The simple answer is no¹. Whilst there have been numerous discussions about how appropriate it is to feed your baby store bought food, there’s no concrete evidence to suggest that it’s ‘bad’ for your child. What’s important is that your child receives the important nutrients they need. Whether they get that from store bought or homemade baby food, you’re providing your baby with the building blocks for their future growth and development.

If you’re concerned about the contents of store bought as opposed to homemade baby food, read the list of ingredients to put your mind at rest. Make sure that you’re happy with everything that your chosen baby food contains. The good news is that there’s so much choice available. So if you’re unhappy with a particular brand, there’ll be plenty others for you to choose from.

In addition, you could consider using a mix of store bought and homemade baby food, which will help you find the perfect balance for you, your baby and your family life.

As with all things parenting, it’s about weighing up the pros and the cons.

When it comes to homemade baby food, the biggest pro by far is the fact that you have full control over what goes into it. There’s also a lot more flexibility as you experiment with different recipes and ingredients. Ultimately, it’s cheaper, too².

If you’re thinking about baby-led weaning homemade baby food is a great way to get your little food monster involved in the preparation. They’ll soon be familiar with all of the different foods you intend to introduce them to as you cook up a storm.

Store bought baby food has its upsides too. Parenthood can be a busy time, and the convenience that store bought baby food offers is hard to ignore. Simply pop it in your baby bag and off you go (just be sure not to forget your spoon)! Homemade baby food takes time and energy to prepare. Not to mention a whole lot of tupperware and endless freezer space! For many families, store bought baby food is the more convenient choice across the board.

Babies get hungry, and sometimes you won’t always be in the comfort of your own home when they need to be fed.

Let’s make one thing clear; however you choose to feed your baby, you should never be made to feel uncomfortable about doing so. In fact, if you’re breastfeeding your baby in a public place such as in a shop, on public transport or in a cafe, it’s actually illegal for anyone to ask you to stop doing so, or to leave⁴.

The thing about parenting, is that it’s very easy to have ideas and hopes for how your particular journey is going to look. But the real adventure is taking each day as it comes and following your instincts.

Both homemade and store bought baby foods have their pros and cons. It’s about finding the balance that works for you. Ultimately, it comes down to what you want from your weaning adventure. And remember that at the end of the day, all that matters is that your baby gets the nutrition they need to grow healthily and happily.