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Baby food organizer diy


Baby Food Organizer Ideas + Quick & Easy Tips – Instacart

Storing and organizing baby food helps ensure that your child will get the freshest food possible. Whether you are putting the food inside a cabinet, refrigerator, or freezer, organizing the items properly can help minimize waste. Here are a few tricks to help get you started on organizing your baby food.

Tips for organizing baby food by type and date

Use some of these organizational tips to help keep track of best-by dates and the different types of baby food you have on hand.

1. Make a list

Whether it is on your computer or phone, there’s an app to help track when your purchased food. Make a list with the type, purchase date, and expiration date. It will also help you inventory what you have on hand.

2. First in, first out

A common restaurant practice can be used at home with the “first in, first out” method. Place the most recently purchased food near the back and the oldest food near the front. This will keep older food from being shoved to the back of a cabinet or refrigerator.

3. Mark purchased dates on food

If the thought of an app is daunting, you can also label your baby food with stickers or markers. When putting the food away, mark the purchase date on the jar or container.

4. Store the same types of food together

When it comes to early parenting, every minute counts. Organizing foods by type together can help the cause. If you get a jar of baby food, such as carrots or peas, keep them together. This will make finding foods easier and cut down on the search time.

5. Organize food by color

For a more aesthetically pleasing look, organize your food by color. Keep jars of the same size, shape, and hue in the same place. Not only will it look great, but it will be easier to find what you’re looking for.

6. Dedicate an area for baby food

After having a baby, space may be at a premium, but carving out a dedicated space for baby food is crucial. It will save the frustration of searching multiple areas for your baby’s favorite food choice.

How to store fresh, frozen, or shelf-stable baby food

Introducing solids to an infant’s diet is a major step in their development. While each option is considered healthy, choosing what kind of food you want to feed can be overwhelming. Here are some ways to store fresh, frozen, and shelf-stable baby food options:

7. Fresh baby food

Pureeing your fruits and vegetables is a bit labor-intensive, but the comfort of knowing exactly what’s in your baby food can be empowering. Store your fresh baby food in the fridge in individual serving containers to prevent it from spoiling.

8. Freeze baby food in ice cube trays

If you like the benefits of fresh food but are worried about its longevity, you may want to look into freezing as an option. Puree the food, such as peas and carrots, and then freeze them in ice cube trays. Store them in your freezer for up to a few months!

9.

Freeze baby food on a sheet pan

If you have the luxury of freezer space, freeze the pureed food on a cooking sheet lined with parchment paper. Once the food is frozen, place it into a container.

10. Shelf-stable food

There is a big advantage to buying shelf-stable food. With many options available, shelf-stable food is a quick and easy choice. Keep it in your pantry, or if you’re low on space, get an over-the-door rack for holding all of your baby’s jars.

Decide on your baby food containers

If you make your baby food, you will need an efficient way to store it. From pureed vegetables to fruits, here are a few containers you can use.

11. Plastic containers

One of the largest advantages of plastic containers is that they are lightweight. They are also easy to store and sometimes even stackable by size. 

12. Glass containers

While plastic containers may have an element of convenience, glass containers have many advantages as well. The eco-friendly option tends to last a lot longer than plastic ones.

13. Ziptop plastic bags

Take your pureed frozen food and place it into a zip-top plastic bag for long-term storage. A day before your baby is ready to eat the food, take the portion(s) out of the bag the night before and place it in the refrigerator to thaw.

14. Reusable food storage bags

This eco-friendly option allows baby food to be stored many times over and reduces plastic waste. After using the storage bags once, wash them by hand or even run them through the dishwasher.

15. Vacuum sealed bags

Vacuum sealed bags are a fantastic way to store your fresh and frozen pureed food. Polyamide and polyethylene bags are used to prevent oxygen from penetrating the food, ensuring freshness.

16. Glass jars

The most common container found both in stores and at home are glass jars. It is not recommended to freeze glass jars, as the extremely low temperatures can cause the glass to shatter.

Organizing baby food in different spaces

Whether you have a small or large amount of space, utilize these quick tips to make your food storage more efficient.

17. Baby food organizers

These dedicated organizers can typically hold anywhere from 15-30 jars of food. Their convenience, as well as organization, makes these a popular option amongst parents.

