Homemade Baby Food?

My daughter is 3.5 months old and I have started to think about wether I want to make her baby food or just buy the jars.  Has anyone made their own baby food?  Is it a lot more work, how do you do it, any good recipes, any special blender?  Thanks!

[mysty2001]

well I don;t think I ever bought a jar of baby food
BUT I didn't do baby food till after six months
I made YAMS - a lot.  you can cut them up and steam them on the stove or microwave - that was the real staple in our house

some others are pureed rice, pureed peas, carrots
any fruit just smash with a spoon (bananas peaches pears - )

you will find it is  easy and healthier!
best of luck

[babywillowmae]

I have been reading up on all natural baby food, and how to make it.  I have read in many places that avacados and bananas are great first foods, and all you need to do is smash, and mix with breastmilk.  If we start with cereals, then I am going to make my own rice cereal, you just grind it up, then cook.  Most baby cereals are processed grain, and not whole grain.  The way I look at it is like white bread compaired to whole grain bread.   If you wanted to make a batch of babyfood, like yams, which are supposed to be great, is to just bake, smash, mix with milk, and then put into ice cube trays and freeze.  I would talk to your dr. first, but it sounds super easy to do.

[kcs08]

OMG, I love this topic!  I make al my own baby food and it's sooooooo easy and WAY cheaper!  I cook once a month and it take about 2 hours.  Then I have enough frozen food for an entire month!  I put my purree in ice cube trays and muffin pans.  3 ice cubes =1 baby food jar.  1 muffin serving =1 baby food jar.  
Go to the health food store to buy organic vegges and fruit.

Bake butternut squash and sweet pot.  Steam carrots, green beans, peas, apples, pears, etc...  After steaming or baking I put them in a blender.  I like to mix some of them up to give her a mixed veg surprise!  :0)  You can come up with so many variations.  I use a little bit of water to blend.

Avocado and banana are the only ones that dont need to be cooked.  Everything else should.  I can tell you that making my own food has made my 8 month old transition to table food so much easier.  She now feeds herself soft peas, pasta noodles, peaches etc.  

Helpful hints-I buy the frozen organic peas, green beans, and corn.  No salt (look at the ingredients) and just steam those.  Its way easier.  AND buy a jar of Motts organic sugarfree applesauce!  That is a great first food along w/banana and avocado!  It's alot easier then peeling all those apples!  I also just started mashing up a regualar pot.  So whatever we eat, she can usually have some too.  

Take your serving size and use a glass bowl to micro for 1 min.  It's sooooooooooooooooo easy!  It was a bit stressful at first but now I love coming up with new variations!  My friends babies wont eat "real" food-they spit it out so theyare having trouble transitioning to table foods.  I think mine has aquired a taste and that's why its been so easy.

Here is a great website that will help you along.
http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/

Let me know if you ahve any questions!  I love this topic!  :0)