I think Cathy made some good points about potential reasons people used the
jarred mush. I tell parents when they start a baby on solids that they can
use table foods. I'm often asked when to go from stage 1 to stage 2 foods as
if it were some scientific method.
There probably is some truth to the idea of "good parent"
and "doing as the wealthy do" by buying baby food. I think
there must be something more because my telling parents that
I used table food for my child and never bought baby food (except cereal)
usually doesn't seem to change their practice. Why not
do as the pediatrician does?
The answer may lie in the same reason Enfamil comes
in individual serving packets. These and baby bananas baffle
me. Why buy baby food bananas? What could be easier to
mush up yourself than banana?
-Rob