Making baby food at home is a great way to ensure your child is eating fresh, nutritious meals without food additives. You can also focus on finding organic ingredients. Homemade baby food can be simple, budget-friendly, and a wonderful way to introduce your child to the taste of real, whole foods.
With these essentials on hand, you’ll be well-equipped to begin the journey. It is easy enough to make your own baby food, and there are only a few essential tools that you need to get started. You won’t need to shop for much, including the ingredients. In addition to the essentials below, when you shop for ingredients, look for organic, nutritious fruits and vegetables. Your baby food won’t include any dyes, food additives for sale, sugar, etc.
Here’s what you need:
Blender or Food Processor
A good blender or food processor helps achieve a smooth, puree consistency that is perfect for babies just starting solids. Some parents also like using hand blenders for smaller portions.
Steamer Basket or Baby Food Steamer
Steaming fruits and vegetables preserves more nutrients than boiling. A steamer basket placed in a pot or an electric baby food steamer makes prepping food quick and easy.
Storage Containers or Freezer Trays
To batch-cook baby food and store it safely, invest in BPA-free containers or silicone freezer trays with lids. Ice cube trays work well too and make portioning a breeze.
Soft-Tip Baby Spoons and Feeding Bowls
Gentle, soft-tip spoons are perfect for feeding little mouths. Shallow feeding bowls with suction bases are also helpful for keeping meals mess-free.
Organic Produce and Whole Ingredients
Choose fresh, organic fruits, vegetables, grains, and proteins whenever possible. These ingredients form the base of most homemade baby food recipes.
Strainer or Sieve
For extra-smooth purees, especially in the early stages, you can strain the food to remove any remaining lumps or fibers.
Labels
Keep track of dates and ingredients by labeling your containers. This ensures you’re rotating food properly and keeping everything fresh and safe.
This is a great list of essentials for making your own baby food. I used to make our own and had a cute little food processor special for that.
This is so much better and cheaper. I will share this with my daughter for the baby.
I should have done this when my kids were babies. It’s cheaper and the ingredients are better.
This is an excellent resource for anyone who wants to make their own baby food. With all the added ingredients in food out there, I think this is the way to go.
I love this so much! I would definitely have used this guide when my son was a baby. This is super helpful.
Excellent advice. I only wish I knew all this when my son was an infant. Will be saving this for if I have a second!
When my children were babies I invested in a little hand-held blender and a recipe book for baby food. I agree – the little freezer trays are also a good idea!
These items are absolutely essential for making baby food. I remember I also used to have Steam Sterilizer for her bottles and utensils. But now I feel it wasn’t necessary.
You make it sound so easy, and it is healthier than anything processed. Great post.
Thanks a lot for the list; it’s a must-have, especially for new moms like myself. Thank you so much.
Making homemade baby food not only saves money but lets you make exactly what you want. Thank you for sharing this checklist of needed items.
Gone are my days of making home made baby food , such great help for new parents though 🙂