Note: The following giveaway is open to Canadians only.
I remember it like it was yesterday. My kitchen was covered with assorted strips of fruit peel and discarded cores. Chunks of pear, apple and mango were simmering away on the stove, condensing into a sloppy, mushy substance. After slightly cooling the mixture, I transferred it to a blender, where it was puréed until smooth. Then, ever-so-carefully, I spooned the puree into washed and sterilized ice cube trays, and set it in the freezer. I tackled all the dishes in the meantime, in between washing formula bottles and distracting little Ryder. After two hours, I transferred the cubes to a zipper bag, and once again returned the package to the freezer.
That was the first and last time I made my own baby food.
Honestly, I have much respect for parents who make their own purées. Because you what? It just wasn’t my thing at all. In fact, I found more satisfaction popping open a jar of baby food than I ever did taking the time to make my own. It’s what worked for me and I am totally cool with that.
And if you are a do-it-yourself parent, remember that while homemade baby food totally rocks, you may be missing the mark when it comes to including enough iron in your child’s diet. Most healthy infants are born with enough iron stores to initially meet their needs, but at about six months, baby’s iron stores start to deplete and breast milk can no longer meet his or her nutritional requirements.
Health Canada recommends babies between six and twelve months should be offered iron-rich foods two or more times a day. Iron is an essential nutrient for an infant’s growth and carries oxygen from the lungs throughout the body, including the brain, and helps a baby remember all of the new things learned each and every day.
Today, Nestlé Gerber is serving up the chance to WIN a “Feeding Time Fun” prize pack, valued at over $100, with special treats including Baby Cereal, which provides 100 per cent of the daily value of iron babies need.
The prize pack includes:
· Three boxes of Nestlé Gerber Cereal
· Deluxe Reclining Feeding Seat
· Snack bowls
· Kiddy Cutlery 3-Pc Set
· Babies R Us 10 pack bibs
· Babies R Us 12-pack super soft washcloths
It’s the perfect gift pack for an expecting mom or parents with wee ones. And even though my little guys are well beyond the mushy food stage, Nestlé Gerber is still the only baby cereal I trust. Each serving of cereal provides 100 per cent of the daily value of iron babies need, without any added sugar, salt, preservatives, artificial flavours or colours. They’re the only infant cereals in Canada with Probiotic B. lactis, which helps contribute to a healthy digestive tract flora. Good luck everybody!
My son could not take Iron.
I used iron fortified cereal and never thought of making my own
i always fed my daughter Gerbers cereal and never made my own baby food
always made my own baby food my youngest daughter had a great appetite and jars got too expensive
I used the fortified cereal as well for mine
Yes and never tried it.
Love how real you are! Make my 10 month old homemade food whenever I can, and I agree it is a lot of work! I do resort to Gerber cereal and products as it’s a brand I trust. I am still nursing but love the added iron she gets. Gerber cereals are great as I mix the food she doesn’t like into them and she doesn’t notice it as much. Her favorite is the Banana and Rice one. Used it when my son was a baby and wouldn’t trust any other cereal for my little ones!
I am expecting my first little bundle of joy this summer and I am looking forward to making a lot of his foods to supplement nursing . . . though I do believe that variety is essential, so I will also be feeding him snacks like cereal to make sure he’s getting all of the nutrients he needs to grow into a healthy young man!
My son is only three months old so we aren’t at that stage yet, but I do plan on making my own food whenever I can.
I’m a soon-to-be aunt… my SIL would love this pack!
I have used fortified cereal with my kids. I do make my own baby food for my baby.
Home made and breast milk
I made veggie purees and freezed them.
Goodness, trying to remember back to 1980 is a stretch, but I know I always bought Gerber baby food to feed my daughter (whether or not it was iron-fortified I can’t remember now – the cereals probably were).
My 10 month old grandson is still being breast-fed in addition to baby food – I think they puree some things and also have Gerber jars on hand and cereal as well. :)
I’m still nursing but I plan on making my own.
I never really made my own baby food; I tried once but its was a miserable fail lol I’m not sure if my babies had iron fortified cereal, thats going back almost 23yrs and my memory is a wee bit shot lol
I did and also made some of my own food, but didnt always have time so didnt do it
I am nursing at the moment but plan on it :)
I’ve never heard of it to be honest. Making your own baby food is awesome.
We used iron fortified cereal. We did not try making our own.
My daughter uses iron fortified & has plans on making her own baby food.. when her baby is old enough..
I would definitely try to make my own baby food, but I don’t have anything against using supplements.
Yes I used iron fortified cereal and made my own baby food for my first and the second…so far nope.
I haven’t had children yet, but my BFF’s baby boy is 5 months old and starting to eat – I’d love to win this for her! :) She’s definitely planning to make homemade food. Thanks for the chance to win!
I did both when I had babies.
Those days are over, but when I had to, I tried to make my own.
I fed my little dudes a mix of homemade food and store bought. I’d say 50/50 – and they are TONS of cereal – more than i thought was humanly possible lol
I used iron fortified cereal for my kids and I did make some of my own baby food
I used some iron fortified cereals, I never made my own food.
