Benefits of Reusable Yoghurt Pouches

Being a mum is a juggling act, and mealtimes can be especially chaotic. Reusable yoghurt pouches offer a convenient and eco-friendly solution for busy parents on the go. But with so many options available, choosing the right one can be overwhelming. Here is everything you need to know about yogurt pouches!

 

filling Reusable Yoghurt Pouches

Pouch: Convenience

Imagine this: you're wrangling a hungry toddler in the park, and all they want is a snack. Forget digging through your bag for bowls, spoons, and plastic yoghurt containers that always seem to leak! The refillable pouch option for yoghurt is a lifesaver for busy mums like us. Here's why:

  • Tiny Totes, Big Smiles: Pouches are flat and light, taking up barely any space in a nappy bag, handbag or school bag. No more bulky containers threatening to topple over or lids disappearing into the abyss! 

  • Spoon-Free Snacking: Reusable pouches have built-in spouts, so forget about packing messy spoons or bowls. Your little one can become a snacking pro, squeezing the pouch and feeding themselves – perfect for encouraging independence as they get older. Prior to this, most refillable yoghurt pouches fit spoon attachments, like this.

  • Mess-Free Meals on the Move: Most pouches have leakproof closures, so say goodbye to yogurt explosions and sticky surprises in your bag! Little Mashies use a double ziplock that has been tried and tested for over a decade by Australian mums. They're self-contained, minimising the mess of transferring food and scooping with spoons. Plus, cleaning them is a breeze - just toss them in the dishwasher (or clean with a bottle brush).

Refillable: Portion Control

  • Pre-measured Goodness: Reusable pouches come in single-serve sizes, taking the guesswork out of portion control. Unlike large tubs of yogurt, you don't have to worry about over-serving your little one. This is especially helpful during the early stages of introducing new foods when portion control is crucial. You can fill the pouch with just the right amount for their little tummies, keeping them happy and mess-free. The best thing is, we have pouches with a monster on them so instead of becoming a yoghurt monster, just let them eat out of one.

Reusable: Eco-Conscious

  • Raising Eco-Champions: By choosing reusable pouches, you're teaching your little one about making environmentally conscious choices from a young age. It's a simple way to instill a sense of responsibility for the environment as they grow.
  • Invest in Reusable Goodness: While the initial cost of a reusable pouch might be slightly higher than a single-use yogurt container, they're built to last. You'll save money in the long run by not having to buy disposable containers constantly. Plus, you're contributing to a healthier planet for your little one to grow up in – that's priceless!

Homemade: Yoghurt Variety

  • A Rainbow of Flavours: Pouches become little flavour palettes! Fill them with different yogurts – plain, fruit-flavoured, or even veggie-blended varieties. Explore textures too, offering smooth yogurts, thicker Greek yogurts, or even blended cottage cheese for a protein boost. There are lots of yoghurt recipes here and here is a frozen strawberry yoghurt recipe.

  • Beyond Yogurt: The fun doesn't stop there! Get creative with purees. Fill pouches with sweet potato and mango for a tropical twist, or a veggie medley of broccoli and pear. Smoothies become a fun on-the-go option – add spinach, banana, and berries for a delicious and nutritious blend. Or make your own custard! Here is the recipe.

Kids: Independence

  • Building Confidence: The success of independent feeding with pouches boosts your baby's confidence. They learn they can manage their own food, which fosters a sense of self-reliance and accomplishment. This sets them on the path to becoming a happy and independent eater.

  • Grasp & Go: The easy-to-hold pouch design empowers your baby to take charge of mealtime. They can grab the pouch, feel its weight and texture, and bring it to their mouth – all fostering a sense of control and confidence.

  • Milestone Moments: Watching your baby navigate their pouch with growing skill is a delightful part of parenthood. It's a milestone moment as they transition away from spoon-feeding and embrace self-discovery at mealtime.

Refillable yogurt pouches have so many benefits for growing families and their kids. Not only do they save time and money but they offer a convenient way to feed little ones yoghurt. 

What are the best refillable yoghurt pouches?

You can read our run down on what to check here

 

Starting Solids?


Most babies are ready around 6 months. Look for signs like sitting upright with support, showing interest in food, and a reduced tongue thrust reflex. Every baby develops at their own pace. Readiness matters more than age alone.

At 6 to 8 months food should be very soft and easily mashable between your fingers. Around 9 months babies can handle more texture and small soft pieces. If you are unsure, start softer and increase texture gradually as confidence grows.

