Baby Food Recipes, News and Information

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The American Academy of Pediatrics has teamed up with the American Heart Association to develop an infant CPR kit that contains all you need to learn CPR and how to deal with choking.

The kit is designed to help you learn these core skills in just 22 minutes. This information isn't just important for YOU to know, but is vital knowledge for anyone who looks after your baby. Knowing what to do in an emergency situation is, of course, essential - but not many parents would truly know how to react. This simple kit could be a lifesaver.

The kit contains various accessories, including a learning manikin and a practice DVD. It's available through the AAP website - they provide a link for ordering the kit, although every time I tried to access that link, it seemed many others were doing the same because I was unable to get to the ordering information. But if it doesn't work for you, they provide a phone number, too.

An alternative to this kit is to contact your local Red Cross chapter, who provide courses in CPR. It really does pay to be prepared - you never know when you may need to put this knowledge into practice. Knowing what to do can make all the difference and gives you a greater confidence when dealing with your little one.

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March 19, 2007 13:17 - Cooking Pork For Baby

If you would like to cook pork for your baby but are worried about achieving just the right texture, then why not try this simple idea that produces delicious, melt-in-the-mouth results?

Please note: This pork recipe for babies is suitable from around 7/8 months of age, but you should always check with your doctor before introducing any new foods. Some children experience allergic reactions to pork, so you may wish to delay its introduction until the end of your baby's first year, particularly if there is a family history of food allergy.

Cooking Pork In Milk For Baby

Heat a little vegetable oil and unsalted butter in a saucepan and fry around 1lb pork loin for 15 minutes. For extra flavour, fry 1 clove of garlic (peeled but left whole) and 1 small chopped onion along with the pork.

Pour 8 fl oz milk into the saucepan - you can use cow's milk, or formula/breast milk if you prefer.

Throw in 2 sprigs of fresh sage and a sprinkle of freshly ground black pepper.

Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and cover. Simmer gently for 1 1/2 - 2 hours, turning occasionally and basting with the milk.

At the end of the cooking time, remove the pork and set aside. Remove the sage and garlic, too, and throw them away.

If you used onion in this recipe, pass the sauce through a sieve or blend with a food processor into a lovely, smooth sauce (it will be quite thin).

You can either serve the pork to your baby chopped up and mixed into the sauce, or you can add the pork to the sauce and puree completely. But pork cooked this way is so wonderfully tender that your baby may just enjoy it the way it is - and this is a good recipe to try if your baby is just getting to grips with more textured foods.

If the onions and garlic are used in this recipe, then it really is tasty enough for the whole family to enjoy and is delicious with roasted potatoes and veggies!

Our "Meat Baby Food Recipes" page contains more great ideas for cooking pork, lamb and beef for your tiny diner... Read more...

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March 20, 2007 14:13 - Yummy Dessert For Baby

This yummy dessert for baby is very simple to make and combines fresh peach with banana - so it's super healthy, too. You can use this recipe for your baby from 6 months+ - but be sure that he has been separately introduced to all the ingredients first.

1 fresh peach, peeled
1/4 tsp vanilla essence
drop of maple syrup (optional)
1 medium ripe banana

Puree the peeled peach in a food processor.
Mix the peach puree with the vanilla and maple syrup (if using).
Cut 2 pieces of foil and place half the banana (cut lengthways) on each piece.
Spoon half the peach puree over each half of the banana, then fold over the foil and seal.
Bake at 375 deg F for 15 minutes.
Cool to a safe temperature and serve!

Our "Fruit Recipes" page has some more ideas for tasty yet nutritious desserts for your baby... Read more...

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March 20, 2007 23:41 - Cooking Millet For Baby

Millet is an excellent and nutritious food for babies, yet - considering its benefits - it is still underused as a food for infants. In fact, many parents are unaware of just how good millet can be for their little ones - when most of us think of a cereal for babies, it's always rice cereal that springs to mind!

So what exactly IS millet?

Well, it's a tall grass that looks like maize but is related to sorghum! Millet seeds look like little yellow balls, but have a lovely, slightly sweet and nutty flavour - and what makes millet ideal for babies is the fact that it is one of the least allergenic, most easily digested grains available.

Nutrients contained in millet include

• iron
• potassium
• magnesium
• phosphorus
• B vitamins
• vitamin E
• protein (millet is almost 15% protein)

Millet is also gluten free.

Recommendations about when to introduce millet to babies vary, although it is sometimes even offered as a first food (after 6 months). Speak to your doctor before you offer it to your child.

Cooking millet for baby

The basic rule for cooking millet is to combine 1 part millet with 3 parts liquid - for a savoury flavour, use homemade chicken stock, otherwise, just use water. Cook millet in the same way as you would cook rice - simply bring the liquid to the boil, stir in the millet, reduce the heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes until the grains have absorbed the water. Remove from the heat and let the millet sit for 10 mins before serving.

For a richer flavour, a good tip is to "roast" the grains before you cook them. To do this, heat a frying pan over a medium heat and pour in the millet. Heat for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly to prevent burning.

You can adjust the amount of water that you use to achieve a consistency that your baby will prefer. If you use less water, the grains will be separated and fluffy - ideal as an alternative to rice in your recipes. Using more water will give you a moister, thicker texture - perfect for millet "porridge" and a better texture for younger babies who are not ready to cope with individual grains.

