that possibly exceeds the nutrient level of you making it yourself. Its quite possible these days to get an all natural baby food with no preservatives. Its been a while since I have looked but Gerber may even be that way now. You need to stop feeling guilty about wanting to think about yourself every once in a while. I have 9 and 11 year old girls and I lost myself for a long time being a mom. I love my kids, they are my rock, but you can't lose yourself to being a mom. You have to find a happy medium and quit worrying about what people (even family) think about your choices. They are YOUR choices. If your baby is happy, and healthy, you are doing your job.

Make your baby food in bulk. Save all of your jars or gerber plastic baby food containers and lids. Make a big batch of baby food and freeze it in single serving portions. You can also do this with ice cube trays and freezer bags.
I try to make my food having 3 or 4 food groups in it, like hamburger, cheese and steamed mixed veggies and food process it and put in all of the individual containers and freeze them.
Then I make a different batch with a different meat and maybe different veggies too. then I can switch out with the 2 or 3 kinds of baby foods for lunches and dinners every day.
It makes it super easy and you have a clear consciences about reusing the containers, no preservatives and the love in the food you give your baby.

You can also give your baby lots of fresh stuff so you aren't only using your frozen babyfood. Things like cottage cheese, tiny pieces of cheese, cream cheese sandwich bits, bananas, gerber meat sticks cut up... it makes it fun for the baby too.

Dear Elizabeth, Very, very well done on what you have been doing. I have just found info on www.mercola.com about Dr Blaylock's book on Excitotoxins. Maybe if you found out the dangers of commercially processed food, it would give you renewed purpose for continuing the way you have been. I wish I had done what you have done and know then what I have come to learn now. Also a good reference is www.westonaprice.org

L. B

Girl please, just go buy the food. Its just as good for them. I know how you feel though, and I wish I would have learned alot younger not to work myself to hard and tire myself out and just enjoy the kids instead of trying to be super mom. Thats what society has taught us though being women, we suppose to juggle perfect mom, perfect wife, and career success or we don't measure up. So put down the guilt enjoy your family and buy the dang Jarred food!!! I think your a wonderful mother by the way.

GO FOR IT!!!! You are being a GREAT mom by thinking about your choice... my daughter LOVED and Still LOVES jarred food.. it give her "control" over her food.

Enjoy her as long as you can while she is small...

J.

If Mommy is not happy, nobody is happy. You are doing the best you can for your baby with breastfeeding and switching to jarred does not make you a bad mommy. You are great and dont' let anyone let you feel like you're not. I'm on my 2nd child and I hate to realize that no matter what you do for your child women around you will judge you. No matter what. I think it's their own way of deflecting judgement for what they did or failed to do with their own kids. Do worry about them, don't share your feeding habits with everyone. If you switch to jarred there are some great organics you gave buy that surely help with the guilt. You'll be helping your child NOT have any chemicals or pesticides, hormones or yucky stuff that their little body doesn't have to process.
You're a good mommy, don't beat yourself up! Good luck.
Cheers
Mimi

Try using an organic jarred food. These are just as good as making your own and they do have some great combo's. I use Earth's Best Organic and love it.

By all means make the switch! As a working mom who breastfed for a year, I can fully understand. If I had made all of my daughter's food too, I would never have slept. I was a zombie as it was with the breastfeeding and pumping. No pun intended, but it really takes it out of you! As for the jarred food, just read the labels. if you can afford it, you may want to go organic, but that's up to you. Besides, at 10 months, your baby is ready to start trying table foods. Just make your meals as usual, throw a little in the food processor for baby, and let her give it a try. Regarding your family, if they feel that homemade baby food is the only way, then they can pitch in and help you. Don't feel like they will judge you. Honestly, they probably don't even think about it. You're doing great. Now let your little one be adventurous with her little palate. Bon Apetit!

Thats nothing to feel bad about. My son is 8 1/2 months and he eats table food really well. (I do feed him the gerber baby food too since he drops a lot of food.) I just make the pieces really small or mash it. I do not feed him the meat jar food, apples and chicken things like that, I tasted it and it tasted sooo BAD nothing remotely like food we eat. I buy one of those roasted chickens from wal-mart, they are really soft, and just give him little pieces of that for his meat. Its just easier cause I don't have to make it, but I am not feeding him jarred meat. Its softer than the grilled chicken I would make for my hubby and I. In the waffle section I'll buy him sweet potato pancakes, on the box it says they are made with flax seed, whole grain, and has lots of omega fatty, and my son loves them for breakfast.He prefers these to waffles. I also give him yogurt, which is his favorite, you could try soy if your uneasy about the whole milk. And of course he gets cheerios, puffs, zwiebacks, and I nurse, I want to try scrabbled eggs in a few months too. You are nursing your baby and that is the best that you can do for her, just remind yourself of that!

earth's best is good. and don't feel bad about doing this, this is such a short stage, your child will be on to finger foods very very soon!

