Skip to content 
The honest answer is yes or homemade or store-bought baby food is unsafe, and the best option is often a combination of both. Homemade baby food often wins on price, improving ingredients and introducing your family’s flavors, while store-bought baby food wins with ease and consistency. The most important thing is that your child gets a variety of nutritious foods and forms – however they get to the plate.
If you’re weighing whether to bake and mix yourself or reach for the shelf, here’s a convenient, practical comparison to help you decide what’s best for your family and your weekend.
At a glance: homemade vs store-bought baby food
| Very important | Homemade food | Store-bought baby food |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Often cheaper per serving, especially more | More expensive to service over time |
| Product management | You choose everything – there are no extras | Set a password; check the label to add ingredients |
| Convenience | It takes time to prepare and cook | Ready to serve, carry, unprepared |
| Variety and taste | Easy to match family meals and new flavors | Good variety, but few on the shelf |
| Body size | You control how the baby behaves | Often smooth; less inflammatory parts |
| Security measures | Safe and good hygiene and storage | Meets strict food safety regulations |
| Garbage | Low with reusable bags and cooler | Many disposable products |
A case of homemade food
Creating your own has its advantages:
- You control the ingredients. No salt, sugar or preservatives – fruits, vegetables, grains and proteins of your choice.
- They are usually cheaper. Cooking and freezing seasonal vegetables costs much less per meal than buying bags.
- It introduces family flavors. Babies who taste the herbs and foods that your family eats often become accustomed to family meals later on.
- You control the design. You can move from smooth purees to lumpier, chunkier and finger purees at your baby’s pace.
Exchange with time. Homemade food requires cooking, mixing, storing and washing. The good news is that batch-cooking once a week and freezing makes it doable – more on that below.
The case of store-bought baby food
Store-bought bags and jars also find a place:
- Convenience. They are ready to serve, do not need to prepare and are good for socializing, taking care of the day and busy days.
- Consistency. Each bag tastes and does the same thing, which can help on difficult days.
- Different seasons. You can serve foods that are hard to find fresh at certain times of the year.
- Food safety standards. Commercial baby food is produced under strict safety regulations.
The products are cheaper over time, less waste, and more gradual improvements in recipe and design. Reading labels helps – look for products without salt or sugar.
Is store bought safe, and homemade healthy?
This is where many parents worry unnecessarily. There is no strong evidence that homemade purees are any safer or less harmful than commercial baby food – they can all be part of a healthy diet. The most important thing is a variety of foods, with iron from six months, and how they are made. The Raising Children Network and Australia’s NHMRC child feeding guidelines emphasize providing a variety of nutritious foods and moving around as your child is ready, rather than favoring one set method. For a more in-depth look at first foods, see our guides to when to start solids in Australia and iron first foods for babies.
Which one is right for you?
Use this quick guide to choose:
- Choose especially homemade ones like you want to keep the cost down, control the ingredients, minimize the packaging, and you can spare an hour a week to cook.
- Choose especially store like Your days are not predictable, you appreciate easy break-and-go, or you often eat on the move.
- Do both (which most families do) if You want homemade and the odd bag for travel, day care and busy places.
Best of all: Make homemade treats quickly and easily
Many parents love the idea of homemade but worry about the effort. Tricks are the right tools. A baby food manufacturer that heat and blend in one jar turns a bunch of vegetables into a smooth puree in minutes – ours 4-in-1 Baby Food Maker & Condenser steams, blends, warms and sterilizes, so you can prepare a whole week’s worth of meals with minimal fuss and washing up. For step-by-step help, read on easy way to make baby food.
Then save your groups reusable grocery bags – Fill, cool, and heat directly from the same bag. They give you the option of affordable store-bought bags and homemade packaging, and they cut down on single-use waste. Check out our full shopping guide at Best reusable bags in Australia.
Frequently asked questions
Is homemade baby food healthier than store bought?
Not really. They can all be healthy. Homemade products give you complete control over the ingredients, while store-bought foods meet safety standards. The most important thing is to provide a variety of foods, rich in iron and in a progressive form.
Is store-bought baby food safe?
Yes. Commercial baby food is produced under strict food safety regulations. Check labels and choose products without salt or sugar to make the best choice.
Is homemade food cheap?
Most of the time, yes – especially when you’re cooking seasonal produce and turning out portions. Buying bags for every meal is time consuming.
Can I mix homemade and store-bought baby food?
Of course, and many families do. A homemade travel or babysitting bag is a handy, organized option.
How can I make homemade meals quickly?
Use a baby food processor to heat and mix in one step, cook a batch once a week, and freeze portions in reusable bags so you always have a meal ready.
How can I store homemade food?
Refrigerate and use within two days, or freeze in small portions such as reusable bags or ice-cube trays. Label with a date and thaw thoroughly in the refrigerator or in a warmer.