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Baby Food Recipes, News and Information
For all the latest baby food news, updates to nutrition guidelines, product recalls, great new baby food recipes, hints, tips and more!
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October 16, 2006 17:16 - Another Way To Receive News And Updates From This Site
For those of you who don't use RSS readers, we have added a great new feature to our blog!
At the top of our blog's home page is an offer to "Subscribe To This Blog" - simply add your e-mail address (you will then be sent an e-mail asking you to confirm your subscription) - once that's done, you will receive daily notification of all the new posts to the Homemade Baby Food Recipes website.
Be the first to hear about all our new baby food recipes, nutrition updates and important food and product recalls - subscribe today!
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October 17, 2006 17:02 - Daycare And The Risk Of Respiratory Infection
Research carried out in Denmark has shown that young children who attend group daycare, especially those with no brothers or sisters at home, have a higher risk of catching respiratory infections than children cared for at home. The risk is even more pronounced for children aged 0 to 2 years and is at its highest soon after they first start daycare.
The study also showed that, after the first year of enrollment, the risk decreases greatly and becomes equal to that of a child cared for at home.
The recommendations from the authors of this report are that it's best to delay placing your child into daycare until he is at least one year of age. This is based on their discovery that children under a year old were 69% more likely to be admitted to hospital for acute respiratory infection during the first 6 months of daycare than children of the same age who are cared for at home.
The results of this study are worrying for parents of young babies considering daycare and, of course, delaying enrollment isn't an option for everyone. Interestingly, in Denmark - where this research was carried out - parents are allowed 52 weeks paid leave to care for a new baby. So the recommendations following the report would be much easier for Danish parents to follow than parents elsewhere in the world who receive far less generous benefits!
To protect your baby from the risk of infection
If you are breastfeeding, continue for as long as possible, expressing milk as necessary. Breastmilk appears to offer far higher protection against infection than formula.
Choose a smaller daycare centre if possible - the less children your child is being exposed to, the less germs he will encounter!
Discuss the problem with your daycare provider. Make sure they practice good hygiene and all carers wash their hands frequently. Most daycare providers will ask that children stay away if they are unwell, protecting those that are healthy - check that this is the case with YOUR provider.
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October 17, 2006 22:41 - Infant Food Allergies - How Kefir May Provide A Solution
New research published by the Society of Chemical Industry suggests that kefir may help protect children from food allergies.
Kefir is a mildly alcoholic, fermented milk drink which is made from live bacteria cultures. It is popular in many parts of eastern Europe, where it is believed to have health benefits. Researchers have discovered that kefir inhibits the allergen specific antibody Immunoglobulin E (IgE). It is hoped, in the future, that some of the components of kefir can be used in medicine.
Researchers have warned that the product needs to undergo a lot more testing and that no human trials will be considered until far more evidence is provided.
Let's hope that this evidence is forthcoming, as a solution to the problem of food allergy in children would be of enormous value to many parents worldwide.
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October 18, 2006 15:50 - Baby Sign Language Is Being Used By More Child Care Providers
The use of baby sign language in early childhood centers and neighborhood daycare is becoming more common as child care providers see the advantages of being able to communicate with babies using gestures.
Some daycare providers start using baby sign language during daily routines when babies are about 6 months old, demonstrating the signs and saying the words for such items as "milk" or "diaper change" at the appropriate times.
There are many advantages to teaching baby to sign - it takes a lot of the "guesswork" out of meeting your baby's needs and so reduces temper tantrums and crying. In a group childcare situation, this is invaluable! And - far from delaying the transition to proper speech, as many parents fear - babies who are taught sign language often go on to develop particularly good language skills, with an increased ability to learn a second language.
It is good to see that daycare providers are now signing with infants - continuity is important when teaching your baby to sign. If you're considering daycare for YOUR little one, then it's worth shopping around for a provider who is using sign language... and maybe even suggesting it to those who aren't!
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October 19, 2006 15:04 - Chicken Soup Recipe For Baby
This chicken soup recipe for baby is a simple yet deliciously healthy meal, suitable from 7 months of age (see our 6-9 month baby page for more information about including poultry and meat into your baby's diet).
Depending on the stage of development of your baby, you may like to mash up the vegetables in the soup with a fork once it's cooked, or even puree the whole thing! And remember... this chicken soup recipe for baby is actually tasty enough for the whole family to enjoy! Just increase the quantities as needed.
Heat the oil over a low heat and add the zucchini, carrots, onion and celery. Cook covered for about 15 mins until tender, stirring occasionally. Add the mushrooms and chicken stock, then simmer uncovered for about 10 mins. Finally, add the chicken and herbs, cook briefly, then serve!
Click below for more delicious soup recipes for baby.
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October 21, 2006 16:19 - Daycare Harmful For Babies - UK Report
A letter from a group of childcare experts to the UK's Daily Telegraph has warned that daycare (also known as nursery care in the UK) can pose a risk to very young children.
The letter states that the care provided by some nurseries is inadequate and that very young children could develop behavioural problems as a result.
Contributors to the letter discussed their views with the UK's BBC and pointed out that babies need to form a strong attachment to someone in their life who they trust and will not leave them. Once they have formed this sense of secure attachment, then they are more likely to make attachments with other people and feel confident about going to nursery. The concern is that, in a daycare situation, there are often many carers and the child is unable to attach to someone "special". This can then lead to problems in behaviour.
Sir Richard Bowlby, a contributor to the letter, suggested that the government in the UK should enable parents to easily make payments via their child-care allowances for a grandparent or other relative to care for their child - which would ensure continuity of care. He also stated that he felt mothers should not be encouraged to go back to work and enrol their children in daycare until this problem had been addressed.
Many parents, though, are forced to return to work - with or without the government's encouragement - just to make ends meet. And while it would be wonderful to have a close family member taking care of our children, for many that just isn't an option.
Perhaps it would be a good idea for the government to look at ways of making it easier for new Mums to stay at home with their babies for longer - as is the norm in some other countries!
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October 21, 2006 23:36 - Infant Reflux Surgery Shown Worldwide Through Podcast
Surgeons worldwide are being taught how to carry out surgical techniques via everybody's favourite gadget - the iPod.
One technique in particular may bring relief to the many babies affected by infant reflux, a condition in which stomach acid causes burning in the food pipe and can be so severe that babies are unable to eat properly and have to be tube-fed.
Pediatric specialist Dr. Steven Rothenberg, one of the few doctors internationally who knows how to surgically correct this problem, successfully operated on a baby, Chloe Faith Smith, this week. The surgery, carried out at Presbyterian/St. Luke's Medical Center, was broadcast all over the world via the iPod,using special green lights to reduce glare and ensure the clarity of the picture. Surgeons internationally were able to follow the broadcast and learn the procedure - a technological marvel that comforted Chloe's parents, Debbie and Steve Smith. They were happy to know that the broadcast of their baby's surgery could help save lives across the world and felt that this was one positive experience to come from the difficulties they'd been through.
Infant reflux can be very distressing for both babies and their parents... and the thought of introducing solid foods can be very daunting, particularly if a good pattern of breast/formula feeding has been established. Click the link below for more information about introducing solid foods to a baby with reflux.
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