Subscribe To This Blog Get e-mail notification when new posts are made!
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!
ADD TO YOUR SOCIAL BOOKMARKS: BlinkDel.icio.usDigg FurlGoogleSimpySpurlTechnoratiY! MyWeb
February 26, 2007 07:51 - Cooking Asparagus For Your Baby
Mmm - there are few things as delicious as tender asparagus spears... and they contain so many wonderful nutrients that they make an ideal baby food, too!
Believe it or not, asparagus is actually a member of the lily family! The edible spears of asparagus are the shoots from the crown that grows underground - as they emerge from the ground, the sunlight turns them green. White asparagus (which is more popular in Europe) comes from the same plant, but sandy soil is piled on top of the plant to prevent the spears from reaching the sunlight. Green asparagus is better for your baby because it is higher in protein, calcium, thiamin and niacin than the white variety.
How to choose asparagus for your baby
Look for rounded stalks with thin stems that feel firm to the touch. The asparagus tips themselves should be dark green or may have a purple tinge and they should be closed.
Storing your asparagus
As soon as you buy asparagus for your baby, wrap the woody ends in a piece of damp kitchen paper and place it in the refrigerator. It's a good idea to cook it as quickly as possible, partly because it tastes better when completely fresh, but also because it may lose nutrients over time.
What are the health benefits of asparagus?
Asparagus offers a range of important nutrients to your baby...
Folate - helps the body to make new cells and, in later life, helps protect against certain cancers, stroke and heart disease.
Fibre
Vitamins A and C
A range of B vitamins
Vitamin K
Manganese
Protein
Potassium
Inulin - a type of carbohydrate that is digested by "friendly" bacteria in the gut, helping them grow and therefore protecting the gut against "bad" bacteria.
Tips for preparing asparagus
You don't need to peel asparagus for your baby, but you DO need to remove the woody stems. The easiest way to do this is to bend each stem until it snaps - it should snap at the point where the fresh green tip ends and the tougher part begins.
Wash the tips thoroughly, then tie them in a bundle to steam them - you can actually buy special asparagus steamers designed for the purpose! Alternatively, you can boil them in a little water for 5-7 minutes.
You can serve asparagus to your baby either hot or cold, but if you choose to serve it cold, then blanch it (plunge it briefly into iced water) after cooking to prevent it getting soggy.
TIP: Don't cook asparagus in iron pots. Asparagus contains tannins, which react with the iron and discolour the stems.
When SHOULDN'T you give your baby asparagus?
Asparagus can sometimes cause gas/wind in babies - so if your little one has a delicate tummy (or if you just don't want to take a chance), you may want to wait until he is at least 8 months old before you introduce it to him.
Eating asparagus causes some people to produce very strong smelling urine - this is not dangerous, however, nor does it indicate any problem. The smell simply comes from the chemical compounds that some people's bodies produce after digesting asparagus.
Asparagus baby food ideas
Serve cold, blanched asparagus as a delicious finger food.
Asparagus pairs up very nicely with eggs and is particularly good in scrambled egg - remember to make this with egg yolk ONLY until your baby is at least one year of age.
Puree and serve alone or as a vegetable side dish with a main meal.
Make your baby a super-simple asparagus soup by boiling a chopped white potato in homemade chicken stock until tender, then adding your asparagus tips and continuing to simmer until the asparagus is done. Partially drain, reserving the liquid, then puree the potato and asparagus together, thinning with the cooking liquid until you reach the desired consistency. Very easy... and very tasty!
Our vegetable and vegetarian dishes page offers you some more great suggestions for nutritious meals for your baby using a variety of vegetables...Read more...
To reference this entry please copy the url in this link:
(Permalink)
February 26, 2007 22:20 - Spices Are Nice!
We receive lots of e-mails from visitors asking about whether or not it is safe to introduce spices, herbs and garlic into their baby's food. We wrote a short article about spices on our blog last year, but this new page answers your questions more fully and provides a few "spicy baby food" ideas to get you started... Read more...
To reference this entry please copy the url in this link:
(Permalink)
February 28, 2007 07:34 - Fruity Chicken Dinner
This recipe for baby's pureed Fruity Chicken Dinner uses grapes to add a delicious sweetness. Using grapes is actually a great way to sweeten many meals for your baby - if he's unwilling to eat certain veggies, you may find that mixing them with grapes gives them a flavour he'll really enjoy.
This recipe is suitable for babies from 6 months of age - remember that he should have been separately introduced to all the ingredients first.
What you'll need...
1 boneless, skinless chicken breast 5 fl oz homemade chicken stock 10 seedless white grapes, peeled 1 courgette/zucchini, sliced 1 small white potato, peeled and sliced
Cut the chicken breast into pieces and place all the ingredients into a small saucepan. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer until the chicken is done and the potato is tender (around 30 mins). Place the mixture into a food processor and puree well. Thin the mixture with a little more stock if necessary.