18. Cabinet shelf organizers

Found in many different shapes and sizes, shelf organizers make finding the right baby food easy! Put these both in the cabinet or refrigerator to limit the frustration of finding your baby’s favorite food.

19. Refrigerator bins

Similar to the cabinet shelf organizer, these bins also can be a great way to store your baby food both inside and outside of the refrigerator. Stack them 3 to 4 high and gain back valuable space.

20. Utilize the back of closet doors

If you find yourself running out of kitchen space, get creative by using something like a shoe rack to hang on the back of a closet or cabinet door. Place the food containers in the shoe holders for maximum visibility.

21. Ice trays

Make use of unused ice trays to freeze individual portions of baby food. This makes for a quick and easy-to-reheat baby food option.

Get your baby food organized today!

These organization tips and tricks from Instacart will help you reduce unwanted stress. While you may be lacking rest from your new baby, you won’t lose any sleep by not knowing where your baby’s food is stored. Check out the many options on Instacart’s baby food section and get them delivered to your house as soon as today!

Grab it now on Instacart:

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8 Creative Ways to Store Baby Food

You don’t need a giant freezer to store all that baby food you’ve been busy whipping up. You just need the right containers. Experiment with these easy freeze methods to see which works best for you.

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Image: NUK

Ice Cube Trays

Why we love it: Store at least a dozen servings of baby food ahead of time – and you won’t have to worry about breaking out the blender every night! Trays are made to easily stack in the freezer, so they won’t take up much room. And this one by NUK comes complete with a lid.

How to store it: Rinse and sanitize the ice tray before using. Fill each ice cube cubby with pureed baby food, until you’ve used every available space. Cover with plastic wrap (or a lid, if you have one) and freeze.

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Image: Shutterstock

Cookie Sheet Splats

Why we love it: You don’t have to spend a dime! Just cover a cookie sheet in parchment paper and you’re ready to go.

How to store it: Prepare baby’s food and drop it by the spoonful on a cookie sheet covered with parchment paper. Pop in the freezer until completely frozen. Then, store them in plastic bags or Tupperware.

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Image: Wholesome Baby Food

Bulk Freezer Bag Storage

Why we love it: It’s easy. Plus, you won’t waste time racking your brain trying to remember what those green cubes are (avocado? spinach? broccoli?) or if they’re still safe for baby to eat.

How to store it: Prep baby’s meals in ice cube trays or in spoonfuls and once they’re frozen through, pop them in freezer bags labeled by food and date.

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Image: Kitchen Craft

Silicone Muffin Cups

Why we love it: Because they’re flexible, it’s really easy to pop out single servings of baby’s food, and you can reuse them again and again. Try this colorful set of 12 by Kitchen Craft.

How to store it: Make baby’s purees and place them in these individual wrappers to freeze. Store them right in their cups or pop them out and place them in freezer-safe Tupperware.

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Image: Nuby

Ice Tray Pops

Why we love it: Making baby’s food just got a whole lot cooler now that you can store them in all sorts of shapes, sizes and designs!

How to store it: Make baby’s purees and when the time comes to freeze them, use these ice pop trays instead. They’re BPA free (score for baby!) and dishwasher safe (score for you!). Plus, when baby’s old enough, you can use them to make popsicles.

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Image: Shutterstock

Freezer-Safe Jars

Why we love it: It’s a totally retro idea with a modern twist—and they’re reusable and recyclable.

How to store it: Make sure you’re buying freezer-safe canning jars (we recommend Ball’s Jelly Canning Jars). Otherwise, they’ll crack. After you prep baby’s food and put it in the jars, seal them tightly and store them in the freezer for up to three months. When you’re ready to use the food, thaw under warm water.

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Image: OXO/Target

Freezer-Safe Baby Tupperware

Why we love it: Baby-sized Tupperware is worth investing in — you’ll use it for baby food now and for toddler snacks later. Most are BPA-free (and won’t contaminate baby’s food). This set by OXO Tot is air-tight and liquid-tight—nothing in, nothing out!

How to store it: After mashing those avocadoes, freeze them right in these colorful storage containers.

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Image: Target

Mini-Muffin Trays

Why we love it: When you’re not busy baking batch after batch of mini-muffins, these trays double as the perfect portion size for baby’s mini meals.

