Baby Food Recipes, News and Information

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Hook-on highchairs can be really useful, particularly when travelling. They're easy to set up, their small size means they're very portable and they make a great alternative to a full size highchair if you're short of space at home. But you do need to take care when using them, as this message we received today from Monica in London, UK, illustrates...

"I just bought a hook on high chair for my year old son, Samuel and we used it for the first time last week. I was a bit worried about the big gap between the high chair and the floor so I placed one of our dining chairs underneath the hook on chair - just in case!

What happened was that Samuel kept pushing his legs down on the dining chair. I didn't realize how much he was doing it, but then my husband noticed that the hook-on chair was working loose from the dining table. It was from Samuel contantly pushing back and forth against the main chair.

I'm writing this because I see you recommend hook-on high chairs on your site and I wanted parents to know about this risk. It's better to put a big cushion on the floor than to put a chair under your baby that he might push against like Samuel did."

Thank you for letting us know about your experience, Monica - I think many of us may have put a chair underneath a hook-on highchair without even considering this possibility! We agree with your advice to use a big cushion instead - although hook-on highchairs attach very firmly to the table, it's nice to have a "safety net" to be on the safe side!

If you are looking for a lightweight highchair for YOUR baby, then visit our "Travel High Chairs" page, which shows a range of our favourite portable highchairs and boosters...

Read more...

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July 24, 2007 13:30 - Recall of Baby Toys (Australia)

Various toys which have been on sale in Sydney and New South Wales for the past 2 years are now being recalled because they do not meet Australian/New Zealand toy safety standards.

The toys involved, supplied by Oriental Star (Aust) Pty Ltd and sold by various retailers, including toy stores and bargain stores, are:

• Baby Magic Shaker (Item no 160652)
• Block Car (Item no 717344)
• Music Instrument (Item no 721884)

If you have any of these toys, please return them by post for a full refund to: Oriental Star (Aust) Pty Ltd, Unit 2/52 Alfred Road, Chipping Norton NSW 2170.

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

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July 24, 2007 13:42 - Cheese and Veggie Pancakes

Today's recipe is sent in to us from Amelie in Tampa, Florida. Amelie prepared these simple pancakes for her daughter Kathryn and they were a big hit - so, if your baby is ready for finger foods, why not see if he approves of Kathryn's recommendation!

You will need

2 medium white potatoes
1 medium carrot
3oz grated Cheddar cheese
1 garlic clove, crushed (optional)
1 egg yolk
1tsp whole wheat flour
little olive oil

Peel and coarsely grate the potatoes and the carrot, then press with kitchen towel to remove excess moisture.
In a bowl, combine the grated potatoes and carrots with the cheese, garlic, egg yolk and flour.
Mix thoroughly.
Warm the oil in a frying pan/skillet over medium heat. Drop spoonfuls of the mixture into the hot oil and flatten on top (so they resemble mini pancakes).
Fry for 2 mins, then turn and fry for a further 2-3 mins, until the pancakes are golden brown.

Thanks, Kathryn, for sending us this recipe!

Don't forget, we always love to feature recipes sent in by our visitors...

so if you have any to share you can either send them to us using our contact form - or, for a chance at winning a $20 Amazon voucher, enter our baby food recipe competition.

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July 24, 2007 14:26 - Flooding in the UK - Food Safety Tips

England is currently experiencing extensive flooding - and the UK's Food Standards Agency has published some good food safety tips on its website today for those who have been affected.

The article contains some useful advice about preparing formula for your baby if your drinking water has been contaminated during the flooding - you can visit the FSA website here for more information.

If you are visitng us from the UK today, we hope that you haven't been badly affected - and we also hope that the heavy rain stops soon.

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July 25, 2007 08:50 - Recall of Crib Bumpers (US)

Diamond Matelassé, Floral Matelassé and Polka Dot Matelassé crib bumpers are being recalled by Pottery Barn Kids because they pose a risk of entanglement to young children.

The bumpers (pictured below) have decorative stitching on the edge. Pottery Barn Kids has received two reports of this stitching coming loose, although no babies have been injured.

The bumpers, made of 100% cotton, have a label that reads "pottery barn kids". The Diamond Matelassé bumpers are white, with decorative stitching in pink, blue, green, yellow or chocolate along the edge. The Floral and Polka Dot bumpers are in various colours and also have decorative stitching.

The bumpers were sold for around $90 from February 2003 through June 2007 at Pottery Barn Kids stores across the US, as well as via its online stores and catalog.

If you have these bumpers at home, please stop using them and contact Pottery Barn Kids toll-free at (877) 800-9720 between 7 a.m. and 12 a.m. ET daily, for a full refund. Alternatively, you can visit their website at www.potterybarnkids.com.

Source: http://www.cpsc.gov

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July 26, 2007 15:23 - The Flair Elite Highchair - Classy Dining For Tots

When the time comes to buy a highchair, parents are faced with a huge (and baffling!) array of styles and options to choose from.

Traditional, wooden highchairs now seem to be taking a back-seat (pardon the pun!) to innovative, modern designs, with features like one-handed folds, removable feeding trays - and even handy little storage areas for utensils!

