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Baby Food Recipes, News and Information
For all the latest baby food news, updates to nutrition guidelines, product recalls, great new baby food recipes, hints, tips and more!
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October 23, 2007 13:01 - Recall of Jeep Sahara Ltd Portable Cots (Australia)
Kolcraft portable cots sold under the Jeep brand names are being recalled because they may pose risks of entanglement and strangulation.
The cribs, which have a changing table attachment, were manufactured between 2001 and 2007 and sold from 2002 to 2007 through speciality baby stores and Baby Target across Australia.
The model numbers involved in this recall are
55234-XC
55237-JQ
77234T-XC
77234T-XC
77237T-JQ
When the changing table on these cots is in place, a child can become caught in the restraint strap that hangs below it. The manufacturers stress that you should always remove the changing table from the cot BEFORE you put your child in the cot. As a precaution, you can also request a replacement non-looped restraint strap from Born with Style.
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October 23, 2007 13:02 - Recall of Mattel Toys Sold at Asda (UK)
Earlier this year, various Mattel toys were recalled because of concerns over lead paint - but it seems as if a few have slipped through the net! An Asda depot mistakenly sent a batch of 300 Mattel toys to an Asda store... instead of sending it back to Mattel, as was supposed to happen.
Asda has stopped selling the toys affected and is asking customers to return the toys to its stores (no receipt required) for a refund.
The toys involved are
Mattel Lazy Town Music Transporter, sold at Asda for £6.98
Mattel Go Diego Play Pack, sold at Asda for £4.97
These are the only toys involved - no other toys are affected.
As Asda so rightly put it, this was an occasion when "...all common sense went out of the window"! If you would like to contact them for more information, please call their Customer Relations dept at 0500 100 055.
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October 23, 2007 13:03 - Recall of Boots 'Learning Through Play Tiny Town' (UK)
Boots 'Learning Through Play Tiny Town' toys are being recalled because tests have shown that surface paints used on the orange coloured blocks may be high in lead.
The toys involved, which have an item code of 27-93-520, were sold between between August 2007 and October 2007. Boots is now asking customers to return the playsets to their nearest store, where they will be given a replacement toy or a full refund.
You can call Boots for more information on:
United Kingdom: 0800 915 0004 (Minicom users: 0800 915 0740)
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October 23, 2007 13:04 - Don't Rely on Home Lead Test Kits
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 24, 2007 12:58 - Lamb Recall Extended (UK)
We wrote last week about a recall of lamb products from Asda (see this post for further details).
A recall notice has now been issued for lamb products associated with the original recall, which were sold at Makro.
The products involved are
Lamb's liver Sliced av. 500g (Article number 270577) with use by date 20/10/07; 21/10/07; 23/10/07
Lamb Hearts Vac Pack per kilo (Article number 298772 ) with use by date 26/10/07
Lamb Kidney av. 500g (Article number 270646) with use by date 20/10/07; 21/10/07 23/10/07
Lamb Hearts per kilo (Article number 270559) with use by dates 21/10/07; 23/10/07
If you have any of these items at home, please return them to your nearest Makro store for a refund.
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October 24, 2007 13:08 - Recall of Game Pieces Sold with 'Cars' Backpacks (US)
Game pieces sold with "Cars" themed backpacks are being recalled because loose magnets may pose aspiration and intestinal hazards.
The backpacks, pictured below, came with four game pieces. Magnets inside these pieces can fall out - this presents a serious risk to young children, because swallowing more than one magnet can cause potentially fatal intestinal blockages or perforations. These are caused by the magnets attracting each other once swallowed.
The game pieces involved are a red plastic car, a blue plastic car and two red and black plastic disks with 'GAS', 'OIL' and 'SERVICE' printed in red letters on the black perimeter of the disks. The backpack hangtag is marked with "Warning: Choking Hazard-Small Parts. Not for children under 3 years" and printed on the front of the backpack is "Disney Presents a PIXAR film".
These backpacks were sold for around $13 at Target stores across the US from February 2007 through September 2007.
If you have these game pieces at home, please take them away from your children and contact the Cars Backpack Recall hotline toll-free at (877) 848-4070 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. ET Monday through Friday. You will be given instructions on returning the pieces and you will receive a free "Cars" wallet as a replacement, or an equivalent product.
