Baby’s first foods usually consist of either simple baby cereals or single-ingredient purees. For mothers who are way too busy to prepare their own baby food, knowing what’s out there in terms of choice, quality and ingredients are important, so that they may select the best baby food for their precious baby.
Table of Contents
Nutrient content
Checking the label of your chosen baby food will give you a rough idea of what kind of nutrients can be found in the product. It might do us good to remember that a baby’s tiny tummy does not need as much nutrients as adults or even an older child just yet. The most important role of first-stage baby foods at the early stage is to help the baby familiarize with the taste and texture of solid food so that the little one’s taste buds can slowly adapt to food other than breast milk.
Appropriate texture
Babies have very few or no teeth to chew and rely on their gums to ‘handle’ any kind of food that goes into their mouth has to be very smooth and runny for easier swallowing. Choose varieties that are from the first stage group for baby’s first experiences of baby food.
Variety of tastes
Depending on the ingredients used, baby foods are available in many flavors and with a large variety of fruits, vegetables and other foods. Food combinations are carefully combined and formulated to be acceptable to infants and provide the right proportions too.
Safer than you think
Baby food manufacturers are, contrary to popular belief, not as conscienceless as they are made out to be in general. Commercial baby foods are typically made from produce that requires the least use of pesticide residues and other chemicals and are hence, decidedly safe for baby’s consumption. After all, didn’t most of us grow up on commercial baby food anyway?
Convenience
For home use, commercial baby foods are ready to use right out of the containers which makes it super-convenient for moms and caretakers. They are also easy to carry around in either the sealed jars or pouches they were bought in to be fed to baby anytime, anywhere.
Stability of ingredients
Commercial baby foods are guaranteed to contain what is listed on the label and will remain safe for consumption for the stated time.
Hygiene standards
Manufacturers of baby food are known to observe strict quality control standards and the cleanliness of preparation and cooking areas are constantly monitored, as with the ingredients used, the storage conditions of the suppliers and the clean-up procedures after cooking.