Our "chicken baby food recipes" page offers more suggestions for simple and delicious meals for your baby...Read more...
To reference this entry please copy the url in this link:
(Permalink)
February 28, 2007 13:27 - Dangerous Chemical In Plastic Baby Bottles
An extremely worrying report by the watchdog group Environment California has revealed that a toxic chemical - Bisphenol A - leaches from plastic baby bottles into the milk or other liquid inside the bottle.
The report names the worst five offenders as the hard, clear bottles sold by Gerber, Playtex, AVENT, Dr. Brown's and Evenflo. The group discovered in independent laboratory tests that more of the chemical leached into the liquids if the bottle was heated or washed with strong detergents.
Bisphenol A has been connected to many serious health problems, including obesity, cancer and diabetes - Environment California also believe that it can cause hyperactivity, learning problems and impaired immune function.
All the makers of these bottles, of course, claim that their products are safe and pose no risk to infants - this report shows that many parents trust their claims and will continue to use these bottles. But it's worth bearing in mind that this isn't the first time concerns have been raised about Bisphenol A in children's products - this report from the San Francisco Chronicle shows that a bill for a ban on Bisphenol A was being considered back in 2005 - the bill, however, never became law.
To reference this entry please copy the url in this link:
(Permalink)
March 1, 2007 07:23 - Who Is Our New Baby of the Month?
Every month we ask you to send in photographs of your babies for our "Baby of The Month" page and to tell us a little bit about how they are enjoying solid foods. We had an amazing response this month and have really enjoyed looking at all your pictures and reading your stories - thank you so much for sharing them with us!
It's the first of the month today... and that means that we have chosen our new "Baby of The Month"... Read more...
To reference this entry please copy the url in this link:
(Permalink)
March 1, 2007 14:07 - Kolcraft Baby Walkers
Do you have a Kolcraft Baby Walker? If so, then you may be interested in yesterday's report from ABC Action News.
For their Consumer Reports feature, they tested the Kolcraft Tiny Steps 2-in-1 model 14565, which - like other walkers - uses friction strips on the bottom which act as a brake and stop the walkers toppling down the stairs when the leading wheels drop over a stair edge. ABC tested three units and found that their design means that the friction strips don't work correctly - all three units rolled over the edge of their simulated stairs. ABC News is now calling on the Consumer Product Safety Commission to recall the walker.
If you would like to read the full report on these tests, please visit the ABC News website.
To reference this entry please copy the url in this link:
(Permalink)
March 1, 2007 15:56 - New Boutiques at BabyCenter Stores (US)
This month, BabyCenter Stores in the US launched two new boutiques. Their "Mom Invented" line showcases products created BY mothers FOR mothers...
A practical and lovely shower gift. All the basic layette items your favorite new mom will need disguised as a beautiful bouquet of blooms. This pretty box contains one solid lap-shoulder tee, two solid lap-shoulder short-sleeved bodysuits, one striped hat, one bib, one pair of white socks, and one pair of colored socks.
To reference this entry please copy the url in this link:
(Permalink)
March 2, 2007 09:02 - Money Saving Baby Travel Tips
It's not always necessary to carry baby wipes with you when you're out and about with your baby - in fact, many brands are very expensive and the costs during baby's first year can really add up! If you're just going out for the day, the easiest option is just to carry a damp flannel/washcloth in a plastic bag! Another cheap and easy tip is to combine 3tbsp baby oil and 3tbsp baby wash with water in a "squirty" bottle, apply it to your baby when necessary, then remove with soft facial tissues. Simple... and far cheaper than brand-name wipes!
It's also easy to make your own scented nappy/diaper bags - just pour a little talcum powder into the disposable plastic bags you get with your groceries!
Our "Travelling With Baby" page has lots more tips and ideas to make it easier to travel with your baby...
Read more...
To reference this entry please copy the url in this link:
(Permalink)
March 2, 2007 09:03 - Baby Sign Language
It may have been considered "faddy" at first, but more and more parents are now using sign language as an effective way to communicate with their babies.
Research into the long term effects of infant signing have shown that babies who sign go on to develop better than average language skills, calming many parents fears that, if they use sign language, their babies will be unwilling to learn to speak.
Infants can be taught sign language at any age, although they really begin to notice the signs from around 6 months and may even start using them from as early as 8 months! Of course, this is far earlier than your baby would be able to communicate with you through speech. The benefits are obvious - if you understand what your baby needs, then you are able to meet those needs effectively, reducing tears and tantrums! It is incredibly rewarding to be able to understand and respond to your baby so easily.
