My daughter is almost a year old, and to say she loves baby food pouches would be an understatement. When she started eating solids at six months, we decided to do a mix of classic purees and baby-led-weaning (which primarily uses finger foods). In my search for purees, I bought a variety of jars and pouches. Although my daughter was originally open to any type of food, she’s definitely developed preferences as she’s approached the 12-month mark. And like so many other infants and toddlers, baby food pouches have become her favorite. So far, it doesn’t matter what’s in the pouch — fruit smoothies, plain applesauce, yogurt blends, meat and veggies — as long as it’s in the pouch, she’ll eat it.

I know we’re not alone when it comes to the baby food pouch obsession. According to the Los Angeles Times, pouches are the most popular baby food on the market, with sales increasing 900% over the past decade.

While pouches are incredibly convenient, they aren’t always the healthiest. According to a 2019 study published in Nutrition Today, infant and toddler food pouches contain significantly more sugar per serving than comparable food in other types of packaging. Many pouches feature a blend of ingredients: fruits, vegetables, meats, grains, etc. Unfortunately, what this means is that many pouches are very fruit-forward. For example, a pouch that says it contains “apple, sweet potato, and green bean” will often be almost all apple puree, with a bit of sweet potato and green bean.

Many pouches list their key ingredients on the front, and some will break down the amounts on the back (I swear I found a pouch that said it had spinach, but when I looked closely, it said “one spinach leaf”). Once I started checking the ingredients on pouches, I was disappointed to find that they almost all had fruit bases. Don’t get me wrong, fruits are great for babies and toddlers, but they’re high in sugar — this gives pouches the sweet flavor that kids love.

Luckily, there are some really great pouch options out there! Here are some of my favorite baby and toddler food pouches.

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In early 2023, the Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education, and Research (or FASTER) Act designated sesame as a major food allergen, making it the ninth most common food allergen and joining the ranks of allergens including nuts, shellfish, fish, crustaceans, milk, eggs, soy, wheat. This means that food labels are now required to list sesame as an ingredient.

This is a commendable move by the government, as sesame is in a large number of processed foods, including baked goods, cereals, dips, dressings, oils, marinades, granola, packaged rice and soups, and more.

In our Children & Food Allergies series, we’re going to break down what it is about sesame that can cause an allergic reaction and help you understand the risk this allergen may pose to others.

More from Mom.com: Can My Baby Eat Milk and Eggs?

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Of all the foods to introduce to children, parents may be most apprehensive about peanuts and tree nuts. They are common food allergies in children and can cause severe reactions, like anaphylaxis. Other reactions to peanut and tree nut allergies include digestive and respiratory conditions. It wasn’t long ago that parents were encouraged to delay introducing peanuts and tree nuts until 2 years of age to ward off the onset of a related allergy. But recent science has shown the opposite to be true – that feeding your baby allergenic foods as young as 4 months of age helps to reduce the risk of later developing a food allergy. And yes, this includes peanuts and tree nuts.

In our Children & Food Allergies series, we’ll uncover what parents need to know about peanuts and tree nuts, their health benefits, and how to safely introduce them to their child’s diet.

More from Mom.com: Can My Baby Eat Milk and Eggs?

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Fish and shellfish are considered two of the top nine allergens. So, of course, the idea of giving your baby seafood can be daunting. But the latest data shows that feeding babies as young as four months old allergenic foods – and feeding these foods frequently – can significantly reduce your child’s risk of developing an allergy.

In our Children & Food Allergies series, let’s break down everything parents need to know about shellfish and how to safely introduce this nutrient-dense food category to their children.

More from Mom.com: Can My Baby Eat Eggs and Milk?

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Starting babies on solid food can be a really fun time for you and your little one, especially if you're beginning to get board of the repetitive bottle or nursing routine. Most parents choose to start baby food around age 6 months — once baby is showing signs of readiness, like holding their head up and showing interest in your food. Once they've hit these milestones (and you get the okay from your pediatrician), you're good to go.

But it's very important to keep safety in mind during this stage, too. As you're researching baby meal ideas, keep in mind what you serve isn't nearly as important as how you serve it — and being prepared for something to go wrong.

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By the time your baby is getting close to a year old, a lot of transitions are on their way — and a big one is what to feed your baby. While their main nutrition has been breastmilk or formula with solids being added in for a few months now, at a year old you’re probably feeding baby solid foods three times a day for the bulk of their calories. That can definitely be intimidating, especially if you’ve settled into a comfortable routine of purées and safe solids that are working for you.

Ready to take on the next step in your solid food adventures? Here’s what you need to know.

The post 8 Best Solid Foods for Your Baby: 10-12 Months appeared first on Mom.com.

After getting into the routine of bottles and breastfeeding, branching out into the world of introducing solids can be absolutely overwhelming. Though some parents choose to start earlier (with the blessing of their pediatrician, of course) around six months, baby’s solid food routine will likely begin. This means you’re thinking about a baby solid food feeding schedule, how to make solid foods for baby, and even researching baby meal plans. And what’s the best first solid food for your baby, anyway?

There are a lot of answers to those questions and more. Wanting to demistify the process of introducing solids? Read on!

The post 8 Best Solid Foods for Your Baby: 6-9 Months appeared first on Mom.com.

We can’t deny that food is a major aspect of most cultures. We tend to center our celebrations and entertainment on what food will be served, or save certain foods for particular times of the year and holidays. During the pandemic, I’ve seen several of my friends learning about new cultures by trying their foods and figuring out how to cook them at home. As we embrace our own heritage and learn about other cultures through food, why not let your baby to do the same?

As with any good parent, moms tend to take it slow with food. We may question how and when to start branching out and giving our babies new textures and flavors. We are told by our pediatricians and family that certain foods should be introduced before others. Additionally, there are foods that are harmful to baby that may be a big ingredient in our culture. So this decision of when to introduce your baby to your family’s traditional foods and other cultural foods is a tough one.

Adventurous baby foods with seasoning, flavor, spices (not spicy!), and various ingredients are so fun for us to try, and as we explore our cultures with our family recipes, we can absolutely introduce our babies to these cultural foods as well. Food has so many cultural implications that bringing the discussion into motherhood is a natural connection.

As you begin to consider whether to include your baby during the next celebration or family dinner, consider these benefits and steps to introduce your baby to your cultural foods.

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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.

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When a new mom learns that it’s time for her baby to start eating solid foods, she feel super excited about this milestone she’ll get to experience with her baby. Unfortunately, though, things don’t always go as planned! Babies have a mind of their own — and a palate of their own, too! What one baby loves, another baby thinks is perfect for throwing across the room. In reality, with babies, there is a difference between what you want and what your kid will do.

No matter how your baby takes their first solid foods, or when, know that any struggles you face are probably common. These moms can attest to their own trials with those first bites.

The post Funny Stories About Baby’s First Foods to Let You Know You’re Not Alone appeared first on Mom.com.