Organizing Baby Supplies

When a new baby arrives in your home, a lot of things change, including how you organize your home. There are a lot of things that having a new baby adds to your home. Diapers, wipes, bottles, blankets, burp clothes, creams, ointments. The list goes on and on. And all of these things need to find a place to live in your home. That is where home organization comes in. A little organization can go a long way to helping you cope, especially those first few weeks. I highly recommend having all of this setup well in advance of your due date so that everything is prepared.

Diapering Supplies

Setup a diapering station on each floor of your home where you will spend a lot of time with the baby. Changing tables, of course, work great for this and so do the pack-and-plays that come with a changing table piece. With the pack-and-plays you will need a small table with drawers next to it to store all of your diapering supplies. An inexpensive 3-drawer plastic cart works well for this. You’ll need all of the obvious supplies: diaper rash cream, wipes, diapers and some not-so obvious supplies: some clothes for accidents, alcohol wipes or alcohol and cotton swabs for those first few days home from the hospital (you’ll need to clean the umbilical cord stump with these), toys to keep your baby occupied while you change his/her diaper (especially if you have a baby who hates having his/her diaper changed). If you have a changing table, putting all of your diapering supplies in containers can help keep things where they belong once your little one starts crawling and pulling everything off of those shelves.

I also kept extra blankets and burp clothes with the diapering supplies on each floor. Keeping these things organized in our home made it easier to find anything we needed for the baby because we just had to go to one place to get it.

Bottles, Bowls, and Baby Food

Even if you are going to breastfeed, it is a good idea to have some bottles and formula around just in case. If you are going to be formula feeding, having the bottles and the formula in the same place can make it easier to make bottles, especially in the middle of the night when you’re half awake. Having a few bottles pre-made (put the formula in the bottle so all you have to do is add water) before you go to bed is also helpful.

Once your baby is able to start baby food, it is helpful to have the food, bowls, and spoons for it in the same place. Plastic bowls that your baby can pound on and play with are great for those first years. Organizing these supplies in your home can help make those first years easier on you and your baby.

Get more home organization tips at Jill Seader’s website YourHomeIsOrganized.com. She offers free home organization tips and has an ebook on how to get your home organized, 5 Simple Steps For Organizing Every Room Of Your Home.

How To Host A Perfect Baby Shower Party

When it’s a party, it’s a time for decorations! To have a perfect baby shower party, one should start planning at least a week before on party decorations. Though the local fashion, design, can be a way for ideas on decorations, yet you have to plan your decorations according to your needs and budget.

The venue of the event should be lighted in a mild fashion with shower decorations hanging from these lamps. If it’s a baby girl, it can be pink twisted ribbons, cloths or veils. One may go for blue or green if it’s a baby boy. The entire path starting from the entrance to the hallway should be decorated with these lamps. One may also go for votive candles placed in empty baby food containers or jars, which in a way will cut off your cost to an extent. You can hang baby shower decorations from the ceilings and even in walls. For a baby girl shower decoration, drape the ceilings with twisted pink ribbons and then hang tulle or veil bags from these ribbons. Fill up these bags with jellybeans, strawberries and gums which your guests would love to have as a surprise. You may hand these bags to the guests as snacks or ask them to take home as souvenirs.The walls can be decorated with rag dolls put in small bags, just like baby kangaroos in mother’s pouches. Name the dolls in the name of the baby and give them to the guests as souvenirs.

A major part of the baby shower party is the baby shower games or the activities that are carried out in the midst of the party. There are various traditional baby shower activities and some of these are very popular in shower parties.
• Baby shower bingo
• Asking the guests to guess the date of birth of the child
• Guess the baby food flavor: guests have to taste-test several flavors of baby food and try to identify them
There are a lot more that you can add on to make a fun-filled party.

Baby shower food items are one of the most important features of baby shower. When guests arrive at a baby shower they are expecting food that includes desserts, appetizers, and baby shower finger food. You don’t really have to plan an entire meal; it isn't really expected at this kind of event. A good idea is to have a good menu on “baby shower food on hand” which will be served to guests when they are into the activities. Baby shower food items are often designed based on the theme. Again if it’s a girl baby shower party, a strawberry dessert will be in theme of the party. A baby shower cake with a pink icing again is an added feather to the party of a baby shower party for a girl. If the baby is a boy, one may use blue or green instead of pink. For more ideas on recipes one may look for them in library, book stores for recipes.