Hey Elizabeth,
I hear you! I was debating if I should make my son's babyfood as well because I thought it could be better nutritionally. But I was worried I would never be able to have a moment of rest between keeping up the house, doing errands, and of course taking care of my little man. So I decided to go with jarred for two reasons 1)The food at this young age really is a supplement to breast milk 2)When they start to eat table food they will get all the nutrition they need because that is when they start to depend more on solid food more. So like you I felt that breast milk was the real gold mine of nutrition.
As far as what anybody else thinks, I would just let that go. You are a great mom whether or not you give your baby jarred or homeade babyfood :)

Dear Elizabeth,

I understand how hard and very time consuming it must be to make baby food AND breastfeed your baby. You have been doing a wonderful thing, but you have to take time for yourself. I was in your shoes and thought night and day about my baby's health. I use to breastfeed and then pump, just to have extra milk so that when I stopped breastfeeding I would have milk for her. I also had PPD, so that didn't help. I was constantly worried about everything and I mean EVERYTHING! I stayed home with my daughter for the first year, and I was fortunate enough that my job was still there for me when I returned. I considered making my own baby food, but decided against it due to the lack of time. Instead, I bought ALL organic baby foods and organic whole milk...which she still drinks today at 2 1/2. I am sure your family will understand if you stop making her food. You can only do so much as a mother! You are doing a wonderful job, but maybe you could consider the organic route. My daughter loved it and it is very healthy! Good luck!

Dear Elizabeth,
Good for you! Don't worry about what others think about giving your child regular baby food. You need to have some time alone to get your self some needed quiet time for your own peace of mine! Then, you'll be all you can be for your child! If you're tired, then you'll always feel bad toward the child and every one else. I raised 4 children by myself, and I felt guilty about every thing as well as miserable for many years. Finally, I found out that God loved me the way I was, and wanted me to enjoy life to the fullest! So if God was for me, then who could be against me? That's what I do now- enjoy life and pray to God for the answers to what I should do each day! We now have 8 children living and 31 grand children. I also teach kindergarten and help out at the preschool. My children did fine with baby food! The youngest is 30 now!
Don't worry! Be happy - No Joyful! Happiness depends upon what is happening and Joy comes from Jesus 1st, Others Next, and then Your self last!
Have a great day!
LOL in JESUS,
Sheryl J

You are doing a great job with the breastfeeding and the homemade food. Your little one might be ready for table food. My son at 8.5 months was on small bits of regular food. This way you could make the transition without having to go to jar food. We never even made it to the mixed dinners because both of my kids were on regular food by that time. Your family won't think you are a terrible mom. It does take time and that is a valuable resource when you are a mom.

Take care and good luck,
J. M
(mom to an Elizabeth)

You sound like such a sweet Mommy, Elizabeth! Half the kids in the world don't have anything close to what you give your kids. Shoot, your little one is just around the corner to eating more grown up foods anyway. Please don't feel guilty - there are wonderful lines of jarred baby food that are just as good. You aren't doing a thing wrong and your baby already knows you love her more than life itself. I breastfed my daughter until she was almost 18 months. I'm glad to see you are still doing that too. Your little one is being cared for so well. Give yourself a break and find some good stuff out there. She won't even notice and you'll save yourself some time in the kitchen and doing dishes! I would stick to organic lines of food though. Just check out your higher end markets. There's PLENTY out there now. Happy eating and resting!

Dear Sweet Elizabeth,

Don't give up yet! I'm proud of you for asking for encouragement. I think you can come up with some changes that allow you to make her food and not feel like you are spending all your time doing just that.

It's been awhile since I made baby food (my kids are 25, 22, and 16!), but I loved making it fresh and freezing it. I could make a week's (or two week's) worth of food in an hour or so and freeze it in ice cube trays. Then, I would put it in ziplock bags and just pull out what I needed for each meal.

If you are only freezing a week or two worth of food the nutritional content is really not diminished as long as it doesn't sit on the counter for hours.

When I found out that there are actually additives that they can put into jarred baby food and not list on the labels I was shocked. That was a huge motivation for me. My other motivation was cost. Freezing my own food was SO much cheaper than using jarred food!

You might try doing several things at one time. Boil up some carrots in one pot, green beans in another, peas in another. Try veggies that you don't even eat. The kids don't have the preferences that we do! Use lots os variety.

