Missing out

LIFE can be pretty hectic for new parents — the constant schedule of feeding, changing, bathing and sleeping can leave even the most organised people feeling flustered.

But while many busy parents relish the convenience of using shop-bought baby food instead of preparing separate meals for their infant, a new report claims that babies fed solely on this diet are missing out on vital nutrients and minerals.

Researchers from the University of Greenwich analysed a selection of the leading brands and found that many of the meals were severely lacking, with some meals providing only 3% of the calcium necessary for a growing baby, and on average the meat-based meals contained less than a fifth of the required mineral levels.