Weaning & Foodie Roundup

It’s been a while since I featured anything food or weaning related, even though I’ve been weaning baby Nia for the past few months. However you choose to wean your child (there’s traditional, baby-led, and a mix of the two), there are some rather cool buys out there both on the practical and food front. Each month, I’ll be rounding up a cool weaning and food related buys for babies and toddles. For this first one, there’s some old favourites mixed in to kickstart it.

I’ve owned a Beaba Babycook Blender (see my review) for a couple of years and love it for its steaming, defrosting, and blending capabilities, but the price has risen from around £60 to £90! Whether it’s for pureed, lumpy, or just healthy mini meals, I love chucking everything in and coming back to it almost ready to go. But it’s a bit pricey now and probably an investment suited if you’re going to have more than one child. At the other end of the price spectrum is The Wean Machine (£19.99 and previously featured here), another hot favourite here at BG. Rather than cooking up ‘special’ food for your tot, you can mash any cooked or soft food by squeezing the handles together, with the food gathering into the integral bowl for an exact portion. Obviously no steaming, blending, or defrosting going on here, but if you already have other gadgets, or they’re eating the same food as you, you’re quids in. If you eat food with a lot of spice, you might not want your baby eating the same as you though…

long sleeved bibs

We have a couple from John Lewis (£5.95 each) that are very hard wearing (the star one pictured is reduced to £2.95) but for rough and ready, nowhere beats Ikea for value with their packs of 2 Barnslig Rand versions for £3.99, especially when you’re in the messy phase and have to keep chucking them in the wash or wiping down.

Brother Max

I think we love most things Brother Max, who are behind a range of innovative and attractive essentials for parents including their food portioners which click together for easier filling and storage, their no spill cup which can be held in four different ways from baby to toddler hood, and their travel weaning bowl and heat sensitive spoons set that includes vents for microwaving, sealed compartments, and a detachable sucker. Try Kiddicare and Lula Sapphire.

Annabel Karmel’s New Complete Baby and Toddler Meal Planner

A couple of years on and I still highly recommend this book, especially if you find yourself going through a phase of doing the Groundhog Day of weaning and are looking for some inspiration as there are over 200 recipes taking you from first stage weaning through to toddlerhood. Interestingly, I’ve found that some of the toddler meals have made some great quick lunches for me…. Written by the highly regarded Annabel Karmel who is quite the child food guru, it’s a definite must buy. Available from most bookstores and of course Amazon for £8.74 (RRP £14.99)

Favourite site: This month it has to be VUP Baby which is an online store dedicated to selling non toxic baby products (think BPA, PVC, pthalates free) with a vast array of feeding products that will excite you both from an innovative and attractive perspective. BG readers get 10% your first order off with the code GOODIES.

For the foodies…

Food wise, whilst we all make a lot of our own baby food here at BG, we still buy in and try out some foods that we can highly recommend. All of them are organic and most available from the major supermarkets:

Ella’s Kitchen – Huge fan of their puree’s in handy squeezable pouches with a wide range to suit different weaning stages. The flavours and combinations are fantastic – probably more innovative than what we would have come up with! Great for when you’re on the go – just pack a spoon and put it in the fridge when you get home.

Plum Foods – Have to say, their cereals, spelt fingers and meal range are excellent (their muesli is a huge hit in both mine and Kat’s households), but they are a bit pricey, especially in these credit crunchy times. However, they are regularly on offer at stores like Boots and Waitrose/Ocado plus they’re at all the majors and a lot of independents. They also do offers on their on site periodically. Oh and if you happen to be in Ikea and having something to eat, you can get their food pouches free with an adult meal.

The Owl & The Pussycat Chilled Baby Food – Baby Nia tried out a few of these meals. Whilst food is down to everyone’s individual tastes, she absolutely loved them, especially the tomato and celeriac risotto with cheddar cheese. These chilled, steamed meals available in several yummy flavours come in packs of two individual pots and are totally natural. Available from Waitrose and Ocado.

Annabel Karmel Make It Easy Organic Pasta – Tried these out a few months back and they’re great for little mouth sized, healthy pasta. There are three different types with gluten free options plus they’re egg and dairy free. Available from all the major supermarkets.

Yeo Valley Organic’s Little Yeos – My girls love these to the point where the baby will wail the place down as soon as she sees the tub coming out of the fridge. Organic with nothing added, they’re thick and creamy and probiotic as well. Available from all the major supermarkets.

Can you recommend a product for a future roundup? We’re on the lookout for apps, recommended sites, and books, as well as handy gadgets and the elusive ‘perfect sippy cup’. Email features AT bambinogoodies.co.uk.