Issue #022
6 May 2008

What's in this issue...

• The New and Improved Homemade Baby Food Recipes Blog
• Know Your Oats
• Visit our New Pages
• Competition Corner
• Homemade Yogurt - A Reader's Tip
• Tip of the Month
• Safety Recalls
• Our Featured Product Review
• Visit Our "Website of the Month"
• This Month's Recipe - Very Veggie Puree With Oats

SPECIAL NOTE

We've had some reports that visitors have been unable to click on some of our links. Unfortunately, this is because some e-mail clients do not allow certain links to be clickable and is beyond our control. If this happens to you - and you can see the link - try copying and pasting it into your browser. If you can't see the link, then try forwarding the newsletter to a different e-mail address.

If you have any problems, please let us know and we'll do our best to help.

The New and Improved Homemade Baby Food Recipes Blog

Well, isn't that typical?

Last month we told you all about how to subscribe to our blog to receive regular updates and new recipes... and within days of sending out our newsletter, a glitch hit our system and caused problems with our blog software (don't you just LOVE technology?).

So, without delay, we set up a brand NEW blog... and you'll be so glad we did!

The new Homemade Baby Food Recipes Blog has loads of new features to make it easier to find the information you need... from a clearly laid out list of categories to a handy 'tag' cloud that includes words related to posts on the blog (for example, click 'applesauce' and every applesauce-related post will appear!).

You can easily contribute your own thoughts about individual posts by leaving your comments... and we hope that you'll do so. We appreciate and value all contributions from our visitors and, in turn, it's nice to read comments made by other parents going through the same ups and downs of introducing solids as you!

You can subscribe to our new blog via e-mail or RSS - all the buttons you need are on the right hand side of the blog page.

All the information from our old blog is still accessible at the same link as before and we will not be deleting these posts.

But, as from mid-April, all our new articles, tips and recipes will be added to our NEW blog - so please do head over there now and take a look around!

Know Your Oats!

There was once a time when buying oats didn't exactly involve a great deal of thought! Oats were oats - and there was little in the way of variety available.

These days, however, there are HEAPS of different oat products to choose from - so this month we decided to take a look at what's available and the benefits of including oats in your baby's diet.

Oats - usually known as oatmeal or porridge once prepared - are one of the most nutritious grain cereals you can buy.

Unlike many other grains, which undergo extensive and damaging processing before they reach store shelves, oats are always whole, irrespective of whether they are steel cut, rolled, quick cooking or instant.

This means they retain all the goodness contained in the germ, endosperm and bran... and that's a lot of goodness!

Oats are an excellent source of soluble fibre, protein and the B vitamins thiamin, riboflavin and B6. They also provide iron, calcium, magnesium, selenium and phosphorus.

It's a good idea to get your children to enjoy oats from an early age, as they play a very important role in good health throughout adulthood too.

Regularly eating oats...

• Lowers the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes

• Helps guard against cancer

• Reduces the symptoms of asthma

• Lowers cholesterol and aids in the prevention of heart disease

• Boosts the body's immune system

When can I introduce oats to my baby?

Due to their high fibre content, they do not cause constipation in the way that rice cereal often does.

In line with recommendations from the World Health Organization and UNICEF that your baby requires only breast milk or formula for the first 6 months of life, we suggest that you wait until your little one is at least 6 months of age before introducing oats.

Of course, you should always discuss the introduction of any new foods with your child's doctor - particularly if you plan to include them before your baby is 6 months old.


Oats and gluten

Before 6 months of age, babies should not be given foods containing gluten, as this is believed to raise the risk of their developing Coeliac (Celiac) disease (more information here).

But whether or not oats are considered a 'gluten containing' grain is the subject of some speculation.

Oats do contain a little of the glutenin and gliadin that make up gluten and which are associated with the potential development of Celiac disease. There is also an issue of cross contamination, where oats may be contaminated by other gluten containing grains with which they are grown, harvested, processed or stored.

However, most people with Celiac disease seem to tolerate oats very well and research carried out in 2004 revealed that even children with Celiac disease may consume oats with no ill-effects.

Indeed, pure oat products in certain parts of the world, particularly Scandinavian countries, are marketed as being an acceptable part of a gluten free diet.

Nevertheless, it is still wise to consult your doctor if you plan to introduce oats to a child with a family history of gluten intolerance.

Types of oats

Oat groats take a LONG time to cook (around 50 mins) and need to be cooked in more water than 'regular' oats (three parts water to one part groats). They have a lovely chewy texture... but probably a little too much texture for your baby to enjoy!

