Baby Food Recipes, News and Information

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Here's a delicious recipe to start the week, combining fish with a simple tomato sauce.

This would make a tasty meal for babies from around 7 months of age - and it can be adapted to suit your baby's needs! For example, if your little one prefers to feed himself, then try removing the fish bites from the sauce once cooked and serving them as a finger food, with the sauce on the side for dipping. Alternatively, you can mash the ingredients together for spoon feeding - or even puree them if your baby objects to texture.

Please note: This recipe contains tomatoes, the acidity of which may cause nappy/diaper rash in babies. Some parents prefer to wait until later in their babies' first year before introducing tomatoes.

Here's what you'll need...

8oz (1cup) white fish fillet
2tbsp fresh, whole wheat bread crumbs (you can make these by tearing up slices of whole wheat bread,then blitzing them in a food processor)
1tbsp fresh chives, chopped
8oz (1 cup) chopped tomatoes (you can use canned tomatoes if you prefer, which are rich in valuable lycopenes)
1 small courgette (zucchini), diced
2oz grated cheddar cheese (optional)

Remove the skin from the fish and check (then double check) that it is completely boneless.
Cut it into chunks, then put them in a blender.
Add the breadcrumbs and chives to the blender.
Process the mixture until the fish is well chopped (but NOT pureed).
With your hands, divide the mixture into 8-10 portions, then roll them into balls.
Put the tomatoes into a small saucepan and add the diced courgette (zucchini). Bring to the boil over a medium heat.
Add the fish bites, lower the heat, then cover and simmer for 10 mins.
Serve, topped with the grated cheese.

If your baby enjoys this fishy feast, then check out more fish recipes here.

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January 7, 2008 14:52 - New Research Says Delaying Solids Doesn't Prevent Allergies

When it comes to food and nutrition, it seems that the rules are always changing. New research continues to cast doubts on previously held beliefs - and the guidelines for feeding babies are often revised as a result.

Making medical headlines today is a new report that says that delaying the introduction of solid foods may NOT prevent food allergies.

Up to now, organizations such as the WHO and the American Academy of Pediatrics have recommended that parents delay solids in order to prevent the development of allergies like asthma, allergic rhinitis, and eczema. But researchers in Germany at the GSF-National Research Center for Environment and Health in Neuherberg, found "...no evidence to recommend a delayed introduction of solids beyond 4 or 6 months for the prevention of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and food or inhalant sensitization at the age of 6 years".

During studies, the research team - led by Dr. Anne Zutavern - reviewed 2,073 children who had complete records and had been followed up over a 6 year period. They noted that those children who received no solid food before 4 to 6 months of age did NOT have a lower risk of sensitization to food allergens, nasal allergies or asthma.

One interesting point, however, was that delaying solids DID seem to prevent the development of eczema. Researchers found that children with no sign of skin or allergy symptoms in their first 6 months were more likely to develop eczema in later life if they were given solids before 4 months of age.

So is is it safe to introduce solid foods early?

Even though doubts may have been cast over the effectiveness of delaying solids to prevent allergies, there are still other good reasons why introducing solids early is NOT recommended.

Breast milk or formula contain all the nutrients your baby needs for the first six months of life. By introducing solids too early, there is the risk that they will 'replace' milk - and that your baby will demand less than he actually needs.

The early introduction of solids is also believed to contribute to obesity, because it causes infants to consume a greater number of calories than necessary.

And, of course, the stage of baby's development is key to safely introducing solid foods. All sorts of problems - from constipation to digestive discomfort - can result from giving solids to a baby whose digestive system is immature. Parents who wait until their babies are at least 6 months of age before getting started with 'real' food often experience less of these types of problems. Also, the 'tongue thrust' reflex has diminished - babies too young for solids often end up pushing everything out that you've pushed in!

Babies should also be sitting well before moving on from their 'liquid diet'. This ensures that they are able to swallow food easily and reduces the risk of choking.

Given the list of benefits (including the possible prevention of the development of eczema) - there are still plenty of reasons to wait until your baby is around the 6 month mark before introducing them to the world of solid foods!

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January 8, 2008 14:50 - Recall of Morrison's Own Brand Yogurt (UK)

Morrisons is recalling its own-brand 'Low Fat Summerfruit Yoghurts' (125g) , which are sold in packs of four. Although these products are marked as 'Low Fat Summerfruit Yoghurts', the pots actually contain Low Fat Dessert Style Yoghurts. This means that they contain egg and gluten, which is not stated on the label.

The recalled products have a 'Use by' date of 17 January 2008.

If you have these items at home, please return them to your nearest Morrison's store for a full refund.

Source: http://www.food.gov.uk

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January 9, 2008 15:40 - Restrain That Wriggling Baby!

Getting out and about with your baby is always lots of fun - and we've found an excellent product that makes it easy to secure your baby into seats, grocery carts or strollers when you're 'on the go'!

The Sit 'n Secure is a very lightweight 'restraint' that fastens quickly and easily with Velcro tabs. It works with many types of seats - so it's just what you need if you're going to a restaurant and you're unsure about the availability (or cleanliness!) of highchairs!

It's also handy if your visiting childless friends or relatives, who may not have the facilities your baby needs - you can just place him in the Sit 'n Secure and quickly attach it to a regular chair!

The Velcro is very strong and the Sit 'n Secure is designed to gently support the hip and chest, meaning that your baby is help in a safe sitting position.

