If you feel like the number of people around you is constantly increasing, if you feel like there’s no personal space left for yourself and your personal needs, if you worry about someone giving your young children fruit snacks or a juice box that’s been in the fridge — then this blog post may be just what you need. We’re going to examine five misconceptions about baby food pouches and how they affect parents. With these myths debunked, it’ll be much easier to determine whether or not a pouch is right for your family.
- Baby food pouches are healthier than jars because they come in smaller portions:
That’s true…but only because the pouches are made of plastic and are therefore not recyclable. Pouches have been getting a lot of press recently, and they’ve even been outlawed in some school systems. The reasons for the ban vary, but health has always remained at the forefront of concerned parents’ minds — and rightfully so.
However, baby food jars are probably no bigger than their pouch cousins and come in the same variety of sizes. Fruit pouches are often packaged with only one serving per pouch (aimed at infants), while veggies and meats can be found in two or three-serving pouches.
- Pouches are not always safe for baby:
That’s true. Pouches — like food in jars — can contain bacteria when they’re improperly handled. But the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has recognized many of the pouches on the market for their quality and safety, as have Canadian health professionals.1,2
- Baby food pouches cause eating disorders:
This is not just a myth; this is a serious concern, as it relates to children under two years of age being at risk for developing anorexia or bulimia (also known as “thinspiration”). A lean, healthy baby is no one’s goal. We just have to make sure there’s nothing that could possibly trigger this development — and that starts with examining myths about pouches.
- Pouches are healthier than jars because they’re better for your babies (they don’t cause choking or put your child at risk for gastrointestinal problems):
Again, this is true…but only because they’re made of plastic and therefore not recyclable.
- Pouches are a better nutrition choice than jars:
Also true…but it’s worth noting that pouches often contain more sugar and salt than their jar cousins. Pouches are also more convenient, which makes them a tempting choice. We can’t deny the convenience of grab-and-go pouches, but they’re not always safer or healthier than their jar counterparts. So which one is really best? The answer isn’t easy.
As with most products on the market today, there are pros and cons to using pouches (or jars). Parents have to make decisions that are right for their families — and it’s important to do so with facts in hand. Hopefully this post has helped make some of those facts clearer for you and your family!