ARE POUCHED FOODS OK?

Every now and then, pouched foods are ok to use with your baby. The convenience makes them very appealing! However, there are a number of downsides to food pouches and the high frequency of use can raise a number of nutritional and developmental concerns. 

• Nutritional content: The ingredients and the production process often results in pouches that are lacking in nutrients. 
• Sensory opportunities: Eating is a sensory experience. When babies each pouched food they miss the opportunity to see, smell and touch their food. 
• Oral motor development: Chewing skills do not automatically develop at specific ages. Safe and coordinated chewing only develops through practice, consistency and exposure to a variety of food textures and shapes. Sucking food from pouches doesn’t provide these practice opportunities. 

If you do choose to use pouched foods on occasion, there are a few tweaks you can make to support nutrition and development. 

For a more detailed explanation and things to consider when using pouched food, check out our full blog. 

• Read the full blog on Pouched Food