Gagging is normal when babies are learning to manage texture. It is different from choking and is part of the learning process. Always supervise meals and offer appropriately sized soft foods. Most babies improve quickly with exposure and practice.

Not necessarily. Many meals can be adapted for baby with simple texture adjustments. You do not need to cook three different dinners. With a simple rhythm and small changes you can feed everyone from the same base meal.

Refilling your reusable yoghurt pouches is easy! Simply turn the reusable food pouch upside down and open the wide double ziplock at the bottom of the pouch. Once the zipper is open you can spoon yoghurt into the pouch or pour it in (out of a jug or bottle).

If you are concerned about making a mess you can use a kitchen funnel so that all of the yoghurt stays away from the yoghurt pouch zipper.

Another idea that we commonly do at home when filming videos (but it would also be useful when holding a baby in one arm), anyway.. the idea is that you put the pouch upside down in a glass (with the lid on), open the ziplock and the glass acts like a second hand, holding the pouch still whilst you spoon the yoghurt in. This is what I do when I only have one hand to use for the refill!I also tend to refill my reusable yoghurt pouches in bulk. I'll buy a good quality yoghurt from Coles or Woolworths and will fill a whole 10pk of pouches in one go so they are all ready for snacks on the go.

My kids always want to eat when they are out and refilling the reusable pouches one at a time just doesn't work for us. The only time i do that actually is when I've pureed a meal that my toddler refused, put it in a reusable pouch, and given it to her again. Oh and the other time I do singles.. there are two actually. When we go for ice-cream (it is so much cleaner when in a pouch), and when I have leftover smoothie (again, it stops me getting smoothie all through my car, pram, or playroom).

Little Mashies refillable yoghurt pouches are compatible with pouch filling machines that are on the market. Our spout is universal so even though we don't think you need a filling machine, our reusable pouches will fit. All of our yoghurt and baby food pouches come with anti-choke lids as standard.

Cleaning reusable baby food pouches is easy! We have designed Little Mashies refillable yoghurt pouches without corners so there are no places for food to get stuck (we would hate your little one to get sick from old food stuck in corners)!

When you open the ziplock you can see all the way through the pouch to ensure it is clean. If you have a dishwasher you can clean the pouch using that, otherwise you can wash your reusable baby food pouches by hand and this takes around 20 seconds. Little Mashies squeeze pouches are BPA Free and are safe to wash with warm water.

If you need some meal ideas for your refillable pouch you can find home made yoghurt here, baby food recipes here, and pouch smoothie recipes here.

Now, to clean your Little Mashies food pouches by hand simply open up the ziplock at the bottom and take off the cap. Run warm water through the open ziplock with the baby pouch facing downward so the water comes out of the spout and into the sink. The shape of Little Mashies reusable pouches acts like a funnel, pushing out food and making the pouch very easy to clean.

To start washing your reusable pouch, squirt some dishwashing liquid into the refillable pouch, then use a baby bottle brush to clean the inside walls (just like a baby bottle). To clean the spout use a straw brush (like the ones we have here), and clean it in the same manner that you would clean the teat from a baby’s bottle. Give the reusable pouch a rinse and place it over a kitchen utensil in the drying rack to dry. If you don’t have time to dry it fully place it in the freezer until you are ready to use it again. Do not put wet reusable food pouches in dark cupboards or draws. They are very easy to dry if you have removed the cap, and placed something inside the zipper to keep the pouch open (we use a whisk, tongs or a spatula).

Note that if you continuously wash your pouches in the dishwasher the high temperature will make the zipper wear out more quickly. At home we wash our pouches mostly by hand because it is so quick and easy and then just use the dishwasher when we have had loads of kids over and served reusable yoghurt pouches or smoothies to them all.

Oh and while I remember if you use the code RECIPE at the checkout it will remove 100% off the price of the baby food recipe ebook so you can get some inspiration for your refillable pouches.

Some parents start introducing a sippy cup or straw cup to their babies around 6 mths of age. This can make it easier to transition from breastmilk or bottle feeding around 12 mths of age. Most paediatricians recommend babies 18 mths or older use an open sippy cup rather than a bottle, so anytime before then is fine. This is why we have a 4 in 1 sippy cup, so that you don't have to purchase seperate products as your baby moves through the stages of learning how to swallow and drink. To shop the Little Mashies silicone sippy cup, check out our baby feeding range here.

All of our baby food recipes are contained within our ebook. You can get a free download by using the coupon code RECIPE at the checkout. Simply add it to the cart, pop in the coupon code, and it will remove 100% of the price.