Run each cooked food through the blender or food processor. Have you ever cleaned the blender on the spot by just filling it with water and a little soap? Press the on button, run for a minute, and voila! It's clean! Rinse and process the next item. Buy several ice cube trays or muffin tins and freeze them that way.

I would also do several different grains. That helps cut down on food allergies...rotate the foods you give them so that they are not having the same food every day. I cooked up millet, couscous, oatmeal, barley, rice and froze them the same way. We don't actually eat most of those things now (didn't eat them then, either!), but they are great to rotate for your little one. I would freeze those in the same manner.

Another idea would be to make one or two things each day (a supply for a week or two) while you are making your own dinner. That way you don't have the problem with trying to freeze everything at one time. Cook a pot of carrots one night, a pot of peas the next...etc. (I recommend staying away from corn - it's big on the allergy list.) While you are in the kitchen making a meal for your family, make one or two things for the baby.

When you get jarred foods they are really smooth. I found that it was easier to not over process them, and don't add any salt or sugar. Depending on their age they can easily process some lumps. No need to strain the fiber from the green beans...let them get used to the different textures. My kids all ended up being good veggie eaters by the time they were eating regular food.

The one thing that I don't tend to freeze is potatoes. But you can do fruits as well. Apples with some cinnamon - leave out the sugar. Remember, they don't have the same taste requirements that we do. Stay away from the salt and sugar and it will be much easier to ease them into more healthy foods later.

You are not a terrible mother to be feeling overwhelmed! Let yourself try a couple of different things to lighten your heart. Are you better with a couple of hours and lots of food, or doing a couple of things each day when you are already in the kitchen?

Hang in there!
P.

Hi! I have a question- why jarred food - Just give her what you eat, no processing needed!

I make my own food (and breastfeed) too. When she was six months old I would buy frozen veggies and cook them and put them in the food processor and then freeze then- no biggie! When she was eight months old I put whatever we were eating in the processor. We all ate the same thing, no more freezing. Now she is 10 1/2 months and she eats what we eat. If it's peas, I use the fork to smash them just a bit, but that takes 10 seconds. The meat I cut finely...again she eats pretty much everything we eat and I don't put it in the food processor anymore. Healthy food, easy, and no worries about the cost of the jarred food (which can be quite expensive, particularly the organics.)

For fresh fruit, cut up grapes or soft fruits in small pieces. Crunchy fruit might do to cut in small pieces and steam for a bit in the microwave or on the stove to make them softer.

Have fun and no worries!
S., mom to four little girls

I made my daughters food and I would just spend a Sunday and make about two weeks worth and then freeze it. Yes, some of the nutrients are lost but one of the reasons you make it is also so you do not have the added sugar, preservatives etc. So, even making it ahead of time and freezing is still great. Then at 10 months she can start on some finger foods too. I think you might just need to simplify your process and you can keep it up. Just take what you are already making for your family and just give her some of that. I know in my case my daughter was eating just like us very quickly because it was easier.

However--if you switch that is fine too. There are several types of organic food that are not full of added preservatives etc.

I thnk you are great for making food for this long..there should beno guilt in feeding your baby! I rarely bought baby food like maybe 5 jars in all only to try the more interesting sounding things...
BY 10 months you should be able to mash up most table food and let your baby eat much of what you are having...of course not the allergens (fish, eggs, citrus. nuts)...but veggies can be fork mashed and then gummed by your little one or add some liquid to make it soupier...DR. SEARS (askdrsear.com) has lots of good advice on feeding babies table food...Tear offf tiny crumbsof breads and stuff, or offers cherrios or baby goldfish...see how she does. At 10 months breast milk is still the main nutrient anyway..the food is jus additional

There is a brand called Homemade Baby Food that some Target stores and Whole Foods stores carry. It is a bit pricey, but it is made fresh and is all organic. It is not really jarred, it is in the produce/refrigerated area. It is pretty much like what we do ourselves, they have just done the work for us!

WOW!!! Kudos to you, Mom, for making your own baby food. I can imagine that it doesn't leave you much time for anything else, and I can understand your need for more time now. Has your daughter shown any interest in wanting to feed herself? When my son was this age, he started shoving my hands away when I tried to feed him, and I had to switch to more solid foods that he could pick up and feed to himself. You know, instead of pureed carrots, soft cooked carrot pieces, etc. You might try this. Then you would still be making her food, but you would be saving the time of pureeing it and feeding it to her. Plus, it would help her develop fine motor skills in her hands when she feeds herself.

I think you have gone way above and beyond for your child for making all of her food and breastfeeding. But, if you are needing a break, you won't be doing your child any favors by not giving yourself one. If your daughter is not ready to feed herself, the jarred baby food great, and she will still get plenty of nutrition from breastfeeding. Remember, "If Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!"