Criteria and Tips for Choosing the Right Food Container for Complementary Feeding (MPASI)

When your little one enters 6 months of age, you will also enter a new phase in life. Your little one’s nutritional needs can no longer be met with breast milk alone, but also with complementary feeding (MPASI). This brings another important issue, which is that you must choose a quality food container for complementary feeding (MPASI) so the baby food can be stored properly and its nutrition preserved.

But is the quality of a food container really that important to maintain the nutrition and hygiene of the complementary feeding stored inside?

With a quality container, contaminants cannot seep in and damage the nutrients in the complementary feeding. At the same time, it helps you with serving, reheating, and storing, so that the food can be given on time with the ideal texture.

Criteria for Choosing the Right Food Container for Complementary Feeding (MPASI)

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To get the right product, you can look at several criteria for a food container in this first part.

1. Make Sure the Material Used Is Safe

The first thing to ensure is safe material. Safe means it does not easily erode and contaminate the complementary feeding stored inside, which could otherwise have a negative impact when consumed.

Make sure the material is BPA-free, which means the food container does not cause erosion that contaminates the food inside. Several options are available, such as glass or plastic containers. However, it is highly recommended to use containers made from BPA-free glass or PPSU material.

2. Size and Capacity of the Container

The size and capacity greatly affect the amount of complementary feeding you prepare and serve. The main recommendation is to choose the right size and capacity according to your baby’s age, so the stored complementary feeding can be served for one mealtime session.

As time goes by, your little one will need larger portions of complementary feeding. Using a container product that comes in various sizes will make it much easier to divide portions and store them safely.

For portion sizes, the average recommendations are as follows:

• 6 to 9 months: 2 to 3 main meals and 1 to 2 snacks, with portions of 40 ml to 45 ml for each main meal
• 9 to 12 months: 3 to 4 main meals and 1 to 2 snacks, with portions of 125 ml for each main meal
• 12 to 24 months: 3 to 4 main meals and 1 to 2 snacks, with increasing portions of 180 ml to 190 ml for each main meal

3. Features Provided

Food container for complementary feeding (MPASI) products are also offered with various additional features. Some important features to look for include being airtight, heat and cold resistant, easy to clean, and having an ergonomic design that is not only functional but also aesthetic.

Airtight to prevent dirty air from entering the complementary feeding container and spoiling the food, heat and cold resistant for easy storage and reheating, easy to clean to help you maintain hygiene after each use, and ergonomic and aesthetic for practical handling and storage.

3 Types of Food Container for Complementary Feeding (MPASI) Commonly Offered

Although the main recommendation is to use a food container for complementary feeding (MPASI) made of PPSU because it combines the advantages of plastic and glass, it is also important for you to know the other types of food containers available on the market.

• First, the glass type, which has advantages such as long durability, scratch resistance, odor resistance, and color stability. However, this container is heavier and has a risk of breaking when dropped or bumped.
• Second, the plastic type, which is lightweight, unbreakable, and relatively affordable. However, its durability is lower, it scratches easily, and it may absorb odors and colors with continuous use.
• Third, the silicone type, which is soft in texture, flexible, easy to remove food from, and resistant to hot and cold temperatures. However, its durability is lower and it easily absorbs odors and colors.

Simple Tips for Choosing the Right Food Container for Complementary Feeding (MPASI)

In addition to the three indicators mentioned earlier, to get the right product it is also a good idea for moms to pay attention to these simple tips. These tips are easy to apply, allowing you to find the ideal product that suits both your needs and your little one’s needs.

