Once your baby has started their solids journey, my first piece of advice is this:

Create an emergency stash. Trust me, you'll thank me later. 😆

Grab a shelf-stable food that your baby already knows and enjoys.
For me, something simple like a tin of pear was perfect. Not a new food. Not a challenging food. Not an allergen you're introducing for the first time. Just something familiar that you know your baby will happily eat.

Pop it into your nappy bag along with:

• A spoon

• A bib

And leave it there, this is your emergency solids stash.

It's for that day when absolutely nothing goes to plan.

You're stuck in traffic. The appointment ran late. The supermarket took longer than expected. Nap times went sideways. Or you've suddenly realised there's no chance you're making it home before your baby is hungry. This little stash becomes your lifeline. Because once solids become part of your baby's routine, hungry babies don't really care that the motorway is at a standstill or that Mum's Day has fallen apart.

The key is keeping it simple and familiar. Something easy. Something reliable. Something that takes the pressure off when life inevitably gets in the way.

And trust me...That day will come

Now this one might be a little controversial.

Am I anti-pouch?
No. I think they have their place.

Do I understand why parents use them? Absolutely. They're convenient. They're portable. They don't require a spoon.
They're easy to throw in the baby bag.
And yes, babies can happily suck them straight from the packet.

But here's my question...

Once you've opened it, do you really want to save it for later? Once a pouch is opened, the food has been exposed to air and quite often baby's saliva too. From that point on, the clock starts ticking. You pop it back in the fridge or throw it back in the nappy bag and then what?

Do you remember when it was opened?

Do you remember how long it's been sitting there?

Do you label it with the date?

For me personally, it's a firm no.
Once opened, baby food should be eaten or discarded. Not "I'll save that for tomorrow." No mystery pouch rolling around in the bottom of the baby bag. No wondering whether it's still okay three days later.

The other thing worth thinking about is that babies are smart. Very smart. And sometimes very efficient. If they're regularly sucking food directly from a pouch, some babies can become less enthusiastic about using spoons, learning self-feeding skills, and exploring textures in the way we ultimately want them to.

After all, learning how to use a spoon, a fork, drink from a cup, and participate in family mealtimes are all skills too.
Now before anyone comes for me, your baby, your choice.

If pouches work for your family, that's completely up to you.

I just think it's worth considering both the convenience and the trade-offs before making them a regular part of the everyday routine.