Unimpressed with Heinz

[Haydies]

But I suppose it comes down to a parenting choice and while most of us are fortunately educated enough to know that these aren't a good idea at this age and avoid them, it is frustrating that these choices are there for the ones that may not be as educated.

That's the primary reason for my vent - that the choice is there. I might look at it and be shocked, but there are others out there that I assume don't know, or don't care and just want to make their child 'happy' and buy it. I mean, someone has to be buying it right? Or they wouldn't still be selling it.

And with how many child obesity things we hear about, why promote that sort of eating at such a young age...

[june78]

Haydies I totally agree with you. It is frightening what is availabe. I am horrifed everytime I go down that aisle. I started DS on solids earlier than 6 months (home-made as much as possible), but there is no way it will extend to "desserts" for a very long time. It worries me when babies are eating custards and desserts because "its the only thing they will eat"!!! Not good enough, but while they are still for sale people will buy them. I think a lot of people believe that as its baby food it can't possibly be bad for them.

[JordieC]

I totally agree with you too but I am also surprised they sell juice for babies and kids when we are told constantly that juice is sooo bad for their teeth -may as well feed them softdrink. I know mothers who give their babies water with juice because they "don't like" water. I can't understand why they would then give thme juice - they're just babies and they can learn to like water! Anyway just adding to your rant!! I agree!

[Rouge]

I have to admit I agree. I was such a naive mother first time around, I honestly believed because the companies were labeling such things as baby food it was perfectly fine. And my daughter had on a few occasions (which is still too often IMO) baby juice, chocolate custard and the like and I rarely made baby food as I didn't know how to (I know how ridiculous that sounds).

Second time around my son only ever had home made food (apart from motherly cubes every now and again) and he HATES processed foods now.

And I know ignorance is not an excuse but in my experience had it not been for information available online I would not have thought any differently. And I often wonder how many mothers followed in my pattern. Admittedly though when Paris was a baby there wasn't the emphasis on natural food or healthy eating as there is now. Mind you we were also told to feed our babies on or just before 4 months

So I guess what I'm saying is I really do feel that these companies should be taking responsibility for their marketing of junk. Some mothers don't have the family support, or the knowledge or even the online support that some have access to and so they learn to trust whats on the shelf as being "ok" I mean think about it, would you expect something to be unsafe or bad for babies to be sold... of course not. Like with the juices I honestly thought it was only natural low sugar or something, now thats naive but I doubt its uncommon. I did get better by the time my DD was 8-10 months we had stopped buying junk and I was making her food and not buying the gimmicky things like juice etc.

Anyway thats my rant. Get a grip food companies. Hopefully with a decline in sales maybe they'll get the hint!

[*EJ*]

I never knew feeding my 16 month old could cause guilt but for me it does. I make 95% of the food my son eats, he has tried the shelf custards but i always found they just went straight through him. His body telling him and me that he doesn't need that food i think!? I won't give him juice at all the only time he has probably had this is when he's grabbed someone elses cup. Why do everyone elses cups always seem more interesting that his??!! I only ever use shelf bought food when we are going out and it may be more convienient... rarely.

To make my guilt even worse i read a book about perservatives and additives in food and now i feel guilt about the food my husband and i eat too. I find it hard to trust the baby foods and i find it hard to trust our foods too. Additives and persevatives listed in this book are found in some of the shelf bought baby foods.

So i do make as much as i can from fresh fruit, veg and meat. My theory is that as long as i can control what goes in my sons mouth i will, when it becomes an issue i'll deal with it and hopefully have some luck in teaching him healthy food choices.

I agree and understand what you are saying.

[Boo Boo]

totally agree with you, I coudn't believe it myself when I saw them on the shelves. Obviously there are parents who do buy them for their babies otherwise they would stop making them. Amazing what the power of money does for a company!

Laurin

[sangie]

Gggggrrrrrrr don't get me started on this topic, makes me so angry that these companies are allowed to sell these products for such small babies...............I have often stopped to read the ingredients on some baby food jars and I can't believe how much crap is in them.