Craig Spencer writes on family, relationships, love and friendship. He also writes on holidays and global events. He is a writer with special interest in the ecard industry and writes for 123Greetings.com

Make Your Own Baby Food - The Easy Way!

Is your baby about to start solid foods? Are you thinking of making your own baby food?

When you make baby's first foods, you can save money and reduce waste. You also can choose more nutritious options. Fresh foods are typically more nutritious than canned, and you can purchase organic food to prepare for baby if you wish. You can also avoid unwholesome ingredients that show up in commercial baby food.

Making baby food doesn't have to be expensive or time consuming. In fact, the easiest and cheapest way is the best way!

The easy way to making your own baby food:

1) Don't bother with buying one of those baby food grinders. They're hard to clean and too much hassle.

2) If you wait until your baby is 6 months old to start solids, you can almost always just mash with a fork to the desired consistency.

If you're breastfeeding, you can even wait until baby's "pincer grasp" is developed and offer him small finger foods like peas, bits of grated apple, and the like. The pincer grasp is developed when baby can pinch small objects (like those bits of carpet fluff or food on the kitchen floor!) inbetween his thumb and first finger. In fact, if you have a family tendency towards food allergy, waiting longer to start solids may be preferable. No matter what baby's age, always offer one food at a time and wait several days to watch for signs of allergy before offering another. Take it slow.

3) Start with fresh single ingredient foods like:

Banana
Steamed carrot, turnip, potato, yam
Avocado
Ripe pear, peach, melon, plum
Cooked squash
Grated apple- raw or steamed
Peas
Well cooked beans
Hard cooked egg yolks (avoid the whites until 1 year)

Some of these foods could be served raw. Others are lightly steamed (steaming retains more nutrients than canning), to make them softer for baby.

4) It's not necessary to make a big deal of preparing baby's food.

If you want to take a lot of time blending food and freezing them in ice cube trays, you could certainly do that. But I'm all for the easy approach!

Although you do want to avoid giving baby salt and sugar (and spices that may upset the tummy), you can usually just take an ingredient from your own menu and "make" baby's dinner.

For instance, if you're steaming veggies to serve at dinner, take a tablespoon of them out of the pan before you add butter and salt. Put this in baby's plate and mash away. Voila! Instant baby food with no extra work. Or take a bit of beef from your roast and mash mash mash until it's very soft.

Even when you're at a restaurant, you can either bring an apple with you and "grate" it finely with a spoon at your table, or bring along a banana or other portable food. Any restaurant with a salad bar would have cooked beans or avocado. Or give baby a bit of your baked potato (before you add the goodies on top).

Life with a new baby is challenging enough. Keep starting solids simple!

For more helpful tips on simplifying life with kids, visit: http://www.natural-moms.com/homekeeping_organization.html

Carrie Lauth publishes a free newsletter for Moms doing things the natural way. Get your copy plus free subscriber goodies at: http://www.natural-moms.com/natural_mom_newsletter.html

Feeding Baby - Coping With Messy Mealtimes

There's no doubt about it -- feeding babies is a messy business! It may seem easy at first, when you're in control and feeding your baby from a spoon. But once you give him finger foods, or his own spoon for self-feeding, then you'll be amazed by the amount of mess he can create!

As hard as it may be, it's important not to let concerns about mess stop you from enjoying these special times with your baby. If you are a very tidy person, watching your baby cover everything with food can be very stressful and your instincts may scream at you to clean it all up.

But babies actually need to be allowed to explore food at first. This helps them learn more about different textures and tastes and also gives them the freedom to control what they are eating. And this is an important point -- your baby has an innate ability to regulate his own calorie intake. If you do not allow him the freedom to feed himself, you can "confuse" this natural ability by giving him more calories than his body actually needs -- and this can lead to weight problems in later life.

Plus, of course, your baby should be given the spoon in order to develop the necessary skills to spoon-feed himself.

So what are the best ways to keep mess -- and stress -- to a minimum?

