Seeking Tips on "Baby Food Processors."

Hi S.,
you don't need to buy a food processor for "baby" just one with a smaller capacity that is easy to clean. I used a Braun hand held with a chopper cup. Try to find this book it was great with lots of info on nutrition. http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Complete-New-Guide-t...
Good luck with the baby,
D. C
Mom x4, girl 16, boys 14, 11, & 8

I wouldn't waste the money myself. I just mashed up peas and carrots and whatever I was eating. A fork does wonders. I have had 4 babies and my oldest 2 never had teeth until they were over a year old.. My second was 17months. She ate whatever we did from 6 months on. She hated the stuff from a jar. So yeah I even threw out the rule of feed this for x number of days... I did still watch for allergic reaction. thankfully she never had them. My other 3 were fed the way Drs recommend.

2 words...MAGIC BULLET. Any food processor will do but the bullet is great for everything and easy to clean.

HI S.!
When my kids were little I used a baby food mill. It's a small portable, hand crank device that pulvurizes table food into baby food. It's great! You just put it in the hopper and crank away. It will even do meat (when she's old enough of course). I loved it because it was so portable I could just throw it into the diaper bag and turn any table food into baby food wherever we went. One thing to remember is that baby's palates are very sensitive so be sure to get to the food before it's seasoned if you want to make it into baby food. When they get to the stage where they can eat more chunkier food just mashing it with a fork is usually the easiest way. I would also use a blender if I wanted to make larger quantities and freeze them. I would use ice cube trays and freeze the food into little cubes and take them out as I needed them. Just transfer them into freezer safe containers so that you can reuse the same couple of ice cube trays.

I made all of my son's food and am now starting the process with my 6 month old daugther. It's a gimmick...all you need is a blender and some ice cube trays. Also, get "Super Baby Food"...awesome book and really helps you figure out the making baby food thing. Have fun and good luck!

Use a blender or any standard food processor. You don't need a special one. Bring food with you when you go out that you know your child likes, but don't be afraid to let her try a bite of yours (if it's not a choking or allergy hazard). I made much of my own food, and would bring it in little containers in a cooler bag. There are also many great organic jarred food that are convenient when travelling. If you are flying, look into regulations due to security since 9/11 etc. for baby foods. Cheerios are awesome and my babies both loved butternut squash. You can just buy the frozen birdseye one, nuke it like says on the box and it's done...already mushy and ready to go (thin with a little water to cool it or if she's first starting out). Good luck and have fun with your little girl.

I have never used anything but a knife and the stove. I liked to steam veggies like carrots and peas, and then just mask with a fork. I am intrigued by the hand baby food mill though. My son loved homemade applesauce, I still serve it at dinner quite often and my boy is 12 now :)When he was a baby I would stir it into oatmeal.

I use a Cuisinart "Mini Prep Plus" blender. It's really small, perfect for pureeing baby food. It only has a CHOP and GRIND feature which is all I need and costs about $40? from Bed Bath & Beyond, but I've seen it cheaper at Costco. Works perfectly and since it has a small bowl, the small amount of food I'm chopping doesn't get lost.

S.,

I didn't use commercial baby food. I just use a regular food processor to puree the food. I made it pretty smooth at first, but left it a bit chunky as my son got use to the it. Some good soft foods that you can mash with a fork are avocados and bananas. He didn't get his first tooth until 17.5 months, but that's a genetic thing in my family. He could still munch using his gums. Just a note, my son is not particular with texture and eats everything now. I made my own 'baby food' because I wanted my son to know what real food tastes like. He is not at all picky now as a 2-year old. Good Luck, and go with what feels right.

-M.

Have you tried the dissolvable foods by Gerber.. When I traveled when my son was 6 months I gave him the puffs and the little gerber raviolis they are really small and I cut them into 4s at the beginning and eventually 2s and now he can eat them whole on his own at 12 months. They are really mushy.. Pretty Healthy too!! What a perk! Also, I have never used a food processor and I too made my own baby food for my son. I used the Black and Decker Handy Chopper Plus! About 15.00. The longer you hold down the button the smaller the pieces and eventually it will turn everything to just about liquid. Good Luck!!