To make a really tasty breakfast for your baby using millet, cook the grains using a little extra water. When ready, stir in milk (you can use breast milk or formula) and add a drop of blackstrap molasses to sweeten the cereal and boost your baby's iron at the same time. Sprinkle with nutmeg and you have a delicious and nourishing homemade breakfast for your little one!

Find out about other lesser known but highly nutritious grains on our "Wheat flour substitutes" page... Read more...

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March 22, 2007 07:36 - Cheesy Sausages Baby Food Recipe

Real sausages are too high in salt to offer to your baby - but these cheesy sausages make a tasty alternative and are ideal for vegetarians, too! Try offering these to your baby when he is comfortably enjoying finger foods - you can make the mixture ahead of time and freeze it, but the sausages don't freeze well once you've cooked them.

You will need

5oz wholemeal breadcrumbs
1oz wheat germ
1oz butter
6 spring onions (also known as scallions or salad onions!)
6oz zucchini/courgette, peeled
5oz cheddar cheese
1 egg yolk
natural yogurt
little olive oil
1tsp chopped, fresh parsley

Prepare the sausage mixture at least 2 hours before you plan to cook the sausages for your baby...

To make the breadcrumbs, process wholemeal bread in a food processor. Stir in the wheat germ.
Grate the courgette and squeeze out as much liquid as possible.
Chop the onion very finely and saute in the butter until tender, then stir in the courgette and continue to cook until the courgette is tender.
Put the onions and courgette into a bowl and combine with about half the breadcrumb mixture, the egg yolk and the parsley. Mix well.
Form the mixture into sausage shapes, roll in the yogurt and then in the rest of the breadcrumbs, until well coated. Chill for at least 2 hours.
Fry the "sausages" in the olive oil until golden, cool to a safe temperature and serve!

For some more tasty finger food recipes, including cheesy nuggets and applesauce muffins... Read more...

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March 22, 2007 21:30 - Important Recall of Infant Sling Carriers (US)

Infantino SlingRider Infant Carriers are being recalled because of a serious fall hazard. It has been reported that the plastic slider on the fabric strap can break, meaning that the strap supporting the carrier can release.

10 incidents of the strap breaking have been reported and eight babies have fallen from the carrier. Four were taken to emergency rooms with impact injuries - one baby had suffered a fractured skull.

The Infantino SlingRider carriers involved in the recall (pictured below) have item numbers 141-210; 151-210; 151-528; and 151-534. The carriers are sold in khaki or black and have the word "Infantino" printed on the plastic slider on the strap. You can find the item number on a label inside the sling.

Please note that products with labels "Made in Thailand" or "New 2007 Design" are NOT part of this recall.

The slings were sold at Target Stores, Babies R Us, Burlington Coat Factory, BJ’s Wholesale Club and other retailers nationwide, both by catalog and online from July 2006 through February 2007 for around $30.

If you have one of these carriers, please stop using it at once - and if you know of someone who may have one, please let them know about this recall.

To arrange for a free replacement product, or for more information, please contact Infantino. Their toll-free number is (888) 808-3111 - please call between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. PT Monday through Friday. Alternatively, please visit their website.

Source: http://www.cpsc.gov

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March 24, 2007 08:55 - Can Babies Drink Tea?

We received a message from Yvonne in the UK yesterday, asking us if it would be safe to offer tea to her five month old daughter.

The answer to this is "no" - and there are several reasons why this advice is given.

• Tea contains compounds called polyphenols. These compounds bind with the iron in your baby's intestines and prevent his body from absorbing the iron effectively. Iron is essential for your baby's growth and development and it is very important that his iron levels remain adequate. Research has shown that herbal teas, too, may block iron absorption.

• Herbal teas tend to contain hidden sugars. Not only can these cause dental decay, they can also make your baby feel full, which can lead to him taking less breast milk or formula. As a result, your baby may not receive adequate nutrition.

• Babies do not need any fluids besides breast milk or formula for the first 6 months of life. After 6 months of age, breast fed babies continue to receive adequate fluids from breast milk - formula fed babies do not strictly "need" additional fluids, although some parents do like to offer a little water with solids. But water is the ONLY supplemental fluid that you should think about offering your little one - with the possible exception of juice if he is constipated or a little with meals to increase iron absorption.

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March 25, 2007 15:04 - Herby Leek Puree Recipe

This recipe is very easy to make and uses leeks - part of the onion family but with a sweeter, gentler flavour.

Leeks have many nutritious benefits, being high in iron and potassium and also containing folic acid, vitamin C and beta-carotene in the green stems (most people assume veggies containing beta-carotene are orange or red in colour... but dark green veggies can contain beta-carotene, too!).

You can offer this leek puree to your baby from 6 months of age, as long as he has been introduced to all the ingredients separately beforehand.

You will need

1/2oz butter
2 medium fresh leeks, chopped
5oz potatoes, peeled and diced
5fl oz homemade chiken stock
1tbsp thick, natural yogurt
1/2tsp chopped fresh chives
1/2tsp chopped fresh dill
1/2tsp chopped fresh basil

In a medium saucepan, gently saute the leeks in the butter for a few minutes, then add the diced potatoes.
Add the chicken stock and herbs and bring to the boil.
Reduce the heat, cover and simmer for around 15 minutes, until the potatoes are tender.
Drain the vegetables, reserving the cooking liquid, then puree the veggies in a food processor
Thin the mixture to the right consistency by adding back in a little of the cooking liquid. Finally, stir in the yogurt, which adds a delightful creamy texture - and serve to baby!

Don't miss our vegetable recipes page, which gives you more ideas for tasty meat-free meals for your baby... Read more...

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