• Use a good bib to protect your baby's clothes. When he first begins to feed himself, a "coverall" bib with sleeves is ideal. Alternatively -- and when the weather allows -- feed him with no clothes on!
• Protect the floor all around your baby's highchair (not just underneath... sometimes a little food goes a long way!). Either invest in a highchair splash mat, or improvise and make your own, using any wipe-clean material. A shower curtain or liner is ideal for the purpose -- not only is it easy to clean, but it's nice and big too!
• Consider investing in a highchair cover if the highchair you're using is particularly difficult to clean.
• Give your baby a bowl with a suction pad that you can attach to the tray on his highchair. This will limit him to only being able to throw the food that is in the bowl... and not the bowl itself!
• After preparing your baby's meal, spoon only a small amount into HIS bowl and keep the rest beside you! This is less messy than allowing him to handle a large quantity of food and also means that you have some food left in reserve if too much of his ends up on the floor!
• As your baby learns to feed himself from a spoon, make his life easier by serving foods that he is able to scoop up without too much difficulty. Try thickening runny foods (like soup) so that they will cling to the spoon -- some great thickeners include mashed egg yolk, wheat germ and pureed silken tofu.
• When the meal is over, invite the family pet in to help you clear up!

Don't discipline your baby for being messy.

Quite simply, it is out of his control and he would not understand why he was being punished. Of course, if your baby is a little older and is throwing his food on the floor, then it's time to gently set some family mealtime rules...

• When your baby throws food, try to determine if he's doing it because he's full. This is the actually the most common reason for doing so. If this is the case, then simply remove the food and say to your baby something along the lines of "I'm full", "I'm done" or "No more". This teaches your baby that he can actually communicate this fact rather than demonstrate it!
• If you feel that your baby is throwing food for fun, then try removing it for a minute or two, keeping it where he can see it. Calmly explain that "we don't throw food". (Keeping calm is important -- your baby will very easily pick up on any sign of anxiety and the dinner table can rapidly turn into a battleground!). If your baby is hungry, he will be upset about the removal of his food, so return it to him. But be consistent -- by removing his food each time he throws some, he will quickly learn that this is unacceptable behaviour.
• Sometimes, babies throw food to get attention... and it works! So be sure to give your baby lots of attention when he's eating nicely, too.

Above all, keep things in perspective. Most babies go through a very messy phase and, although it seems to last for ages, he will have grown out of it before you know it! Then, of course, you will look back fondly at those happy days when he learned to feed himself! There is plenty of time for good table manners (and vacuuming!) later on in your baby's life... for now, just have fun and encourage your baby's delight in the wonderful world of food!

Christine Albury is a mother of four and the author of Homemade Baby Food Recipes - your complete guide to solid feeding during baby's first year. Homemade Baby Food Recipes, which was recently featured by the BBC, includes a very active blog - keeping parents up to date with all important baby food news - plus a free monthly newsletter.

Organic Baby Food A Big Hit In Scotland

**50% of Scottish Babies fed Organic Baby Food

According to the Scotsman, more than half of Scottish children under two are now fed an exclusively organic diet. In fact, organic baby food accounted for 43% of total baby food sales in 2004. That represented sales of more than 63 million GBP in 2004.

A survey of 805 mothers and pregnant women conducted by the polling company BMRB found that four out of five mothers chose organic food for weaning their young children off of milk (between 6 months and 1 year old). The reasons given were clearly related to additives and chemical spraying. Mothers in the survey cited "less risk of chemical pesticides" (87%), "no additives" (80%), and "no GM" (84%)

Intensive marketing campaigns by groups such as the Soil Association Scotland are getting the message across about the negative effects of pesticides. This is clearly having an impact on the buying preferences of parents, and also on changes in school menus.

Organic milk also has positive health characteristics. It can contain up to 71 per cent more omega 3 than non-organic milk and most organic milk has a better ratio of omega 3 to omega 6 than conventional milk. Companies such as Hipp are bringing new products to market -- such as organic purees for weaning purposes -- to take advantage of the demand.

But adults are not changing their own eating habits nearly as quickly. Asda, a Scottish supermarket chain owned by WalMart, says organic produce for adults accounts for only about 2% of total sales.

**Self-Serve Machines moving in on fast food restaurants

People fond of ridiculing low-paying fast food restaurant jobs will be pleased to hear that many of these jobs will soon be a thing of the past. At least if RoberServer has its way. The company has recently unveiled its new fast food self serve machines called the "Line Buster."