Not one of these moms have given you a bad piece of advice. Go with any of the suggestions they gave you. I had a baby food grinder mill, then went to the mini choppers. I raised my 3 boys that way, and am now starting on the grandchildren! Think of all the money you will save by not buying those little jars and containers of food! Have a wonderful and blessed life with your little one! GO MOTHERHOOD!!!!

Huh?? I just use the blender. I've never even heard of this and not once while using the blender did I say, "There has to be an easier way!" LOL It works just fine. :)

You don't need to be sucked into something specifically for Baby Food making -- I made all my son's food using a Black and Decker Mini Chopper (available at Walmart for under $20). It's small, so it's not as much of a pain as dragging out a food processor or a blender. Also, I spent a little money on buying ice cube trays with lids (much easier and keeps better than covering a regular ice cube tray with plastic wrap). As for traveling, that was the only time when I used jarred baby food (with the exception of feeding carrots, spinach, kale, or a few other foods that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that you NOT prepare at home because of nitrates). Also, Super Baby Food by Ruth Yaron is a great resource.

Good to meet you. I am also 40 first time mom. I used a baby food processor from Burlington Coat Factory, but really, it didn't matter to me as to which one. It's small and powerful. Press a button for 15 secs and it does a lot! Make sure your food is tender: meat and veggies and add water or formula to help. I usually steam veggies if we are not already eating some, and then use the water left over in the pan to keep the vitamins in the meal. Some things are more difficult and not worth it: pears and maybe peaches, prunes, so pick your battles... This way you know what your daughter is getting and is so easy. I can't believe people actually buy processed food. Travel is simple, just like making your lunch, make her lunch. Bib, spoon, formula (poweder and water separate till you mix), small tuperwares of main dish, oat o's snack, fruit. Put it all in a small lunch bag with ice. I would love to meet you!

I used to use a full-size blender to make baby food for my first 3 children, but with my 4th I used the "Magic Bullet" counter top blender. It worked extremely well, was fast, and the clean-up is super easy. The best feature for me was that I could put the raw food in the blender cup, add some water, screw on a steamer top, cook it in the microwave until it was soft enough and then just screw on the blade and blend it. Only 1 item to clean! As she got older I would just blend up some of the rest of the family's dinner. Hope this helps!

You dont' need special baby food processors, a regular one will work just fine. I have the Magic Bullet, it is GREAT, very compact, easy to clean and processes food quickly. I made baby food for both my girls and loved doing it. As for traveling with food I would keep a few jars of food on hand since that way you won't have to worry about keeping it cool. Obviously the food you make you have to keep refigerated or frozen until you use it. I used to spend a few hours a week making different batches (veggies, fruits, meats) and then freeze them in ice cube trays (the pefect serving size) and store the cubes in labeled freezer bags (what it was and date made). The night before I needed them I'd just pick a few cubes and leave them in the fridge overnight to defost.

Good luck and have fun,
J.

I purchased a $12 hand mill from Baby Depot that I LOVE. Very simple, compact with its own carrying case, and easy to take apart and clean. You can put meats, veggies, fruit- anything in it. I like that I don't need an outlet, and can take it anywhere.

Prior to that I had a baby food processor that was terrible- DEX? it had a push-down top that held the motor, and that things was aways overheating after a few seconds and made the food taste smokey. I wish I remember the name of it but we threw it out.

Hi S.,
Don't worry about getting a "baby" food processor. I used the mini Cuisinart which has a chop/grind option. Both work great and will puree baby's food perfectly. I found mine at Bed, Bath and Beyond. The Magic Bullett is also an option and easy to use and clean.

I never used a specific "baby food" maker when making baby food for my daughter. I would either steam or boil the particular food and then put this handheld wand mixer that I have into it. I would use the water from the preparation to thin it out to the consistency I was looking for.

In terms of storage, the big lifesaver for me was freezing the food into ice cube trays. Then, once they're frozen pop them out and put them in little ziplocks. I used to put three cubes in each bag. In the beginning, my daughter would only eat one cube, but eventually she got up to three cubes at a feeding.

