Homemade babyfood = BAD

[roxierocks]

I make ALL of my DD's babyfood. I use mostly organic and she loves her food. I can even eat it and it tastes so yummy. I add nothing to her foods only fruits and veggies. Today my DH told me that he had told someone that I make all her food and they freaked out on him and said I needed to immeadetly start given her jarred food. That I was a horrible mother and wasn't given my DD enough vitamins and I was harming my child. WTF? :yuck:

[Spud'sMom]

I think there's a common misconception that baby-food companies at all sorts of nutrients to the food when in fact it's just veggies/fruits and water they were cooked in (for the most part).

[joanna19]

omg. I can't believe someone said that and actually thinks that that is true. Homemade is certainly the best you can give them imo. The food we had for dd was primarily homemade save for the odd jar in emerg. situations. Real food has so much more nutrition, jarred food is also primarily water, and not does not contain as much nutrients or substance because of that fact and how they manufacture them (this is all according to stuff I have read and the nutritionist I have talked to).

[Skittlegirl]

How can people think that? Our pedi gave me a handout about how jarred baby food is like the first type of junk food you can give your child and how it's so much better to make it yourself. Plus look at the cost. For less than $2 you can buy a sweet potato that makes at least 10 servings of baby food, whereas the jarred stuff is like $2 a serving.

[heathertup]

I had to read your post cuz I wanted to know why homemade baby food was "bad." The guy was obviously clueless. I plan to make my own too when DH is ready for solids.

[zosiasmama]

Hey Roxie,
Well this is my take...her is what it boils down to.
Americans are weird and have some seriously nutty ideas about a lot of things!
I never really noticed before, but living here and seeing that 93% of women breastfeed and that making your own food for a kid is normal, not the minority, has really opened my eyes. I wonder how America got so far off track? Was it the introduction of all the convenience food and stuff? Was it the women going to work during the wars and not beinginthe home so much? Who knows but seriously American need to take a real hard ook at themselves and re-adjust some thoughts if making food from fresh fruits and veg is inferior to jarred, processed,vitamin leeched, fake vitamins added back in, heated, cooled and preserved! :yuck:

You keep on doing the good thing for your baby!

[WhatWasIThinking]

I agree, America is wierd! I wonder if these people even LOOK at the ingrediants or nutritional information?? It's obvious that there aren't any extra vitamins and all!

[gueyclan]

I made all babyfood for all my LO's and none of them have withered away yet. :giggle2: I can't believe how brainwashed people are. Geesh! You keep doing the good thing mama!! :hugegrin:

[roxierocks]

Yeah I can't believe this lady had the nerve to tell my DH I was a horrible mother too :yuck: I guess she has no kids and after she said this to DH she found out she is pregnant lol. My DH was so mad. He thinks it is awesome that I make all her food. I can understand people using jared baby food but can't understand how people would think it was better. It smells and looks so nasty :yuck: and even if her food didn't have the vitamins in it (though it does) her formula has every thing she needs in it. (I didn't choose to use formula)

[JeDeeLenae]

Yeah I can't believe this lady had the nerve to tell my DH I was a horrible mother too :yuck: I guess she has no kids and after she said this to DH she found out she is pregnant lol. My DH was so mad. He thinks it is awesome that I make all her food. I can understand people using jared baby food but can't understand how people would think it was better. It smells and looks so nasty :yuck: and even if her food didn't have the vitamins in it (though it does) her formula has every thing she needs in it. (I didn't choose to use formula)
Off topic, but next time I'm in Lapeer visiting the inlaws, you have to let me come hang out. They drive me crazy with talk like this!

As far as the idiotic comment, it really does show how far we've fallen from where we started. We now think it's only good if it's chemically treated, tampered with in some way, or jarred and served to us. How sad is that?

[roxierocks]

Off topic, but next time I'm in Lapeer visiting the inlaws, you have to let me come hang out. They drive me crazy with talk like this!

As far as the idiotic comment, it really does show how far we've fallen from where we started. We now think it's only good if it's chemically treated, tampered with in some way, or jarred and served to us. How sad is that?

I would love to hang out :lostit:

[tranmama]

WTF is right! I feel like a horrible mama for having broke down yesterday by buying some jarred food just to have in the house for my rushed or lazy days! It's totally the other way around...jarred = bad, not homemade = bad. Those people are braindead. I did buy the organic, natural jarred baby food, and I am looking forward to having the convenience of it, but I do have an understanding that homemade = best.

