We started J on solids around 5 months old. It was so fun in the beginning watching him experiment with new foods. A while ago I blogged about our modified baby-led weaning approach, in which we started with purees and worked our way up to purees with texture and eventually whole foods.

I did purees for about two months and it was fun for a short while making his food. Eventually it did become tedious, and that’s when I started to feel ready to give him more independence. It was hard deciding when to start purees because I had wanted to wait until 6 months at least; but J was showing all the signs of being ready for purees:

– sitting up with support in high chair
– reaching for our food while we ate/watching us eat
– loss of tongue reflex
– strong head control

I was blessed to have received a lot of baby-food-making gear so when J was ready, I was well-equipped. I had the opportunity to try several different options and have come up with a few favorites.


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1. Oster Blender $39.99 – I’ve been through many blenders and this has been the best budget blender I’ve ever used. As far as pureeing baby food, it works like a charm. I love the versatility – it will make my smoothies in the morning and my baby’s food as well. It also has an ice crush option that works really well. We can grind coffee in it, nuts, and grains into flour. It’s a powerful blender for little price. The only issue I’ve had is that the plastic piece that screws onto the bottom cracks very easily, and I’ve had to replace it twice. Grade:4.5/5

2. Baby Bullet System and Steamer $59 for system, $39.99 for steamer- For the functionality of this set, the price is fairly reasonable. The baby bullet works really well, similar to how the magic bullet works. However, it doesn’t always puree until smooth — sometimes it takes a few extra pulses, or extra liquid (water, breastmilk or formula). The advantage to this system though is that by having the pulse function, you have the option to choose the texture of the food. You can easily puree it for younger babies, but leave it quite textured for older children. The set comes with a puree blade as well as a grains milling blade so it’s possible to make your own rice, oatmeal, barley and other grain cereals. Considering this system includes storage options, it is probably the best value as far as baby food-making gear. But maybe not in the long-run. Although I loved the storage system, after J was done with purees I had no need for such small containers. Even for a toddler snack cup, the portion is too small. Grade: 2/5

3. Hamilton Beach Bebe Hand Blender $24.22 – the reason I love this tool is because of its portability. It would be a lot of effort to pack up a blender or baby bullet system. With the bebe hand blender it would easily fit into a diaper bag. The only downside is that it does need a plug, so if you were at a park, it might not be a very functional option. This is a quick tool to have on hand. I like that I don’t always have to take out the entire baby bullet system. In addition I’ve used it to make guacamole and pureed soups! Because of the small size though, it’s difficult and time consuming to make large batches of purees. However I do love that it comes with a tall mixing cup. Grade: 3/4

4. Ninja Food Processor $59.99 – I have used this ninja for countless recipes I make, but it also purees pretty decently. It does require a little more liquid, I think, to make a smooth puree. But for textured purees this is perfect as well. Like the baby bullet, the ninja has a pulse option, to allow for more textured food. However, it’s not as versatile as some of the other equipment. I’ve tried to grind things like flax and coffee, but those kernels are too small for the two large blades. Grade: 3/5

5. Good ol’ fashioned fork – many purees can be made simply with a fork: bananas, pear, avocado, watermelon, and cantaloupe. If vegetables are already steamed, they mash nicely with a fork too. Of course the versatility on this item is next to none! Do I have to grade this one?!

6. Vitamix $449 – Obviously this is the most expensive. However, for die-hard smoothie makers this is often considered a must! It can make soups, grind and mill grains, puree and blend foods of all shapes, sizes and textures, crush ice, and countless other actions. This blender will definitely last many, many years. It definitely requires an investment and if you’re not someone who makes smoothies nearly everyday, it may not be worth it for you personally. However I did have one friend who said it made her baby purees almost soupy in texture because of the power of it. It is getting a lower grade because although it’s incredibly versatile for cooking for adults, it’s not so versatile for children. Grade: 3/5

Each of these tools I have personally used and loved each and every one for different purposes. I would recommend any of them, and really any would work individually for you. But I have to say my favorite #1 used item would be the Oster blender (J and I still enjoy our green smoothies several times a week!) and the steamer. J is 16 months and I still use the steamer for all of his veggies!

What tools did you use to make baby food?

Mrs. Pen’s Visual Gear Guides part 7 of 7

1. Pregnancy Literature by Mrs. Pen
2. My Sick Baby Checklist by Mrs. Pen
3. Etsy Baby by Mrs. Pen
4. Top 8 Books for Babies Under 1 Year by Mrs. Pen
5. The Pen Family's Summer Wishlist by Mrs. Pen
6. Postpartum Essentials by Mrs. Pen
7. Making Baby Food by Mrs. Pen