Q: I am a single working mum. My daughter is now six months old and has started nursery, just in time for me to begin weaning! The problem is I just don't have time to make her food so I have resorted to using ready made jars instead. But I feel so guilty about this. Other working mums tell me that they are making time to prepare food, but they all have partners to support them. I want my daughter to have the best start in life but I am working myself into the ground as it is and just want to spend my spare time with her.

A: Unfortunately, guilt is part of a being a parent and, no matter how hard you justify your actions to yourself, sometimes it can be difficult to see beyond the issue that is bothering you.

Additionally, the unkind comments of others do not help in the least. But please, don't be too hard on yourself – there really is no need to feel guilty over this whatsoever.

As a single working mum, you have enough to manage on a day to day basis, and if you can save some valuable time by purchasing baby food instead of making it, then so be it. Your daughter needs a happy healthy mum, and working yourself into the ground is not going to help either of you.

Baby foods are now of a high standard, are nutritionally balanced, and have no added salt. Additionally, there is an incredibly wide range of recipes, flavours and ingredients to choose from, meaning that you can introduce your daughter to many different tastes, safe in the knowledge that what you are feeding her is nutritionally sound.

Additionally, the texture and lumpiness of the food also increases as your baby progresses through the weaning stages, which is important as your daughter will need to learn the full art of chewing and swallowing. For older children, fresh meals are now appearing on supermarket shelves.

However, don't forget to supplement your daughter's diet with some fresh fruit, soft boiled vegetables and other finger foods so that she also develops the important skill of hand to eye coordination.

Finally, the most important thing to your daughter is lots of fun, cuddles and love. If time is tight, then relying on ready made foods means that you have more time to give to your daughter, instead of slaving away in the kitchen. Your arrangement is nobody else's business, so relax and just enjoy the fun and precious times you have together.

Did you wean your baby on home cooked meals or jars of food?