According to RoberServer, the Line Buster will allow customers to place their own orders from a 15" touch screen, and then pay for their order with the onboard credit card processor. Customers then pick up their order at the counter. Industry estimates show that self-serve technologies can cut customer waiting time by as much as 33%.

The company is targeting the 115,000 fast food restaurants in the U.S. Similar technology has already been deployed in ATMs and self-checkout grocery stores.

Would you like fries with your meal?

Would you like fries with your meal?

Would you like fries with your meal?

**FDA says snack makers must show trans fats

The term "trans fats" has become a synonym for "unhealthy". That's because these ingredients hide in most mass produced snacks, cookies, and frozen french fries and then help to clog our arteries and contribute to our obesity.

As of January 1, 2006, the FDA is requiring the labels on packaged snacks and foods to list the amount of trans fats per serving.

Trans fats are an ingredient in nearly 40 percent of packaged foods, and they are suspected of contributing to diabetes, heart disease, strokes and many other unhealthy conditions.

Health researchers have found that trans fats raise the levels of unhealthy cholesterol and lower the levels of beneficial blood cholesterol. They say as little as 2 to 3 grams a day -- less than is contained in a typical donut -- can be detrimental.

Trans fats are common in processed foods because food manufacturers can use cheap liquid oils and turn them into solids by hydrogenation. Most experts agree it is better to use products that have been made with polyunsaturated or monounsaturated fats such as those found in canola and olive oils.

Simply avoiding processed foods and snacks accomplishes the same thing, since whole, unprocessed foods do not have trans fat additives.

About The Author
Rick Hendershot publishes Linknet News ==> http://www.linknet-news.com | All Spiced Up! offers the best in gourmet Spicy BBQ Sauce from very Mild to Hot, to Extreme X Hot ==>www.allspicedup.biz

Homemade Baby Food

Why would your baby just want to eat the bland ready made foods available in jars? No spice, no exciting tastes, no peppers, no… taste? There is no reason.

It is not dangerous to introduce more exciting foods, but key is to introduce it slowly, and just one new meal per week. This is to be able to pinpoint any allergies.

Don’t let the scare tactics from huge food industries scare you into only serving boring, bland food to your little one. Let him or her taste new things, you’ll be surprised how much goes down well. The best part is that he or she will be less likely to discard exotic food later on. I know of kids who will only eat hamburgers and fries. Only! A scary thought.

However, most would recommend waiting until the child is about 8 months before introducing spices.

Ok, so what can you serve? Baby taste buds are different, they taste savory, bitter, sweet and salt foods stronger and indeed differently than us adults, so you can’t serve a spicy enchilada for breakfast. But try introducing a new fruits like Pomegranates, Passion Fruit, Figs and Dates, Lychees, Persimmons, and Star Fruit. That’s just some of the fruits covered which are very low on the allergy list and any rare occurrence of a reaction has been traced to a cross reactivity, usually birch pollen.

Then we have the veggies, many seem to be concerned about whether it’s safe to use mushrooms, celery, leeks, onions, peppers etc. Sure it is, but as I mentioned earlier, introduce new things one at a time to be able o pinpoint any allergies. You can introduce them at the age of about eight to ten months. The vegetables can be sautéed and added to your child's food.

I wouldn’t just purée these veggies in the raw and serve them to a child, but certainly add them to other dishes to spice them up, make them more exciting and let her acquire the tastes. Make sure you cook them (you know, the way your mother overcooked your vegetables when you where little – that’s perfect for the baby). Hard foods, not cooked soft can pose a choking hazard.

Get educated, get cooking and relax a bit when it comes to introducing new things to your baby and I am sure you are in for a treat and a healthy growing child!

Markus Wahlgren is an online author who has a whole site dedicated to homemade baby food Homemade Baby Food where everyone with an interest in making their baby food themselves can learn a lot.

Cooking Bell Peppers For Your Baby

Bell peppers make a tasty addition to your baby's diet and -- despite their misleading name -- they are not "hot"! They can be found in a variety of colours, including red, green, yellow, orange and purple. Their bright colours are a good indication of their excellent nutritional value -- bell peppers are a rich source of vitamin C, vitamin B6 and vitamin A (from beta-carotene). They also contain folic acid.