• Check the product label before buying. Make sure it states food grade and BPA-Free to guarantee the safety of the product for your baby
• Adjust to your little one’s needs based on their age. When first introducing complementary feeding (MPASI), the container needed tends to be smaller. As the baby grows older, the container used should also be adjusted. This ensures that the complementary food is finished in one meal session since it is highly discouraged to re-store and reheat MPASI for the next feeding
• Prioritize quality over economy. For your baby, always choose products that emphasize quality. The price you pay may not be the cheapest, but you are ensuring the best for your little one during the complementary feeding phase
• Look for reviews from other users of similar products. Reviews come from parents who have firsthand experience. If the feedback is positive, it means the chosen food container for complementary feeding (MPASI) is also likely to meet your needs and your baby’s needs

Quality Product Recommendations, Only from Hegen

Hegen offers a wide range of food containers for complementary feeding (MPASI) that can be used at every stage of your baby’s growth. Made from PPSU or polyphenylsulfone, Hegen containers combine the advantages of both plastic and glass.

Durable for long-term use, odor-resistant, stain-resistant, easy to clean thanks to the wide container neck, ergonomic in design, and supported by a complete product ecosystem, Hegen containers provide solutions for many of the challenges moms face during MPASI.

These containers are not only suitable for storing complementary feeding meals but can also be used as baby bottles, snack containers, and even drinking bottles once your child transitions from breast milk and MPASI to an active toddler stage.

Hegen food containers for complementary feeding (MPASI) are available in various sizes tailored to your baby’s needs. From 60 ml, 150 ml, to 240 ml options, making it a complete range you can rely on until your child turns 2 years old.

Bonus: How to Keep MPASI Containers Clean

After discussing product recommendations above, here are additional tips to keep your MPASI containers hygienic and ready to use again.

• Wash your hands before touching the food container for complementary feeding
• Disassemble all parts of the Hegen food container for complementary feeding (MPASI). This is easy to do since all parts can be quickly detached and reassembled
• Use a sponge or special brush to clean the inside of the container
• Rinse and soak in warm water to ensure there are no germs or bacteria on your baby’s feeding tools. If necessary, you can boil them for 5 minutes

If you own a sterilizer, it will be very helpful. This device can clean and sterilize the containers easily, providing convenience for the cleaning process you need to do.

Conclusion

That was an overview of food containers for complementary feeding (MPASI) along with Hegen product recommendations that you can get here or through other platforms. Essentially, giving the best to your baby at every stage of their development is essential so they can grow optimally and stay healthy. Explore more innovative solutions from Hegen on their product page and find various recommendations to support your little one’s growth journey!

 

References

• Fimela. 7 Cara Mencuci Peralatan MPASI agar Bersih dan Higienis. https://www.fimela.com/parenting/read/4648099/7-cara-mencuci-peralatan-mpasi-agar-bersih-dan-higienis. 
• Kumparan. Tips Pilih Wadah Penyimpan Makanan Bayi yang Aman. https://kumparan.com/kumparanmom/tips-pilih-wadah-penyimpan-makanan-bayi-yang-aman-1rnvzW7PLUe. 
• Kanya. Tips Memilih Wadah Plastik yang Aman dan Tepat untuk MPASI Si Kecil. https://www.kanya.id/read/037928/tips-memilih-wadah-plastik-yang-aman-dan-tepat-untuk-mpasi-si-kecil. 
• Dream. 4 Tips Memilih Peralatan Makan untuk Bayi di Masa MPASI. https://www.dream.co.id/parenting/4-tips-memilih-peralatan-makan-untuk-bayi-agar-lebih-semangat-mpasi-220823b.html. 
• Nakita. Wadah Plastik vs Kaca, Mana yang Lebih Baik untuk MPASI Anak?. https://nakita.grid.id/read/024018698/wadah-plastik-vs-kaca-mana-yang-lebih-baik-untuk-mpasi-anak?page=all. 
• theAsianparent. Atur Porsi MPASI Berdasarkan Usia Si Kecil. https://id.theasianparent.com/porsi-mpasi. 
• Cerelac, Cara Mencuci Food Container MPASI yang Tepat. https://www.cerelac.co.id/artikel/cara-mencuci-food-container-mpasi-yang-tepat. 
• Alodokter. Tips Menjaga Kebersihan Peralatan MPASI agar Tetap Higienis. https://www.alodokter.com/tips-menjaga-kebersihan-peralatan-mpasi-agar-tetap-higenis.