While jarred food and boxes of baby cereal have their place, the focus of this book is on homemade baby food. Why make your own baby food when so much is made for you, sold in supermarkets, and is ready to go? For starters, try convenience! Rice cereal must be mixed with water, breastmilk, or formula, and can't be stored once you've mixed it. Store-bought baby foods are often several servings' worth for young babies, and can't be stored if you feed directly out of the jar.

Those cute little jars of baby food you see on the supermarket shelves will also leave a not-so-cute dent in your wallet. Jarred baby food is more expensive than homemade, particularly for large inexpensive vegetables such as sweet potatoes. For the price of a single large sweet potato (which might make 4–8 jars' worth), you could purchase only one or two jars of the store version. Doing it yourself will save money almost every time.

And don't forget about taste. Store-bought foods often taste like they've been sitting around for a while, and their flavors are flat. Babies know the difference! Nutrition is also a concern. While single-ingredient jarred baby foods are made without preservatives or spices, most fresh fruits and vegetables will lose some of their vitamins during the jarring process. Fresh homemade purées are the best thing you can feed young babies because they retain the vitamins and minerals.

Finally, you know what's in the food that you prepare. You never have to worry about salt, sugar, or any other mysterious ingredients that might go into your child's delicate stomach. You have complete control over what you feed your baby when making your own food, and you can tailor your recipes to your baby's developing preferences.