DIY Baby Food Making your own meals gives you control over your child's nutrition, and it doesn't have to be intimidating. You just need the right tools. (Parents Magazine, August 2010)

KitchenAid Fruit and Vegetable Strainer and Food Grinder attachment for Stand Mixers
Have a KitchenAid Stand Mixer? No need for a new appliance-the attachments help you strain produce and grind meat. $65 each or $120 for set; http://www.shopkitchenaid.com

BabySteps Complete Natural Feeding System
It has everything you need to get started, including a guide with age-by-age recipes, a hand-powered mill for making meals on the spot, an electric mill for creating purees in bulk, a two-pack of freezer trays, and a dish. $59; http://amazon.com

Beaba Babycook Baby Food Maker
This compact countertop appliance also steams, warms, and defrosts frozen vegetables, fruits, and meats. It comes with a handy recipe booklet. $150; http://amazon.com

OXO Tot Baby Food Masher, Food Ricer, and Food Mill
The Masher makes smushing foods easy, the Ricer helps you achieve a finer consistency, and the Mill has three disks that let you make purees of different textures. $11 for Masher, $20 for Ricer, and $50 for Mill; http://www.oxo.com

I have the KitchenAid attachments and the Beaba Babycook; however, I find myself using my rice cooker (which has a steamer basket on top) and the good ole' blender a lot more!! You don't need to get fancy, just comfortable in the kitchen! Making baby food is easy, inexpensive, healthy, quick and neat!