You can, of course, create your own toys using common household objects! Try cutting a hole into the top of a sturdy container with a lid (an ice-cream tub for example) and allowing your baby to "post" different items into the hole. So utterly simple, yet it kept my son happy on a flight for over an hour (click here for more information about flying with your baby).
Read more tips to help make YOUR trip with your baby a success by clicking on the link below.
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October 31, 2006 16:51 - Could giving your baby fish reduce his risk of developing allergies?
A recent article published in the journal "Allergy" shows that giving fish to babies of 6-12 months of age could reduce their risk of developing allergies such as asthma, eczema and nasal allergies.
The research, carried out in Sweden at the Department of Occupational and Environmental Health in Stockholm, was led by Dr Ingmer Kull. Approximately 3,000 children were monitored from birth to 4 years of age. Dr Kull discovered that those who regularly ate fish during their first year were 25% less likely to develop allergies by the age of 4 than the other children in the group.
Fish contains Omega 3 fatty acids and studies show that these promote the development of a healthy immune system. Experts believe that the anti-inflammatory properties of these fats lower the risk of allergies by affecting the development of the immune system.
Earlier research carried out at the University of Sydney, Australia, also showed that the consumption of fish could reduce the risk of developing asthma.
There is much conflicting advice regarding the introduction of fish and there are many cultural differences, too. Some medical professionals, in the U.S. particularly , recommend that you avoid fish until your baby is 3 years old if there is a family history of allergy.
However, this advice is no longer given in Sweden, where it is felt that the risk of fish allergy is NOT reduced by delaying the introduction of fish. UK guidelines, issued by the Food Standards Agency, advise that fish can be introduced once your baby is at least 6 months old.
Dr Kull's findings do not prove that giving fish to your baby will directly prevent allergies and more studies will need to be conducted before parents are actively encouraged to regularly include fish in their babies' diets during the first year. But these results are certainly interesting!
Deciding when the time is right to introduce fish to YOUR baby can be difficult, particularly when there is a great deal of conflicting information on the subject! Ultimately, though, the choice is yours and it's a good idea to discuss the introduction of fish with your baby's doctor, so the decision you make will be right for your child.
Click below to visit our fish baby food recipes page, for some ideas on how to introduce fish into your baby 's diet.
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November 1, 2006 14:28 - Cooking With Alcohol - Can Baby Share Your Dinner?
We recently received a question from a Mum who wanted to cook a stew for her family, using red wine as an ingredient. She wanted to know whether or not the stew would be safe for her one year old son to enjoy. This was our reply, which may be useful for other Mums who also wonder about this...
When you cook with alcohol, most of the alcohol evaporates during the cooking process - but not all of it. The amount left in the food at the end of the cooking time varies, depending on the length of time cooked and the method of preparation.
If you want to cook a stew with red wine, then the dish will still contain
5% alcohol after being cooked for 2 1/2 hours. It's a small amount and, as your son's portion of the meal would probably be small too, then the amount of alcohol he would be consuming would be relatively little. Nevertheless, it would still be present and I would recommend checking with your son's doctor before feeding him anything containing alcohol.
If you wish to avoid it altogether, try substituting the wine with a safe alternative. For every 8fl oz of wine, you can use 7fl oz of either:
meat stock
vegetable stock
apple juice
tomato juice
white grape juice
Then add 2tbsp of fresh lemon juice or vinegar.
Click below for some delicious casserole and stew recipes for your baby.
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November 1, 2006 22:41 - New At-Home Test For Alcohol In Breast Milk (US)
A simple, two-minute test to detect the amount of alcohol content in breast milk is now available in major grocery and convenience stores nationwide.
The new product, Milkscreen, analyzes breast milk and provides mothers with a clear positive or negative reading for alcohol content. Julie Jumonville, Chief Executive Officer of Milkscreen, Inc., says: "As nursing mothers ourselves, we understand the joys and challenges that come with the responsibility of breastfeeding. We created Milkscreen to provide mothers with the peace of mind that the milk they feed their baby is alcohol free."
To carry out the test, Mothers soak one of the reactive pads with a couple of drops of breast milk. If alcohol is present in the breast milk, the pad changes colour after 2 minutes. If there is no change in colour, then the result is negative.
Apparently, this is the first in series of breast milk testing products to be released by Milkscreen, Inc. We'd love to hear your comments about this product - would you consider the odd glass of wine if you knew you'd be able to ensure the safety of your baby's milk?
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November 3, 2006 12:05 - How Bottles, Pacifiers and Allergies May Misalign Baby Teeth
A recent study, led by Dr. Francisco Vazquez-Nava of the Autonomous University of Tamaulipas, Mexico, has shown that bottle-feeding, the use of pacifiers, thumb sucking and nasal allergies may all be responsible for particular types of tooth misalignments in young children.
The study involved almost 1,200 children aged between 4 and 5. Researchers discovered that those who used pacifiers, were bottle-fed, or sucked their thumb during the first year were more likely to have a posterior crossbite. This is where the upper teeth at the rear of the mouth bite down behind the lower teeth instead of in front.
It was also discovered that children suffering from nasal allergies were more likely to have an "open bite" - where both the upper and lower front teeth do not meet when the jaw is closed.
Problems with bottles, pacifiers and thumb sucking may be caused by the fact that head and face muscles move differently than they do when a baby is breastfeeding. Researchers believe that this causes problems with the development of the jaw and hard palate - meaning that the baby teeth may be misaligned. There is also the possibility of misalignment of the permanent teeth later on.
Worryingly, studies show that around two thirds of children who use pacifiers or suck their thumbs for at least four months during their first year are left with some form of dental misalignment. The authors of this particular study warn against giving babies pacifiers and bottles in early infancy and contining to offer them after one year of age.
This research also suggests that dental misalignment due to nasal allergies may be caused by children breathing with their mouths open and moving their tongues along the roofs of their mouths due to itching.
If you suspect your child may be suffering from a nasal allergy, discuss your concerns with your child's doctor. The results of this study demonstrate the importance of eary diagnosis and treatment of alergies of this type.
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November 5, 2006 16:29 - Eggless French Toast Recipes For Baby
It's always difficult coming up with new and interesting ideas for your baby - and if your baby suffers from an allergy, then your choices become even more limited.
If your child is allergic to eggs, our new recipes will help you make French toast for your baby WITHOUT using eggs - and these recipes are so delicious and nutritious that you might just prefer the results to the original!
Egg free French toast is also a great breakfast idea if your baby is under a year old and enjoying finger foods, because it doesn't contain the egg whites that are forbidden before baby's first birthday due to the risk of triggering allergic reactions.
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