But for sheer class, there are few models that can compare with the sleek design of the The Flair Elite Highchair.

The Flair Elite has a unique stainless steel base - and, unlike many other highchairs, you can slide the base right under the dinner table to bring baby close at mealtimes.

This is a really nice feature and babies who feel as if they are actually eating as a part of the family (as opposed to eating in their own little space) tend to "play up" far less at the table.

But the thing we LOVE about the Flair Elite Highchair is its high-tech, hands-free, pneumatic lift - which makes adjusting the height really easy!

This highchair also has a seam-free seat (which means crumbs have nowhere to hide!) and the seat material is resistant to water and chemicals - so it won't fade after extensive cleaning.

Unsurprisingly, this great example of quality, style and technology doesn't come cheap - the The Flair Elite Highchair is priced at $399.95. But it DOES convert to a toddler's chair and can be used until your child is aged 5 - so it'll give you a good few years of service.

And if that price tag is just a little out of your reach, then check out The Flair Highchair at a mere(!) $199.95. It has virtually all the cool features of the Flair Elite highchair EXCEPT for the stainless steel pedestal - this one is made from plastic.

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July 26, 2007 21:25 - Recall of Pacifiers Decorated With Crystals (US)

A selection of pacifiers that were bought from stores, decorated with Swarovski crystals on the handles and guards, then sold on to customers are being recalled because the crystals can easily drop off. This poses the risks of choking and ingestion to babies, although - luckily - no injuries have yet been reported.

These pacifiers were sold by Dara Linda’s Baby Bling and Jewelry Design, of Davie, Fla.; Baby Bling Things, of Appleton, Wis.; Bling Toes, of Cherry Valley, Ill.; PeaNaPod Bling and Accessories, of Fort Wayne, Ind.; and MJM Crystal Designs, of Boca Raton, Fla, via Etsy.com and Ebay.com.

For photographs of the items involved, along with further details of the retailers involved, please visit the CPSC website.

Are we alone in thinking that decorating babies pacifiers with glued-on crystals was a VERY bad idea in the first place?

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July 28, 2007 10:04 - 3 Quick Sandwich Fillings For Baby

If you're out and about with your baby this weekend, here are three quick and easy ideas for tasty sandwich fillings that he'll enjoy.

• Mashed avocado and egg yolk - a highly nutritious sandwich filling for your baby, it's also easy to prepare. Just mash the flesh of a ripe avocado with the crumbled yolk from a hard-boiled egg (please note that you should not give egg whites to a baby under one year of age). You can make this at home before you go - adding a tiny drop of lemon juice will keep the avocado from discolouring.

• Mashed banana and cottage cheese - this is a very tasty combination! We recommend mashing these two ingredients when your baby is ready to eat, or the banana will discolour.

• Tasty tofu spread - Just puree silken tofu with plain yogurt and a little fresh garlic in a food processor. You can adjust the consistency of the spread by increasing/decreasing the quantity of yogurt that you use.

These ideas for sandwich fillings for baby also make wonderful dips - so just bring along veggie sticks (for babies old enough to chew them), strips of lightly toasted bread or bagels, or pieces of pita.

If you'd like more tips for dealing with feeding your baby when you're out and about, then please visit our main Travelling with Baby section.

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July 28, 2007 10:08 - Great Invention - The Snack Trap

Some of the best baby products are designed by Mums (who better?) and here's another accessory for baby that's so simple... it's brilliant!

The Snack Trap

If you're fed up with endlessly vacuuming bits of your baby's finger foods from the back of the car, then the Snack Trap, from One Step Ahead, is the solution.

The split lid is nice and soft - so it's easy for your little one to get his fingers in and out, but just strong enough to stop snacks from spilling.

We think this is a really useful little product... now, if only they'd invent a feeding dish that would stop baby from splattering his purees all over the carpet!

The The Snack Trap is priced at $4.95 - or you can buy two for $4.45 and save $1!

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July 29, 2007 16:36 - Peach and Brown Rice Breakfast

Brown rice is far better for your baby (and for you) than white rice because all its nutrients are intact.

Although they are aware of the benefits of brown rice, some adults, used to the almost bland taste of white rice, find it difficult to make the switch.

It's true that brown rice tastes quite different - in fact, it has much MORE flavour - a slightly nutty taste that our family loves.

So we highly recommend getting your baby accustomed to the fuller flavour and healthy goodness of brown rice from the outset - you'll probably find he'll shun white rice altogether later on!

This recipe for a simple cereal made with fresh peaches and brown rice is suitable for babies from 6 months of age. If your baby is new to solid foods, please introduce the rice by itself at first and - once you are happy that your baby is digesting it well - you can include the peach.

You will need

2oz brown rice
8 fl oz (1 cup) of water
1/2 ripe peach
a little breast milk or formula

First, grind the rice in a food processor to produce a powder.
Remove the skin and the pit from the peach, then dice.
Pour the water into a small saucepan and bring to the boil.
Add the rice powder, taking care to stir constantly, then lower the heat.
Add the diced peach and simmer gently, stirring often, for 10 mins.
If the mixture is a little too thick for your baby, stir in a little milk... and breakfast is served!

Looking for more breakfast ideas for baby...?

Read more...

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