What's in this issue...

• Ceremonies for starting solids?
• Making organic baby food
• Baby's first Christmas
• New and updated pages
• Cooking barley for your baby
• Baby care "tip of the month" - Dealing with a messy eater
• Safety recalls
• Our featured product review - American Academy Of Pediatrics Guide To Your Child's Symptoms
• Visit our "website of the month"
• This month's subscribers-only recipe - Chicken and Apple Dinner

Ceremonies for starting solids?

We've recently heard about a Hindu ceremony known as Anaprashna (or Anna Prashna), which is a religious ritual associated with the introduction of solid foods.

We have subscribers from all over the world and thought it would be wonderful to hear if anyone else performs any type of ceremony in their country - or, indeed, has any more information they'd like to share with us about Anaprashna.

Alternatively, if you don't perform an official ceremony in your part of the world, just tell us what YOU did to mark your baby's special day.

Just send us your comments through our contact page and we'll feature all your stories in a future newsletter!

Making organic baby food

• Products marked 100% organic are required by law to be completely free of synthetic ingredients. Processes used in the production of these foods have to meet federal standards and are verified by independent inspectors.
  
  
• Products marked as just organic must contain at least 95% organically produced ingredients.
  
  
• The term Made With Organic Ingredients indicates that the product contains at least 70% organic ingredients and that the remainder comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's approved list.
  
  
• Labels stating that a product is all natural or simply natural do NOT indicate that the product is organic at all - in fact, this type of labelling is meaningless, as it has no legal definition. The exception is when it is used to describe meat or poultry products, in which case it means that the product is free from artificial colouring, flavouring and synthetic ingredients.
  
  
• Don't be misled by the terms free range or free roaming either - again, there is no firm definition of these terms and there is no set period of time each day that poultry must be allowed outdoor access to qualify as "free range".

The Environmental Working Group, based in Washington D.C., recommend that you should buy the organic variety of certain fruits and vegetables because they are often laden with pesticides when grown conventionally. The list - which the group have nicknamed the Dirty Dozen - comprises

• apples
• bell peppers
• potatoes
• spinach
• celery
• cherries
• nectarines
• red raspberries
• imported grapes
• strawberries
• peaches
• pears

Baby's first Christmas

It's wonderful to introduce your little one to all your family traditions... and to watch him receive his first gift and enjoy his first Christmas meal.

But remember that not all the foods that make up your Christmas dinner will be suitable for your baby. Our new Christmas baby food page is just what you need to decide what you should and shouldn't feed your baby. It includes some delicious recipes and some alternatives to the traditional foods that may be unsuitable. Plus we give you a few tips to make your baby's day both memorable and safe.

New and updated pages

Our blog page, - Baby Food News - features lots of new articles and updates this month, so don't forget to visit! Remember - there are 2 ways in which you can stay up-to-date with new posts to the blog -

• Via RSS - scroll to the bottom of the "Baby Food News" page and you'll see the orange button at the foot of the page! If you're unfamiliar with RSS, click here to read more about RSS and how it helps you stay up to date with all the latest information!

• Subscribe by e-mail. At the top of the Baby Food News blog page, you'll see an invitation to subscribe - just complete your e mail address and you will receive e-mail notifications when new posts are made!

A new look...

Just to let you know that, within the next few weeks, we'll be changing the logo at the top of our site. So don't worry if things look a little different when you come to visit - you WILL be in the right place!

Cooking barley for your baby

Please note that barley contains gluten, so should never be given as a first food or to any child under 6 months of age.

Baby care tip of the month - Dealing with a messy eater

Safety recalls

Although this product has yet to be recalled, many parents are concerned about dangers posed by the Yo-Yo Water Ball.

Over 18,000 Gund Woodles Activity Toys have been recalled because they pose a choking hazard to babies and young children.

Toys R Us have recalled around 3,000 Cars Toy Storage Benches, because of hazards from lead in the paint.

Target has recalled its Play Wonder Puzzle Tables because they pose both choking and laceration hazards to babies and young children.

Various Polly Pocket Magnetic Playsets have been recalled because the magnets can come loose and could be swallowed or inhaled.

And finally - there has been a recall of Nestle Nan 2 Ha Gold Infant Formula in Australia, following the discovery of small pieces of metal in some cans.

Our featured product review - The Montessori Parents Guide (E-Book Format, Available Worldwide)

After her son experienced difficulties within the mainstream education system, Julie was introduced to a Montessori school. In her book, she describes the huge benefits her son received from this alternative approach to his education... and how she has since gone on to enrol all her children in Montessori schools.

The Montessori method originated with Dr. Maria Montessori, who - in the early 1900's - scientifically studied children who were allowed to take part in their own choice of activities in a well-ordered environment. She found that they demonstrated self-discipline, good concentration, liked a sense of "order" and were very interested in intellectual pursuits.

Modern Montessori methods now aim to control the child's environment, but not the child himself - giving his true nature room to develop.

Montessori methods can also be applied to home-schooling and cater to children of all ages, including infants.

If you're considering the different educational options available to YOUR little one, or if you've been looking for a parent's perspective of Montessori, then you will find the Montessori Parents Guide a very useful resource.

Website Of The Month - Natural Birth and Baby Care

The site is packed with useful information, covering subjects including

• preconception
• pregnancy
• natural birth and homebirth (including visitors stories)
• breastfeeding
• cloth diapering

The site is friendly, engaging and clearly laid out - and is an excellent resource for all parents, parents-to-be... or those still at the "family planning" stage!

This month's subscribers-only recipe - Chicken and Apple Dinner

You will need

A little olive oil
1 boneless, skinless chicken breast
1/2 sweet apple, peeled, cored and sliced very thinly
1/2 garlic clove, crushed
tiny pinch freshly ground black pepper
tiny pinch cinnamon
tiny pinch nutmeg
1/2 tsp dried tarragon (optional)

Method

Cut the chicken into thin strips.
Heat the olive oil in a frying pan/skillet and cook chicken over a medium heat for a few minutes.
Slowly stir in the apple slices and continue to cook for around 10-15 mins, until the chicken is cooked and the apples are tender.
Stir in the remaining ingredients, then chop or puree as necessary.
Serve with brown rice.

Remember, this recipe - along with many others on our site - is not only suitable for baby. By increasing the quantities, you can create a really tasty dish for the whole family!