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 7, 2007 13:10 - Lead Poisoning - Risks and Symptoms

There have been a huge number of recalls lately of products that contain unsafe levels of lead. When you have a young baby, this is really worrying - babies, of course, will put anything and everything into their mouths and to discover just how many toys have lead in them is a real concern.

For us, one of the most shocking incidents was the recall of baby bibs last week from Wal-Mart, along with the warning about lead in vinyl bibs issued by the CPSC. To discover that an innocuous item like a baby's bib can contain lead is horrifying, to say the least - particularly when experts say that its use is unnecessary and that other materials could easily be used in its place.

There are other sources of potential lead poisoning around the home and we read an interesting article this weekend about possible hazards, the symptoms of lead poisoning and testing. Please do take a look, as this is useful information for all parents.

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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 10, 2007 14:51 - Online Kiddie Healthcare (US)

We saw an interesting article today on http://www.parentdish.com about a new online healthcare site called the Child Health Guide - so we decided to take a look!

The Child Health Guide provides information about a wide range of childhood ailments, including signs, symptoms and at what point you should call the doctor. The site is really well laid out and provides a simple search facility, making it easy to find the answers you need.

The site uses text, images and video to help make things really clear and - whilst a service of this type could never replace a visit to a pediatrician - it might be the next best thing!

Is it worth joining up?

A full year's subscription costs $29.95, but you can sign up for a one hour free trial first, which will give you a good idea of whether or not this service will work for you.There is also an option to have access to the site for 24 hours, which costs $ 3.95.

The main purpose of this site is to reduce the number of parents bringing children to the emergency room in non-emergency situations, so some might feel that the registration fee would be money well spent!

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May 11, 2007 14:26 - Recall of Evenflo Car Seats/Carriers (US)

Evenflo Embrace infant car seats/carriers are being recalled because a serious fault has led to 160 injuries to children, including a fractured skull, two concussions, bruises, scrapes and cuts.

The problem arises when the seat (pictured below) is used as an infant carrier. The handle can release unexpectedly, which causes the seat to rotate forward and the baby inside the seat to fall to the ground. The manufacturers say that the seat is still safe for use as a car seat, when installed in a vehicle.

The products involved are Evenflo Embrace Infant Car Seat/Carriers made before April 8, 2006 (Embrace car seats/carriers made on or after this date are not included in this recall). They have model numbers beginning with 317, 320, 397, 398, 540, 548, 549, 550, 556, 597, 598 or 599. You can find the model number and production date information on a white label on the bottom of the carrier and on top of the convenience base. Models beginning with the number "5" are units that were sold with the compatible stroller. "Evenflo" is on the base of the car seat and the carrying handle.

These seats were sold at juvenile product stores and department stores from December 2004 through September 2006. They were priced at between $70 and $100 when sold alone and between $140 and $200 when sold with a compatible stroller.

Please do not use this car seat/carrier with the handle until the repair kit has been installed, which you should obtain by contacting Evenflo. Please do not return the seat to the retailer.

You can contact Evenflo on (800) 490-7497 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit their website.

Source: http://www.cpsc.gov

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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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May 12, 2007 14:42 - Recall of Squidgy Cat (UK)

Squidgy cats are being recalled in the UK because there is a risk that the toy's eyes can come loose, posing a choking hazard to children. If you have one of these items (pictured here), then please return it to the shop you bought it from for a full refund. You do not need to provide a receipt.

If you have any questions, please contact Disaster Designs customer services department on 01323 441444.

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May 12, 2007 14:46 - Recall of Billy Bob Pacifiers (Australia)

Billy Bob Pacifiers, which were sold across Australia from 19 October to 20 December 2006, are being recalled. These dummies do not meet the new safety standards for babies' dummies and could be hazardous to infants.

If you have one of these, please stop using it and return it to the shop you bought it from for a full refund.

Source: http://www.recalls.gov.au

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