Is it ok to give my baby food from a jar?

Jars are labeled for your baby’s age and stage – stage 1 is for beginners and is a thick purée similar to the ones you make yourself. Stages 2 and 3 are more textured, for older babies. Check that the lid is sealed tight before buying jarred food – there’s an indent on the lid and if it has already popped up this means the lid has come loose and the food is no longer sterile.

Once you’ve opened a jar of fruit or vegetable-based baby food it’ll keep in the refrigerator for two days; meat-based food will keep for 24 hours. You can also freeze any remaining jarred food. Do be sure to spoon it into a dish to feed your baby, since if you transfer the spoon from her mouth into the jar, any food that’s left could be come contaminated by bacteria.

When it comes to heating, be careful to let food sand and stir it well if you use a microwave to reheat it –otherwise your baby’s mouth could be burnt by a hotspot. But in actual fact you don‘t necessarily have to heat it at all – most babies are happy to eat it at room temperature. It can be useful to get her into the habit since it’ll make it easier to feed her when you’re out if you don’t have to get her food warmed!

If you have any unanswered questions, use our feeding and food page to gain wisdom from other moms or our resident experts for all those pregnancy or baby-related niggles.

The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.

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