The little ones sure do grow up fast! Now that your tiny tot has graduated from formula to full-on baby food, what’s there to do with all those leftover baby food jars?

Recycling is great, but we’ve got some even better ideas for upcycling with these 10 uses for old baby food jars.

10 Uses for baby food jars

1. Leftovers for later

  • Do you run short of space in the fridge? Use baby food jars (instead of bulky containers) to store leftovers. 
  • Reheat items (without the lid) in the microwave or serve salsa or dip right from the jar.

2. Decor idea

  • A bit of spray paint will turn those baby food jars into beautiful, colorful votives you can display around your home. 
  • Decorate the jar with ribbon or twine to complete the look.

3. Hold hardware

  • Nails, screws and bolts no longer need to be unorganized. Old baby food jars are just the right size to hold these tiny objects.
  • The clear glass makes it easy to see what the jar contains.

4. Store supplies

  • Without the lid, baby food jars make the perfect container for Q-tips or cotton balls. 
  • Set these up for the kids’ and guest bathrooms, too.

5. Sweet treats

  • There’s something so charming about individual desserts and baby food jars make creating personal treats super simple. 
  • Use the lids to easily transport your desserts. Decorate the lids to match the theme of your party. 
  • Create your own individual dessert recipe, or use one of ours for your next gathering:

parfaits – layer granola, yogurt and berries

no-bake mini eclairs – layer cake, pudding, chocolate frosting and whipped topping

fresh strawberry dessert – layer pretzel crust, strawberry compote and cream cheese topping

6. Organize office items

  • Small, loose items like safety pins, thumbtacks and paper clips are easily organized in these small jars.

7. Lunchtime savings

  • Instead of buying individual-sized snacks for your (or your kids’) lunches, make your own! 
  • It’s not only a money saver, but healthier, too.

8. Contain craft supplies

  • Buttons, eyelets, scrapbooking accessories and other arts and crafts supplies go great in these little containers. 
  • Cover the lids with paper or fabric to match your craft room.

9. Party favors

  • Next time you’re throwing a party, use baby food jars to hold your party favors.
  • Candies, honey and homemade seasoning are great takeaways your guests will love.

10. Store spices

  • Keep your dried herbs like oregano, thyme and basil in these perfectly sized jars. 
  • Paint the lids for a uniform look then apply a label to the lid or glass jar for easy identification. 
  • Spray lids with chalkboard paint and use chalk to label jars.
Cheryl Najafi | CEO & Creative Catalyst | Everyday Dishes & DIY “I often misplace the backs to my earrings; now I keep an old baby food jar on my vanity to hold them all in one place!” – Cheryl