Red peppers in particular contain lycopene, a valuable carotenoid which, in adulthood, helps protect against heart disease and cancer. Bell peppers are also believed to protect against such conditions as rheumatoid arthiritis and the development of cataracts in later life.

With such an impressive list of health benefits, it's clearly a good idea to encourage your little one to enjoy bell peppers from an early age -- thereby establishing a healthy start that should continue into adulthood.

When you are buying bell peppers to cook for your baby, look for ones that are deeply and brightly coloured, with taut skin free from blemishes. Check the stems, which should appear fresh and green. Some bell peppers can be very oddly shaped, but this does not reflect on their taste or quality. Many babies prefer red, yellow or orange peppers to green ones, as they are sweeter.

Bell Pepper Baby Food Ideas

You can include bell peppers in your recipes for babies from 6 months of age. Make sure that you introduce bell peppers to your baby alone at first, or with another food he is already safely enjoying. This is to help you identify and prevent potential food allergies or digestive problems.

• Cut sweet red pepper into slices and serve as a finger food to an older baby, accompanied by a cream cheese dip.
• Stir chopped bell peppers into your baby's favourite casserole or stew.
• To create a truly delicious red pepper puree for your baby, place a whole pepper under a hot grill/broiler. Blacken the skin on all sides, then place the pepper into a sandwich bag. Leave for 10 mins. On your return, the skin will slip easily from the pepper. Remove the seeds and puree.
• You can mix red pepper puree with other foods -- try combining it in a blender with sauteed onion and courgette (zucchini). This will produce a tasty soup that you can serve to your baby either hot or cold. Or use the puree as a tasty spread on lightly toasted bagels.
• Try serving your baby a stuffed bell pepper -- simply blanch a de-seeded pepper in boiling water for a few minutes, then drain and stuff it with your choice of any of the following:
  cooked rice
  a little sauteed onion and garlic
  chopped mushroom
  chopped cherry tomatoes
  a little oregano.
  Bake at 350 deg F for 30 mins, for a simple and delicious meal for your baby.

Christine Albury is the owner/editor of Homemade Baby Food Recipes - your guide to dealing with the many aspects of introducing solid foods to your baby. For more baby food recipes using peppers, visit Preparing Bell Peppers For Baby.

Wonderful Wheat Germ - An Ideal Ingredient For Your Baby's Food!

Would you believe me if I told you that there was a secret ingredient that you could add to your baby's food that would provide a massive nutritional boost? An incredibly healthy ingredient with such a subtle flavour that your baby wouldn't even notice it?

It sounds too good to be true, doesn't it?

Yet that secret ingredient DOES exist - and YOU can increase the nutritive value of many of your baby's meals by the simple addition of wheat germ.

Note: Before including wheat germ (which contains gluten), or any wheat products into your baby's diet, remember to check with your doctor.

What is wheat germ?

Nutritionally speaking, wheat germ is one of the most valuable products available. It is the smallest part of the whole grain, which is made up of 4 parts

• the husk (outer layer)
• the bran (a nutritious, high fibre part of the grain)
• the endosperm (the largest part of the grain, used in processed grain foods)
• the germ (the smallest part of the grain, packed with nutrients)

Why is wheat germ good for my baby?

The list of nutrients contained in wheat germ is impressive - in fact, wheat germ provides more nutrients per oz than any other grain or vegetable. By adding it to your baby's food, you are providing him with

• folic acid
• phosphorus (needed for healthy teeth and bones)
• fibre
• vitamin A
• vitamins B1 and B3
• vitamin B5 (otherwise known as pantothenic acid, which helps the body assimilate energy from food)
• vitamin E (which strengthens the immune system)
• protein (the protein content of wheat germ is actually higher than most meats)
• iron
• potassium
• riboflavin
• calcium
• magnesium
• zinc

Buying and storing wheat germ

You can buy wheat germ at health food stores and it is more commonly becoming available in leading supermarkets. It is sold in both fresh and toasted forms - fresh is best, if available.

