All You Need to Know About Making Your Own Baby Food

If you are planning on venturing into making your own baby food, this post will help you learn all you need to know about doing just that. We’ll explore the most commonly asked questions, and by the end, you’ll be ready to start preparing and making your baby’s first foods. Be sure to save this post and pin it to your favorite Pinterest board.

All You Need to Know About Making Your Own Baby Food

Keep the following tips and advice in mind as you journey on to learning how to make your baby’s first foods.

What do you need to start making your own baby food?

One of the most important things to understand besides knowing when to start feeding your baby anything other than breastmilk or formula is what will be needed to start making your baby’s first foods. In most cases, all you’ll need are a few basic ingredients and supplies, such as:

• A good blender
• Water, breastmilk, and/or formula (for thinning as needed)
• Chopping knife
• Spoons
• Bowls
• Trays, bags, and containers for freezing and storage
• Fresh produce, fruit, and seasonings

Anything in addition to this will be according to your own discretion. There are several things you can find on the market that help make baby food prep much easier. But it typically doesn’t take much more than the aforementioned.

Is it hard to do?

Most moms would agree that making your own baby food is not hard at all. The most tedious part is dicing up the fresh foods, pureeing them, and deciding on how to store them. Overall, this can be done in as little as an hour and give you food for several days or weeks, depending on how much prep you’ve done.

Is it worth it?

In my honest opinion (and those of others who actually do it), it is absolutely worth making your own baby food. For starters, homemade baby food tends to be more nutritious because it is free from fillers and ingredients that make it “shelf stable.” Another pro is financially speaking, it can be less expensive than picking it up in jars from the local grocery store – especially when prepared in bulk.

Most homemade baby food lasts 2-3 days when stored in the refrigerator and up to 1 month when frozen. So, when you’re making it, keep this in mind.

When should you start?

Before you start making your own baby food, you’ll first want to make sure your baby is ready for solids. Most healthcare professionals suggest that babies do not need any form of solids until they are at least 6 months of age. Until then, they can get all the nutrients they need from breastmilk and/or formula.

Physical indicators that your baby may be ready for solids includes their ability to maintain head and neck control, shows interest in foods by reaching for food on your plate, and opening their mouth when you approach it with a spoon.

With those milestones reached, it’s pretty safe to start making your baby’s first foods. Other things to keep in mind are:

• Make the baby food/puree according to the recipes you’re following.
• Keep the prepared food in proper storage containers.
• Label the food with the appropriate name and date to prevent spoiling.
• Use the oldest prepped food first.

How to Easily Make Your Own Baby Food

Now that we’ve gotten the other most-asked questions answered, let’s look at just how easy it is to make your own baby food.

First, always work in a clean and sanitized area. This is simply washing your hands, the countertop you’ll be working on, and any utensils you’ll be working with. Next, prepare your ingredients. Make sure any grains and cereals are cooked, produce is steamed, baked, or broiled, and meats/poultry are skinned and cooked completely.

If you want to add any flavor, keep in mind that your baby’s tastebuds are still developing so it’s best to stick with healthy herbs such as cinnamon. Also, a little bit goes a long way.

Last but not least, you can serve your homemade baby food the same day (once it has cooled down) or store it for a later feeding. Some options include using an ice tray to freeze small serving sizes. Once frozen, they can be added to a freezer-safe bag or container. Be sure the food is defrosted completely and at least room temperature before serving.

Final Thoughts

This guide is a clear cut way to learn all you need to know about making your own baby food. There isn’t much to starting this journey other than making the choice to try it. The good thing about it is you can try it and if it seems to be too overwhelming, you can possibly purchase some from another homemaking mom or find organic brands to purchase from the grocery store.

Have you ever made your own baby food? What are your favorite things you’ve made?