Baby Food Recipes, News and Information

ADD TO YOUR SOCIAL BOOKMARKS:
Blink Del.icio.us Digg
Furl Google Simpy Spurl Technorati Y! MyWeb

If you're in the UK, please be aware that Rank Hovis is recalling some of its flour because it may contain pieces of metal.

The packs involved all have lot codes ending with the letter H and beginning with the first three numbers - 025, 026, 027, 028, 029, 030 or 031. The products being recalled are

• Elephant Atta White (10kg and 25kg)
• Elephant Atta Brown (25kg)
• Elephant Atta Med H (10kg, 12.5kg and 25kg)
• Elephant Atta Wholemeal (10kg and 25kg)
• Fassal Chapatti Light (25kg)
• Goldcrest SP (16kg)

No other batch codes or Rank Hovis products are affected.

If you have bought any of the affected products, you are advised to dispose of the flour, but keep the packaging. You should then contact Rank Hovis Customer service dept on Freephone - 0800 1692092 to arrange for a refund.

To reference this entry please copy the url in this link: (Permalink)

February 6, 2008 14:34 - Recall of Seedless Dried Apricots (UK)

East End Foods 'Dried Apricots Seedless' (300g) are being recalled because they contain sulphur dioxide, which is not listed on the labelling.

Sulphur dioxide causes reactions in some people and increases the risk of attacks for people with asthma.

All date codes and batches of this product are involved in the recall.

We haven't been able to establish what action customers are required to take if they have these products at home - but we suggest you contact the store you bought them from for more information.

To reference this entry please copy the url in this link: (Permalink)

February 6, 2008 16:04 - Why Your Baby's Toiletries May Be Harmful

A new study published in the medical journal 'Pediatrics' has shown that babies are being put at risk by the use of products like baby shampoo, baby lotion and powder, which contain substances called phthalates.

Phthalates are chemicals used in many fragrances and also in plastics. Whilst researchers of this latest report point out that "...the potential effects on babies were uncertain", past studies have suggested that phthalates can damage the reproductive system (especially in boys) and may also damage other organs, including the liver, kidneys and lungs.

The report makes frightening reading - and its authors have gone as far as to advise parents NOT to use lotions and powders on their babies unless recommended by a doctor. This advice did not include avoiding diaper (nappy) cream and baby wipes, which did not seem to be linked to high phthalate levels in babies.

Avoiding phthalates in baby care products is not easy. In the US, they are not listed as ingredients on labels, so it's impossible to know which ones contain them.

There are, however, some sites that offer 'phthalate free baby care products'. This site, based in the US, offers some nice, phthalate free items for your little one, as does the Little Sprout site, which has products available in both the US and the UK.

These items are, of course, more costly than regular baby care products - so another option is to make your own! The 'Homemade Baby Guide' is an excellent resource for parents concerned about phthalates, with a great range of recipes for everything from Talc-free powder to Oatmeal Body Lotion.

If you'd like to learn more about the phthalates article published in 'Pediatrics', please see this report.

To reference this entry please copy the url in this link: (Permalink)

February 6, 2008 21:12 - Sippy Cup... Or Egg Cup?

Although many of us have come to think of the sippy cup as an essential part of the transition from a bottle or the breast to a 'real' cup, sippy cups are actually a relatively new invention. Previous generations of parents managed quite well without sippy cups - and some parents today prefer to avoid them either due to reasons of hygiene, or simply to prevent baby moving from one 'addiction' to another!

We have a couple of suggestions for alternatives to the sippy cup on our site - and one of them is using a shot glass, which is just the right size for little hands.

Lynne from Australia, however, was concerned that shot glasses may not be safe (although we do, of couse, recommend STRICT supervision - we certainly don't suggest leaving your baby alone with a shot glass at any time!). But Lynne came up with a great alternative, telling us... "We were recommended a plastic egg cup to use as a first cup. We have been using it and it is great - and when Bub gets his hands on it, it's safe!"

We think this is a great suggestion and have included it on our 'sippy cup' page!

If YOU are thinking about introducing a sippy - or regular cup - to your baby, then come and check out our tips and advice here.

To reference this entry please copy the url in this link: (Permalink)

February 7, 2008 15:06 - Recall of Children's Sketch Books (US)

A variety of eeBoo sketch books are being recalled because paint used on the colored spiral metal bindings is too high in lead.

For further details of this recall, including images of all the items involved, please visit the CPSC website.

To reference this entry please copy the url in this link: (Permalink)

February 7, 2008 16:11 - Calling Mommies in Kuala Lumpur

One of our visitors from the US is travelling to Kuala Lumpur for a month in June and has some questions about the availability of baby food in that part of the world!

If you live in Kuala Lumpur and think you might be able to help, please visit this page to read the questions.

If you are concerned about replying to Tanya directly, you can either click here and leave a message in the 'comments' box (Tanya will be notified that there has been a response) - or you can send your answer using our contact form and we'd be happy to pass it on.

Thank you Mommies!

To reference this entry please copy the url in this link: (Permalink)

February 8, 2008 14:30 - Recall of Toy Egg Shakers (US)

Transparent Toy Egg Shakers are being recalled by the West Music Company because they pose a choking hazard. The toys contain small beads and there is a risk that the end cap can come off the egg shaker, causing these beads to spill out.

The eggs (pictured below) were sold from October 2006 through December 2007 for around $2 at West Music stores in Iowa and Illinois, the West Music catalog, www.westmusic.com and at West Music exhibit booths across the US.

The toys are made of clear plastic, with beads inside of either green, red, dark blue, white or aqua. On the side of the label attached to the plastic bag packaging are the model numbers BB5102 and 202212 - and printed on the label are 'Basic Beat' and 'Jumbo Egg Crystal'.

Please take these toys away from your children if they have them and contact West Music at (800) 397-9378 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. CT Monday through Friday for a replacement. Alternatively, you can e-mail them at rcousins@westmusic.com.

Source: http://www.cpsc.gov

To reference this entry please copy the url in this link: (Permalink)

February 8, 2008 17:10 - New Recipe - A Creamy Chicken Treat

If your little one objects to the texture of meat in your baby food recipes, then the latest addition to our 'Chicken Baby Food Recipes' page may be a good dish for him to try!

We often found with our babies that the easiest way to introduce meat into their diets was to serve them in some kind of sauce. This seemed to make the strange new texture a little easier to handle.

Our new recipe for Chicken in a Creamy Bread Sauce really fits the bill! Not only is it nice and tasty, it can also be served cold - making it a great dish for travelling.

To reference this entry please copy the url in this link: (Permalink)

February 9, 2008 22:10 - Great Bowl That Keeps Baby's Food Cold When You're Out and About

We asked you to tell us about your favorite baby care products - and today Jennifer from Hollywood, Florida, sent us her review of the Fit and Fresh Breakfast Chiller. She's found this to be the perfect bowl for keeping her daughter's food cold when she's out and about - and you can read her review of the Fit and Fresh Breakfast Chiller here.

Don't forget...

The best baby product review each month will win a fantastic prize - that means someone HAS to win this adorable Crib and Floor Mirror by Leapfrog by the end of February!

So which baby care item makes YOUR life a little easier? Which toy does your little one love above all others?

Click here to share your baby product review!

You have nothing to lose - and there's a good chance that it could be YOUR little one admiring himself in the mirror very soon, courtesy of Mom!

To reference this entry please copy the url in this link: (Permalink)