Weaning. Yes, you’ve guessed it, we’ve reached that milestone in the Thrifty household. It can be overwhelming. So, how do you save money in an industry designed to get you to spend? I’ve been doing a little research and here are my fledgling findings:
Organic pre-prepared baby food pouches are all the rage and can be purchased everywhere from the big four supermarkets (Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morissons) to the smaller Lidl and Aldi. I’d suggest trying a small range and importantly, buying whilst on offer. Tesco has selected Ella’s Kitchen organic lines on 5 for 4 until 22/10/2017. Lidl and Aldi currently have selected organic lines at just 52p – bargain!
Find those freebies. Bounty, Cow & Gate, Ella’s Kitchen, Organix and Hipp all offer freebies if you sign up to their newsletters. Freebies I’ve received recently include a weaning booklet, a height chart, taste chart, money off vouchers, baby food samples and more. A few clicks later you could be in for a treat in the post too!
Make your own. The internet is awash with baby weaning recipes from freezable fruit purees, to yoghurt and steamed/mashed vegetables that are baby friendly. Search on social media, it will unlock a world of ideas.
Take your time. You’ve never done this before and neither has your baby. Find out what suits you both at your own pace and, like everything in parenting, trust your instincts. Don’t be led by advertising or bulk buy when your baby might not like the taste – especially if it’s expensive!
Check the use by dates. Some are long dated meaning that you could buy now taking advantage of offers and put them away until they are needed. I’ve purchased some this week that are dated September 2018!
Attend a free weaning workshop. Find out what is available in your area by speaking to your health visitor. Baby groups are often full of parents in the know so ask where they went for advice and then decide how you want to approach it. It turned out someone in my own baby group is a specialist dietician!
If you have any of your own hints and tips for weaning I’d love to hear them. Please comment and subscribe so we can stay in touch.
Love, Thrifty Mumma X
Thrifty Mumma Thrifty Bubba 
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