NCDR: If you make your own baby food

MallratsMom

Do you use a baby food maker? Is it worth the money? I attempted to make baby food with my oldest, but it was way too much work. Gilt Group has they baby chef for $70 with is much less than the one I wanted at WS. Anyway, I want to attempt making food again and since these things steam and process in one it looks like it might be pretty east. Thoughts?

Dr.Loretta

Heck no. I just tossed stuff in our pot with a steamer basket, and threw it in the blender.

luvbeingmom

$70 makes my wallet cringe...

I just have my regular food processor and blender and that worked fine for me. I either bought veggies that I could steam in the bag in the microwave, or used my stovetop steamer.

I actually bought this steamer a few months ago for a different reason, but will definitely use it to steam my veggies when this lo is old enough for solids. 

https://www.amazon.com/Black-Decker-HS1000-Steamer-Scenter/dp/B0007VZZNO/ref=sr_1_10?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1310402136&sr=1-10

a.bartholomew

Dr.Loretta:

Heck no. I just tossed stuff in our pot with a steamer basket, and threw it in the blender.

 

This, though we used our food processor also and I preferred that.  We also only pureed for about a month-we switched to mashing with just a potato masher so no way would I pay that much to use it for a month 

harvest-wed

i used the magic bullet to puree - it was so easy

StellarStina26

Do you know how many diapers 70 dollars is?  I swear CDing has made me think of everything in terms of diapers... It is all my brain thinks about anymore.

I haven't done much yet - but I just do what PP does.  Steam in a basket and put in the food processor.  Add some breastmilk, mix, puree, whatever and go.   

MallratsMom

see I'm super lazy and steaming then putting in the food processor and then freezing was too many steps. I think I will just buy the organic baby food like I did for miss L

Dr.Loretta

MallratsMom:

see I'm super lazy and steaming then putting in the food processor and then freezing was too many steps. I think I will just buy the organic baby food like I did for miss L

That $70 contraption still means you'd steam, then puree, then blend. I never saw a big deal, but I love to cook.

Calla123

I find it pretty easy to make my own baby food. I just use my food processor or blender and it works great. A batch lasts me a long time and I make one thing every other day...easy peasy.

SarahC720

Ditto the food processor.  Steam/cook the food and throw it in the processor then straight into ice cube trays.  Peace of cake!

pixy_stix

I did the even easier step and just did BLW.  No special diet, no buying something extra, etc. 

MyBdayPresent

Another vote for BLW.  DH and I were super lazy with feeding J because she didn't want to be fed and just wanted to play with the spoon.  J only had solids sporadically up until 7 months when we decided to BLW.  It's the perfect approach for lazy parents.  The best part is, it gives her something to do while we're cooking and eating our meals.  Also, the dogs have gained a whole new appreciation for their little sister:)

megstarwsu

pixy_stix:

I did the even easier step and just did BLW.  No special diet, no buying something extra, etc. 

So, stupid question, how does this work with solids?  (I'm super confused!)

hrotnem

Dr.Loretta:

Heck no. I just tossed stuff in our pot with a steamer basket, and threw it in the blender.

This, exactly.  I made lots at a time and froze it in ice cube trays for ease at mealtimes.

MallratsMom

megstarwsu:

pixy_stix:

I did the even easier step and just did BLW.  No special diet, no buying something extra, etc. 

So, stupid question, how does this work with solids?  (I'm super confused!)

 Baby-led weaning (often also referred to as BLW) is a method of gradually weaning a baby from a milk diet onto solid foods. It allows a baby to control his solid food intake by self-feeding from the very beginning of the weaning process.

Infants are offered a range of foods to provide a balanced diet from around 6 months. They often begin by picking up and licking the food, before progressing to eating. Babies typically begin self feeding around 6 months, although some will reach for food as early as 5 months and some will wait until 7 or 8. The intention of this process is that it is tailored to suit each particular baby and their personal development. The 6 month guideline provided by the World Health Organisation is based on research indicating the internal digestive system matures over the period 4?6 months. It seems reasonable to posit that the gut matures in tandem with the baby's external faculties to self feed.Initial self-feeding attempts often result in very little food ingested as the baby explores textures and tastes, but the baby will soon start to swallow and digest what is offered. Breastfeeding is continued in conjunction with weaning and milk is always offered before solids in the first 12 months. Although breastfeeding is the ideal precursor to baby led weaning (as the baby has been exposed to different flavours via its mother's breast milk and the jaw action used during breastfeeding helps the baby learn to chew), it is also entirely possible to introduce a bottle-fed baby to solids using the BLW method. Bottle-fed babies can successfully wean using BLW, although it may take a little longer for the baby to get used to flavours and develop the ability to chew.