Homemade pureed food is best but jars and pouches may be useful when you are out and about. If you are making homemade food, batch cook and freeze some or fill up jars to take out and about with you, use an ice cube tray as a small amount is sufficient at first.

Use everyday fruit and vegetables such as carrots and broccoli to make homemade food. Use ready made jars and pouches that contain these sorts of fruit and veg that you would cook or use as an adult, so your child does not become used to wild and wonderful combinations. Homemade food will encourage your baby to become used to lumps and textures and eat the same foods you eat as a family. It can be convenient to use pre-prepared jars and packets of baby food, if they do not replace homemade food completely.

When buying baby foods make sure they are within the use by date, no seals are broken or package damaging, only heat up the amount you need and throw away anything your baby doesn’t eat. Do not add salt to homemade food. Pre-prepared food is more expensive! Six months is the time to introduce solid food.

Associated Materials

• Using pre-prepared baby foods