Of course, this handy accessory isn't limited to use in restaurants - it's a really handy restraint for strollers, or even shopping carts (ideal if the safety straps in the carts you use are inadequate!).

And the two BEST things about the Sit 'n Secure?

• In our opinion, the portability makes this a 'Must Have' accessory for baby - it folds to a very compact size, so you can just tuck it in your diaper bag or purse and take it everywhere you go!

• The price... at only $12.95, it won't break the bank - and, because it's suitable for babies from 6 months to 2 years, it will give you plenty of service!

The Sit 'n Secure is available in the US and Canada from one of our favorite online retailers - One Step Ahead!

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January 10, 2008 14:28 - Recall of Woolworths Chad Valley Wooden Construction Train (UK)

Woolworths Chad Valley Wooden Construction Trains are being recalled because the orange surfaces on some blocks may contain excessive levels of lead.

The products involved have a batch number of S/N:0727 - you can find this number on the bottom of the retail packaging, above the barcode. No other batches are affected.

If you have thrown the packaging away, take a look at the painted character on the train's front carriage. If the character is a dog, your train is not affected - but if it is a cat, then the train IS involved.

Please stop using trains affected by this recall immediately and return them to your local store, for either an exchange or a full refund.

If you need more information, please call Woolworths Customer Support on 0844 811 7112 from 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 5pm on Saturday.

Source: http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk

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January 10, 2008 14:52 - Basic Parsnip and Carrot Puree

If you haven't yet included parsnips in your baby's menu, then he's really in for a treat with this delicious pasrnip and carrot puree recipe.

Parsnips look like creamy coloured carrots, but actually remind me a little of bananas in flavour! They contain lots of nutrients for your baby (including vitamin C, vitamin K, magnesium, folates and potassium) and puree to a lovely creamy texture.

Avoid using very large parsnips when cooking for your baby, as these will contain a larger 'core', which can sometimes be a bit stringy. If you do need to use a large parsnip, then the best option is to cut out the core altogether.

Make sure that you have introduced the parsnip or carrot separately before combining them in this recipe, which will help you identify if either vegetable causes any kind of allergic reaction or digestive problem in your baby. The same applies to the nutmeg - if you'd like to include it, ensure that your baby is safely enjoying the vegetables first!

For baby's parsnip and carrot puree you will need...

1 medium carrot
1 medium parsnip
tiny pinch of nutmeg (optional)

Peel the carrot and parsnip, then dice.
Simmer in a little water until tender.
Drain (reserving the cooking liquid), then puree in a food processor, adding a little of the cooking water if you'd like a thinner texture.
Stir in the nutmeg and serve!

Variations

For a more robust meal, you can also add peeled, diced potatoes to the cooking pot.

If you're having difficulty getting your baby to eat vegetables, then we have two great tips to help them enjoy this meal...

• Cook the carrots and vegetables in chicken or beef broth (stock) to add a tasty twist

• Try cooking and pureeing the carrot and parsnip separately, then putting the two mixtures into separate sandwich bags. Next, snip a hole in the corner of each bag and 'pipe' the purees into your baby's feeding dish, creating alternating swirls of colour! Don't, of course, go to all this trouble for younger babies who simply won't appreciate your efforts - but older babies will find this visually appealing and may feel tempted to give veggies another try!

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January 11, 2008 13:40 - Recall of Fish Coin Banks (US)

Fish Coin Banks, which are made of plaster shaped like a fish (a bit like Nemo) are being recalled because thier surface paints are too high in lead.

The coin banks (pictured below) were given as free gifts to members of Coastal Federal Credit Union in North Carolina, from February 2006 through September 2007.

If you have one of these items at home, please take it back to wherever you received it from and you will be given a free replacement as soon as possible.

If you need more information, please contact T J Promotions toll-free at (866) 742-2493 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday. Alternatively, you can visit their website.

Source: http://www.cpsc.gov

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January 11, 2008 14:25 - Recall of BabyTown Pacifiers (US)

'BabyTown' Pacifiers, which were sold at Dollar Stores nationwide, are being recalled because they present several hazards to babies.

The shield on the pacifier is too small, meaning that it could fit into a baby's mouth. The ventilation holes are too small and the positioning of them would make it impossible to insert a tool to retrieve the pacifier if it became lodged in a child's mouth. Also, the packaging does not display a mandatory warning NOT to tie the pacifier around a baby's neck.

Fortunately, no injuries have been reported - but we'd recommend avoiding 'bargain' pacifiers like these, as we're aware of several recalls last year where cheap pacifiers posed serious hazards to babies!

The pacifiers involved in THIS recall were sold in a pack of 4, with assorted colours, from March 2004 through December 2007. 'BabyTown' and model #39864 appear on the product’s packaging.

If your little one is using one of these pacifiers, please take it away and return it to the store you bought it from for a refund.

If you need more details, please contact Shims Bargain toll-free at (866) 540–3334 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday.

Source: http://www.cpsc.gov

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January 12, 2008 15:48 - How to Cook Lentils For Your Baby

These little legumes are packed with goodness and play an important role in nutrition across the world.

Including lentils in your baby's diet is very easy - they're such a versatile food that they blend effortlessly with your little one's favourite veggies and add valuable nutritive benefits.

So just HOW do you cook lentils for your baby? Which are the best varieties to use... and will lentils give your baby gas?

These questions - and more - answered here

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