Frequently Asked Questions
Our answers to frequently asked questions from parents!
To find out how to prepare our purees or to learn more about what distinguishes La Mère Poule from other products on the market, consult our FAQ!
The "first steps" in eating: what you need to know before you start!
Generally, babies can start eating solid foods around 6 months of age, but there are signs to watch for to know if they are truly ready to eat:
- He sits upright in his high chair for 30 minutes.
- He is able to shake his head "no" or push food away with his hands.
- He is interested in his parents' food at supper.
Mother Hen offers two varieties of purées: smooth and textured. Around 6 months, start with the smooth purées, then, depending on your baby's development, offer textured purées around 8 months. Your baby may be ready for textures before 8 months: you are the best judge of what they will like!
Every baby is different, and just like us, their appetite can vary from day to day… or even from meal to meal! Start by preparing small amounts of purée at a time (1/4 or 1/2 a jar) to avoid waste. Respect your baby's appetite: if they close their mouth or push the food away, they're no longer hungry. But if they open their mouth as soon as you offer them the spoon, it's a sign they're still hungry!
You can introduce solid foods in any order, but be sure to prioritize iron-rich foods such as meat, poultry, fish, etc. Offer them twice a day. Why? Because your baby's iron needs increase significantly from 6 months onwards.
A sample menu for the first day might be: iron-fortified cereal with mango puree for lunch, followed by broccoli puree with veal puree for dinner. Meat or poultry purees pair well with fruit or vegetable purees, as fruits and vegetables are rich in vitamin C, which helps your baby's body absorb iron.
Place your baby in their high chair with a tray at the correct height (baby should be able to reach the food with their hands). You will need a spoon to offer the purée (and a damp cloth to clean up, if necessary!).
Next, to ensure your baby has a positive experience and wants to repeat it, create a relaxed atmosphere at mealtimes. Offer them a first bite by placing a small amount of purée on their lips. If they close their mouth or shake their head "no," don't insist and try again another time.
If you favor a baby-led weaning (BLW) approach, you can also simply place a pre-filled spoonful of purée on their tray. Baby can then explore this new texture independently, which is beneficial for developing their senses (touch, smell, sight, taste, etc.) and fostering a healthy relationship with food.
Baby-led weaning (BLW) involves letting your baby discover foods independently. Yes, you can offer La Mère Poule purees while using this method. For example, you could spread turkey puree on a rice cake, or dip a piece of banana in mango puree for a flavorful tropical combination! Refer to our BLW guide to learn more.
Good reasons to choose La Mère Poule
Organic fruits and vegetables contain fewer traces of pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides. For babies, whose small bodies are more sensitive to these chemical compounds, choosing organic fruits and vegetables is definitely the way to go. By doing so, you're also making an eco-friendly choice, since organic farming helps protect our planet!
Our plastic is food-grade, approved by Health Canada, and contains no BPA (bisphenol A). Therefore, it is perfectly safe for microwave cooking and safe for babies!
Deep freezing is a preservation method that better preserves the flavor, color, texture, and nutritional value of food. Unlike store-bought purees (in jars or pouches) which are heated to very high temperatures to eliminate any trace of harmful bacteria, La Mère Poule purees are transported in a huge, extremely cold freezer (much colder than your home freezer) which prevents microorganisms from multiplying.
We use only the finest meats and poultry. Our purees are prepared exactly as you would at home: just meat and water! In fact, it's our meat and poultry purees that have made our reputation: the Mother Hen parents will tell you! Currently, producing organic meat or poultry purees would significantly increase the price of our products. That's why we're focusing on maintaining the quality of our current product while remaining proactive in improving our supply chain.
Mother Hen: A User's Guide - What to Do at Home?
There are two ways to prepare La Mère Poule purees.
In a bain-marie: transfer the contents of the jar to the upper pan of the bain-marie and let it defrost for 4 to 5 minutes.
In the microwave: Remove the foil from the small container of frozen mashed potatoes. Heat on the "defrost" setting for about 1 minute.
Stir, then taste, to check the temperature of the purée. It's still the best way to make sure baby doesn't burn their taste buds!
It is possible to defrost purées in the refrigerator 24 hours in advance to speed up their cooking time in the microwave or in a bain-marie. However, once defrosted, they will keep for 48 hours for purées containing meat/poultry, and 72 hours for fruit and vegetable purées.
Yes, the puree containers (lid and pot), as well as the box, are recyclable.
Yes, but once thawed, purees can be kept for 48 hours for purees with meat/poultry and 72 hours for fruit and vegetable purees. If you know your baby won't finish the entire jar, here's how to prepare the purees to avoid waste:
1) Take a jar of mashed potatoes that is still frozen.
2) Do not remove the lid.
3) Run cold water over the pot (this will slightly thaw the sides of the container).
4) Press on the pot to pop out the still-frozen purée disc.
5) Place it on a clean, odorless cutting board.
6) Using a sharp knife, cut the slice into 2 or 4 portions.
7) Take the required amount for your baby, and store the surplus in a container or airtight bag that can be frozen.
If, despite everything, you have leftover mashed potatoes, here are some interesting ideas for the whole family:
- Add fruit puree to a smoothie.
- Transfer any leftover vegetable puree into a broth or soup.
- Enhance your tomato pasta sauce with meat puree.
If the purees are still frozen, refer to the expiry date on the small jar or product packaging.
If you have defrosted your puree, it can be kept for 48 hours for purees with meat/poultry and 72 hours for vegetable and fruit purees, whether the container is opened or not.
Final questions!
The purees must remain cold. Transport them in an insulated lunch box or cooler with an ice pack. If your purees are lukewarm or have been exposed to heat, throw them away.
Go to the Contact section of our website. A representative from our customer service department will contact you.
To help us identify a potentially problematic situation, please note the batch number printed on the side of your mashed potato container and take a photo of the problematic product, if necessary. You can then provide this information to our representative when they contact you.