Hope this helps. I have a four month old now as well and will be beginning the baby food once again. I really enjoy that I can control what goes into my baby's body. Good luck.

Mag

I just used a regular food processor. I think the baby one's are just a gimmick. Also for foods to start with Avacado is great. It is so nutrietious, plus you just have to mash it. My daughter still loves avacodo.

Check this baby food mill out at:
http://www.877myjuicer.com/ViewProduct/KidCoBabyFoodMaker...=

I used one by a different company (forget it's name), but this one looks exactly the same. It was easy, portable, had only a few small parts to clean, and no electricity was needed. After grinding the food, the top acted as a bowl for the food as well. It was easy to just grind whatever we were eating (that was appropriate for our son), right there at the table with us at home and elsewhere.

If you're doing quantities to freeze, ice cube trays are the trick to easy storage. After the food is frozen, just plop them into ziploc bags.

Other than that, you could just use a blender or food processor. For me, though, this little hand processor was actually easier!

Enjoy!

We have been making food for our now almost 11 month old. At first we used the blender and then eventually switched to using a food processor. The food processor allowed us to make the texture more coarse as we have moved to more finger foods. We already owned the blender and food processor and didn't find a need to buy something just for her food.

We did do a lot of travel a few months back and our daughter wasn't into any of the prepared baby food, so we had to travel with the food we made. When we made her food we steamed whatever the food was and pureed it. Then we filled up ice cube trays with the puree and froze it and stored them in freezer containers and ziplocks. When traveling we took a small soft cooler with us full of many ziplocks and freezer packs.

Good luck:)

Don't bother! I have a Braun stick blender that works wonderfully for baby food, soups, sauces, etc. I just throw a ripe banana or pear in the cup and blend it up with the stick blender. I also like to steam or boil pieces of squash, sweet potato, apples, potatoes, etc., let cool it bit, blend it up right in the pot and then transfer to ice cube trays to freeze. Or save the plastic Gerber containers and reuse to freeze individual servings. The best part of the stick blender is that it is SOO EASY TO CLEAN. My sister's baby food processor had so many parts and blades that were such a pain to clean. Good luck!

When dear husband and I were married, he had a mini-cuisinart processor, and we received a large one as a wedding present. With these two items, plus we have a hand blender and a normal blender, I have found no need to purchase anything else. I would steam large batches of fruits and vegetables, puree them, then put them into individual serving sizes and store them in the freezer.

We did not travel until our daughter was able to eat things like cheerios, crackers, pasta (not spaghetti, but macaroni and the like), break down small bits of chicken, and smush fruits like bananas and raspberries, etc. in her mouth. So any restaurant we would likely take our child to would certainly have something that she could eat--whether it was ordered specifically for her or off of our plates. I have heard that having one of the portable "baby processors" can be quite convenient when traveling with a baby who still needs everything pureed. However, you may be surprised at just how easy it is to find things that are compatible.

I used a mini food processor! easy! the "food mills" work too!
making your own food is great fun! enjoy!

Hello S.,

You honestly don't need any special baby food processor. Honestly, all you need is a stove to boil water for the veggies, and a blender or a food processor to puree them afterwards.

This is such a great time, and you're right, this motherhood thing IS amazing =) Good luck!!!

I use The Magic Bullet for all my son's baby food. It works great and it's small and easy to clean.

We made a ton of our own baby food and I found that the easiest method was steaming and then throwing it into one of the mini "chop-chops" (with a little water if needed). They are little food processor's. You can get them for as little as $10 or upward to $40. I have a cuisinart blender that has one as an attachment now, but still have my other one, b/c it's easier to clean. You might have to do several batches, if you get one that's very small, but that's minor.
They are a great investment regardless of making baby food. We use ours for batches of herbs, or if I know I have to mince a lot of garlic, ginger, onions, etc..

What I did not like was that hand held grinder. It was messy, hard to clean, and it was a pain in the butt to use. I know that the idea is that you just grind what you're eating, but we just went from home-made baby food and worked our way up to little bites and pieces.

-M.