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As soon as you get settled into one stage of babyhood, it seems like the next one begins … and when the time comes to start solids, it may seem overwhelming to break out of the bottle or breastfeeding routine you've already built. But if your baby is about to make the transition to solid food, which usually happens between 4 and 6 months, you might be considering all the different routes to take and wondering how to make homemade baby food.
Thinking about cooking your baby's food in your own kitchen instead of picking up jars at the store? Fortunately, it's much easier than you might think. Read on for homemade baby food recipes, what baby food equipment you may need, and everything in between.
Homemade baby food vs. store bought
Before you start solids, you'll have to decide what your game plan is. Some moms go for a baby-led weaning approach, while others are happy grabbing Gerber's finest at the grocery store, and still others will decide to make their own baby food at home. There's no wrong answer here — only what works for you and your baby.
The question of homemade baby food vs. store bought is a tricky one. Of course, the store-bought option's biggest perk is the convenience — there's no easier way to offer your baby food you can just open up and serve. But recently, studies have surfaced claiming that dangerous metals including arsenic and lead have been found in brands like Gerber and Beech Nut, which is certainly enough to drive some parents to make the choice to go homemade, which allows you to have full control over what baby food ingredients you use.
"Traditional baby food is heat pasteurized which kills many of the nutrients and results in a bland taste," Registered Dietitian Stephanie Middleberg told Good Housekeeping. "The flavor component of homemade baby food is much superior to store-bought and cost savings is a big benefit as well."
There are other pros to homemade baby food, too. If you're able to prepare foods for the week in bulk, you can save time and money, and you also might be able to prepare foods that aren't as commonly found in the baby food aisle at the store to help the baby get a bit more variety in her diet.
"Pouches are great when you’re on the go, but they're more expensive," mom Meghan Graham told The New York Times. "For me, it's more cost-efficient to roast some vegetables than to spend $1.50 on a pack of food."
How to make homemade baby food
What do you need to make baby food? If you've decided on going the homemade route, there are a few pieces of baby food equipment that are essential to have on hand:
- A countertop or immersion blender, or a food processor to create purees
- A steamer for the stove top or microwave for veggies
- Ice cube trays and freezer bags for make-ahead storage
- Any other storage containers you might not already have in your kitchen
A blender or a food processor isn't the only way to puree food, though — there are products on the market for exactly this purpose! But what is the best baby food maker? Babylist recommends products like the Magic Bullet Baby Bullet, which comes with a steamer, mixer, and storage containers, or the Baby Brezza One Step Glass Food Maker, which steams and blends all in one dishwasher safe container, making cleanup a breeze.
Next, you'll need to choose your baby food ingredients. Your homemade baby food recipes can be as simple as one ingredient plus water in the beginning, and when your baby is ready, you can include a few ingredients (and even seasonings) and a thicker consistency to switch things up.
Safety precautions
There are certain baby foods to avoid, though. Babies under the age of 1 year old should never be fed honey due to botulism risks, and it's important to avoid adding additional salt or sugar to foods until baby is older. Safety in the kitchen is essential, too — make sure you're washing all fruits and veggies (and your hands and equipment) thoroughly to avoid baby food poisoning.
How to store homemade baby food
Knowing how to store homemade baby food is also essential. Not only will it make your hard work and money stretch further, but it will also help avoid baby food poisoning, too.
After making purees, homemade baby food can be kept in a fridge (at or below 40 degrees Fahrenheit) for 48-72 hours, or up to three months if it's frozen, according to Happy Baby Organics. To avoid bacteria growth, be sure to refrigerate or freeze the food within two hours of preparing it, and only keep proteins like chicken and beef for 24 hours.
Pureed baby food can be stored in ice cube trays with plastic wrap covering them, or in plastic containers (glass doesn't freeze well). And to avoid more bacteria risks, don't feed baby from the same container that you stored the food in, since they can transfer bacteria from their mouths to the container. Never reheat food more than once.
Plenty of moms out there have been making their own baby food for years and loving it, so if you're determined to do it and come armed with the right equipment, you'll be successful.