[Deanner03]

Don't let them get to you, mama. You know you're doing what's right. That's all there is to it. :thumbsup:

[babydoll101]

OMG! I can't believe it. Obviously they have not read the back of a jarr of baby food. They not only add water but salt, sugar just to name a couple of indregients. I'm sorry but I chose not to put that in my baby's body for a long time. Really that is unbelievable!! So sorry you had to go through that. Believe me you are doing the very best for your baby. Keep up the good work;)

[sisterof10]

It's true: homemade baby food is missing out on all the sodium and sugar of jarred food, not to mention the preservatives. And since that's what the majority of Americans think makes a great meal, then your kiddo is missing out too.

Don't worry about it though. She'll see in not too many months that parenting before you have kids is very different from actually parenting kids. :rolleyes:

[jewelzbird]

just plain crazy!! your food is way better!!

[cowboymommy]

Sounds like the person is just uneducated and has no clue. I wouldn't bother listening to any of their comments... regarding anything from here on out. I think people just don't get it... that once they discredit themselves in such a dramatic fashion, it will be hard for people to ever take them seriously again.

[Edensmomma]

wow- it's the exact opposite! Canned food has waaaayyyy less nutrients and vitamins!! Some people really need to think before they talk!

[trilla_marion]

How can people think that? Our pedi gave me a handout about how jarred baby food is like the first type of junk food you can give your child and how it's so much better to make it yourself. Plus look at the cost. For less than $2 you can buy a sweet potato that makes at least 10 servings of baby food, whereas the jarred stuff is like $2 a serving.

Yep. The first time I made my dd yams I bought 2, spent $2 and got 24 servings out of it (rough figure, it's been too long to say exactly, but it was more than 20. hehe)

To the Op that is just crazy! Does this person think that natural foods really have less nutrients? crazy crazy.

[eowynmn]

I had to read too because of the title- I thought you were crazy when I read the title. ;)

Just remember, these are usually the same people that think breastfeeding is harmful to the baby. It's not your fault they have chosen to be uneducated.

[Belle's Mamma]

How can people think that? Our pedi gave me a handout about how jarred baby food is like the first type of junk food you can give your child and how it's so much better to make it yourself. Plus look at the cost. For less than $2 you can buy a sweet potato that makes at least 10 servings of baby food, whereas the jarred stuff is like $2 a serving.

Ditto here...my pediatrician really was pleased that DD was BF & when solids were introduced she was given homemade food. Also, DH after 4 years of medical school & 3 years of residency brags to all of his fellow residents & attending docs that 99% of DDs food is homemade. All of them approve. If that many docs are in favor who is some childless busy body to say that homemade foods are bad. Also, as pointed out by PPs, has she looked at the nutritional info on the babyfood? Didn't think so. You must be such a bad mommy for giving your baby wholesome foods...shame on you :roflmbo:

[hippydippymama]

What the french toast?!? Oh yes, because you're not feeding your LO out of a jar with Gerber on the label, you're a BAD BAD MOMMY!!!!

You know what, I've TRIED that commercial baby food. It tastes TERRIBLE. That was one of many reasons that got me started making my own!

[Violet1983]

Hey Roxie,
Well this is my take...her is what it boils down to.
Americans are weird and have some seriously nutty ideas about a lot of things!
I never really noticed before, but living here and seeing that 93% of women breastfeed and that making your own food for a kid is normal, not the minority, has really opened my eyes. I wonder how America got so far off track? Was it the introduction of all the convenience food and stuff? Was it the women going to work during the wars and not beinginthe home so much? Who knows but seriously American need to take a real hard ook at themselves and re-adjust some thoughts if making food from fresh fruits and veg is inferior to jarred, processed,vitamin leeched, fake vitamins added back in, heated, cooled and preserved! :yuck:

You keep on doing the good thing for your baby!

I miss Poland... my parents are from there and I used to visit every summer for 16 years. I wanna go back and visit !!

[aphlbrck]

Aaaaahhhh! I got the same type of comments from my GMIL. She asked me if my DD was getting sick from my homemade babyfood. I asked her why in the world would she be getting sick? GMIL said the babyfood companies process the food in a special way that makes it better for babies to digest. Again WTF!

[flobee76]

Some people are so ignorant. I can't stand how people are so un-informed and they are super opinionated.

Hello??? PROCESSED foods?!?! Doesn't that ring a bell?!?!

Do those same people expect us to eat t.v. dinners and spaghetti from a can and feed those to our children?!??

BTW- I make all DS's food and he won't touch the jarred stuff. He spits it out and cries.