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October 25, 2007 14:23 - Recall of Asda Lamb - Update
There has been an update to the recall of lamb issued by Asda last week. In this post we listed all the items that were being recalled, along with the relevant "Use by" dates. But now a new set of dates has been issued for the same products - so please check the list of items below with the revised dates and - if you have any of the products listed - please return them to your nearest Asda for a refund:
4814583 Bone in half lamb leg 950g.... 20, 21 and 22 October
4815332 Shoulder of lamb 1.4kg......... 20, 21 and 24 October
4815815 Halal lamb mince 500g.......... 22 October
4812917 Half bone in lamb leg C/w..... 21 and 23 October
4816039 Lamb chops 501g................. 20 and 21 October
4814422 Fresh lamb pack 2kg............ 20 and 22 October
4812847 Lamb chops x2 per pack...... 20 and 21 October
4816718 Lamb shoulder fillets............. 20 October
4814975 Halal lamb chops.................. 20 October
4810005 Bone in half shoulder lamb.... 24 October
4810033 Boneless half shoulder lamb.. 24 October
4810026 Boneless half lamb leg.......... 24 October
4812539 Lamb chops x3-4 per pack... 24 October
4810138 Lamb chops x8-10 per pack.. 24 October
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October 25, 2007 14:30 - Recall of Elmo-Shaped Bean Bags (Australia)
Elmo-shaped bean bags, that were sold in Kmart stores between 10 September 2007 and 15 October 2007, are being recalled because the warning label is not securely attached to the product. This means that it does not comply with safety standards.
Please note that ONLY products sold in Kmart are affected by this recall.
If you have one of these bean bags, which have a product number of 9335603001927, please return it to your local Kmart for a full refund.
If you need more information, please call Slumber Trek on 03 9899 0555, email them at contact@slumbertrek.com.au ,or write to: PO Box 205, Surrey Hills, Vic, 3127.
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October 25, 2007 14:38 - Fabulous Fish Nuggets (8 months+)
Today we have a really tasty and nutritious finger food recipe for you, using fish and veggies!
Always take great care when preparing fish for your baby - even 'boneless' fish fillets may contain small bones, so it's a good idea to check for them both before AND after cooking.
Here's what you'll need
8oz (1 cup) cooked white fish - use your baby's favourite fish and simmer in milk until it flakes with a fork 1 egg yolk 2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and grated 3oz cooked broccoli, chopped 2tbsp green onions (also known as spring onions or scallions), chopped 1tbsp vegetable oil 1tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
How to make baby's fish nuggets
Place the fish, cooked broccoli, green onion and parsley in a food processor and blend. Stir in enough of the egg yolk to bind the mixture together and leave it slightly sticky. Using your hands, divide the fish mixture into individual 'nuggets'. Blot any excess moisture from the grated sweet potato with a piece of kitchen towel, then roll the nuggets in the potato until they are completely coated. Press the nuggets gently with your hand to flatten them a little, then fry them in the vegetable oil until golden in colour and crispy.
Your older children with love these, too - and they are delicious served with homemade carrot 'fries' - just cut peeled carrots into 'sticks' (just under 1/2 inch thick), drizzle them with olive oil and bake them for around 20 mins at 390 deg F (200 deg C) until tender. Mmmm!
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October 26, 2007 09:44 - Recall of Bumbo Baby Sitter Seats
Despite warnings never to use these seats on a raised surface, Bumbo International has received 28 reports of children falling from Bumbos that were placed on tables. Three of the children injured in the falls suffered fractured skulls. This has prompted Bumbo to urge customers to contact them so that they can be issued with new, clearer warning stickers that will state:
"'WARNING' Prevent Falls; Never use on any elevated surface.' Consumers should use the Bumbo seat at ground level, but should never leave a child unattended."
Bumbo seats, pictured below, have been sold in a range of stores AND online since August 2003. The existing warning on the back of the seat advises
"Never use on a raised surface. Never use as a car seat or bath seat. Designed for floor level use only. Never leave your baby unattended as the seat is not designed to be totally restrictive and may not prevent release of your baby in the event of vigorous movement."
If you have a Bumbo seat, PLEASE heed the warning labels and contact Bumbo International for your new sticker at (877) 932-8626 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday. Alternatively, you can visit their website.
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October 26, 2007 14:21 - Another List of Toys Containing Lead
The CPSC has announced six more recalls involving children's items that contain unsafe levels of lead. We've listed the items below - if you have any of them at home, please click on the relevant link to visit the CPSC website for more details and photographs.
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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...
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