Friday, August 31, 2007

No Baby Food

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A couple of babies ago, I decided to investigate the real need for baby food. Since, we had spent quite a bit on those little jars through the years, I wondered how necessary this use of our money really was.

I found that manufactured baby food has only been around for about 100 years, and before that, SHOCKINGLY, babies have survived to healthy adulthood for thousands of years!

I always breastfeed my babies for at least their first year, and I talked with my doctor about my idea to skip baby food altogether and go straight to soft table food. He was hesitant to give me the go ahead, and his main concern was choking. Of course, I was watchful to make sure the baby never got too much in her mouth or anything coarse or chewy.

I breastfed very frequently, and I never spoonfed cereal or anything else to the babies. I waited until the baby showed an interest in what the rest of the family was eating at dinnertime. This happened at about 9 months for each of the 2 babies who have done this.

I would then put very small, soft pieces of potato, carrots, peas, bananas, etc. on the baby's highchair tray. She wouldn't get very much to her mouth at first, but eventually she became more skillful at picking up pieces and getting them to the right place.

I have never calculated how much this saved us in dollars and cents, but it certainly saved a lot of space in our pantry and a lot of trips to the grocery store to buy those teeny tiny baby food jars.

This has worked out beautifully for our family. We have 2 very healthy children who have never been spoonfed any type of pureed food, and we plan to continue this simple and more natural feeding plan for our next baby and any we may have in the future.

For more frugal tips, go to Biblical Womanhood.

12 comments:

Donna(mom24boyz) said...

Hi Connie--I am tagging you! Please post 5 things no one knows about you--love your blog!

Mommy said...

Thanks for the encouragment. My little boy eats table foods, but it can very difficult as he doesn't seem that intrested in it yet. Although he will eat some things. He loves brocoli. :)

Anonymous said...

We do this too - and on the odd occasion that I offer them something pureed, they spit it out and look at me like....

"WHAT IS THAT?" They want the real stuff like they see everyone else eating. I think they even think they are being cheated with mashed potatoes or applesauce.

Melissa Markham said...

Great idea and great savings! I didn't even think such a thing when my children were small. Amazing how we tend to go with the flow without questioning...

Bobi Jensen said...

My doctor actually advised this. She said baby food was just invented for someone to make money. We don't buy baby food either.

Cara said...

That's what we're doing too. :) I see no reason for baby food in our family. Our doctor recommends letting her pick herself also to ensure that she's developmentally ready for the food before she actually eats it. We also limit what she's offered because of allergies. It's nice to know she's getting *real* food too :)

Nikki said...

I've mostly made my own baby food. But your way is much smarter. My babies nurse frequently as well for at least a year. This makes much more sense. Thanks!

Gayle said...

With our first two kids I pureed our own veggies and froze them in ice cube trays for later use. With the next two we just fed soft table foods from the same menu as the rest of the family. Sometimes, I think we just follow the crowd instead of asking, "Now, WHY are we doing this and is it really necessary?"

Anonymous said...

I did this with my second per the doctors recommendation. I think I saved a lot of money and my daughter seems to be less picky up until this point.

Jessica Snell said...

We bought a little food mill, and we'd just put a bit of whatever we were having in there, grind it up, and feed that to the baby. No little jars, and your kids get used to eating what the rest of the family is eating. I agree, baby food in jars is largely unnecessary!

peace of Christ to you,
Jessica Snell

Donna(mom24boyz) said...

I do this as well, occaisionally I buy baby food just to have it for when we are out and about, at a family outing or restraunt where menu choices are slim. At home I use my handy little mini chopper to grind up food to a small spoonable consitancy. New parents are often paranoid with this notion, but I have been blessed with very healthy children. They are not overweight or underweight (just right!) and rarely have they even had the sniffles or needed antibiotics. In fact I cant recall the last time any my kids needed antibiotics. None of them ever had ear infections either. This last one is the only one I have had to supplement with formula--I am just not making any milk--so I have worried the most about his ability to fight stuff, but at 4 months he has still not been sick even once. The fact they have all been healthy vibrant children is enough for me to know that mooshing up my own carrots, that I eat, that my other kids and that my husband eats, is definately safe for my baby to eat.

Anonymous said...

good thoughts!

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