Moms Making Your Own Baby Food... BTDT Moms too

So... how many are out there?

Why did you choose to do this?
How Old is your child?
What have you done so far?
Any tips?
Questions?

I chose to do this early on. Mostly to save money. It feels right to know that I know what she's eating but honestly it just seems to be easier to cook once for a week or so and know she's set. Now all of a sudden I cringe at ANY extra ingredients to baby food! ha!

AJ is 5 months old and started at 4months

So far we've done Green Beans, Sweet Potatoes, Carrots and Pears

Tips: I love the KidCo blender and tray. In my tight space its easy to put away and the tray is good for portions (So far). I love love love the Take N Toss little cup thingies with lids. Its easy to take out a bit of food, put in those and let it thaw the night before taking it to daycare. I also bought other little holders that came with a tray to hold the HOLDERS in (odd) and I like those too!

Question: What's next? Squash? I can do that, seems simple.. but how do you do Avocados and Bananas without them getting icky brown, or is it ok they go brown???

Thanks!

PS: this is not jib against those who Don't make their own food, please! no way! I just did this cause I figured it was cheaper (i could be wrong) but I do know that EVERY mommy here is doing what they feel is best for their own babies and ya know what? They're all 100% right

Re: Moms Making Your Own Baby Food... BTDT Moms too

DD LOVES avacados and bananas! Usually when i make it for her, I feed her a serving right then and there- then i freeze the rest into those baby cubes- I found that to prevent it from going brown I have to defrost it right away and cant take it out the night before our hours before...

i have also made her squash, sweet potato, melon/banana, apple, pear, peas, broccoli, chicken, carrot, and all sorts of mixes of the above...

Re: Moms Making Your Own Baby Food... BTDT Moms too

Hrmmm gonna have to try Avocado this weekend then.

Re: Moms Making Your Own Baby Food... BTDT Moms too

I"m big into making my own baby food and even run a buddy group on another site. I've done it as long as DD has been eating solids, so since 4 months. I love having the control over her food, knowing it is fresh, and knowing it is very nutritious. DD typically snubs jarred food now!

What have you done so far?
apple
banana
avacado
mango
peach
apricot
nectarine
pear
blueberry
sweet potato
acorn squash
butternut squash
pumpkin
peas
green beans (not good)
and I'm sure I'm missing some things!

I typically buy organic produce. I will mostly use fresh but I have used some frozen, only if it has no other ingredients added.

I like using my Cuisinart Mini Prep best, but the Magic Bullet isn't bad. I use Fresh Baby cube trays, then store in freezer safe ziplocs. I have a big freezer but it is filling up fast! I usually steam, but some foods I bake.

Re: Moms Making Your Own Baby Food... BTDT Moms too

Re: Moms Making Your Own Baby Food... BTDT Moms too

I chose to make DS's food because I simply didn't like the taste of jarred food (organic or not). Most of the time, it works out cheaper for me to make organic baby food for DS (10 months). Also, we used to get organic vegetables delivered from a CSA and it was delicious to use in baby food.

As for what we've made so far, we're pretty much done most of the meats, fruits and veggies. The only things we haven't touched are eggs, berries, nuts, and fish. So far, DS's favorite is turkey curry and apples. I'm making him chicken pasta tonight.

I have always given bananas and avocado freshly mashed to DS because they don't freeze well.

Re: Moms Making Your Own Baby Food... BTDT Moms too

acorn and butternut squash are just two different kinds of squash...they have different tastes. acorn is good with cinnamon mixed in. the banana and avocado can be mashed with a fork. I have frozen my avocado and find that if you defrost it quickly in the microwave but don't let it get hot then it is fine and doesn't turn brown. have you checked out the wholesomebabyfood website?

Re: Moms Making Your Own Baby Food... BTDT Moms too

I do! I had been thinking about it and then after I smelled the Gerber peas I decided if I wouldn't eat it then I won't make him eat it!! I love how easy it is and that I know he is getting nice fresh fruits and veggies with no preservatives. So far I have made sweet potatoes, carrots, and pears. He is just over 4 months so we are just starting out!! I bought the Kidco blender thing but I also use the Cusinart food processor for the big batches.

Re: Moms Making Your Own Baby Food... BTDT Moms too

I'm hoping to get the go-ahead from the ped next week (4 month+ appt)... but I honestly don't think DS will be ready... last I checked his tongue thrust reflex was still really strong... I think he'd just push the food out.... I suspect he will have to wait until closer to 5 months....

I want to start-off with yams... but it all depends upon what the ped suggests I do.... I'm all ready with the 'petit appetit' cookbook

Re: Moms Making Your Own Baby Food... BTDT Moms too

I made my DD's babyfood when she was young too and I definitely plan on doing it again for #2.

It was SO easy and I used all organic produce that I chose...and I knew EXACTLY what was being put into it. Therefore I felt really good about what I was feeding DD.

I would make big batches and freeze the cubes.

I couldn't even tell you how much $$ I saved, but I know it was a lot!

And it's funny because when in a pinch and I had to give DD jarred food...she'd refuse to eat it! She would shiver when she tasted it

I started with sweet potatoes followed by the other orange veggies, then the green veggies...then on to fruits.

Make sure you use a blender when pureeing peas and sting beans because the skins won't get purreed enough with just the quisinart or the little food blenders.

As another mom suggested...I HIGHLY recommend THIS SITE for reference.

Happy baby food making!

ETA : Also you might want to pick up some of these book for great recipes and facts....

Ruth Yaron -


Annabel Karmel - (any of her books are great)

Message edited 2/6/2009 7:16:50 PM.

Re: Moms Making Your Own Baby Food... BTDT Moms too

I did
apples
pears
peaches
plums
blueberries
cherries
bananas
squash
carrots
string beans
peas
corn
sweet potatoes
broccoli
chicken
pork
turkey

basically anything you could puree I made....
I made alot at one time andfroe it in ice cube trays. I mixed alot too...I would mix a cube of apples with sweet potatoes, etc.

I enjoyed doing it, and would do it again.

I did use babyfood too - sometimes I would mix some babyfood with a cube here and there...just to switch things up.

Message edited 2/6/2009 7:17:49 PM.

Re: Moms Making Your Own Baby Food... BTDT Moms too

Posted by wannabemom

I'm hoping to get the go-ahead from the ped next week (4 month+ appt)... but I honestly don't think DS will be ready... last I checked his tongue thrust reflex was still really strong... I think he'd just push the food out.... I suspect he will have to wait until closer to 5 months....

I want to start-off with yams... but it all depends upon what the ped suggests I do.... I'm all ready with the 'petit appetit' cookbook