Homemade Baby Food vs Store-Bought: Which is Better for Your Budget?

Balancing baby care and nutrition, your budget, and your sanity is a full-time job. And when your baby's hangry, the last thing you want to do is juggle label-reading, price-checking, or puree preparation. Your family has needs unique to others, so it can help to learn how homemade or store-bought baby food might fit better into your life rather than relying solely on the opinions of others.

Whether you’re a Gerber loyalist or a complete crunchy mom, this guide will break down everything you need to know about the real costs of homemade blends  and the price tags and packaging considerations of store-bought foods. Learn why DIY might save you money, where pre-packaged foods win on convenience, and how combining both types of baby food can keep you and your baby happy.

Homemade Baby Food

Homemade baby food consists only of what you want it to. There are no mystery additives or questionable cooking methods, so you know exactly what you're feeding your baby. That can give you lots of peace of mind (let's face it: parents have enough to worry about!).

Let's dig into why DIY baby food is a hit among many parents and the costs you can expect if you go this route.

Why DIY Baby Food?

When you make baby food at home, you're in complete control of what goes in — and what stays out of — your baby's meals. If you prefer to shop seasonal produce, you can use solely organic options that you buy fresh from the store or your local farmer's market. You can even use fresh veggies and fruit you grow from your own garden! DIY baby food also gives you the chance to experiment with flavors that commercial brands typically don't offer (helloooo, sweet potato, mango, and coconut!).

Plus, when you make everything in your own kitchen, you can avoid cross-contact with allergens by using dedicated tools for each ingredient and cleaning surfaces thoroughly between preps. These are critical steps considering that one in 13 children in the U.S. has a food allergy, according to the CDC.

Whipping up homemade meals for your baby also means you'll skip the single-use containers and pouches that fill up your trash can and landfills. Homemade purees can go straight into reusable glass or silicone containers to reduce your home's plastic footprint.

The Downsides of Homemade Baby Food

Batch cooking almost always involves a hefty amount of time when you consider prep, cooking, and cleanup, so you'll need to weigh whether making food yourself is practical for your situation. Expect each batch to take between 30-60 minutes to cook on average, with up to another full hour for prep work, storage, and dishes. However, one batch could net as much as a couple of weeks to an entire month's worth of food for your baby if you have a good system.

Another thing to keep in mind when making baby food is the nutritional balance of your baby's diet. Consulting with their pediatrician is the best way to make sure you have the right combo of protein, veggies, fruit, and vitamins to support your baby's development.

You'll also need to have refrigerator or freezer space to store your baby food in, as it's not shelf-stable like many store-bought varieties.

Costs of Homemade Baby Food

The per-serving cost of homemade baby food varies widely depending on how many ingredients and the type of ingredients you add to each batch. I’ve found that the general per-ounce costs range between $0.12-$0.30, which works out to between $0.48 and $1.20 for a typical four-ounce jar of baby food.

Learn more about what goes into the costs of making homemade baby food.

Baby Food Ingredients

The ingredients you use make up the majority of DIY baby food costs, so finding a great deals on groceries is a great way to drive down costs. If you use solely organic produce, your per-serving price will be closer to the $0.30 range. However, opting for non-organic or seasonal ingredients could significantly lower what you pay for each batch and serving. For example, apples only cost about $1.50-$2 per pound in the fall, translating to about $0.38-$0.50 for a four-ounce serving of apple puree.

Mixing in baby-friendly spices, like cinnamon and basil, or plain yogurt for extra nutrition and flavor, only adds pennies to your costs.

Baby Food Supplies

There are several supplies you'll need to get started on your homemade baby food adventure, but the good news is that many of them are one-time costs. After your initial investment, you can keep making food without having to continuously restock your supplies.

Here's what to budget for:

• Blender or Food Processor: You might already have one, but if not, budget between $70 and $300 for a baby food maker or multi-functional blender.
• Glass or Silicone Storage: A set of reusable jars or silicone trays typically costs $20-$30, usually for 12 servings. You may need multiple sets if you prefer to make large batches to last for a few weeks at a time. You'll also need ice cube trays — I recommend silicone, which allows purees to pop in and out easily — for around $3-$5 each, and freezer bags or storage pouches for around $6-$15 for packs of 10-12.
• Steamer Basket: A basic steamer insert for a cooking pot runs about $10-$20. This simple upgrade helps preserve nutrients and color better than boiling.
• Labels and Markers: Keep track of what you make and when you make it with a set of waterproof labels and markers, which you can usually find for under $10 for sets with 100-500 labels.

Store-Bought Baby Food

Ready-to-serve baby food sounds great, doesn't it? Pick it up from the store during your grocery shopping trip and have it stocked up for the next couple of weeks. It comes in a wide range of flavors with dozens of brands to choose from, so you can ensure variety in your little one's meals.

Here's what to know about going the store-bought route.

Why Buy Baby Food?

With store-bought baby food, you don't need to chop, steam, or purée anything — it's all done for you. That means zero kitchen cleanup and more time for snuggles or, let's be honest, a hot cup of coffee. Plus, already-made food comes prepackaged in convenient containers you can stash in the refrigerator, freezer, or a diaper bag. Many are shelf-stable, so they can come with you when you're on the go.

The Downsides of Store-bought Baby Food

Store-bought baby food is certainly convenient for busy parents, but it does come with some trade-offs:

• Higher Cost Per Serving: Expect to spend roughly $0.20-$1 per ounce of store-bought baby food, or $0.80-$4 for a four-ounce serving — around double or even triple the cost of typical homemade baby food.
• Potential Nutritional Gaps: You might think that baby food you buy in the store already meets nutritional requirements and recommendations, but that's not always the case. A 2024 study found that 60% of analyzed baby food didn't meet nutritional standards set by the World Health Organization. So, you may need to do some ingredient research or review baby foods with your baby's pediatrician to make sure you're buying the best food.
• Plastic Waste: Pouches are handy for on-the-go feedings, but their single-use plastic creates lots of waste.

Types and Costs of Store-bought Baby Food

There are two main types of store-bought baby food: jarred purees and squeeze pouches. Jarred food is often the more affordable option, usually costing between $0.80 and $2 for a four-ounce serving. You can buy them in glass jars or plastic containers. Both are stackable to save room in storage, but you can reuse glass jars to save on waste.

Squeeze pouches are as convenient as they come in terms of baby food, since you don't need a spoon to use them. Once your baby is ready to self-feed, they can simply eat right from the pouch. However, they do get pricey, sometimes as much as $4 per four-ounce pouch.

Both types of baby food are available in organic and non-organic varieties. Because organic ingredients generally cost more, you could pay about 20%-30% more for organic baby food, with four-ounce servings costing around $1.50 to $3.

Still can't decide between store-bought baby food vs. homemade? Combine the two! Whip up a batch of sweet potato purée on Sunday for the week, but have a few pouches and jars available to use in between daycare runs or errands. That way, you can balance control and convenience without sacrificing too much of your time (or your caffeine breaks).