25 Pantry Foods for Babies in Case of Emergency

While it's not necessary, rinsing canned foods can reduce the sodium content. However, in an emergency, when water can be scarce, it's safe to serve them straight from the can, and a week of higher-than-usual sodium won't harm your baby. Do what's possible in the moment; rinsing is a bonus, not a requirement.

Yes. Everything on this list does not require cooking or warming up to be safe for babies. Canned foods are already cooked during processing, so cold or room temperature is completely fine. Babies don't need their food warmed, and many happily eat it cool. Just keep preparing each food in an age-appropriate way, for example, slice canned baby corn lengthwise, flake or mash canned fish, and mash beans or soft fruit as needed.

Canned foods are safe for babies as part of a varied diet, and they're helpful to have on hand as a shelf-stable, nutritious option for meals. BPA is a chemical that has been used in some can linings, and while regulators consider current exposure levels safe, they have been associated with disruption of hormonal functioning in the body.^{[1] [2] [3] [4]} Many manufacturers have moved to BPA-free cans, but many cans that are labeled BPA-free contain BPA substitutes that can have similar impacts on health. If you'd like, you can opt for BPA-free cans, pouches, or cartons when they're available, as well as foods preserved in glass. Ultimately, fed is best, and there's no such thing as perfect food packaging, so do your best and try not to stress when a BPA-free option isn't available.

No. Salmon, sardines, and chub mackerel are all typically low in mercury, and that’s true of both fresh and canned fish products. These fish species are not only low in mercury, but also rich in protein, iron, zinc, omega-3 fats, and other nutrients that support your baby's development. The best thing you can do to protect against mercury exposure is to offer a varied diet over time rather than stress about any one given meal.