Hey Mama! So glad you found this blog post. If you’re like me, you stumbled upon it because you’re trying to make a decision about whether to feed your baby homemade or store-bought food. Please note that you should absolutely make your decision based on your own research and preference. And if you have any questions around certain ingredients, consult with your doctor prior to feeding it to your baby.
When Greyson turned 4 months old, his doctor gave us the ok to begin him on solid foods. Being green to this process and stage in his development, I wasn’t sure what to feed him. If I’m honest, the thought of giving him solid foods gave me a mild case of anxiety. What foods will he like? Are there foods he will dislike? Does he have any unknown allergies to certain foods? You know all of these questions were just swirling around in my head.
So I began to do my research on the pros and cons of homemade baby foods vs. store-bought baby foods. After seeing the information that was out there, I made the decision to purchase store-bought baby foods. And the below table about the “pros and cons” of store-bought baby food from Baptist-Health put things into perspective for me.
| Pros | Cons |
| All the baby food that you can buy in the US meets strict US FDA regulations for safety. | It is usually more expensive than homemade baby food. |
| Store-bought baby food is portable and easy for “on-the-go” parents. | Continuing to buy store-bought baby food (and the packing it comes with) is less environmentally friendly than making baby food at home. |
| Store-bought baby food requires no preparation. | You will have less control over ingredients like sugar, salt and preservatives. |
As a working mom, who really didn’t have enough dedicated time to prepare homemade foods, this was the best option for me. I love that store-bought foods are easily accessible for me in any given situation. There have been so many times where I’ve been out during Greyson’s feeding time and was able to either buy a jar of food from my local grocery store or pull out a jar that was already in my diaper bag. It’s really the convenience factor for me.
Again, you have to make the best decision for your family. There’s no right or wrong decision, because at the end of the day a fed baby is the goal. But know that you do have options and the right to choose.
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