Frequently Asked Questions
click the links, or scroll down the page to find answers to these questions:
What is Stages Baby Food?
Stages are delicious and nutritionally rich combinations for babies ready for solids up to 1 year of age. Each Stages baby meal is individually portioned so that you only use what your baby needs. The packet is also designed as a mini food bowl so that you can conveniently reheat and serve right from the package. [top]
What makes Stages baby food better?
Even though babies eat only little portions, they need every bit to count so that they grow and develop healthy bodies and minds. Our commitment to making our products as tasty and nutritious as possible means that we take plenty of advice from people who know their subject matter, and we seek out wholesome ingredients that can do more for your baby. Compare our products with the rest, and we think you’ll be impressed.[top]
Why are different ranges offered?
Stages Baby offers a range of foods appropriate to each developmental stage of your baby.
4 months + offer little tastes of fresh fruits and vegetables for babies just starting out on solids (not before 4 months of age).
6 months + follow with nutritious new foods for your baby to try from 6 months onward.
8 months + offer still more food variety combined with important textures that encourage your baby from 7 & 8 months onward to chew. Chewing is important – it exercises the tongue and mouth, helping your baby with speech development later on.
Although we offer recommended ranges, babies 6 months or over can continue to enjoy meals from the 4 months range, and babies over 8 months can still enjoy the full range (from 4 months onward) of Stages organic baby food. [top]
Why is flavour so important to Stages?
We think that healthy food should taste great – after all, most of us learn to like the foods that taste the best to us. Research shows that eating patterns are developed in childhood and last for a lifetime, so Stages recipes are designed to ensure that your baby enjoys eating wholesome foods from the very start. [top]
Why do you use organic ingredients?
There is evidence that supports the view that infants and children are more vulnerable to pesticide residues in their diet. Contributing to this are their unique developmental needs, that they have more years of future life (potential to develop diseases associated with early exposure to toxic substances) and that they eat and drink more kilo-for-kilo of body weight as compared to adults. While there is still conflicting information about how organics perform over non-organics, we simply think that they may be better for your baby, and better for the environment. [top]
Why do you freeze Stages Baby meals?
There are many acceptable ways of keeping food in top condition before you buy it, and freezing is one of them. We like that it is an excellent way to keep nutrients and flavours within the foods they come from, and we don’t need to overprocess the food in order to bring it to you in stores. [top]
Why don’t you add sugar, honey or salt to your baby food?
We don't add salt because a baby's kidneys are not mature enough to handle extra salt.
We don’t add sugar because babies simply don’t need it in their diet, and because it can promote dental caries.
We don’t use honey as there is the risk that it may carry botulism spores which a baby’s immature digestive system simply cannot handle. [top]
Why do you use distilled, and not tap water in your formulations?
Distilled water is purified by natural means, and the distilling process removes trace chemicals, pathogens and other impurities from the water – which is precisely why we use it. As babies are still receiving important trace minerals from their mother’s breastmilk (or from formula if formula-fed), distilled water can be used during their first year for purity’s sake. [top]
Can I mix Stages baby food with breast milk?
Absolutely. Mixing breast milk into Stages baby food is a great idea. You can use breast milk as a way to thin the consistency of your baby’s Stages meal – good if they are learning to eat solid foods – and, because it is a familiar taste for your baby, mixing your milk into the food may can it more appealing as well. [top]
My baby prefers a more watery texture. Can I use water to thin Stages?
Water – provided that it is has been boiled and cooled – can be used to thin the consistency of any of the Stages baby meals. (Boiling the water is a way to make sure that it is hygienic and clear of any germs that may be hard on young one’s immature digestive systems.) [top]
Can I mix different Stages baby foods together?
Introducing your baby to different flavours can help them to not become fussy eaters. Our Stages meals from 6 months and up have been carefully balanced to taste great, but that shouldn’t prevent you from improving on them, so this is what we might suggest:
- Stages from 4 months: introduce new flavours one at a time, with a few days in between new foods to monitor your baby for signs of a possible allergic reaction, such as diarrhea, tummy aches, or rashes. Once you’ve introduced the flavour, you can mix it with another that your baby has tried – for example, mix Stages Organic Banana Puree with Stages Organic Apple Puree for a new taste combination.
- Stages from 6 months: these meals are designed to taste great on their own, but you can always improve them with products from our 4 months + range. For example, mix Stages Pea and Parsley Risotto with Stages Organic Carrot Puree (from the 4 months + range), or mix Stages Quinoa Muesli with Apples & Sultanas with Stages Organic Banana Puree (from the 4 months + range).
- Stages from 8 months: like the 6 months + range, these are little meals that you can mix with the Stages from 4 months products, but now that your baby is a bit older, adding your own touch is also a good idea. Chopping up fresh organic peaches (or other seasonal organic fruit) and adding them to the Banana, Blueberry Yogurt meal is a yummy way to include more still more flavours and textures in your baby’s diet. [top]
My baby isn’t as old as the Stages packaging recommends – can I still give it to him/her?
We recommend that you don’t. The products are designed to be age and stage specific, so it’s best to wait until your baby has reached the recommended age before introducing the food to them. [top]
Some of the ingredients in Stages seem unique for baby food – are they ok for my baby?
All ingredients for Stages baby food products have been researched carefully to ensure that they are appropriate for the recommended age group, and the recipes have been checked by a nutritionist. And we have good reason for using what we use. For example, in many cultures, ingredients like ginger and mint have been used for centuries to soothe colicky babies’ sore tummies. Of course, some babies are more sensitive to others to certain foods, so if your baby is one of them, take your pediatrician’s advice on what is or isn’t right for your baby. [top]
Are there any ingredients used in Stages baby food that aren’t in the ingredients panel?
No. We believe you should know what your baby is eating. Our ingredients panel includes all the ingredients that we put into our products, so you can make informed choices about food for your child. And, even though we aren’t required to by law, we also tell you know how much of an ingredient is contained in Stages foods – right down to the last 5%. [top]
My baby has special food needs. Can I get more information about Stages food?
Absolutely. If you have any questions, please contact us by email at askus@stagesfood.co.nz, or phone us toll free on 0800-STAGES in New Zealand and we’ll do our best to get you the response you need. [top]
|
