Competition corner

The Homemade Baby Food Recipes Competition

Kristin Metcalf from the United States was the winner of August's Homemade Baby Food Recipes Competition with her recipe for Avocado Hash - a great finger food dish that uses a baby food ingredient we all know and love in a whole new way!

Thanks for sharing, Kristin - and congratulations on your win!

The winning recipe - plus other recipes for

• Eggplant and Cauliflower Puree
• Baby's Vegetable Soup
• Baby Teething Cookies

Do you have an original baby food recipe you'd like to share with other Mums?

Then send it in using this simple form - you could be September's winner of a $20 voucher from Amazon!


Baby of the Month

Thank you SO much for all the wonderful entries last month for our Baby of the Month competition.

You can visit this month's winner and see more of our favourite entries on our Baby of the Month page. You'll also find the entry form and details you need to submit YOUR baby's photograph!

Cash for Clunkers - Baby Style

If you're in the US, then you're aware of the Cash for Clunkers scheme... but did you know that Toys R Us have just launched their OWN Cash for Clunkers scheme, called the 'Great Trade-In'?

This time, it's not cars they want - but used baby gear!

The purpose of the scheme is to discourage parents from buying second-hand baby equipment that may be unsafe. The company wishes to raise awareness that used strollers, highchairs, cribs etc may not meet current safety standards, may be broken or come without an instruction manual.

Of course, there ARE ways to ensure the safety of gently used items. You can check online for recalls of the product you are buying. You can usually find online instruction manuals, too - and we speak from experience as we strongly believe in as making as much use of baby items as possible before consigning then to the scrap heap. We've been the grateful recipients of much second-hand baby equipment!

However, if you were planning on buying new anyway, this scheme may just save you a little cash!

From now until Sunday, September 20, all Babies R Us and Toys R Us stores across the US will accept any used any used car seats, cribs, bassinets, high chairs, travel systems, play yards and strollers. In return, you will receive 20 percent off the purchase of any new baby item, in any of the categories mentioned above, from the following manufacturers...

• Cosco
• Delta
• Eddie Bauer
• Evenflo
• Graco
• Jeep
• Kolcraft
• Nature's Purest by Summer Infant
• Safety 1st
• Sorelle

There are more details at the Toys R Us Website

Safety Recalls

Here's a round up of recalls and warnings posted to our blog since our last newsletter. If you (or someone you know) has any of the items listed below, then please click on the link to visit our blog for more information.

Please feel free to forward this newsletter on to anyone else who you believe may be affected by these recalls.

Baby Hammocks (US)

Safety 1st Smartlight Stair Gates (US)

Jump 'N Jive Doorway Bouncers (US)

Circo Booster Seats (US)

Safeway Ground Beef (US)

Little Tikes Children's Toy Workshop Sets and Trucks (US)

Wheat Free Homestyle Pancakes (US)

Meijer Apple Juice (US)

Little Tikes Toy Workshop (Australia)

Apple Baby Necessaries Babies Dummies (Australia)

Poundland Medicine Feeders (UK)

Junction Eighteen Smiley Knitted Bunnies (UK)

Mothers' Choice Highchairs (Australia)

Various Window Blinds (US)

Featured Product - The Wriggle Wrapper

As the parents of five children, there are certain products that will always catch our attention...

• Those that save money
• Those that save on space

In a nutshell, the Wriggle Wrapper is a sort of harness that you use to keep your wriggly bub where he's supposed to be!

It's designed to fit any standard chair, so you can use it as a portable highchair - perfect for visiting friends/family or when on vacation as you'll know your little one always has somewhere safe to eat. But in an interesting twist on similar products, you can also attach the Wriggle Wrapper to YOURSELF, so your baby can sit on your lap but you'll still have both hands free - a feature that could be useful in a myriad of situations!

What's more, the Wriggle Wrapper also fastens to any standard single bed - so the idea is that your baby will have somewhere safe to sleep should you be out visiting during his nap time. Personally, we feel this feature would only be suited to younger babies who are not yet rolling, as tying them into one position once they're more active seems somewhat mean!

The Wriggle Wrapper is recommended for use as a portable high chair from 6 months to 2 years and as a sleeping device from birth to 2 years (although you know our opinion on that one!). It's machine washable (an absolute must!) and comes in a drawstring bag that you can just pop into your diaper bag.

From a safety standpoint, it's very robust and made with durable fabrics that fold around your baby like a diaper. There is rubber grip material underneath, which stops it sliding when used as a highchair on slippery chairs, and it's very adjustable - the velcro tabs mean it fits very snugly, no matter baby's size.

A great 3-in-1 product, the Wriggle Wrapper saves taking along bulky equipment on outings and will be used often enough to provide plenty of value for money!

Featured Site - Clothing Swap

This month, our featured site is one for the moms... and is one that helps you save money AND have a great night out (remember those?) into the bargain!

Clothing Swap was founded in 1994 by Suzanne Agasi, who recently declared that "When the going gets tough, the smart go swapping!".

Raised on hand-me-downs, Suzanne began hosting gatherings at her home where friends could swap their unwanted clothes. The idea inspired the development of Clothing Swap Inc, whose Swap Parties attract an average of 150 to 200 swappers and are held across the US.

Here's how it works...

You sign up to find out about upcoming swaps in your area and purchase a ticket when a date is announced (no price is currently listed, but tickets to last year's events were $20).

You search your closet for items you no longer want, but are still in good condition.

You attend the swap and enjoy a complimentary mini-salon spa treatment, plus mingle with other savvy swappers.

You then take home your favourite clothing items!

Any items of clothing that AREN'T claimed are donated to charitable organizations, including the Shelter Network and Susan G Komen for The Cure - or to local non-profit groups.

We think this is a great concept, benefiting cost-conscious swappers, the environment and worthy causes alike! The Clothing Swap 2009 America Tour will soon be visiting New York City, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles and San Francisco - so sign up for updates and be prepared to grab a friend and a bag of your gently used clothing for a fun night out and some new additions to your wardrobe!

Recipe of the month - Fettuccine with a Creamy Alfredo Sauce

Pasta topped with a tasty sauce makes a wonderful food for babies, particularly in terms of texture. It provides the perfect stepping stone between purees and more solid textures, as pasta is easily gummable and provides a little experience with chewing!

If possible, try to use whole grain or spinach pasta - and either chop the pasta after cooking, or break it up BEFORE you cook it, so that it is manageable for baby.

This is a very simple recipe, but the taste is wonderful and it's a big favourite in our house, particularly on days when we need to keep the cooking time to a minimum!

To make baby's Fettuccine with a Creamy Alfredo Sauce you will need...

2 oz fettucine (cooked according to the directions on the pack)
1 tsp butter
1 garlic clove, chopped finely
2 tsp flour
6 fl oz (3/4 cup milk) - use breast milk or formula if you prefer
1 oz (1/4 cup) grated Parmesan
2 tsp cream cheese
1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

Melt the butter in a small saucepan. Saute the garlic for 1 minute, then stir in the flour.
Cook, stirring, for 2 minutes, then gradually add the milk.
Continue to cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens (about 5 mins).
Stir in the Parmesan and cream cheese and continue to cook until the cheeses have melted.
Mix the cooked fettuccine and sauce together and serve once cooled to a safe temperature, topped with a sprinkling of fresh parsley.

This recipe yields enough for Mum and baby to share and makes a lovely, light lunch!