What's in this issue...

• Would you know what to do if your baby was choking?
• How to say "no" nicely - dealing with unwanted baby care advice
• Why does my baby's skin look orange?
• New and updated pages
• Cooking swede for your baby
• Baby care "tip of the month" - make your own board books
• Safety recalls - Similac formula and the Team Talkin' Tool Bench
• Our featured product review - the Kidsmart Vocal Smoke Alarm
• Visit our "website of the month"
• This month's subscribers-only recipe - Creamy Vegetarian Dinner

Would you know what to do if your baby was choking?

You can minimise this risk greatly by making sure that the foods you give your baby are suitable for his stage of development. For much of the first year, baby's food should be "gummable" - this means that it should be easy for him to break down in his mouth - our baby finger foods page has some great suggestions on foods to try and our foods to avoid page includes a list of foods that present a choking hazard.

But even though we do all we can to keep this risk to a minimum, it's still very important to be prepared - and to have the skills to deal with a choking situation both calmly and effectively.

Visit our recent blog update for links to first aid resources and CPR training courses in your local area.

How to say "no" nicely - dealing with unwanted baby care advice

Why does my baby's skin look orange?

Well, it's probably his love of vegetables that's giving him this startling, but harmless, "glow"!

Many vegetables contain beta-carotene, which your baby's body converts into vitamin A. While too much vitamin A may be harmful, your baby only converts the amount that he actually needs. The remainder - which is orange in colour - is deposited in your baby's skin and gives him a sun-kissed look. Many parents find that the colour is more pronounced around baby's nose.

As your baby begins to eat a wider variety of different foods, his colour will gradually return to normal.

Fruits and vegetables containing beta carotene are noticeably yellow or orange in colour and include carrots, peaches and sweet potatoes - but, surprisingly, it is contained in dark green vegetables too!

If the whites of your baby's eyes are yellow, it is important to seek medical advice, as this can be a sign of jaundice.

New and updated pages

How much should my baby be eating? - is a question we are frequently asked. This new page looks at the problems of trying to adhere to rigid infant feeding guidelines... and shows, instead, how to follow your baby's cues to decide how much food he needs.

Our guide to successfully introducing solid foods to a baby with reflux offers some simple tips to help you through this transition. Starting solids can be a worrying time for many parents, particularly if your baby is only just managing to cope well with breastmilk or formula. In addition to advice on minimising problems, this page also provides links to some excellent resources for parents dealing with this problem.

We have a great new recipe for applesauce muffins on our finger food recipes page - if your baby is too young for them, you might even like to make them for yourself ! (Go on - you deserve a treat!)

And if you're planning on taking a trip to somewhere sunny with your little one, don't forget to visit our guide to baby beach tents - we've just found a great new model from One Step Ahead!

Cooking swede for your baby

It is also a very versatile vegetable and can be cooked in a variety of ways.

Visit our Cooking With Swede page to discover more about swede and to try our new, nutritous recipe which blends swede with other vegetables to create a puree for younger babies... or an excellent dip for older ones!

Baby care "tip of the month" - make your own board books

Making your own books is not only a great money saving idea, but also gives your baby's books a wonderful, personal touch that money can't buy!

• Take a long strip of very heavy, good quality cardboard or poster board (a good art shop will have what you need).

• Fold the strip of card back and forth - like a concertina - into equal sections. Round off any sharp edges with a pair of scissors and use a ruler to deepen the creases between each section.

• Stick a family photograph on to each "page" of your book, both on the back AND the front.

• Cover the photos with clear, adhesive film - or stick the photos to the board BEFORE you fold it and have the entire board laminated.

Do you have any great baby care tips you'd like to share? Then please contact us - we'd love to hear from you!

Safety recalls - Similac formula and Playskool's Team Talkin' Tool Bench

Hasbro has recalled the Playskool Team Talkin' Tool Bench following the deaths of 2 children who choked on the over-sized nails that are included with the toy.

Our featured product review - the Kidsmart Vocal Smoke Alarm (US Only)

A report this week from the American Academy of Pediatrics highlighted how children are much more likely to wake to the sound of their parent's voice, rather than that of a traditional alarm.

In their study, they tried to wake 24 children from a deep sleep with two different smoke alarms, both loud. Twenty three of the children woke to the alarm using a parent's voice, but only fourteen woke to the sound of the regular siren.

These results are certainly impressive and we like the idea of being able to record a message which gives our children clear instructions on what they need to do.

The Kidsmart Vocal Smoke Alarm alternates the voice alarm with the siren for extra security and is currently on sale at Stacks and Stacks for $48.99 (previously $69.99).

Website Of The Month - the Massachusetts Children's Fund

Dan comes from a loving family who provide foster care for babies while the DSS determines their future. Last year, his mother visited one of these babies at a shelter in Worcester County. There, she discovered that the only foods supplied for babies at these shelters are formula and dried baby food. Many parents were feeding their infants mashed "junk" food.

Dan was horrified by this and, with the help of his family, set up the charity, whose eventual aim is to provide shelters throughout the state with nutritious baby food.

So far, Dan's efforts have raised over $7,000 and word is spreading fast. Food drives are being held and Dan plans to continue his efforts on a larger scale from University next year.

To learn more about this project, or to make an offer of help (donations of unwanted baby supplies would be gratefully accepted), please visit the website of this remarkable and responsible young man.

This month's subscribers-only recipe - Creamy Vegetarian Dinner

YOU WILL NEED

6oz peas (fresh, if available)
1tbsp olive oil
1tsp butter
1 small carrot, peeled and cubed
1 small garlic clove, crushed
pinch marjoram
pinch thyme
pinch freshly ground black pepper
1tsp flour
2 fl oz cream

Boil the peas until tender, then drain and set aside.
Heat the olive oil in a frying pan and add the carrots, garlic, marjoram, thyme and pepper.
Cover and cook gently over a low heat, stirring occasionally, for around 15 mins or until the carrots are tender.
In a separate pan, melt 1sp butter.
Stir in the flour and continue to stir for 1 minute.
Add the cream slowly, stirring continuously, until the mixture is smooth and beginning to bubble.
Remove from the heat, stir in the peas and seasoned carrots and serve to baby - if necessary you can gently mash the food with a fork to create a smoother texture.

NOTE: This recipe calls for a small amount of cream, which should be avoided under one year of age if there is a family history of dairy allergy. Otherwise, it is acceptable to use small amounts of dairy products when cooking for your baby - see our introducing dairy page for more information.