Did a bit of both a long time ago!! We (my brothers have three new baby grandaughters) so the prize would be fun!!!
I know my friend is usually the fortified cereal and she is planning on making her own baby food. Would be a great prize to win as a surprise for her!
Yes to baby cereal, I make a lot of my own baby food
I fed my first gerber cereal but made my own pureed foods, except when we were travelling. I plan to do the same shortly with my second.
i’m new to this whole baby thing so no experience quite yet!
I fed my older boys iron fortified cereal and made some of my own baby food. When the new baby is old enough I will be doing the same.
My cousin is having a baby soon;)
i plan on making my own baby food, when i have time!
Never had the time to make homemade baby food
I definitely fed all four of mine iron-fortified cereal. They didn’t like meat much so I wanted to make sure they got plenty of iron. I had to go back to work so I didn’t have much chance to make my own baby food.
I did feed him iron fortified and tried lots of my own baby food recipes. he wasn’t and still isn’t the best eater.
I started her simultaneously on iron fortified baby food and actual food – and she’s done really well!
We started with a iron fortified baby cereal and some baby food.. he wanted our food right away so I just started giving him what we ate..
Honestly I don’t remember! I am going to be a grandma soon, so I’ll get re-educated on all this very very soon I’m sure!
I don’t remember if we made our own baby food, but I think we did some at least, probably not all
I did feed my children the nestle iron fortified cereal when they were babies. I made half of their baby food and also gave them jars of purees.
I didn’t feed him iron . I bought most of his baby food.
I didn’t make my own baby food when Sara was little but I have always made my own applesauce…I still remember when she started eating cereal and it was one of my favourite times with Sara.
Never tried it.
We have always fed him iron fortified cereal and we make some baby food, buy some
I’ve fed both my kids iron fortified cereal. I make baby food and I also buy baby food.
Yes I did feed iron fortified cereal, and tried making my own baby food once or twice, but found it more convenient to feed her from the jarred food.
some days I made my own baby food, other days the baby was given premade food
Yes I do feed my 9 month baby iron fortified cereal. She has no problem with the iron. I have never attempted to make my own.
Yes to both!
I used iron fortified cereal and never had the time to make my own
I did but I never tried homemade food though
Yes I did feed iron fortified cereal. I have been using a Baby Bullet to make my own baby food at home and it’s the best thing I have ever done!
Yes my baby had iron fortified cereal and I have not made my own baby food but I’m thinking of doing it for my new baby.
we are not there yet, but I do plan to feed him irons fortified cereal. and I would love to try making my own food
We did use the iron-fortified cereal. Prior to baby’s arrival, I had intended to make baby food. However, once we started solids, it seemed much easier to buy ready made purees, so we just did that.
I tried to make my own baby food but being a full time working mom and by the 3rd kid, I had to let that go – I can’t do everything! We have always used iron-fortified cereal.
We started with Gerber baby cereal and then moved on to homemade baby food. It’s really great starter food, and for breastfed babies the iron is important!
I made my own baby food out of pureed vegetables.
Pablum (or Heinz) like I used to eat!
Yes, I did feed them iron fortified cereal and I did make my own food, like mashed fruits, vegetables and rice, etc.
Yes, and we also made a lot of our baby foods :)
When my baby gets to this stage I plan on feeding him iron fortified cereals and making baby food.
Yep, my 2 year old son still eats Gerber iron fortified cereal for toddlers. My newborn will be started on Gerber as soon as she’s old enough!
yes i did … i didnt think of making my own
We will deffinitely be making our own baby food!!
I am entering your giveaway.
It would be great to win the Nestlé Gerber “Feeding Time Fun” prize pack.
In response to your questions of
Did you feed your baby iron-fortified cereal? How about making your own baby food?
Yes i fed my child iron-fortified cereal and i never made my own baby food.
Thank you for having this giveaway!!!!!!!!
I have before
We do both!
I did both with my kids.
We are just introducing food to our baby now and we are giving him this exact rice cereal!
My daughter never took to cereal, but I made all her other food myself!
No, I made all my own
made most of my own baby food and also use fortified
I do give my baby iron-fortified cereal and I try to make as much food at home as possible.
I have used iron fortified cereal but have never tried to make it myself
Yes, we do feed our little one iron-fortified cereal. We don’t make any of our own baby food at this time
yes to both. thanks
Love the cowboy boot in brown!
yes to both
Yes, I did give my baby iron-fortified cereal. I sometimes made my own baby food too
Yes i tried to give him iron fortified cereal but he never liked any type of baby cereal. I always made his food.
Yes I did and still do feed iron rich cereal. Never did make my own baby food – no time!
neither of my kids liked the baby cereal at all… we bought Heinz baby food. (I used to buy some gerber jarred baby foods for my oldest when he was a baby but they don’t seem to have them anymore.)
Yes I used Iron fortified cereal, I also used bottled baby food for convenience, but tried to make as much of my own as possible
My sister in law is expecting her first. She will most likely try iron fortified cereal, as I know she constantly has issues with a low iron level.
I always gave my daughter the Gerbers cereal, and made all of her food!
Definitely iron-fortified is great to use and home-made is great, but if you can’t, ready made is just as good I’ve always felt.