[sourpatch_babe]

Hey Roxie,
Well this is my take...her is what it boils down to.
Americans are weird and have some seriously nutty ideas about a lot of things!
I never really noticed before, but living here and seeing that 93% of women breastfeed and that making your own food for a kid is normal, not the minority, has really opened my eyes. I wonder how America got so far off track? Was it the introduction of all the convenience food and stuff? Was it the women going to work during the wars and not beinginthe home so much? Who knows but seriously American need to take a real hard ook at themselves and re-adjust some thoughts if making food from fresh fruits and veg is inferior to jarred, processed,vitamin leeched, fake vitamins added back in, heated, cooled and preserved! :yuck:

You keep on doing the good thing for your baby!


So totally right! And btw, I don't agree that all jarred baby food is nasty. Have you tasted the fruit medley? I can never get enough of it:giggle: Although I'm going a different route than jarred food this time around and will miss those little suckers. I may buy some just for me though:giggle2:

[sourpatch_babe]

Ooh, and Gerber came out with a new line of flavors. All tropical, mango, papaya, guava, etc. Totally delish :)

[TwinKristi]

:roflmbo: I swear, some people will believe anything anyone tells them!!! They probably think sposies have some magic nutrient powder in them to make their baby's bum so soft!! :giggle2:
I bought jarred food with my twins, I started making some of it for fun, but never got the hang of it. With my 3rd I also just used jarred food b/c I was working FT and he ate at daycare a lot but they had organic then so that helped. But w/ #4 & #5 I made their food. I did get a bunch of free baby food from a Gerber sales rep and donated it to the local food bank. It was all the Latinas blends (beef & tomatoes, papayas, etc.) and my guys didn't like it much. We didn't do purreed meats either. That just seemed nasty to me.
Unless you consider Vitamin C (for a preservative) something special, you can make your own food a lot cheaper and without waste!! :2cents:

[mikoto127]

How uninformed...and it's sad that people think this way! I wish people would change their views of the crunchy lifestyle.

[Charisma]

Yes because feeding your baby fillers and food from a jar that's been sitting there for Lord only knows how long is clearly the better choice. Please know I am kidding.

[JIGAC101]

It's sad to think of how many moms are ignorant in regards to making your own baby food.

[Sistina123]

I'm dumbstruck. To think someone would believe that in the first place, but then to say you are bad mother! To your husband! Her poor child! Please buy her a fantastically obnoxious baby shower gift. FANTASTICALLY obnoxious. Like a subscription to Mothering magazine. Or maybe just a spoon so she can eat her words.

[AlisonR80]

While I think homemade baby food is great, not all jarred foods are bad. My son still eats the 2nd foods and they have no preservatives, artificial colors, salt, or starch. I would like for him to transition to table food but we are going slow.

[roxierocks]

While I think homemade baby food is great, not all jarred foods are bad. My son still eats the 2nd foods and they have no preservatives, artificial colors, salt, or starch. I would like for him to transition to table food but we are going slow.

I am not in anyway saying jarred baby food is BAD. MANY children eat it and are very healthy and happy kids. It is just that I can't believe that someone would think homemade baby food was harming a child and to be so blunt as to say I was a horrible mother for giving it to my child :(

[AlisonR80]

I am not in anyway saying jarred baby food is BAD. MANY children eat it and are very healthy and happy kids. It is just that I can't believe that someone would think homemade baby food was harming a child and to be so blunt as to say I was a horrible mother for giving it to my child :(

ITA with you, if someone said that to me I'd totally go off on them...and expect my DH to do the same in my defense.

I just wanted to defend some jarred foods because they seem to get a bad reputation and it's not true that they all have added ingredients.

[Luke'sMommy]

I think that it's so sad that as Americans, so many of us have bought the hype from the baby food companies that processed baby food is best for babies. The natural nutrients get cooked right out, even if some nutrients are chemically added back in. It's the same line of thinking that formula is "just as good as breast milk" and that every baby needs to start on refined rice cereal at four months...imo so many of us just blindly follow what the pediatrician or the baby books say, rather than researching the issues and arming ourselves with accurate information about what is best for our children. I won't judge other mamas for their decisions; most are well-meaning women. However, as do most parents, I want better for my son than I had. For us, that means a healthier life from the get go. We are trying to break unhealthy eating habits that have plagued DH and me since childhood, while instilling an enjoyment of pure, unprocessed foods in our son.

[ariatrance]

ITA with you, if someone said that to me I'd totally go off on them...and expect my DH to do the same in my defense.

I just wanted to defend some jarred foods because they seem to get a bad reputation and it's not true that they all have added ingredients.


