So by now you may all be thinking one of two things… 1. She’s cracked or 2. She’s realllllyyyy cracked. Bare with me here… I count myself very fortunate to have made a lot of wonderful blogging friends. One of those lovely people is Claire from The Pramshed who’s blog I absolutely adore and whom I was also fortunate enough to meet back in June at #BML16! Now part of being a blogger, if you choose to take a certain path, is to review products when requested by certain brands. I myself have been fortunate enough to work with some lovely brands and recently Claire wrote a wonderful review for My Little Piccolo who are a new baby food company. They make what look like really lovely little pouches of fruit mixes and if Claire’s review is anything to go by they are going to be really successful and we shall soon be seeing them all over the place!
Before Alyssa was born, I had all these images in my head of how I would be steaming, blending, freezing, thawing, rinse and repeating in order to feed my baby 100% home-cooked food made by me, whilst a little halo glowed around my head…. Okay, so that didn’t happen!! Yes, I do make Alyssa food, and have done since she first started weaning – I have steamed and boiled, blitzed and frozen and as she has gotten older I have been able to incorporate her more into the meals we make for the rest of the family. HOWEVER, I am a single mother, who has to work to support my child, as well as all the other things us mothers have to do, washing, cleaning and at some point sleeping and I am also human… sorry to disillusion you but I am not supermum and so, now brace yourself because this may shock you, on occasion my daughter has in fact eaten food…from a baby pouch!! I know, I am not sure how she survived… but when I reached the point that I was so tired I was falling asleep standing up and could only be bothered to put a frozen pizza in the oven for my family, I preferred giving her the organic fruit and vegetable meal created by Ella than a deep pan dish created by Chicago Town (mummy doesn’t share pizza!!)
What’s the point of this rant? Well, we were having a little blogger chat and Claire happened to mention that she had received a comment from a rather put out parent (we are assuming parent) stating, and I quote… “Packaged food for a bub is no triumph tribute to weening! Our children are not like pets to feed them food off the shelf!” Ummmm…. I’m sorry, who m
ade you supermum?! This has really got my back up… a bit like that 2 week mum who’s post went viral, stating that after 2 weeks of motherhood she couldn’t understand why mother’s couldn’t handle parenthood and let themselves and their houses go. That we obviously weren’t trying hard enough and were doing something wrong because her newborn was sleeping perfectly and allowing her to complete all the tasks she needed in order to be a good wife and mother… I wonder, now that her baby is older, if she is still finding it as easy?!
I digress I know…. We give ourselves enough of a hard time without shaming each other too! I mean come on mummies…. sometimes, like me, you just reach that point where you just simply don’t have the time or the energy and whatever you want to say, those pouches are bloody handy and dare I say it but on occasion a damn god send and also a way to ensure that my daughter is eating something healthy and nutritious. I am sure that if I “cooked” for her in a quick and easy manner, she would soon end up joining the McDonalds generation that people are complaining about due to the fact they are draining our monetary resources by being so hugely overweight… so which would you prefer a) a healthy and happy baby given the occasional pouch of organic healthy food or b) several years and possibly a lifetime of forking out for an over-weight child…teenager…adult! This may sound like a slightly extreme comparison, yes I know I am prone to the dramatic, but I really do think th
at stating that feeding your child a pouch of baby food is essentially the same as feeding them like a dog or in fact dog food is insulting and outrageous in itself. Nothing will ever be as good as cooking for them ourselves because we will be doing what we love to do and that is feeding our babies…sometimes this simply is not possible!
If your child has never eaten a pouch or jar of food then I genuinely and sincerely applaud you because you are obviously doing an amazing job. If, like me, your child has in fact sampled a pouch or jar then I honestly and sincerely applaud you because you are obviously doing an amazing job. I know that I am not perfect (as I recently stated in The Battle of Motherhood: Practically Perfect in Every Way) but I am doing my best and if my lovely health visitor and doctor have told me how wonderful my little girl is doing, then surely I should just carry on the way I am??? Claire, my lovely friend, is also doing an amazing job at juggling being mummy, worker, wife and blogger and for that I applaud her – loved the review honey and I will keep an eye out for My Little Piccolo pouches too!
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33 Comments
Great post supporting other mums. My youngest actually refused any home cooked purees and would only consume Ella’s pouches in the early days. I did have some comments from some people like ‘my child never had those’. Whatevs! He liked them, I liked them. Ella is a better cook than me! 🙂
Ella rocks x
Great post and very well said. #bloggerclubuk
Ty xx
Well said! Baby pouches are amazing. They really helped me when I was getting my two to eat. We have to do whatever works for us and baby pouches are really good and healthy option 🙂 #Bloggerclubuk
Thanks hun x
Gosh, some people really need to get down off their high horse! When I was weaning, I did make my own food most of the time, but of course there was the odd pouch thrown in! They’re so convenient when you’re out and about, and there’s no denying that steaming, blending etc is a huge amount of work. Now my baby is a toddler his tastes have become quite specific and mostly he’ll only eat fruit or freezer food. I’m sure it’ll change again soon enough! #BloggerClubUK
Agreed xx
Thanks Katie for writing about that comment. It’s so hard as you say juggling work, blog, house and being a Mum that sometimes it’s a necessity to give your child a food pouch. I would prefer that, then to see my daughter to starve. For anyone thinking I give food pouches to my daughter because I can’t be bothered, I made 15 portions of Spag Bol for her last night at 9pm! Claire x #triballove
Go you… super mummy xx
completely well said! I have recently started weaning and the pouches are a lifesaver, especially when we are out! xx
#triballove
Totally agreed x
This is fab, such a supportive post. At the end of the day those pouches are healthy! And we can’t always make things from scratch, so knowing we are giving them something nutritious but quick and easy is brilliant. People need to get off their judgmental high horses! #BloggerClubUK
I have no shame in admitting I used more pouches with my 2nd child for a time saving thing – she has fresh food now but I see nothing wrong with giving the odd pouch now and again! Thanks for linking up #bestandworst
I’m baby led rob all the way, missed purées completey so he’s never had a pouch, but totally would have if I needed too! People need to leave people alone if they’re bashing!! #triballove
Haha, I have to admit the title did have me wondering what this was about! We have all used the pouches, and anyone who says they haven’t is surely lying! I have to admit most of them didn’t go down too well with Piglet, but then this is a boy who lives on bread and ice cream. #BestandWorst
I can#t believe Claire received such a comment…Aren’t we not supposed to support each other? I know that I try to avoid these pouches as it’s full of sugar but as you said, I am no superhero and sometimes Baba enjoys it… #ablogginggoodtime
I’m still annoyed about the comment Claire received. I’m sure there are some people out there who have plenty of time to make their own baby food, good for them I say! However, a lot of people have so much other stuff on that these pouches are a lifesaver.
