If you're starting out on your weaning journey, then you'll know that practical and easy food options are super important - that's why the best baby food pouches should be on the top of your shopping list.
When you begin to introduce solids to your baby, food pouches are a great option because they're easy to store and can be taken on the go. As well as this, there are loads of delicious flavours and options that your child can get stuck into.
Our favourite baby food pouches at a glance:
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Best overall baby food pouches: Mamia Breakfast Pouch Range
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Best nutritionist-approved baby food pouches: Little Freddie Organic Baby Food
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Best organic baby food pouches: Ella's Kitchen Broccoli, Pear + Peas
Being able to feed your baby nutritious and delicious food while you're on the go is vital. Sometimes, food pouches are the most convenient and tasty options available to both you and your baby.
There are also a number of great ways to include food pouches into meals, such as using pouches as spaghetti sauce, creating mini fruit pies and many more.
Whether you're planning to just use the pouches or mix them up in your little ones' meals, there's a huge variety to choose from. So we've rounded up the reviews from our Mother&Baby Awards testers to bring you our list of the best baby food pouches that you can buy today, either online or in the supermarkets.
Best overall baby food pouches
groceries.aldi.co.uk
Description
Winner of the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards Best Baby Food Range/Product
Mamia's Breakfast Pouch Range are easy option for your little one's breakfast, taking the stress out of the first meal of the day (which is often a rush if you're trying to get to work and nursery on time).
Taking top spot for our Mother and Baby Best Baby Food Range 2021, Mamia is available in three flavours, they add variety to your baby's diet; they're good value for money too.
Mum tester, Tasleema, said: "The reason I would recommend this to other mums, friends, family, neighbours is that they have helped me with an easier breakfast routine. I no longer dread the morning feeding time for my weaning child who is a fussy eater, but seems to like these pouches. They are quick, easy and clean to transport."
Read our full Aldi Mamia Breakfast Pouch – Mango & Peach review
Best Mamia dinner baby food pouches
groceries.aldi.co.uk
Description
Shortlisted in the 2020 Mother and Baby Awards Best Baby Food Range/Product If you loved the breakfast range, Aldi's Mamia also offers organic food pouches for the rest of the day. The Mamia Food Pouches Range offers loads of flavours and recipes to choose from, and the price is good value too - and of course, we love the spaghetti bolognese one.
Mum tester, Jenny, said: "Using this product has made feeding my baby on the go much easier. Not only is this more convenient, but it's great value for money. The range uses organic ingredients and doesn't have any added sugar. I have been very impressed and will definitely continue to use them. In my opinion, they are as good (if not better) as other more well-known brands."
Read our full Mamia Food Pouches Range review
Best organic baby food pouches
www.ocado.com
Description
Bronze winner in the 2019 Mother and Baby Awards Best Baby Food Range/Product
These Ella's Kitchen Broccoli Pears + Peas baby food pouches have no added sugar, salt or water, no additives or thickeners and are non-GM. The organic peas pouch contains simply peas and water, steamed to get the texture just right.
These are a great option for younger babies who aren't working up to lumps or chewing yet and will help them to love the taste of their veggies.
Mum tester Emma said: "Using Ella's pouches made weaning so easy, previously I had spent hours in the kitchen batch cooking, blending and freezing pots but the pouches made it so simple. They are also quick to warm up."
Read our full Ella's Kitchen Love Veg Range review
Best Ella's Kitchen baby food pouches
www.sainsburys.co.uk
Description
Silver winner in the 2018 Mother and Baby Awards Best Baby Food Range/Product
These Ella's Kitchen Organic Pumpkin, Broccoli and Sweetcorn baby food pouches are made from 100 per cent organic products, giving you peace of mind knowing your weaning baby is getting filled with the good stuff. The screw top is also a great idea for being able to close the pouch and reuse later.
If you've been to any baby aisle in the supermarket, you'll be able to recognise this brand, and it's all organic with the best ingredients for your baby.
Mum tester, Beata Jenner, said: "A screw on top helps to open and close this pouch in minutes without any spillage or wastage concerns. It allows you to feed the hungry tummy in seconds, whether that's on the go or at home. They are also very versatile and can be used in any combination. I am experimenting with adding them to pasta or a meat dish, which my baby absolutely loves."
Read our full Ella's Kitchen Four NEW Vegetable-only Flavours review
Best Piccolo baby food pouches
Description
Shortlisted in the 2018 Mother and Baby Awards Best Baby Food Range/Product
Piccolo Organic Baby Food is known for the creative flavours that they offer to expand your baby's taste buds, including beetroot, kale and cherry flavours. They also offer simple flavours to get your baby used to basics too.
The pouches went down really well with our panel of mum testers, although they wished there were smaller sizes on offer for smaller babies, as these pouches are suitable for babies over seven months and are also gluten-free.
Mum tester, Joanne Harding, said: "I would use these baby food pouches above others – they have unique mixes of healthy ingredients and my little boy enjoyed them. The thing that made them stand out from others I have seen is the wide mix of flavours, usually containing at least three key ingredients. They also add extra little ingredients like herbs or vanilla. It all feels very healthy and make life easier as a working mum."
Read our full Piccolo Organic Baby Food review
Best own brand baby food pouch
www.tesco.com
Description
Shortlisted in the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards Best Baby Food Range/Product
Chosen for its high-quality ingredients while being good value too, the Tesco Own Brand Baby Food Pouch comes in delicious flavours for your baby and also different stages.
Mum tester Ruth said: "I would recommend them as they are good value for money, much cheaper than the leading brand which I feel is very expensive. They also have a good variety and I think they are just as good as the brand leader. My little one enjoyed the different options and I have bought more since testing."
Read our full Tesco's Own Brand Baby Food Pouches review
Are baby food pouches healthy?
We recommend using them up until nine months old because they'll be slightly thicker and a good way to work different ingredients into your baby's diet. They're a great tool to work your way onto solid food easily and accessibly.
After nine months, though, you'll want to move your baby onto even thicker recipes with chunks and pieces for your baby to chew. You can still use baby food pouches within this time to slowly adapt to different tastes.
What baby food pouches should I be buying?
There are loads of baby food pouches available to buy these days that aren't just spaghetti bolognese flavoured. With so many brands and flavours to choose from too, it's hard to know which is best.
It's worth trying different brands and flavours so that your baby can get used to different flavours, such as fruits, vegetables and meals.
Samantha Ball is a Product & Lifestyle Writer for Mother&Baby and freelanced for the website for two years before joining the team full time. She's a mum of two and loves browsing for the best products and cute outfits.