As a parent, one of the most daunting tasks is deciding whether to opt for store-bought baby purees or make your own. I'm a firm believer in making my own, and I've shared my experiences with blenders and steamers in the past. However, today I want to focus on the storage aspect of homemade baby food.
When I first purchased my blender-steamer, I thought about where and how I would store the baby food. I figured it was a good idea to make a batch with some extra just in case - and, let me tell you, those cases did come up!
I considered buying baby food jars and sterilizing them for my own homemade purees. But while browsing a baby store, I stumbled upon these storage bags for baby food. My first thought was, 'I need those!' But then I decided to check out the contents of the pack, and someone had helpfully removed everything. I was a bit annoyed, but I didn't give up. I ordered the Happy Baby storage bags online, and a few days later, I had them in my hands, grinning from ear to ear.
Storage bags and contents.
As I mentioned, this is a pack of 5 storage bags for baby food and 5 lids. There's also a booklet included.
Important note: the bags don't come with spoons!
They're shown on the box, but they're not actually included in the package. Keep that in mind and you won't be surprised when you don't find them.
A few words from the manufacturer.
Multifunction storage bags with lids for baby food from Happy Baby - a simple and convenient way to feed your little one on the go, during a walk, or in the car. These bags help keep food fresh for longer between feedings. They're completely safe for your child. The bags are easy to seal, and the reliable zipper ensures they stay closed during storage.
My experience with using them.
After reading the instructions, I was surprised to find no mention of how to sterilize them before their first use! Since you can't heat them in a microwave, it's logical to assume you can't boil them either, or use a sterilizer. That's a major minus in my book.
I was hoping for the best, so I decided to give them a wash, but I hit a new snag: how do you clean the inside if your hand doesn't fit, a sponge doesn't fit, and even a baby bottle brush doesn't fit! I filled a small amount of baby dish soap, shook it up, and then rinsed it five times with water. Yeah, these bags can be washed in a dishwasher, but I don't have one, and I'm not willing to buy one just for these bags.
Next up was drying the bags. And, of course, new problems arise: how?! Ideally, it should be able to 'hang' without touching anything and dry vertically with the opening down. But, I don't have any of those gadgets at home. I tried to open the bag as much as possible, but the sides just wouldn't cooperate. If you don't take care of this, moisture won't disappear and you'll end up with an unpleasant smell, and in the long run, mold.
I decided to use these pouches exclusively for freezing baby food, not for taking on a stroll, since I have no idea what the shelf life of the prepared product is at room temperature. I don't want to poison my kid with 6 hours of apple and banana puree. Honestly, I'm struggling to imagine: how can you take food in a non-sterile pouch and feed your kid 4 hours later? Nobody goes for a walk with a hungry kid, and with solid foods, a baby can tolerate 4 hours between meals. That's just enough time to get some exercise, get home, and have a freshly prepared meal. If we're talking about a trip, I just don't get how someone can store baby food at room temperature for more than 4 hours.
Let's get back to reality, though.
After preparing the food, I cooled it down to room temperature and poured it into the pouches. But, of course, that wasn't without its own set of issues. The opening is quite narrow, so you'll inevitably lose some of the contents. I had to use a 'scoop' tool to help with that, but I didn't have one at home, so I ended up losing about 1/6 of the prepared food during the sorting process.
Next, I loaded the pouch with its contents into the freezer.
The pouches have a measurement scale. That's definitely a plus. I always knew how much puree my kid had eaten.
To thaw the pouch, I either put it in the fridge overnight or submerged it in a pot of warm water, changing it frequently. Thawing is a painstaking process, as it happens unevenly, and there's a risk of serving your kid cold puree.
I have to admit, I've been getting a bit lazy with meal prep lately. Before each feeding, I'd scoop the puree into a bowl, mix it up, and give it a quick taste to make sure it's evenly thawed. But let's be real, you can easily feed your little one straight from the pouch – it's super convenient on-the-go. However, I still don't see the point in taking out the puree when it's prone to spoilage.
Now, the real challenge begins: how to clean the pouch after each use? With fruits and veggies, it's relatively easy, but when it comes to meat-based purees, I've learned the hard way that it's best to avoid these pouches altogether – the mess is a nightmare to clean! I once didn't scrub the pouch enough, and the puree went bad before I even froze it. Needless to say, that was a wake-up call for me. Now, I only prep for one meal at a time, and I make sure to dispose of any leftovers. I'm not risking another batch of spoiled veggies or fruits for my little one's sake!
I thought I was being cautious by freezing for only 2-3 days instead of months, but I guess that wasn't enough. I made sure to wash the pouches thoroughly, dry them properly, and even gave them an extra rinse with water before sorting and freezing. Yet, it seems I still wasn't doing enough.
I've gotta say, if I'd known all these little quirks beforehand, I wouldn't have bought the Happy Baby storage pouches - they're not even worth the space they take up. These pouches are a nightmare to sterilize, wash, and dry, which makes a huge difference in storing baby food. I've come to the realization that I won't be using them at all, and I'll be sticking to freshly prepared meals for my little one.
Thanks for tuning in, and happy shopping, everyone!