Baby Food Pouch Sales Have Risen 900% in the Last Decade–Are Parents Becoming Too Reliant On Them?

For busy parents, finding snacks for children that are both convenient and healthy is a win-win.

Over the past few decades, that has increasingly meant relying upon squeezable food pouches filled with pureed food. A recent Los Angeles Times report says sales of baby food pouches have soared 900% since 2010, indicating they're now more popular than the jarred baby food parents have historically turned to.

Baby food pouches are so convenient, that they've also become an increasing part of toddler and even older kids' diets, which has some experts concerned.

From potentially interfering with nutrition to inhibiting the natural progression of a child's food preferences, there are various reasons why some experts warn against over-reliance on baby food pouches as children age.

Pros and Cons of Eating Baby Food Pouches 

For families on the go, the convenience of allowing children to self-feed is one of the main reasons why baby food pouches have become such a hit. Parents also like the fact that they are less messy and stay fresh for extended periods of time. This has led to skyrocketing sales of baby food pouches–up from 1.2 billion units in 2015 to 2.2 billion in 2021.

But with their benefits, come a few potential health concerns, especially when the pouches are used too much. Depending on the brand and the specific ingredients, baby food pouches may contain a great deal of sugar. A 2019 study found that infant and toddler food pouches contained significantly more sugars per serving than other types of packaged food.

"Baby food in the pouches tends to stick on teeth and the sugar from them can cause additional plaque and tartar, leading to cavities," says Jordan Albino, DDS of Kids Dental Studio.

He also explains how consuming food from a squeeze pack, which requires sucking on a spout, may lead to problems similar to those caused by pacifiers or thumb sucking when done too long into a child's life. This could include misaligned teeth and as a result, speech impacts.

Overuse of baby food pouches also has the potential to impact a child's broader nutritional intake.

"Kids may become dependent on the pureed texture and be less likely to explore table foods that are crunchy or firmer," confirms Cherilyn Davis, MD, FAAP, a pediatrician with New York City-based Elliston Pediatrics. "And if they’re less likely to try these other foods, then their overall diet isn’t as varied, meaning they may consume fewer healthy nutrients, like calcium, vitamin D, and iron."

"A healthy diet requires a balance of carbohydrates, protein, and fat," adds dietitian and nutritionist Jennifer House MSc, RD, creator of First Step Nutrition. But often pureed food pouches are very heavy on carbohydrates, with little, if any, fat and protein.

"The purees in pouches are often diluted with water, too, making them less nutrient-dense than the whole food," says House.

Adult and pediatric clinical dietician Tok-Hui Yeap RD, CSP, LD, says an over-reliance on baby food pouches may discourage a child from chewing properly.

"Kids need to learn how to chew foods to develop advanced eating skills. When over-reliance on pouches limits their oral muscle movement and jaw muscle chewing skills, then it will lead to preferences for only mushy or pureed foods."

Other experts express concern about the packaging associated with the pouches.

"Harmful chemicals can leach into foods packaged in plastics. The very thing that makes them convenient can also make them harmful," says Monica Wonnacot, MD, a Utah-based pediatrician.

Tips for Handling Baby Food Pouch Consumption

If your kids seem to like eating from baby food pouches, experts say an informed, measured approach to consumption is key.

Don't use them as meal replacements

Davis says to avoid offering baby food pouches as a replacement for meals entirely or as daily fillers between meals for children who are already picky eaters.

"This will help keep the pouches from becoming 'rewards,' when they choose not to eat the healthy variety of table foods offered to them," says Davis.

Use a 'good, better, best' approach

Wonnacott suggests taking a moment to consider all snack options available to you, and choose the "best" option over the convenient one.

"Whole natural foods are always superior to processed, packaged foods in terms of nutritional value," says Wonnacott. "The natural food–such as the actual apple versus the applesauce–has all the vitamins and fiber intact and unaltered. While the whole fruit has natural sugars, it also has fiber, which naturally helps counteract or stabilize those natural sugars."

Read package ingredients closely

Experts say study the ingredients on the food pouches carefully before you buy them.

"I prefer to look at the pouches' nutrient density profile," says Yeap. "All pouches have their own nutritional value and benefits, when used in conjunction with other foods…Pouches in retail are not all created equal, some pouches are more nutrient-dense and some are less. But they all can be part of a healthy diet if eaten in moderation."

Yeap also says pouches that contain a source of grains, fruits, vegetables and protein with no added sugar will generally be considered high nutrient density products.

"Consider that the American Academy of Pediatrics says that children 2 to 18 years old should have a maximum of 6 teaspoons of sugar or 25 grams a day," says Wonnacott. "Since the average pouch packs 11 grams of sugar, you meet nearly half the sugar limit in one pouch."

Consider age limits

While families ultimately determine how long their kids eat baby food pouches, Wonnacott suggests transitioning off of pureed foods by 10 months, and eating all solid foods by a year.

Yeap acknowledges that while pouches do assist children who are still learning to eat, have feeding difficulty, or perhaps have texture aversion or oral-motor skills deficit, there's still a need to transition after a certain age. 

"[When their kids hit age 3, parents] should not rely on these pouches as primary snacks," she says. "However, there are always exceptions for children with developmental disability and or children with feeding disorders, where they do rely on pouches to get additional fruits and vegetables in this way."