When the groats are cut into 2 or 3 pieces, they are known as steel cut oats.

Steel cut oats come in various thicknesses and generally have a hearty texture. They take longer to cook than 'regular' oats - around 30 mins - but generally require less water in preparation than oat groats (only 2 parts water to 1 part steel cut oats).

Sometimes, oat groats are steamed then passed through rollers, giving you rolled oats or old fashioned oats.

Rolled oats vary in size and thickness and are sometimes flaked before rolling. Regular rolled oats take around 15 mins to cook, whereas thinner flakes or 'Quick Oats' may cook in as little as five.

Rolled oats generally require 1 part oats to 2 parts water in preparation (although instructions are usually provided on the packaging).

Instant oats are cut fine and rolled extremely thinly. They simply require the addition of boiling water - but, although still a whole grain product, tend to be less nutritious because they have usually had sugar, salt or other flavourings added to them.

Whenever you buy any oat products for your baby, you need to make sure that the only ingredients listed on the label are oats, or rolled oats.

Buying and storing oats

You should store your oats in an airtight container, in a dark, cool place for around 2 months in order to maintain their freshness.

How to serve oats to your baby

Oats may be ground in a coffee grinder or even a regular food processor (we grind our grains in a Magic Bullet). Another option is to prepare oatmeal in the usual manner, then puree it afterwards!

Basic Homemade Baby Oatmeal Recipe

1oz (1/4 cup) rolled oats
8 fl oz (1 cup) water

Pour the water into a small saucepan and bring to the boil.
In the meantime, grind your oats until they resemble a fine powder.
Gradually whisk them into the boiling water, then lower the heat and simmer gently for 10 mins, stirring often to prevent sticking and clumping.
Cool and serve.

Oat cuisine!

• Finely ground oats make a super-healthy thickener for soups, overly-runny purees and sauces.

• Save time in the mornings by cooking your oats the night before and warming them up at breakfast time. Alternatively, cook several days' supply in one go and store it in the refrigerator, warming portions as needed. You can even freeze prepared oatmeal.

• Oats may be served raw - so try grinding them and mixing them into healthy baby smoothies or purees. When our babies were around 14 months old, they loved eating raw rolled oats as a finger food - picking them up one by one took forever but it certainly made a healthy way of keeping them occupied! Please use your discretion if you choose to offer oats to your child in this way as they could present a choking hazard if your baby isn't ready for them.

• When baking muffins or bread, throw in a handful of oats for texture and goodness (instant oats,however, are not suitable for baking).

• Try cooking oats with half milk / half water - or all milk. Our little ones have always preferred them this way.

• Soak your oats! Not only does this speed up the cooking time, it offers additional health benefits too.

The merits of soaking oats

Soaking grains reduces their phytic acid, which means that their nutrients can be properly digested and absorbed by the body.

This is by no means a modern concept - our ancestors either soaked or fermented grains before cooking with them - and it is still common practice to do so in many parts of the world. This interesting article from the Weston A. Price Foundation explains in detail how to treat your grains in order to derive the maximum nutritional benefits from them.

Preparing soaked oats

Just soak 4oz (1 cup) of oats in 8 fl oz (1 cup) of warm water overnight. In the morning, add a further cup of water and bring to the boil, reduce the heat and simmer - your oats will be ready in about 5 mins!

Oat baby food recipes

2oz (1/2 cup) rolled oats
6 fl oz (3/4 cup) water
2 fl oz (1/4 cup) apple juice
1 naturally sweet apple, peeled, cored and diced
pinch nutmeg
1 tbsp sultanas
4 fl oz (1/2 cup) milk

Pour the water and juice into a saucepan and bring to the boil.
Add the diced apple and sultanas, then sprinkle in the rolled oats, stirring well.
Return the mixture to the boil, then reduce the heat to a gentle simmer.
Add the nutmeg and cook until thick (10-15 mins).
Before serving, stir in the milk.

If this recipe is too lumpy for your baby, you can puree it directly in the pot using a hand blender. Another alternative is to soak the sultanas to soften them, then puree them before adding them to the dish.

More oat baby food recipes from our site...

Oatmeal and banana bars

Homemade Oatcakes with Cottage Cheese

Fruity breakfast

Oaty Apple Cookies

And don't forget to check out this month's 'Recipe of the Month' for Very Veggie Puree at the end of this newsletter... that contains oats, too!

New and updated pages

• Are you planning to fly with your baby in the near future? If so, then the rules about carrying liquids and gels on to the aircraft must have left you wondering exactly what you can bring on board to feed your baby!

