Baby Food Recipes, News and Information

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Following the huge number of toy and other product recalls associated with high lead levels, many people are turning to do-it-yourself testing kits to see if items they have in their homes are safe.

But the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has just issued a warning that kits like these are unreliable and can give very misleading results.

The Commission carried out 104 tests on items using commonly available test kits and more than half of these tests didn't detect lead when it was present. None of the kits accurately detected lead if the lead was covered with a non-lead coating.

As a result, the CPSC is saying that consumers should NOT use home test kits to try to determine if items are safe.

You can read more about the CPSC's findings in their full report.

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October 23, 2007 13:05 - Accessories for Making Your Own Baby Food

With items from complete feeding systems and storage trays, to handy digital timers and cooling dishes, we show you our favourite homemade baby food accessories, available in the US and UK... Read more...

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October 24, 2007 08:28 - What Can I Do With Cooked, Leftover Oatmeal?

Gwendoline from Seattle in the US wrote to us yesterday with a nice idea for using up leftover oatmeal (or porridge, if you're in the UK or Australia!). She told us:

"When I've made too much oatmeal, I like to make oatmeal bars for my son, Benjamin (12 months). Here's what you do...

1.Put the oatmeal into a square box and flatten it down until it's about 2 inches thick.
2. Freeze it.
3.Take it out of the freezer about half an hour before you're ready to use it, so it's soft enough to slice but still quite firm.
4. Cut it into bars, about half an inch thick.
5. Dust each bar with a coating of whole wheat flour.
6. Melt a bit of butter in a skillet (frying pan) and fry the bars until they're golden brown all over.
7. I give them to Benjamin with applesauce and let him feed himself with his fingers."

That's a great idea - thanks for sharing it with us, Gwendoline!

Here are a few more ideas for using up cooked oatmeal...

• Make oatmeal patties by stirring one beaten egg into one cup (8oz) oatmeal/porridge, forming into patty shapes and frying (if your baby is under one year of age, you may wish to wait until his first birthday before using whole eggs in your recipes).

• Add leftover oatmeal to your pancake, muffin or bread recipes.

• Freeze leftover oatmeal into individual portions, then you have a serving of breakfast to hand when it's needed in a hurry. (If you're reheating previously cooked oatmeal, you may like to add a little extra milk to keep a pleasant texture). Don't refreeze previously frozen oatmeal!

• Use cooked oatmeal as a thickener for soups, stews and casseroles.

• Use as a binding agent in homemade meatballs, instead of breadcrumbs.

Do YOU have any great ideas for using up leftover oatmeal (porridge)? Then we'd LOVE to hear them - you can either click on 'comments' below to add your ideas, or contact us directly and we'll publish your suggestion on our site!

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October 27, 2007 09:54 - My Baby Will Only Eat Bananas

We sometimes hear from parents whose babies will only eat one or two different foods - and refuse everything else. This is a problem most commonly seen after 12 months of age - probably because that's when babies begin to apply their growing sense of independence to their eating habits.

For us parents, this type of behaviour can be baffling and worrying. One minute you have a baby happily tucking into a broad spectrum of healthy fruits and veggies - the next minute all he'll eat is bananas!

So what can you do about it? And is it really that bad if your baby will only eat one kind of food, if the food he likes is a healthy one?

Well, eating plenty of one healthy food shouldn't do any harm - but we would suggest that you buy the organic version of that particular fruit or vegetable.

Why?

Because certain pesticides are used on certain types of produce. Even after thoroughly washing and peeling produce, pesticide residues may still remain. If your baby only eats one kind of fruit or veggie frequently, then he is repeatedly being exposed to the same type of pesticide residue, which could potentially be harmful. Using organic produce removes this concern.

However, it IS important that babies enjoy lots of different foods, because this gives them lots of different nutrients and a variety of textures.

So here are our suggestions for dealing with a baby who will only eat one or two different types of food...

• Although it's tempting to give your baby his favourite food at every meal (just to be sure he'll eat something), DON'T do it. Otherwise you'll have a situation where he's filling up on that favourite food - and he'll have no need or desire to eat anything else! Instead, serve a SMALL amount of the favourite food along with other foods, at each meal. He may eat only the favourite food at first, leaving him slightly hungry - then at the next meal he will be more inclined to sample the OTHER foods on his plate.

• Make a point of eating foods that your baby refuses. Make a big fuss over how delicious they are. Smile often, but don't try to force him to try some - he's more likely to have a taste if he thinks it's HIS idea!

• Don't be too quick to assume that your baby doesn't like a certain food. Babies sometimes reject food on several separate occasions before they'll accept it - remember that their taste buds are changing and developing all the time. That sweet potato mash he spat out last week may be his favourite meal a month later!

• Try to prepare the same ingredients in different ways. If your baby refuses to eat mashed carrot, then try giving him cooked carrot sticks, instead. Or - if you are boiling carrots for him - try baking them, which produces a somewhat different flavour.

• Mix foods that your baby WILL eat with ones that he won't! Say, for example, that he'll eat sweet potato, but not broccoli. Mix a very small amount of cooked broccoli with a nice big dollop of sweet potato. The next time, add a little extra broccoli. With any luck, your baby will be enjoying the broccoli by itself within a week or two.

• Do bear in mind that there will be foods your baby JUST DOESN'T LIKE. This is only to be expected - there are probably some foods that you just can't eat, either! There is no one food that your baby's diet can't be without - if he just doesn't like one particular vegetable, for example, then offer him an alternative with similar nutritional qualities.

• Be patient, be patient, be patient! It really is that important! The more you try to force your baby to eat other foods, the more he'll probably resist - and the more frustrating mealtimes will become for you both. If your baby leaves his food yet AGAIN - remove it without comment - don't let him sense your irritation or concern.

For more tips to help you deal with a reluctant eater, visit...

My baby won't eat from a spoon
How much should my baby be eating?
Gagging problems and introducing lumpy foods
My baby won't eat vegetables

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