Visit our "Signing With Baby" pages for more information about baby sign language and links to useful resources...
Read more...
To reference this entry please copy the url in this link:
(Permalink)
March 2, 2007 11:51 - Handy Website If You're Flying With Your Baby
If you're planning on flying with your little one then we recommend using this excellent resource. www.seatguru.com contains an alphabetical list of airlines from all around the world - to find out more about the flight you'll be taking, simply click on the airline you'll be flying with. Seatguru will then provide you with really useful information, such as
detailed seat map graphics for your aircraft
detailed seat information, such as limited legroom and misaligned windows
the locations of in-seat power ports
colour coding to help you locate superior and below-standard seats
details of all in-flight amenities, including requirements for babies and the facilities available
... basically, a wealth of great information all in one place!
Don't forget to visit our Air Travel With Baby page before you set off, for some great tips, advice and useful information to help you throughout your journey.
And if you have any good tips you'd like to share, then please contact us. Tried and tested tips from other parents are invaluable to our visitors!
To reference this entry please copy the url in this link:
(Permalink)
March 3, 2007 14:55 - Fresh Cut Fruit Trays Recalled (Los Angeles, US)
Simply Fresh Fruit Fresh Cut Fruit trays are being recalled due to possible salmonella contamination. The trays, with a sell by date of 2-26-07, contain cantaloupe melon and were distributed by Costco throughout Los Angeles metropolitan areas. If you still have an uneaten tray of melon with this sell-by date, please don't use it - instead, you can arrange to return it for a full refund by calling Simply Fresh Fruit at 323-586-0000.
To reference this entry please copy the url in this link:
(Permalink)
March 3, 2007 21:57 - Ann B. Dextrous Motor Developer (US)
A clever name for a clever toy - the Ann B. Dextrous Motor Developer from the Discovery Store actually evolves as your baby grows. This means that you really get value for your money - this toy offers entertaining features for babies from 4 months to 3 years!
Between 4-8 months, the Ann B. Dextrous plays music, flashes lights and wobbles whenever your baby bats it. From 9-11 months, more knobs and switches become active, developing your baby's "pincer grip". From 12-17 months, a tower pops up and 5 new switches appear... then at 18-36 months your baby can play with the shape sorter, listen to new sounds and see new light shows. The toy also includes games like Play with the Pod and Find the Color.
What enables the Ann B. Dextrous to "evolve" is its clever built in clock, which adjust the activities automatically as your baby reaches each stage. This makes it a wonderful toy for your baby, or a really long lasting gift. The only complaint that we would have about this toy is that you can't turn the music off - but you CAN adjust the volume. Personally, I've never minded noisy toys - if they're keeping baby happy, then I'm happy too!
To reference this entry please copy the url in this link:
(Permalink)
March 4, 2007 09:09 - How Baby Care Has Changed Over The Years
I came across an entertaining article today written by a grandmother-to-be, comparing maternity and baby care when SHE had her daughter with the way things are for her pregnant daughter today.
The article noted lots of differences, from food restrictions in pregnancy to infant car seat regulations, and it certainly made interesting reading.
One thing that I was surprised the article didn't include was changes to infant nutrition guidelines - these have changed significantly over the years. Research has shown that the early introduction of solids (that many pediatricians recommended years ago) may lead to obesity and an increased risk of food allergy. Now, most leading health organizations agree that there is no need to introduce solids before baby is at least 6 months of age and that all his nutritional needs are met by either breast milk or formula up to that point.
This big change (and others) often lead to conflict between new mums and their parents, who will have very different opinions on how baby should be raised. We actually wrote an article on the subject in our newsletter last year, with tips on dealing with these problems.
We've had many e-mails from parents of babies who aren't sleeping well at night... but when they've discussed the problem with parents or in-laws, they've been urged to start solids, even for very young babies. This often causes communication to dry up, because new parents worry about talking to older relatives about their sleepless nights for fear of being preached to and made to feel guilty about delaying solids.
We'd love to hear some of your opinions on this - have YOU come up against pressure from your family to go against the advice of your pediatrician... and to ignore current guidelines and do things "the old-fashioned way"? How did you deal with unwanted advice? Please leave your comments below...
To reference this entry please copy the url in this link:
(Permalink)
March 4, 2007 21:57 - Sony ImageStation Coupon (US)
Sony Imagestation have a special coupon promotion available this month, effective from now through March 31st. If you're not familiar with Sony Imagestation, they are definitely worth investigating - their vivid and beautiful prints from digital images recently won the PC Magazine Editors’ Choice award. Here are their current offers...
Blink
Del.icio.us
Digg
Furl
Google
Simpy
Spurl
Technorati
Y! MyWeb