You may notice on the packaging that you are advised to keep wheat germ in the refrigerator (fresh should be refrigerated immediately and toasted should be refrigerated once opened). This is important, as wheat germ contains fat and will spoil if stored incorrectly. To maintain freshness, always keep opened wheat germ in an airtight container.

Adding wheat germ to baby's food

Wheat germ has a very subtle, faintly sweet taste, meaning you can easily add it to both savoury and sweet baby food dishes. If your baby is a fussy eater and you are concerned that he is not receiving adequate nutrition from his solid food, then the addition of wheat germ ensures that he receives an extra dose of valuable nutrients with everything he eats. It can be included in virtually any dish...

• sprinkle some on baby's cereal, or fruit purees
• use it to top cooked veggies
• stir it into your baby's stews and casseroles or soups
• stir some into your baby's yogurt
• mix it with breadcrumbs when breading chicken, tofu etc for your baby
• use it as a "dusting" to coat slippery finger foods for your baby
• when baking for baby, use small amounts of wheat germ in place of equivalent amounts of flour

Do remember that wheat germ helps constipation, which means that giving your baby too much may have quite the opposite effect! Sprinkle a little over his meals and do not use wheat germ if your baby has diarrhea.

Christine Albury is the owner/editor of Homemade Baby Food Recipes - your guide to dealing with the many aspects of introducing solid foods to your baby.

Introducing Solid Food to Babies

Transitioning from breast- or bottle feeding need not be difficult. One baby might be ready for solids at 4 months, while another at 6 months. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) there are no rigid rules on when to start your baby on solid food. In this article you will find advice of what, when, and how much to feed your baby to get off to a smooth start.

Out of all baby milestones, a baby’s readiness for solids is probably the most subtle. When he is teething you definitely know he is teething. Readiness for solid food is not quite the same. Relax and follow the subtle cues of your baby.

By 3 or 4 months “most” babies start to show an interest in table food by drooling, opening his mouth or leaning forward. My newest niece is quite comical about food. She just reaches and grabs for the plates of food on the table. She makes no bones about it. She wants what is in that plate and she goes after it.

At 4 to 6 months of age start with iron-fortified rice cereal. Rice cereal is different from wheat in that it does not contain potentially allergenic gluten. Mix one teaspoon of cereal with 4 to 5 teaspoons of breast milk or warm formula until it has a semi-liquid consistency.

At 6 to 8 months of age introduce pureed fruits, oatmeal and barley cereals, vegetables, and strained meats. When you try a new food, don’t try another new food until two to three days after. Look for allergic reactions like diarrhea, rashes, and wheezing. If your baby has a reaction to the new food, try it again within a few months before consulting your doctor about the reaction.

At 7 to 10 months your baby should be ready for strained or mashed fruits and vegetables. Pasta, some veggies and fruit should be cooked until soft. You can mash the bananas. Meats and poultry should be finely chopped. Baby should be ready to try small finger foods that dissolve easily like “Cheerios.” There are many varieties of finger foods baby can try. Variety is important to teach baby even at this young age. Try as many different kinds of foods as there is available.

At 9 to 12 months is actually the age group of my niece at this time and when she started pulling the plates toward her in conquest of the food that was therein. She loves the crunchiness of crackers. You can see her little face full of delight as she munches on those crackers, good to the last bite for McKinsey.

If you want to make your own baby food be aware that certain vegetables such as beets, turnips, carrots, collard greens, and spinach may contain large amount of nitrates. These vegetables may cause a rare type of anemia in infants less than 3 months. It is probably safer never to feed this produce to young infants.

Solids do not replace breast milk or formula in the first year. Review the following as a guide of how much your baby should drink each day:

• 4 to 5 months: 30 ounces
• 5 to 6 month: 35 ounces
• 6 to 7 months: 28 ounces
• 7 to 9 months: 24 ounces
• 9 to 12 months: 22 ounces

In the first year there are some potential food-allergy triggers. Always consult with your doctor before giving your baby any of the following:

• Whole cow’s milk (cheese and yogurt are fine by 9 months)
• Wheat (okay to introduce after 8 months)
• Egg whites (yolks are fine after 8 months, but could be contaminated by whites)
• Peanuts
• Tree nuts (hard-shell nuts like almonds and walnuts)
• Soy
• Fish (introduce after age 2)
• Shellfish (introduce after age 3)
• Corn
• Citrus fruits
• Fresh strawberries

Babies do not chew much. Food that is not cut into very small pieces poses a choking hazard. Do not give your child under 4 years of age any of the following:

• Raw vegetables
• Candy
• Nuts and seeds
• Raisins
• Spoonfuls of peanut butter
• Popcorn
• Gum
• Hot dogs (unless cut into pieces with skin removed)
• Grapes (unless cut)
• Berries

Source: American Baby Magazine, June 2005

Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. You should not use the information in this article to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting your pediatrician or family doctor. Please consult a doctor with any questions or concerns you might have regarding your or your child’s condition.

