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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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February 25, 2008 15:49 - Baby Food Recall Was a Week Overdue
Having a baby food item recalled because it may be rancid is bad enough - but for someone to be aware the food is rancid a FULL WEEK before an official recall is issued is unacceptable.
Yet, according to this report that was brought to our attention today, that's exactly what happened when Canadian baby food company My Organic Baby recalled some of its cereal products at the end of January.
As we reported on our blog at the time, the products were withdrawn because a problem with the packaging caused the food to deteriorate, giving it an 'off' (or rancid) taste. Yet the company had apparently received results of tests confirming the products were rancid over a week before they were officially withdrawn. In the interim, several babies became sick, seemingly as a result of consuming these products.
According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, this procedure is the norm and - even though a company may ask stores to stop selling a particular product - a full recall isn't usually issued until the scope of the problem is assessed.
This is disturbing news for parents of infants - the tiny digestive system of a baby is so vulnerable to foods that may be tainted in some way. As was mentioned in the report, babies don't have the ability to tell us if something doesn't taste quite right - and it's heartbreaking to think that we may have been encouraging our little ones to 'eat up' when they were refusing a food simply because it tasted awful!
We really feel that news of this problem should have been relayed to parents immediately - before other babies were unwittingly fed this product.
Yet the one silver lining to this cloud is that maybe MORE parents will turn towards making their own baby food... where quality - AND freshness - are assured!
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February 25, 2008 16:01 - Should I Cook Avocado for my Baby?
Tatum from Bristol in the UK wrote and asked us if it is necessary to cook avocado to make baby food.
And the answer is - happily - no! In fact, the ease of preparation is just one of the factors that make avocados such a wonderful food for baby (and Mum!). All you need to do is halve the fruit, remove the pit... and you're good to go - it even comes in its own bowl!
Cooking avocado is actually NOT recommended at all, as it tends to make the fruit taste bitter. If you DO wish to add avocado to a hot meal, then throw it in at the last moment, so that it is merely warmed through rather than cooked.
Our Avocado Baby Food section contains lots more information about the amazing avocado, including preparation tips, nutrition information and - of course - lots of yummy recipes...
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February 25, 2008 16:07 - The Ideal Stroller for Tall Moms (and Dads!)
We had an interesting review submitted yesterday to our Baby Product Reviews section by Patty from Milwaukee, USA.
Now, if you're of average height, then the importance of an adjustable stroller handle may never have occured to you - yet, if you're like Patty and particularly tall, then it's a very important consideration indeed! A stroller is something you use every day for quite some time, so finding one that allows you to walk comfortably with your baby is essential.
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February 26, 2008 13:22 - Infant Reflux and Solid Foods
If you've ever experienced any degree of acid reflux as an adult, then you'll appreciate just how distressing it must be for a baby. And, of course, anything that's distressing for baby is equally upsetting for Mummy and Daddy, too.
So parents of refluxers understandably approach the introduction of solid foods to their babies with a great deal of trepidation. After all, it tends to be at around this stage that many babies with reflux just start to 'settle down' a little. The thought of upsetting the apple-cart again by switching the source of nutrition from liquids to solids is a very scary one.
Whilst babies with reflux may react differently from each other to different types of foods, there are certain foods that refluxers everywhere will find problematic.
To find out more about the types and textures of foods most likely to trigger reflux - and for tips to help a baby with GERD move as smoothly as possible on to solid foods, visit our Guide to Introducing Solid Foods to a Baby With Reflux
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February 27, 2008 11:12 - No More Burnt Arms!
If you're like me - and your arms often bear the stripes of accidental encounters with the hot shelves in your oven - then you'll be pleased to discover that someone has invented a solution!
One Step Ahead's Oven Rack Guards are two ingenious strips of a fabric called 'NOMEX', that snap securely on to the front of your oven shelves. NOMEX is a flame retardent material that was originally made for firefighters - so you know it's got to be effective! - and it can actually protect your delicate forearms from temperatures up to 500 deg F!
What's more, you can leave the guards on between uses and - when they're dirty - you can just pop them in the washing machine (just make sure you dry them flat).
It's no surprise that these guards were invented by a parent (all the best ideas are!) - and THIS parent is happy to report that they work like a dream!
Packs of two Oven Rack Guards are available online from One Step Ahead (US).
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February 28, 2008 09:20 - Poundland Baby Rattle and Learn Toys Recalled (UK)
Funtastic Baby Rattle And Learn Toys sold at Poundland are being recalled because safety checks have shown that some of these toys may have detachable balls. These clearly present a choking hazard to babies and small children.
If you have these toys, which have a barcode of 5025066403799 and an item number of 40379, please return them to your nearest Poundland for a full refund.
If you have any questions, please contact Poundland's customer service team on 0800 731 5622 between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday.
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February 28, 2008 21:27 - Readers' Recipes - Competition Winner
It's the end of the month - and that means we have a winner in our Baby Food Recipes Competition!