  Our new page - Flying With Baby Food and Milk - explains just how the rules affect YOU - and offers some tips to help you get your little one's supplies safely through security!

• We all know that fruits and vegetables play a very important part in our baby's diet - but do they always HAVE to be cooked, or is it OK to give them to baby raw?

  This page looks at the pros and cons of cooking fruits and vegetables for baby

• Spoons, bowls, bibs and more... if you're looking for the best accessories for feeding your tiny diner, then check out our newly updated baby feeding accessories page, which includes some of our favourite products!

Competition corner

Win a Diaper and Bottle Bag Set

This handy set, consisting of a pocketed diaper bag with a changing pad and an insulated bottle (or homemade baby food!) bag could soon be on is way to YOU!

How?

Simply send us your review of your favorite baby care product! We're interested in hearing about ANY item that you've found indispensable since the birth of your little one - and our visitors are interested in hearing, too!

I don't know about you, but I rarely buy a product for my children without checking out what other parents think of it first. Who better to recommend a product than someone with 'hands on' experience?

So come and join in the fun... but be quick, the closing date for this month's competition is May 30th!

Your Baby Food Recipes

If you feel like whipping up these tasty treats for YOUR baby, then you can read the full recipes and instructions on our New Baby Food Ideas page!

If you fancy yourself as a bit of a baby food chef, then submit your original recipes here. If your entry is chosen as our winner this month, then you will win a $20 Amazon voucher (or the local equivalent in your area).

Please try to avoid recipes that use salt or sugar (except for in recipes for baked items, where they are sometimes necessary components). Other than that one stipulation, we're open to all ideas - we've had some really wonderful recipes submitted in the past from all over the world and we think it's great to introduce our babies to a little international cuisine!

Thank you to everyone who entered last month!

Our new Baby of the Month

Scroll to the bottom of the page and you can enter the competition by telling us all about YOUR baby and uploading his photograph.

Homemade yogurt - a reader's tip

Making your own yogurt for your baby is extremely easy and requires very little in the way of effort! In fact, virtually all of the preparation time is spent waiting for the yogurt to culture, meaning that you can just get the yogurt started, then go off and do something else!

On our guide to making homemade yogurt we explain that a yogurt 'starter' is needed in order to get the yogurt - er - started!

The way we do it is to simply buy a tub of natural yogurt from the store, then use as much as we need for the batch we're making. Then we eat the rest!

Naomi from Sutton in the UK, however, has a better idea. She tells us that she freezes the leftover store-bought yogurt into 'starter sized' portions of 2tbsp each, in a large ice cube tray.

She then has a yogurt starter to hand whenever she needs it and says that freezing the yogurt has no adverse effect on the final result.

Great tip, Naomi - thank you for sharing!

Tip of the month - How to Make Lotion for Your Baby

This month's superb tip is written by a special guest author - Erika from Organic Baby Resource. Erika's site is packed with useful information for all parents wishing to avoid toxic chemicals and pesticides in their baby care routines - please do stop by her site and take a look around!


Did you know that 60% of what goes on your baby's skin is absorbed into the blood stream within minutes of applying it? That's only bad news if you don't know what ingredients are in the products you use to bathe and moisturize your baby.

Unfortunately, lotions and moisturizers such as baby oil and petroleum jelly, are made with toxic petro-chemicals, parabens, and phthalates to name a few. You may have read about these ingredients in the news, or they may seem like a foreign language to you.

However, just as you are doing with food, you can take the mystery out of what goes in your baby's body, by making his or her lotion at home. Below are some instructions for making a baby lotion, with natural, edible ingredients.

No, I don't recommend eating the lotion, but I do believe you should only put things on your skin that you are willing and able to eat. Also, I prefer to use organic versions of these ingredients to ensure that no harmful chemicals and pesticides were used to process them.

Nourishing Baby Body Lotion

Supplies:
Large glass baking dish
Small glass bowl or serving dish
Kettle or sauce pan for boiling water

Ingredients:
1/4 cup of extra-virgin or virgin olive oil
1/4 cup of unrefined shea butter (should be avoided by those with tree nut allergies, see alternatives below if needed)
**Optional 4 tsp. of arrowroot powder

Steps:
1. Boil 3 cups of water in the tea kettle or on the stove.

2. While water is boiling, measure out the shea butter and put in the small glass dish.

3. Once the water is boiled, pour it into the large glass baking dish. Fill it only half full.

4. Set the dish with the shea butter in the center of the hot water. It will take about five minutes to melt.

5. Add the oil to the melted shea butter. Stir with a spoon or craft stick.

6. Take the dish with the melted solution out of the water and let it solidify.

7. When it solidifies, the lotion should have the consistency of very thick, but smooth gravy. If you like the consistency you are done. If you desire it to be thicker add arrowroot powder until you achieve the desired consistency.