How to store it: Store mashed veggies or fruits in stackable trays. After you’ve filled all the available space, cover tightly with a lid or plastic wrap to prevent your purees from getting freezer burn.

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.

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toys, organizer, spice set

Perhaps, in every house where there are small children, a lot of jars of mashed potatoes are collected. You can safely send them to storage, throw them away, give them away, but it’s better to make something useful out of baby food cans. We present to your attention a selection of the most interesting ideas.

Household use

It is not good to litter the space in the house when there are empty baby food jars on hand. Use them to store small items.

    • Small items storage. It is convenient to store small items in glass jars: beads, beads, buttons, screws, nails, bolts. Through the transparent wall you can clearly see what lies inside. For convenient use, you can make holes in the covers and attach them to a small board with screws. Jars with small things are screwed to the lids and can be hung as you like.

    • Spice containers. Fans of spices and various bulk additives will certainly appreciate the idea of ​​​​using baby food jars. The lids are very easy to make holes for any spice. Containers with the same decor look stylish: you can stick a label, fabric, paper, beads, sparkles, twine on the lid and glass. And there is another option to decorate the jars with acrylic or make masterpieces out of them using polymer clay.

    • Pincushion. Making it is quite simple: you need to cut a piece of foam rubber to fit the size of the lid, cover it with a beautiful fabric and glue it to the top. The jar itself can be decorated with decorative elements: lace, ribbons, beads, rhinestones. Inside it is convenient to store threads, buttons, a thimble, and on top - needles and pins.

To quickly get clean unlabeled jars, you can use a hair dryer and a sponge with vegetable oil. First, the area with the sticker warms up, and it easily lags behind. Then the adhesive residues, if any, are wiped off with oil with one hand movement.

4 ideas for playing with children

No matter how much parents want to surprise their children with a newfangled expensive toy, kids often prefer simple household items - cups, spoons, pots. Do not hesitate, a toy from a baby food can will certainly interest your little one.

    • Jars with sound. The game is suitable for children under 2 years old. Banks need to be completely painted over and various objects should be poured inside. For example, put sand in a yellow jar, small pebbles in gray, ringing coins in red, a plastic toy in orange, buckwheat in green, etc. At first, the child will turn his head, determining where the sound comes from, and then guess what's inside. When he gets older, with the help of such a toy it will be possible to learn colors.
    • Sensory toys. The development of the child occurs, including through touch. By touching objects different to the touch with the tips of the fingers, the baby learns the world around him. Sensory toys stimulate the areas of the brain responsible for speech and thinking. Making them from jars is easy. Fill them with cotton wool, cereals, sand, flour, salt, coins and let your baby explore. Of course, under supervision.

  • Sorter. Many toddlers like to insert one object into another. Cut a slit in the lid of a bean jar, put a plate of beans next to it, and your child will occupy himself, and for a long time.
  • Cute animals. Or you can make a series of fabulous toys out of baby food cans. Ears of colored paper should be attached to the lid, paws and a tail (of a hare, bear, fox, wolf) on the sides and bottom, and draw a face on the glass with paints. Eyes made of beads or coffee beans will look original.

Use for decoration

The undoubted advantage of baby food jars is the same shape and size. From them you can make a set of original decorations for the house.

  • Candles.

Jars are very easy to turn into decorative candles. Place a thick thread in the lid and fill it with melted wax. Inside, you can put sparkles, shells or drip a pattern of colored paraffin. The jar itself will find application as a candlestick. Paste it with a pattern, and the light from the flame will sparkle with mystery.

  • Christmas toys.

Round baby food lid is a great base for a New Year's toy. Make a hole in it for the thread and color it.

  • Snow souvenir.

The jar, cleaned from the sticker, should be filled with various small items: plastic snowflakes, pebbles, shells. To keep them from moving, you should use superglue. And you can leave the filler movable - as you wish. At the second stage, sequins, glitter or chopped rain are poured into the jar, and it is filled to the top with water. It remains to decorate the lid, and possibly the jar itself. A fabulous winter souvenir is ready! And in a similar way, you can make an aquarium for a toy fish.

  • Decoration stands for the holidays.

Cans make stable original coasters that will decorate any holiday table. You need to make holes in the lids, fill them with sparkles and put the chosen decor: numbers on sticks, initials, funny pompoms, flowers.

