Baby Food Recipes, News and Information

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For many of us, the weather is becoming warmer and we're spending a lot more time outside with our babies. It's also the time of year where many of us are thinking about traveling... maybe to an even warmer climate!

So it's important to think about how to best protect our little ones from the sun! Of course, a little sunlight is good for our babies as it helps their bodies to produce vitamin D, which in turn helps them absorb calcium (please read this article for more information about the importance of vitamin D).

But your baby's skin is extremely delicate and can burn quickly, which can become serious in a very young baby.

To help you safeguard your baby against the damaging effects of the sun - and to keep him comfortable on warmer days - we have put together a page of our favourite sun protection products, all available in the US (for products available in the UK, please click here).

We also have lots of great tips to help you with your journey and for once you arrive at your destination...

Traveling overseas with your baby
Flying with your baby
Tips for road trips
Feeding your baby when you're out and about

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May 8, 2007 08:37 - UK Experts Warn About Food Colouring

Once again, parents in the UK are being advised by experts to avoid giving their children foods containing certain additives.

New research appears to be backing up what many parents have suspected all along - that certain food additives can lead to hyperactivity, lack of concentration, allergic reactions and tantrums.

Additives tested in the new study include tartrazine (E102), ponceau 4R (E124), sunset yellow (E110), carmoisine (E122), quinoline yellow (E104) and allura red AC (E129), all of which are approved for use in the EU but some of which are banned in the US and Scandinavia.

Groups of 3 year old and 8 to 9 year old children were given as much of these additives as they would consume in a normal day - and, although the results have yet to be published, independent experts are again saying that you should not give your children foods containing any of these additives.

One piece of good news is that Sainsbury's are going to ban artificial colourings and flavourings from their own brand soft drinks next month - and it's likely that other supermarkets will follow suit.

But, of course, the best way to protect your little ones from the negative effects of food additives is to continue to prepare their meals from fresh and healthy ingredients... it's the only way to be sure of exactly what your kids are eating!

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk

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May 8, 2007 14:32 - Yogurt Crusted Cod For Baby

We have a delicious new recipe for you today that makes a healthy alternative to traditional fish fingers. The yogurt coating is nice and crispy, so this would be a wonderful finger food for an older baby who enjoys a little texture!

Note: You need to start preparing this dish well ahead of time, as the fish needs to marinate for several hours.

PLEASE BE CAREFUL TO CHECK THE COD CLOSELY FOR BONES. Even if the packaging states that the fish is boneless, it is possible that bones may remain.

To make yogurt crusted cod for baby you will need

2tsp chopped fresh mint
1 small spring onion (also known as scallion or green onion)
1 small clove of garlic, crushed
pinch paprika
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp dried dill
2oz natural, unflavoured yogurt
8oz cod steak

Combine the mint, onion, garlic, paprika, cumin, dill and yogurt in a food processor and blend until it becomes a thick paste.
Spread the mixture over the cod steak and refrigerate.
Leave to marinate for 3 hours.
Cook the fish under a hot grill/broiler, basting from time to time. The cod is cooked when it flakes with a fork and the yogurt has formed a crust.
Cut into fingers and serve!

Try increasing the quantities and serving this with some rice and salad for a healthy meal for the whole family!

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May 9, 2007 16:29 - Safety Tips For The Summer

The American Academy of Pediatrics has just released its "Summer Safety Tips" which offer parents advice on a range of topics, including sun exposure, pool safety and avoiding insect bites.

The safety tips, which are relevant for children from birth onwards, are well worth reviewing - so please take a moment to read through them here.

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May 10, 2007 14:37 - Baby Food Around The World - Malaysia

We're always interested to hear how solid foods are introduced to babies in different countries and cultures. It's fascinating to see how foods that are considered a "no-no" in some areas are introduced to very young babies in others - and that baby food doesn't have to be plain old mashed bananas!

So thank you to Molly from Malaysia who wrote to us to tell us how things are sometimes done there...

"It's common to hear or see old folks from my place (Malaysia) starting to mix rice cereal into milk bottle and adding seafood like clams, fish, scallops into their porridge for 4 month old baby...they think that it's good for their brain development.

As for us, we try to stick to well balanced, organic and plant-based diet."

This, of course, would break every "rule" set by bodies such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the UK's Food Standards Agency! But it really illustrates how dramatic the differences in customs are from one country to another!

We'd love to hear from more of you about the types of foods you introduce to babies in YOUR corner of the world. You can either leave a comment below, or contact us here.

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May 11, 2007 15:02 - Guava Baby Food Ideas

If you're looking for a delicious new fruit to introduce to your baby, why not give guava a try - because it not only tastes wonderful, it's hightly nutritious, too!

Guavas have a wonderful, tropical aroma and taste, although they are actually grown in many countries across the world. They are very high in vitamin C (weight for weight, they contain five times as much as an orange!) and they are also a good source of potassium.

If you would like to give your baby a guava to try, then choose one with a pale yellow colour that feels fairly firm (if guavas become over-ripe, they lose some of their vitamin C content). But don't get one that feels hard, because this may be a bit too sour for your baby.

Wash the fruit, cut it in half lengthwise and remove the skin - it's a little tough for your baby to cope with and also has a vaguely bitter taste that he may not enjoy.

Remove the guava seeds for your baby - but try eating them yourself, instead, because they are just as nutritious as the flesh! You can then serve the fruit, which should be sweet and juicy, to your little one.

You can introduce guava to your baby from 6 months, with your doctor's consent. Introduce just a little at first, to ensure that it doesn't cause any digestive problems. Also, make sure you introduce it by itself or with a food that your baby is already safely enjoying - that way, you will be able to tell if it causes any allergic reaction.

You can puree guava for your baby (it actually has a texture similar to pear) and serve it from a spoon - or try mixing it with another favourite fruit! Pureed banana and guava is yummy. You can serve little pieces of cut-up guava to an older baby as a finger food.

If you're feeling adventurous, try mixing a little pureed guava with sweet potato - it tastes fantastic! And guava puree makes a wonderful sauce for pork, too!

So why not see if you can find some of these tasty and healthy little fruits at your local supermarket and put together some gourmet meals for your little one!

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