weaning-would people recommended making my own food for my four month old or is it best to buy jars?

Answer 1

Making your own is probably the best idea, you can eliminate the extra salt and sugar they tend to put in the commercial baby foods--that your child doesn't need. But you don't have to make a career out of it, lots of stuff you feed your baby just needs pureed or mashed--not that big a deal.
Suggest you start the child with vegetables and then cereal grains--least to most common, is good. Then add in fruits, starting with the lower in sugar--always use fresh fruit or non-sweetened varieties.
But the best thing you can do for your baby is to nurse for as long as it is getting sufficient nourishment that way. This tends to cut down on food allergies and sensitivities, and make laundry a whole lot easier, too, as breast milk doesn't stain.

Answer 2

Some jarred foods are actually safer like spinach and other greens because you have to becareful of the level of nitrates (something the home cook can't do) Also there are no added sugar or salts in first foods in many brands these days especially Gerber. When I gave my daughter any thing out of a jar that's what she got. You'll just have to read the labels and research the companies.

Look at www.gerber.com and see if you like what you see. If you choose to make your own they have a great food mill that is only $6 and makes a great addition to making homemade baby food!

Answer 3

From experience with my own, I would suggest making your own. It is not difficult and you can freeze them easily in ice cube trays that have been sterilised, then you only use what you need to. You also have the added comfort of knowing exactly what has gone into the food, plus it tastes like real food does so your baby is less likely to have any difficulties in moving onto family meals. Another advantage is that you can gradually thicken the texture as opposed to the extreme change in texture between 4-6 month and 7 month jars. The jars are revolting and tasteless and fairly expensive too.

Answer 4

If you've got time to make your own then go for it. Start with simple pureed vegetables first of all, cooking them when you make your own then allow them to cool. Don't add any salt, not good for baby. Try carrots, swede, potoatoes, parsnips any veg (or fruit) that can be mashed. Then as your confidence builds and baby gets older (about 6 months) you can start adding meat (if you want to) making sure it is cooked right through. I wouldn't recommend fish at the beginning unless you know you can get out all the bones. A good tip is to use ice cube trays to freeze your homemade baby food then you can take out however much you need whenever you need it, making sure it is piping hot all the way through then letting it cool before feeding.
There is a lot of satisfaction in watching your baby enjoy a meal you have prepared from scratch, so give it a go.

Answer 5

Four months is a little early for jars, you should only start on baby rice at about 6 months if he/she is very hungry. as for making your own food that's best so everyone told me, just make a large batch up and divide into smaller jars and freeze them until required. Have a great time being a mum, it's cool being a dad!

Answer 6

First of all - WHO now recommends that you don't introduce solids until 6 months http://www.who.int/features/qa/21/en/index.html
- is your doctor suggesting you start now? They used to say between 4 to 6 months but later research has changed it to 6.

Anyway, if you have the time, it can be really fun to make your own baby food - sometimes I used to freeze blended pumpkin etc in ice trays, so I could just thaw a block. But you can blend fruit, veg at first, my babies loved mashed bananas - at first I used to mix the food with breastmilk (if you are formula feeding you can use that) so that it tasted more familiar.
Homemade food ought to be more nutritious, but if you are buying jars, read the ingredients and make sure there is no salt, sugar or unneccesary starch.
Dr. Spock's book used to have a really good section about introducing solids.

Answer 7

jars are handy when on the move but do you really want to feed your baby food that can be full of fillers like maltodextrin and gum s which enable food manufacturers to water the food content down dramatically. you are paying for 50 % water and it is actually v easy to make your own with a hand blender.

some jars can contain gluten which is not really recommend for 4 ths old if there is a history of food allergies or eczema int he family.

Answer 8

It depends on how much time you have. If you can afford the time it takes to make your own babyfood, then by all means, go ahead. But keep in mind, somehting will have to diluted a bit to reduce the liklihood of rashes (apples products are one of them).
It won't hurt your baby either way- Most baby food you can buy at the store doesn't have all the extra preservatives and other junk that adult food does.

Answer 9

I don't know that it is the best answer, but I used the Gerber Organic foods for as long as I possibly could. I know it saves money to make your own and you have more control over what's in them, but I wasn't into it.

I think sometimes women (especially stay-at-home moms) get guilted into making their own baby food. I figured I saved tons of money by breast feeding, so I could afford to buy jarred foods.

Answer 10

Own food as much as possible throwing in the occassional jar every so often. Healthy, natural and you know what's in it. Also, this way, in an emergency or when you are out and about, your baby won't be too fussy, only eating your food, and get distressed when only jars are available.