If you're a new subscriber to our blog, you may not realize that we run a competition where we invite our visitors to submit their OWN, original baby food recipes. The competition has been a wonderful success and we now have a page packed with delicious recipes created by our readers, using a range of interesting and healthy ingredients.
The winning entry each month wins a $20 Amazon voucher (or local equivalent) - what's more, this competition is open to visitors worldwide and you can enter as many times as you like!
This month's winner was Aysha from the US, with her simple but tasty recipe for Single Serving Fruit Porridge Smoothie - and be sure to read on and try Nancy's recipe for Cheesy Potatoes and Maria's idea for making a delicious Avocado Houmous!
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February 29, 2008 14:14 - Crib Recall by Munire Furniture (US)
Majestic Curved Top and Flat Top Cribs, Essex Cribs, Brighton/Sussex Cribs and Captiva Cribs are all being recalled because they do not meet federal safety standards.
The cribs have four support brackets on the mattress support spring, but these are too long. They stop the spring from lowering to the minimum height of 26 inches in its lowest position, which means that a child inside could crawl over the railing and fall from the crib.
Fortunately, no children have been harmed as a result of this fault.
The recalled wooden cribs are
Majestic Curved Top cribs with model number 9500
Majestic Flat Top cribs with model number 9000
Essex cribs with model number 7100
Brighton/Sussex cribs with model number 9100
Captiva cribs with model number 5100
You can find the model number on the white label on the bottom inside of the right side rail.
The only cribs involved in this recall are those with manufacture dates between November 1, 2005 and November 1, 2007. You can find the date of manufacture either on the white label (near the model number) or on another white label on the bottom of the headboard.
If your crib has a green sticker on the mattress frame, it is NOT included in this recall.
If you have one of the recalled cribs, please contact Munire Furniture Inc. at (866) 586-9639 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET to receive replacement spring brackets. Alternatively, you can visit their website.
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February 29, 2008 15:24 - Win a Portable Highchair
If you like to get out and about with your baby - or if you don't have a lot of space at home for a full size highchair - then the 'Safety First Grow With Me Portable Booster Seat' is just what you need!
And this month you can win one... courtesy of Homemade Baby Food Recipes!
To be in with a chance of winning this great prize, we want you to tell us all about your favorite baby care item! Have you discovered the perfect, easy-to-use sippy cup that never leaks... the ultimate toy that will keep your little one occupied for ages... maybe a portable crib that's easy to use and practical to carry?
Then share your dicovery - just visit our Baby Product Reviews section and tell us all about that 'must have' item using the simple form at the foot of the page.
We've just chosen February's winning review, for the Peg Perego Stroller Aria, which came from Cristina Zapa, Miami, Florida. She wins a 'Leapfrog Rhyming Reflections Crib and Floor Mirror' for her little one... congratulations, Cristina - we hope your daughter has lots of fun with her new toy!
Would you like YOUR baby to be the Homemade Baby Food Recipes 'Baby of the Month'?
Then scroll down to the bottom of the winners' page, where you'll find the entry form and details about how to send in your little one's photograph.
Alternatively, you may like to visit our Baby Food Blogs section - the perfect place to show off your baby to the world!
You can either set up a full blog (where you keep us updated with your baby's news) or a simple 'one-off' page where other Mums can read about your little one and his progress in the world of solid foods!
You'll find lots of stories from parents around the world - it's always interesting to discover what other babies are eating!
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March 2, 2008 15:44 - Baby Egg Custard Recipe with Strawberry and Banana Puree
Here's a recipe for a creamy egg custard, served with a delicious fruity puree - a special treat for baby that the rest of the family will enjoy, too (the quantities given here are just for one serving, so please multiply them accordingly for other family members!).
IMPORTANT NOTE: This recipe contains honey and is, therefore, suitable for babies over one year of age. You should NOT give honey to babies before their first birthday due to the risk of botulism (see this post for more information).
For this baby egg custard recipe you will need...
4 fl oz (1/2 cup) double cream / heavy cream 1 fl oz (1/8 cup) whole milk the yolks of 2 small eggs 1 tbsp honey (see note above) 1/2 small ripe banana, peeled and sliced 2 very ripe, large strawberries, sliced
Preheat the oven to 325 deg F (160 deg C). Pour the cream and milk into a saucepan and heat until boiling (taking care that it doesn't boil over). Remove from the heat and set aside. In a small bowl, beat together the egg yolks and half the honey. Pour them into the milk/cream mixture. Pour the rest of the honey into a non-stick ramekin, timbale mould or dariole mould, then pour in the custard. Put the mould into a high-sided baking tray (I use a cake tin if I'm only making one), then pour in water until it comes halfway up the side of the mould. Bake in the oven for around 45 mins to 1 hour - the custard is ready once it has set. Remove the mould from the tray and sit it in a tray of cold water to cool it down. Then chill it in the refrigerator. Just before serving, place the banana and strawberries into a food processor and blend until smooth. Turn the custard out into baby's serving bowl, then top with the puree. Mmmmmm...!
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