My 12 month olds still want jar food, is this normal?

I was hoping to have both my boys off jar food by 12 months. It is convenient, but they are now a 1 and was hoping to never buy that stuff again. They like eggs and pancakes, but I can't offer that every meal, every day. I get so worried that they are not eating enough that I have bought more jar food which they take happily. They know how to eat finger foods but they just don't want them. Its like over the past month they have decided they want jar food. Is this normal? When did your lil ones come off jar food?

I know there are people out there that criticize jar food but that's the route I took in the beginning and not here to defend it.

 

People take issue with jarred food? I'm in big trouble, then...

My kids are two and we still dump jarred fruit into their oatmeal, jarred veggies into sauces, and give them the "yogurts" out of a jar (what? they're good!). My girls would probably still be spoon fed if they had the choice. I wouldn't worry too much for awhile. I think my girls were closer to 18 months before we truly kicked the jars at every meal.

 

at their age I would not worry.

If you want to move them off jar food: Have you tried mashing or pureeing (according to their preferred consistency) whatever the rest of the family is having? For example, applesauce to stir into cereal or joghurt is quick and easy to make. Have you tried offering them the finger foods off your or DH's plate to make it more interesting, sort of a treat?

 

yeah I have been ridiculed for jar food. And i am not certain why. but thanks, makes me feel better =)

 

I agree - I don't think it's anything to worry about. I would offer finger foods with every meal, but then fill them up with what they'll eat. :good:

The reason people get all uppity about jarred food is that it's essentially a well played marketing gimmic. Babies don't need purees to transition to solids, although they are a convenient transitional food. The reason purees were started was when back in the day solids were started as early as 2 months old - food needed to essentially be a liquid because babies possess a tongue thrust reflex that causes them to expel anything that's not-a-liquid from their mouths so they don't choke on it. Now that the recommendation is for exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months followed by gradual introduction of complementary foods, most babies can actually move right onto finger foods/mashed foods & can skip purees entirely.

Anyway, it really isn't a big deal. The only reason I know anything at all about it is because I'm a lazy parent & don't want to make baby food for my little guy when he's ready to transition. ardon:

 

Its parent choice. No one can criticize you at all. U make the decision and u live with it.

We still gave baby jar food until like 13-14 months until my kids decided have nothing to do with it. They totally rejected. After about 10 months, they hated spoon fed we couldnt feed them anymore. So what we did was gave them finger food ( canned veggies, eggs, pancake, fruit,...) they liked that but didnt eat much at first. After finger food, we offered jar food, yogurt. Even now, i still mix my son whole milk yogurt with tube veggies and fruit puree. He loves it.

Personally, i would offer finger food and new food then purees at the end. If u have no prob with offering purees then let them decided when they dont like it anymore. Or at 15 months, cut it out completely. Gl! Dont stress too
Much.

High cal finger food: banana, thin slides cheese, sweet corn with butter. They will like at least 1

 

My boys continued to get jarred food, especially mixed with cereal, until at least 16 months (maybe 18 months....I can't remember exactly!).

There is nothing wrong with still having them on jarred food, but if YOU want them off, you could try going cold turkey and only do finger foods. If they can eat the finger foods (not gagging, etc.), and you offer no jarred foods, then I would think they would eat more of the finger foods since that's the only choice. But don't make the decision based on what others have said to you - do what works for you and your kids.

 

My two were getting jarred food, especially to supplement vegetables until they were 15-16 months. That's when they started to turn their noses at the jarred food. My BF, her son liked jarred food until he was almost 3 and then was done with it.

 

thanks for all your answers! I heard some great advice! I just went and bought some jar food today but also I'm going to do what some have suggested offer finger foods first, than I will offer jar food if they still resist. thanks to all!

 

we fed jarred food until at least 18 mod - it was the only way to get my son to take any veggies at all!