Commercial baby food can be a great convenience, but it is important to make sure you are choosing the right product for your baby. It’s also a good idea to know the brands of commercially prepared baby food brands available and when they should (or shouldn’t) be given to your child. In this article, we’ll delve deeper into commercially-prepared baby food and the brands you can consider.
The Advantages of Commercially-Prepared Baby Food
Infant and toddler food, or what people mostly refer to as baby food, is any food made specifically for the baby’s nutritional needs and their ability to feed. Often, baby foods are for children aged 4 to 6 months up to 2 years.
Most baby foods are jarred or pouched pureed veggies and fruits, but some are cereals you need to mix with milk or water. There are quite a few advantages to giving your baby commercially-prepared food.
Convenience
First, of course, is convenience. You don’t have to worry about mashing or pureeing foods every now and then. The easy-to-digest foods, after all, are usually ready-to-eat.
Formulated especially for babies
Next, baby food brands are often especially formulated for babies by age – you don’t have to guess whether you’re giving too little or too much of a serving.
Shelf-stable
Finally, commercial brands are shelf-stable. Stored properly, they can last longer than homemade baby foods. Also, you have the advantage of knowing exactly how long your child can consume them.
The majority of commercially prepared baby food can be kept in the refrigerator for up to three days. However, some companies recommend freezing the food if you know that it’s going to take longer than that before your baby will eat it. However, note that some foods cannot be frozen.
Looking For Baby Food Brands? Consider The Following
Are you looking for commercially-prepared infant and toddler foods? You might want to consider checking the following brands:
- Gerber: Gerber is one of the most renowned brands of baby foods in the Philippines. They offer single and multiple ingredient purees of fruits and vegetables in jars.
- Cerelac: Cerelac is a brand of infant cereal made with fruits and vegetables, baby grade grains, and 18 vitamins and minerals. Examples of their products are Chicken and Vegetables, Brown Rice and Milk, and Wheat Banana and Milk.
- Happy Baby: This brand has numerous products for First Foods, Advancing Tastes and Textures, and Self-Feeding. Their food come in jars and squeezable pouches. They also have Peanut and Tree Nut Introduction developed by pediatric allergists to include nuts to your baby’s diet.
- Organix PH: Organix PH has a wide range of products – not just baby foods. But, their baby food ranges from baby rice, fruit porridges, and muesli (sort of like oatmeal). Their products are also divided into the age by which babies can eat them (6+ months, 7+ months, 10+ months)
Final Reminders
While commercial infant and toddler foods have their advantages, please note that many “rules” still apply to them.
For instance, you still have to introduce one ingredient every few days to check for allergies. Also, you still need to check the labels as some brands may contain more sugars and less veggies than others.
And finally, remember that many Stage 1 (starter) foods are only meant to introduce tastes. They do not offer complete nutrition, so you have to complement it with breast milk or formula milk and other solid foods.
Key Takeaways
There are different types of commercially prepared baby food, and it can be confusing to figure out which one is the best for your baby. The key thing to remember is that all babies are different and what works for one might not work for another. If you’re worried, please consult your child’s pediatrician.
Learn more about Baby Nutrition here.
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