8. Spot test it on your baby's leg, then store the rest and enjoy it for weeks. The lotion will feel more oil based at first, but will quickly be absorbed into your baby's skin.

About the ingredients

Shea butter is derived from the seed of the shea or karite tree found in Africa. When extracted and prepared without the use of chemicals (unrefined) it can be used to relieve sunburn, eczema, itching, insect bites and more. It is also used to heal scars and is said to offer mild protection from the sun (approximately SPF-6).

Olive oil comes from the olive fruit and is grown on the olive tree. The vitamin E in olive oil is an antioxidant and offers cellular protection against free radicals in the body.

Arrowroot powder is a natural starch derived from the Maranta arundinacia plant. This lightweight white powder is used as a thickening agent in sauces and is commonly used to thicken body care products. You will find this in the seasoning section or with the flour and cornstarch in the grocery store.

These are just my favorite ingredients. You can combine the butter and oil of your choice to suit your baby's needs. Some examples are cocoa butter, mango butter, soybean oil, coconut oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil, almond oil and avocado oil. The list goes on and on.

If your baby is less than six months old and/or has a nut allergy, consider using plain olive oil to moisturize your baby's skin. As your baby gets older and has proven not to be allergic to common foods and oils, you can combine them with other food based oils for added benefits.

Essential Oils

Fragrance for babies and toddlers is unnecessary and in many cases excessive. Essential oils are the most natural way to add fragrance to your baby's lotion, but at 10 months, my baby is still sensitive to the amounts of essential oils used in baby products.

However, as the summer months approach, you may be looking for a chemical-free way to keep the bugs away.  By adding 2-3 drops of lavender or citronella essential oil to a portion of your lotion base, you can have your own natural baby insect repellent. The mosquitoes smell the fragrance instead of your baby.

Spot test a small amount of the bug repellent lotion on your baby's skin before rubbing it on the body parts that will be exposed in the outdoors. If you'll be outside for more than a couple of hours, you will want to take some along to reapply.

Always blend essentials oils with a carrier oil before applying to your baby's skin. If your baby is less than six months old, consult your baby's doctor or certified aroma-therapist before using.

Storage

Choose a non-toxic storage solution for your baby's lotion. You've probably heard that many plastics contain chemicals such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and bisphenol A (BPA) that can leech into the container's contents. One idea is to set aside some Baby Cubes or small glass jars just for your baby' skin care.

As you would with food, label the storage container with the date and contents of your baby's lotion.  Avoid excessive exposure to heat, light and air to maintain the integrity of the oils. The oils contain natural antioxidants and preservative qualities, but as a precaution make a fresh batch of lotion every three months.

Erika is married and the mother of her 10 month old daughter. Prior to becoming a work at home mom, Erika spent more than 10 years in the non-profit sector and advocated for the education and health of economically disadvantaged children.

Safety Recalls

Here we have a round-up of products recalled since our last newsletter and details of warnings issued. If you - or someone you know - might have any of the items listed below, then just click on the link for more information and instructions for returning them.

• Huffy Kids Water Bottles (Australia)

• Children’s ‘Main Street Drag’ Sunglasses (US)

• Imaginarium Activity Centers Sold at Toys R Us (US)

• Imaginarium Recall - Details for Australia

• Cuddly Cousins Plush Insect Toys (US)

• Malt-O-Meal Cereals (US)

• Action Figures (UK)

• Magnetic Dart Boards (US)

• Little Builder Children’s Board Book Sets with Toys (US)

• Fake 'Hillbilly' Teeth, Flower Writers, Christmas Writers, Easter Writers and Spooky Writers Seasonal Writing Pens and Interchange Robot Toys (US)

• Cow & Gate Baby Spoons (UK)

• Western Rider Push Toys (US)

• Canada's reaction to studies on BPA in baby bottles

• Wal-Mart Key Chains (US)

• Golden Circle Little Extras Orchard Fruit Gels (Australia)

• Beco Baby Butterfly Carriers (US)

• Toys R Us and Wal-Mart to Phase Out Baby Bottles with BPA

• Waitrose and Tesco Houmous (UK)

• Reports Concerning Arsenic in Baby Rice (UK)

• Children’s Storage Bins sold at Lowe’s Stores (US)

• Primula Cheese Spread with Ham (UK)

• Sticklebricks (UK)

• Baby Peppermint Bunny Appliqué Jackets sold at Next Stores (UK)

24 hour promotion - The Daughter In Law Rules

In honor of Mother's day, we are helping celebrate the official launch of Sally Shield's new and highly acclaimed book, The Daughter-in-Law Rules!