Interesting dishes in jars

Why not use baby food jars for their intended purpose? Try rolling food into them.

  • Jam.

Small baby food jars are a great idea for those who eat a little bit of jam. For many in large jars, it hangs for a long time in the refrigerator and sours.

A definite plus - you do not need to roll up such containers with a machine. When tightly screwed on the lid, they are airtight. The only thing is that the jars need to be sterilized and pour hot jam.

Not all baby food jars are suitable for seaming, but only those with tight-fitting lids. More than others in the reviews, jars of the Grandmother's basket trademark are praised. But "Agusha", "FrutoNyanya", "Gerber" can sometimes let air through.

  • Preparations for the winter for children.

Having plenty of empty baby food cans is a great excuse to start making your own puree. Home-made preparations are no worse than purchased ones. Choosing vegetables and fruits for purees on their own, mothers do not have to worry about their quality.

  • Sorbet.

In small jars it is convenient to freeze and serve berry dessert to the table. Any seasonal berries and fruits will do. The recipe for 500 grams takes 30-50 grams of sugar and 50-150 ml of water. Then the mass is boiled or whipped in a blender, poured into containers and, after cooling, placed in the freezer. Stored up to 6 months.

  • Original serving of sweets for children's table.

Instead of a classic cake, children can be served puff desserts arranged in 3-4 tiers. Layers of ice cream, chocolate, cherry syrup with sprigs of mint look beautiful. Most importantly, eating such a treat is very convenient, you do not need to chop anything.

Baby food cans can and should be put to good use. At a minimum, it is convenient to store various trifles in them: seeds, coins, beads, spices. And you can turn them into a stand with a beautiful herbarium, plant cacti and do much more. Show your imagination or use the suggested ideas!

Crafts from baby food jars / Gifts, souvenirs and DIY crafts / Homemade.net - Do it yourself


Crafts from baby food jars - this collection, I'm sure, will be interesting to you if you have have small children. Surely, as parents and do-it-yourselfers, the question of what to do with "tons" of jars and jars of baby food you had.

One piece of advice - do not throw away the jars, wash and pack, let them wait! In any case, first see what you can do with them, and then decide.

I hope you won't regret looking under cat. After all, making something from jars is not only useful in terms of recycling and reuse, making something with my hands, for example, I get great pleasure in the process of creating crafts and gizmos.

Let's get started - 11 fun ways to reuse empty baby food jars:

1 Souvenir flask for sweets with a handle made from a child's toy. We glue some kinder figurine on hot glue, etc. and paint - the souvenir is ready.

2 Mini lanterns for the garden , more precisely candlesticks made from the glass part of baby food jars. We remove the lids for other homemade products, and we tie ropes to the neck, and hang them for them. Inside the candle and you're done.

3 Mini terrariums or cones for mosses and other mini plants. Comments are unnecessary, everything is visible.

4 Cups for dessert. We use jars practically for their intended purpose.

5 Mini vases for one flower. To make such jars of baby food, they dip the bottom in bright thick paint, then turn it over and put it to dry on a napkin. It turns out mini vases with figured smudges.

6 Spice organizer – food jars are small and you can’t think of a better way to store spices, besides, the lid is tight and easily removed, the wide neck will fit both a spoon and fingers. It is easy to do - we glue the jars with hot glue on the base, on the lids we make inscriptions with the names of spices and voila

7 Mini liquor containers. Of course, making such crafts from children's jars is blasphemy, but let's put it into action! Besides, who said that you can only pour vodka there. Take lemonade and a very interesting idea for a children's holiday.

8 Glass photo frames. Not a very popular idea with us, but nicely agree? We have already written about the creation of such flasks with photographers - a square photo ball on a Christmas tree, small food jars are also suitable for such crafts.

9 Case for paints, crayons and markers. We put on a round lid from a large jar, glue it on hot glue. Jars can be painted in different colors so that colored pencils do not get confused. The idea is also suitable for children, it will teach them to order.

10 Miniature cones with snowflakes. The idea is taken from balls with spinning snow. Glue a toy or other miniature on the lid of the jar, fill it with liquid with small particles and the snowflask is ready. In the photo around Wall-E, garbage is probably spinning)))

11 And the last but not the last handicraft made from baby food jars is an organizer for do-it-yourselfers.

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