Baby Food Recipes, News and Information

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Baking apples for your baby is very quick and easy and the texture of the end result is just perfect for your tiny diner!

When choosing apples to bake for your baby, look for naturally sweet varieties - this eliminates the need for sugar or other sweeteners. I recommend trying any of the following

• Golden Delicious
• Red Delicious
• Fuji
• Pink Lady
• Gala
• Red Rome

You can give your baby baked apples from 6 months of age - if you choose to use any of the extra ingredients in this recipe, be sure that you are not introducing two new foods at the same time (in other words, if your baby has not had apples OR cinnamon before, introduce the apples alone at first. After a few days have passed with no signs of allergic reaction or digestive upset, you can then introduce the cinnamon, too).

How to bake apples for your baby

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F, 180 deg C.
Wash the apples and core them (I recommend using a melon baller for this).
Sprinkle a little cinnamon or nutmeg on the apple. For older babies, try filling the apple with raisins (you may like to add a little maple syrup if raisins are used).
Wrap each apple tightly in aluminum foil and seal.
Place in the oven and bake for around 45 minutes until the apples are tender.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool a little.
Remove the skin and mash well - if you have used raisins, ensure these are mashed well also, unless your baby is comfortably chewing foods.

Yummy... why not throw in a few extra apples and make this a healthy dessert for the whole family!

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February 13, 2007 09:24 - Toys For Travelling

When you're faced with a long journey with your baby, your biggest concern is usually how you're going to keep him occupied! Some good toys for the trip are essential - toys that your baby has never seen before are even better!

Sometimes, the most simple things will keep your baby happy for hours! Scrunchy crisp (or chip) packets - particularly the shiny ones - have always been a big hit with my children when they were very little! You can also make your own toys for travelling - try cutting a hole in the lid of an empty ice cream container and encouraging your little one to "post" things through it... simple and effective! A small photo album, with little plastic sleeves containing your family photos, can provide a great diversion, too. Babies love looking through a "book" of images they recognize!

Another fun idea for older babies is to make holes in the centres of jar lids, and give your baby a thin piece of rope to thread them on to!

If YOU'VE invented any great travel toys for your baby, please add your idea in the "comments" box below to share with other parents!

There are some great toys on the market today that are ideal for travelling - so if you don't have the time to make your own, why not take a look at some of these infant travel toy ideas, designed specifically to keep your little one (and you!) happy when you're on the go... Read more...

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February 14, 2007 07:25 - Cool Treat for Teething Tots

Here's a simple recipe for a frozen dessert for your little one, which is nutritious and tasty and offers the added benefit of cooling and numbing his sore gums!

This recipe is ideal for babies from 6 months of age, although you should make sure that you have introduced all ingredients separately beforehand.

You will need

1/2 ripe banana
1/2 peach, peeled and stoned
4 fl oz natural, plain yogurt
2tsp pure maple syrup (optional)

Place all the ingredients in a food processor and puree well. Pour into popsicle (lolly) moulds - or, if you don't have any - freeze the mixture in a large ice cube tray or in small disposable cups. Just remember to insert the popsicle/lolly sticks when the mixture starts to freeze.

If your baby is too young to enjoy this frozen treat from the stick, then simply crush the frozen mixture in a bowl and serve it to him straight from the spoon.

If you have any more tips to soothe a teething baby, we'd love to hear about them - just click "comments" below!

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February 14, 2007 07:25 - Happy Valentine's Day!

A very happy Valentine's Day to all our visitors - and, of course - to your babies!

Just a reminder to visit our Valentine's Day Baby Food Recipes page if you haven't already done so, for a few ideas to make your baby's day extra special!

Read more...

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February 16, 2007 10:52 - Giving Your Baby Foods That Contain Honey

Many parents are aware that it is dangerous to give honey to a baby under one year of age because of the risk of botulism poisoning. But what about the honey contained in foods like Honey Wheat Bread and cereals cooked with honey?

Although the risk is small, there is still the possibility of these foods being contaminated by botulism spores.

Why is there a risk of botulism poisoning associated with honey?

Honey may contain spores of the Clostridium botulinum bacteria. If a baby ingests these spores, they can release a toxin that leads to botulism. Botulism is a serious condition and most babies affected by it need to be hospitalized, although it is rarely fatal.

It is unclear how honey originally becomes contaminated with these bacteria, but Clostridium botulinum exists in the environment - in soil, flowers etc - and may be brought to the hives by bees. A Canadian survey showed that contamination of honey by these spores is relatively rare and less than 5% of the honey tested was contaminated.

Signs of infant botulism poisoning include

• constipation
• weakness
• reduced sucking ability
• weak cry
• general irritability
• poor head control

Most pediatricians agree that you can safely introduce your baby to honey once he is at least 12 months old.

Sources: www.drgreene.com
Food Safety Tips to Prevent Infant Botulism

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February 17, 2007 15:16 - Keeping Baby Company at Mealtimes

A new study has discovered that children eat about a third more when they snack together in large groups than they do with just a couple of friends.

The research focused on children from 2 and a half years of age to 6 and a half years of age, not babies, but it may still teach us some interesting lessons.

Babies certainly eat more and "play up" less if seated at the dinner table at mealtimes, along with the rest of the family. This study confirms just HOW important it is to provide company for your baby as he eats - particularly if you are concerned that he's not eating enough. The suggestion that overweight children should not eat in fast food restaurants, where they may be stimulated into over-eating by the hectic surroundings - is also an idea that bears some thinking about.

It may also be a good idea to make sure that you pack particularly nutritious foods for your baby if he attends daycare - if he, too, tends to eat more in a "group" environment, then it may be the ideal time to attempt to meet his vitamin and mineral requirements for the day!

What do YOU think about this study? Do you feel your baby's food intake is affected by eating alone vs. with the rest of the family? Please comment below!

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