This article is FREE to publish with the resource box.

Written by: Connie Limon. Visit us at http://www.babiesandtoddlers1.com About Babies and Toddlers is a collection of articles all about babies and toddlers available for information, education and FREE reprints to your newsletters, websites or blogs.

Bringing Up Your Baby Green

Is your baby a green baby? If the answer is yes, you are a part of a growing segment of the population opting for more environmentally friendly products for your child. The list of eco-friendly baby products grows by the day and includes nappies, organic baby food, organic formula, biodegradable wipes, ethically produced toys; the list goes on and on. Increasing numbers of parents are showing interest in green baby products and manufacturers are listening and responding. The biggest names in the baby industry are rolling out more products designed for the organic baby and ever increasing numbers of parents are also starting up small companies online to sell their specially made products to meet the high demand for environmentally friendly, organic, ethical products.

There are many reasons parents choose the green way to go when bringing up their babies. Adults who have adopted greener lifestyles for instance end up not being able to stomach the effect that disposable nappies have on the planet. On average children will use 6,000 nappies which will result in 2 tonnes of non-biodegradable waste. The materials that these nappies consist of will not break down and will remain in the landfill for many generations to come.

Parents have also discovered the potential health benefits of these eco-products for their baby. Disposable diapers often contain chemicals that can be harmful to a baby's tender bottom and increase the chances for diaper rash and allergic reactions. Cloth diapers on the other hand are made from natural materials that are hypoallergenic. Many cities also have diaper laundering services which pick up the soiled diapers and deliver clean ones. Parents can also choose to launder their own cloth diapers and save them for their next child. Parents also choose to launder their own child's diapers if they don’t want to share the diapers with other babies.

For parents that just can't get their heads around washing nappies or do not have cloth nappy laundering services in their area, there are disposable biodegradable nappies available too.

When it comes to what parents feed their babies, there has been a huge upsurge in the desire for organic baby food. Many people believe that babies are much more susceptible to the dangerous effects of chemicals that are in pesticides and prefer to feed their children food that is free from these agents. As a plus, it is also much safer on the environment.

Although organic food sales still make up a small percentage of the amount of baby food sold, this is a growing market. The cost for purchasing organic baby food is more than the traditional non-organic jars, but in many cases parents are willing to pay extra for their green baby to eat only organic baby food.

Some celebrities have been given credit for kick-starting this trend and brining it into the mainstream. Famous mums such as Julia Roberts, Gwyneth Paltrow and Stella McCartney are all known for their eco-baby ways.

Whatever the reasons for "going green", parents are lucky to have a growing number of retailers online that offer a range of eco-friendly baby products. Major players in the baby market have also caught on and are continuing to come out with new lines featuring organic food and ethically produced products for babies. There is still much room for growth in this area, so be on the lookout in your local supermarket baby isle.

Elisha Burberry is an online, freelance journalist and keen traveller and watersports enthusiast. Originally from Scotland, she now resides in London.

The Truth About Baby Food

When your baby is somewhere between 4 to 6 months old, it is time to prepare baby for solid food. Past the age of 6 months, milk alone would not give enough nutrients for baby. Baby has to learn to eat proper food.

It begins with a simple taste of baby food. Tasting sessions of up to 1 teaspoon each session. Mashed peas, mashed broccoli, porridge.. basically soft food that baby can handle. This is the time to introduce baby to new tastes.

If baby is adventurous, he or she would love these tasting sessions. Some babies do not take change easily. If baby refuses the new food, you could give it a familiar taste by adding a little breast milk or formula milk to the food before offering it to baby.

