The term ‘BPA Free Weaning Equipment’ hit the No. 1 spot on Mindful Mum’s  most searched list last week.  Parents are actively searching for BPA free preparation equipment, storage containers, bowls,spoons and training cups when they start to wean their baby on to solid food.

Mindful Mum has created a list of BPA-Free weaning products for your baby. Part 1 below includes BPA-Free food preparation and storage equipment. Part 2 lists BPA-Free bowls, feeding sets, spoons and training cups.

1. Stainless Steel Hand Blender for pureeing, blending and mashing baby food into a smooth paste for the early stage of weaning. A hand blender requires less washing than a food processor and is ideal for small quantities. A hand blender with a stainless steel shaft can be safely used in hot liquids,  is stain resistant, easily washed in dishwasher and is BPA Free. The union between the stainless steel blades and wand is made from polypropylene which should not contain any bisphenol a (BPA).
2. Flexible Ice Cube Trays for freezing food means purees take less time to defrost and you can mix various flavours such as; carrot, sweet potato and parsnip. Once frozen knock out the cubes, place in well-sealed freezer bags and label with contents and date made.
3. Freezer Bags  Great for storing frozen pureed cubes, they come with a label for writing date and contents. I had plenty of breast milk storage bags leftover and used them for storing weaning purees. It’s important that you use frozen weaning purees within six weeks, so being able to write the date and name of the food on the freezer bag tab is very helpful. d2w degradable food freezer bags degrade turning harmlessly into CO2 and water as opposed to lying around for decades to come.
4. Weaning Containers or Cubes Convenient when baby moves to stage 2, baby storage cubes are larger than ice cubes portions and have lids. Using air tight containers prevents freezer burn and the breakdown of textures in frozen foods; they also prevent color and flavor changes. Happy Mum baby cubes are made from non  toxic plastic with 8 individual 70ml containers to store baby food. They can be used to freeze, thaw and as a dish when out and about with baby.
   
5. Glass Containers for Heating Pyrex bowls and containers are oven, microwave, fridge and freezer safe and dishwasher proof. Choose glass ware or ceramic wear over plastic containers especially if you are heating food in the microwave. When using a microwave to reheat baby food heat until piping hot and allow to cool to make sure you destroy any bacteria that might be present in the food. Stir thouroughly to get rid of hot and test its not too hot before giving to baby.

Why is it important to think about BPA Free products for weaning your baby?

The key concern with plastic containers is that some of the materials used to make plastic may leach into your baby’s food and drink especially when heated. Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a hormone mimicking element found in plastics labelled #7 (normally polycarbonate). In 2008, the US National Toxicology Program (NTP) raised concerns that exposure to BPA during pregnancy and childhood could impact the developing breast and prostate, hasten puberty, and affect behavior in children. Read more on Bisphenol A.

Tips for Weaning Baby

• Start weaning at lunch time rather than in the morning so baby is not too hungry or tired to try something new
• First foods for baby include; carrots, sweet potato (yam), parsnip, apple, pear and banana – all of which go well with baby rice
• Give your baby a spoon as soon as he or she can hold one
• Use frozen baby purees within six weeks (label with date and contents)
• Stick with the same two or three foods for a few days before moving on
• Give your baby one taste at a time, that way you will know better which he or she prefers and can detect any adverse reactions
• Offer solid foods once or twice a day for the first month
• Don’t give babies under 12 months; salt, sugar, honey, unpasteurised cheese
• Don’t give babies under 6 months; berries, citrus fruit, nuts, seeds, raw / lightly cooked eggs, wheat based foods
• Between 6 and 12 months your baby should still get  milk each day, although the amount will vary depending on how baby is progressing with solids
• If you are having problems with weaning, keep a weaning journal to see which foods agree and disagree with baby
• Steer clear of petroleum based anti-bacterial sprays that emit strong smells as using these too close to meal times may mask the smell of your food and put baby off
• Every baby is different so don’t be afraid to use different approaches, baby-led weaning might be another option to consider

What is Baby Led Weaning?

Baby led weaning allows babies to feed themselves. You don’t need a feeding spoon or purées as baby can use their fingers. Gill Rapley studied children’s behaviour towards food and found that giving six month old babies more control of their food led to;

• greater confidence with food
• exploration of taste, texture, colour and smell
• development of hand-eye coordination and chewing skills
• less picking eating

Online Resources for Baby Weaning

• NHS Choices Baby Weaning – Introducing Solids
• Gill Rapley Baby Led Weaning Leaflet and news reports on baby led weaning
• Baby Led Weaning Forum for Support and Recipes