I agree with the original poster that the comments were ignorant (this does not mean stupid and dense, btw) and somewhat rude (depends on the 'tude it was delivered with, really). I also agree with this poster (AlisonR80) that not all jarred foods are the devil's handiwork, as so many of the posters on this thread and others are making them out to be. Not every brand of jarred food adds salt, sugar, starches, artificial preservatives, lard, dirt, gravel, etc....There are some brands, even non-organic, that are simply the food and some water to make a puree, maybe Vitamin C as a preservative if needed.

Now, I don't know a whole lot about the actual manufacturing process of baby food, but I'm guessing it is cooked. However, so is homemade baby food - nutrients are being leached out regardless of who is doing the cooking. There are pros and cons to both homemade and manufactured baby food. Each mother should be allowed the freedom and support to make an educated decision for her own child. It should be that value and other similar values that become an integrated part of the American culture. Just my :2cents:

[poohgirl]

For anyone who says jarred food is best, ask them if they've ever tasted any. If they haven't, tell them to try some before making ignorant comments like that. Bet they'll change their mind FAST.

I tasted babyfood at a babyshower as part of a "guess that flavor" game. Some of them made me gag they were so gross and I swore never to feed that crap to my baby.

[haydn'smommy]

Meh. There was a whole world of babies who survived and thrived before Gerber put food in jars. My parents were too poor to buy jarred food. I ate ground/pureed table foods and things my mom made. I don't know where people get the idea that jarred food is all their babies can eat.

[LisaEileen]

I haven't read any of the replies, but I'm just laughing at the reaction of that silly, ignorant person! What did he think people fed their children before baby food was invented? I have never given any of my girls baby food. I have never even made baby food. When they were ready to try some soft mashed up food, I started feeding it to them. I have 4 girls who are still alive and look pretty well to me. The oldest one must be OK since she just gave me a Grandson a few months ago. lol

[eightdandelions]

:roflmbo:

[veggie_mama]

Hey Roxie,
Well this is my take...her is what it boils down to.
Americans are weird and have some seriously nutty ideas about a lot of things!
I never really noticed before, but living here and seeing that 93% of women breastfeed and that making your own food for a kid is normal, not the minority, has really opened my eyes. I wonder how America got so far off track? Was it the introduction of all the convenience food and stuff? Was it the women going to work during the wars and not beinginthe home so much? Who knows but seriously American need to take a real hard ook at themselves and re-adjust some thoughts if making food from fresh fruits and veg is inferior to jarred, processed,vitamin leeched, fake vitamins added back in, heated, cooled and preserved! :yuck:

You keep on doing the good thing for your baby!

I have an idea about how we got so far off track. We're suckers, and corporations are slick. We believe what industries pay billions to make us believe.

[CorynnandReisMom]

Thats ridiculous. I made all of my dd's baby food and my pediatrician was 100% supportive. Jarred baby food is just the fruit/veggie, water and sometimes citric acid to keep the color. Even when it was time to start other solids (meat, etc.) I had a black'n'decker food chopper and it grinds it right up. I think you are fine, and your building a MUCH more unique pallete in your baby. My daughter etas everything to this day and I attribute part of that to the natural taste of homemade baby food and that I gave what ever we were eating. I wasn't limited to what was in the jar.

[lil'mommakaye]

oh man, i agree america is far off the track and that poor lady has fallen into the ignorant hole. Being a nutritionist student i see first hand what the vat of baby food CO.s take from the nutrition of our children. DONT even get me started BC i can rant about americas awefull way of "killing" us off by way of brain wash n such in general public today (& for years) ALL DAY! Keep up the serving your LOs the good stuff. who the heck wants to eat food processed in a huge plants in VATS of whatever lurks in that place??? id rather KNOW what i am giving my children not be told what it may be.

[mommy2olivia]

That's crazy! I wonder why that person thought that? There are so many more vitamins when the food is made with fresh ingredients. Some of those jars have been sitting on shelves for months and the light that they're exposed to (since most are in see-thru containers) takes away even more of the vitamins. Fresh is always best. I made most of my daughter's food and I plan to make my sons when he starts solids.

[foxygoober]

I wonder if she's ever tasted the jarred crap . ..my lo wouldn't even eat it when we tried to give it to him when we were vacationing. It is so quick, easy and cheap to make baby food that tastes good.

[TiaG]

May I just say that the woman who said you were terrible for making your baby food is full of crap! She obviously is not a very informed mother. I make all my own baby food and my daughter is happy and thriving. So poo poo on her!!

[kettle]

My boss told me formula was better than breastmilk.

What can you do? People are ignorant.