Sometimes I can’t be bothered cooking for myself, so I get a takeaway. Granted, these pouches are more likely to be healthier for baby than the takeaway is for me. The point is, we all have a “cheat day” now and then, a day where we just can’t be bothered or aren’t in the position to slave over a hot stove, and that’s okay!
Shame on those who shame parents about this.
#ablogginggoodtime
What a rude comment!! That person will soon learn (it’s all about karma!). I’m sure it’s much healthier for a baby to eat from pouches and have a happy, present and awake Mummy, than it is to eat fresh food all the time and have a walking dead Mummy who is too tired from blitzing until all hours! I for one will be happy to use off the shelf food for my baby when I need to and I won’t be ashamed! #ablogginggoodtime
Brilliant – we can’t do it all all of the time! Nothing wrong with pouches x
That is totally and utterly ridiculous! I would have been furious if I’d got a comment like that! What a load of tosh. We all eat ready meals from time to time. The comparison with pet food is a nonsense. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with buying baby food. In fact I recently read an article that bought food is sometimes healthier because fat and salt content have to be controlled and listed! I quite often fed all mine jars and they are now healthy teenagers – no cause for concern! Well done on a good ranty post 🙂 Alison x #ablogginggoodtime
I’m totally with you. While it would be great to feed our children home-cooked meals all the time, it’s not always possible. The Popple eats from a pouch at least once a week and she loves it – plus sometimes it might actually be healthier than what I cook! #ablogginggoodtime
I write I kid food blog and I regularly share that I used packaged products! I’m not ashamed of this at all. Yes, homemade is best. I like to cook healthy food from scratch…but you know what? I also love a chippy tea, I like mini cheddars and so does my son. He still eats fruit pouches sometimes and he is 20 months. Is he still standing? Course he bloody is!
I think if you don’t want to use pouches, that’s cool. But why on earth would you criticize the choices of another parent? The person who said this clearly needs to take a hard look at themselves. No body is perfect!! Faye xxx #ablogginggoodtime
I try to batch cook meals and freeze them, but if I’m running out and don’t have time to cook, those pouches are a lifesaver. They may not be quite as good as a home cooked meal, but to compare them to dog food is just ridiculous! #ablogginggoodtime
One major lesson I have learnt from becoming a parent is never ever judge other parents. You might criticise one day then end up doing it yourself the next day…because ultimately we do whatever works for us to get through the day with safe, happy kids. So let’s stop attacking each other and start to support each other as best we can to create happy healthy kids #ablogginggoodtime
Those pouches were not as popular when i had my first two, I remember seeing them this time and being excited about them and how much easier they are. Other moms are the most judgmental. sometimes you need to feed them what they will eat, even if it is “dog food” #ablogginggoodtime
fab post. my blog was set up as a way to help ME enjoy cooking. I did all the steaming and blitzing but I also used pouches when life just got too busy. thanks for sharing an honest post 🙂 #ablogginggoodtime
Well, frankly I’m appalled at you! No, of course not – great post and there is clearly a huge market for the pouches and jars because the variety is huge. We opted for the BLW route with Mouse so avoided the early stage ones but those HIPP meals from 12 months up are absolutely brilliant and very comparable to “real” food. Fab when you’re in a hurry or you want to eat takeaway for dinner or something and want them to have something “proper”. #ablogginggoodtime
I’m not a fan of the mommy wars ( or in your case the mummy wars). Everyone has an opinion about someone elses child. I’ve not heard of the Piccolo brand, but my kids (were in the USA) were big Beech Nut and Gerber baby food eaters. I have tried to make my own baby food, but found it is not at all convenient and does not travel well Personally I don’t like to judge what someone else is doing as I have been judged myself.
As a mummy of 3, one of which is the fussiest of fussy eaters, what is wrong with a pouch. When I’m not looking the baby is often eating off the floor! (My floor is clean, I have help with that). Just get over yourselves moaning mothers. #ablogginggoodtime
Great post. I don’t understand why anyone thinks they have the right to tell someone else what’s best. #ablogginggoodtime
Urge I cannot believe someone said that. Both my kids have had pouches or made food and I don’t feel bad about, I used to but I have made my peace with it. Sometimes it is needs must in our house. On the whole they eat a healthy, home made balances diet so I am ok with it. Pffffft what a silly and unnecessary comment to leave on someone’s blog X #ablogginggoodtime
Great post! I love how comments like that are now aiming at healthy food aka the ingredients of the pouches. Now let me think, was it full of chocolate sauce and sweet caramel or was it Broccoli, Kale and apple! What is wrong with people, all Mums are Supermums, each one sacrifices a enormous part of herself to make sure her precious child has the best start in life it can. #ablogginggoodtime