Today, TUESDAY May 6th is Sally’s birthday - and in honor of Mother's Day - we are hoping to assist Sally in reaching the #1 position on Amazon.com by telling you all about her extra special offer!

You can get a copy The Daughter-in-Law Rules for only $14.95... and receive over 75 free gifts!!

Today, Sally is being joined by over 75 relationship advice experts and success coaches from around the world, as well as 1-800-Flowers.com with a unique promotional code created specifically for this book, to give you an exceptional offer!

Find out more about this promotion that makes buying a copy of The Daughter-in-Law Rules really worthwhile TODAY!

But there's an even BIGGER PURPOSE to this promotion:

15% of the proceeds of this book go to the charity "Much Love" -- an amazing non-profit, no-kill organization dedicated to reducing overpopulation, abuse and neglect of domestic animals. (For more info, visit: www.MuchLove.org).

Discover the secrets of how to get along with your mother-in-law via a revolutionary set of strategies, making copasetic coexistence possible at last!

"Next to Waterford Crystal, The Daughter-in-Law Rules may be the best wedding gift you can give!"
Tim Bete author, Guide to Pirate Parenting

This offer will not be repeated again and is available for the next 24 hours only.

So, grab this unique bundle of gifts and order The Daughter-in-Law Rules book right now. At no other time can you get such value for so little.

P.S. Please share this offer with your friends and family and let them know about the many gifts Sally has made available for them today.

In addition, you are invited to join Sally on a free tele-seminar (no charge) tonight, Tuesday, May 6th at 6pm Eastern Standard Time.

She’ll reveal:

• How a scarf and shower curtain can turn your worst nightmare into your BFF [best friend forever!]

• The Most Common Mistakes to avoid with your mother-in-law

•Your mother-in-law is coming - no problem! 3 easy techniques to calm your nerves

• 3 simple strategies that will eliminate all arguments with your husband in regards to his mother - forever!

• A simple 4 step process to put the kibosh on jabs and zingers

…and much more!

The phone number to get on the teleseminar is: (419) 400-0202 and the passcode is: 180244#

...and as a special bonus, Sally’s birthday gift to you, everyone who attends will get a free eBook version of The Daughter-in-Law Rules!

Go to this link to Listen Live via web and submit your questions.

Website of the Month

Some years ago, when we lived in England, we had a close friend who happened to be a doctor. Although we didn't like to take advantage of our friendship, it was wonderful to be able to occasionally seek her opinion on any medical symptoms our children might be displaying - particularly outside office hours!

In the absence of such a friend, many parents turn to the internet to research non-urgent symptoms... but reliable - not to mention correct - information is not always easy to come by.

Up to now, that is!

MommyDocs is a fantastic website run by two pediatric doctors - Jamie A. Freishat, M.D. and Rachel L. Schreiber, M.D., FAAAAI - who also happen to be moms! Combining their expertise in these two fields, they have developed the answer to every mom's prayer - an online pediatric resource (therefore available 24/7) with information that's not just reliable, but is written in such a way that you can tell there is personal experience behind the words.

There's a brilliant Health Q and A section, covering a wide and interesting range of topics, a regular podcast, a MommyDocs blog, a newsletter - and a form to submit your OWN questions.

We're sure that parents everywhere will be thrilled to discover this great resource - and, like us, will be adding MommyDocs to their bookmarked list of favourite sites!

Recipe of the month - Very Veggie Puree With Oats

You will need...

1 leek, chopped
1 medium carrot, peeled and diced
1 medium parsnip, peeled and diced
8oz (1 cup) broccoli florets
3 tbsp regular oatmeal (porridge oats)

To prepare the leek, cut off the root end (which can be tough and fibrous) and remove any thick outer leaves.Trim the remaining leaves, then halve the leek lengthwise and wash the halves thoroughly by swishing them around in a bowl of water. The leek is now ready for chopping - and it's fine to use the white AND the green parts.


Place all the ingredients (including the oatmeal) into a saucepan and JUST COVER with water.
Bring the mixture to a boil, then immediately lower the heat and simmer gently until all the vegetables are fork tender (around 15-20 mins).
Puree to the perfet texture for your baby and - for a little pizazz - stir in a couple of teaspoons of freshly chopped herbs (chives or parsley are perfect).
Serve to baby - and any leftover portions may be frozen.