Lemon’s Review: DIY Baby Food Pouches + Is the Infantino Squeeze Station Worth It?

Baby Food Pouches are the best. Truly!

I love how easy-peasy it is to grab a pouch and go. When baby “A” and I are on the road, visiting friends, or just chilling at home (on those days when I don’t muster the energy for dinner meal-prep) it’s often a veggie + protein packed pouch to the rescue.

Heck, I’ve even taken a sip or two out of a pouch—just for mommy-taste-research purposes…eeek, actually, if I’m being honest, I’ve been known to down a whole pouch of baby “A’s” OhMyMega Veggie for an afternoon pick-me up. My husband thinks it’s hilarious.

I wrote a post about one of my favorite (and more friendly) pouch brands here, but recently I was perusing down the shiny Target aisles and I saw the Infantino Squeeze Station and I did a double take.

All of a sudden, I had this urge to dabble in the DIY world of by food pouches.

My inner domestic goddess was crooning, “You’ve got this!” So, I bought the squeeze station. I whipped up some sweet potato purree using this recipe and I tried it out.

Here’s a look at what I made and my review:

What I Love About It | I’m a mama that tends to do things in bulk, thus, I appreciated how this squeeze station empowers that. I ended up filling all 10 pouches (the amount that comes with the station) with this one recipe.

I think the whole station is really well designed (especially the part where you can click and fit the top tubes into place inside so it stores compactly). Everything comes apart, so it’s easy to clean—no rogue food residue left behind in hard-to-reach places. The entire station is made from a fairly hefty plastic and the top/bottom are coated in dark pinkish non-slip rubber.

The pouches are transparent (easy to check for mold) and Infantino even included a little magnet with a chart so you can keep tabs on how long your homemade pouches should last (aka <3 weeks in the fridge). You can also find recipe inspiration from Infantino’s website here.

Good To Knows | There’s really two things to know before you buy this squeeze station.

First, use the dishwasher at your own risk. Although the packaging says “dishwasher-safe” I read too many reviews (and saw too many pictures of disfigured/melted tubes) to trust that. Plus, I’m not a big fan of plastic in super hot conditions anyway. Hand wash only, my friends, and you’ll stay happy.

Second, no chunks allowed! Chunky pieces (heck, even thick-enough fruit/veg skin) can get stuck in the nozzle and make your life a real hassle. On my first go, I actually had push all the sweet potato purree back out and re-blend because I missed a few chunks. My advice: put your real blender to work—don’t use an immersion blender. Once I was armed with my Vitamix, I aimed for a more creamy-consistency (like a smoothie, some yogurt or applesauce) and the whole process was so much easier.

Why the no chunk-rule? I’m assuming that Infantino made the nozzle so small because they didn’t want parents to accidentally introduce any larger food chunks (potential choking hazards) to their babes. Which, is actually pretty smart. So, thanks Infantino for thinking ahead.Woot! Woot!

Ideal For | Blender-loving or meal-prep parents.

Price | Buy Now at Target for <$20

Ingredients | Infantino’s single-use pouches are made from a combination of PET/Nylon/PE and are BPA free, PVC free and lead free. Infantino also offers a non-plastic + more eco-friendly alternative (aka a reusable silicon pouch) here. I definitely suggest the silicon pouch (it’s better for your babe + mother earth.

Ethics | Infantino donates to a variety of causes each year. Recently, they made a significant toy donation to A Foundation for Kids which provide support for abused and at risk children in Southern California who are in and out of home care including group homes and foster homes. I’d love to see a bit more clarity on their sourcing and how their manufacturing standards for workers.

Certifications/Testing | Their products are manufactured with certified and approved factories in Asia and are tested by third-party, independently accredited testing laboratories.

Sustainability | The plastic pouches that come with the station are not reusable, but they are recyclable. The station comes packed in an 04 bag which can be recycled following these guidelines. I think Infantino’s silicon pouch offering is a wonderful way to cut down on pouch waste.

I couldn’t find too much information on Infantino’s website about any company-wide green initiatives, so I’m hoping for more transparency about that in the future.

What are your thoughts on this squeeze station? Do you already have it? Do you have other suggestions for taking homemade baby food on the go? DM my sister and I on Instagram #CalmAndChic with your thoughts!

Love,

Lemon