An important thing to note here is that the food you feed baby at this point in time shapes the baby's tastes. Wean baby onto broccoli and that could well become his or her favourite food.

That is exactly what happened with my kids. When they were babies, I was on this health food craze and bought broccoli based baby food in bulk. Now, broccoli is the only veggie they would take.

In fact these days, my 2 kids, a 6 year old and a 7 year old would fight over a plate of broccoli whenever it is served. We normally try to ration the broccoli but each meal often ends with one of them grabbing the plate of broccoli and dumping all the broccoli on his plate and finish it off. The other kid by then would have managed to grab some broccoli off the plate though, but us grown ups would be left without any broccoli to eat.

This is also the time to get baby to eat and to appreciate carrots, spinach as well as the usual meats that your family might eat. Tofu would be a great food to introduce to baby as it is soft and very healthy. As baby gets older, a healthy porridge full of veggies and proteins would be really good. Now is the time to serve baby mashed up versions of all the healthy foods you hope he or she would continue eating way past babyhood.

You can buy all sorts of baby food in stores that sell baby products. For convenience sake, I bought plenty of bottled baby food for my baby. I would use a clean spoon to take out baby's portion for 1 meal and refrigerate the rest. A microwave oven would heat up that meal nicely. Anything not consumed in 3 days would be thrown away. Anyone who complains about wastage would be welcome to eat up the leftovers.

Dry cereal baby foods are good too. Add water, mix well and the food is ready to serve.

You can also make your own baby food. For that, you need a food mill or food processor. Just boil the veggies, then use the food maker to grind or chop it into a smooth paste.

One thing though, baby's immunity isn't as strong as ours, so you have to be very careful about hygiene when you prepare the food. I would sterilize everything I can that comes into contact with baby's food, to keep everything as sterile as possible.

Whether you get ready made baby food or make your own, this is the time to steer your baby towards healthy food. The tastes developed now can make a major difference in the future.

The writer is the webmaster of http://www.babymusthaves.com which covers what you need when you have a baby.

Baby Food Allergies - All You Need To Know

In recent year we have seen an increase in the susceptibility of allergies. Baby food allergies are of particular concern as the source may be difficult to detect.

Baby food allergies are as common as adult food allergies.

If your baby appears distressed for no apparent reason or has unexplained areas of itchiness to the skin, then perhaps he or she has a baby food allergy.

What is an Allergy?

An allergy can be defined as an intolerance to a particular substance when touched, inhaled, injected or ingested.

When our body is exposed to a substance that causes an allergic reaction the response may be nasal or respiratory congestion, itchy or runny nose, watery eyes, diarrhea, or itchy rashes anywhere on the body.

Baby Food Allergies – Can My Allergies be Passed on to my Baby?

If you tend to have an allergic reaction then your baby may have a tendency to be allergic also.

However you and your baby may not share the same food allergies or be allergic to the same substances.

You may have asthma, while your child may develop hay fever.

Baby Food Allergies – How to detect them

It can sometimes be difficult detecting the cause of baby food allergies. If you think your infant has a baby food allergy, eliminating the following products from their diet may help.

• Milk and dairy products

• Eggs

• Nuts

• Shellfish

• Citrus Fruits

Once you have eliminated each of these food groups from your baby’s diet, you can begin to reintroduce them gradually one by one.

Wait a few days before the introduction of an additional food group and do not mix food groups.

If your baby has a baby food allergy you be able to detect it by monitoring his or her reaction to the introduction of these individual food groups.

Baby Food Allergies – Can they be prevented?

Breastfeeding your baby for the first six months of his or her life helps to reduce the incidence of allergies earlier on in life.

Try to avoid giving your baby pre-prepared foods that contain additives, or tinned or packaged foods.

Baby Food Allergies – When are they Most Likely to Occur?

Baby food allergies can occur at any time. Many babies are allergic to, or have an intolerance to cows milk and your baby may develop an allergy to other milk or wheat products, shellfish, nuts or citrus fruits.

If your baby has an allergic reaction after eating a particular food, you should see the signs within an hour.

Baby Food Allergy – Signs to Look For

The symptoms of a baby food allergy could include swelling or itchiness of the lips or tongue, wheezing or a skin rash.

Some babies may develop an intolerance to particular food groups.

If your baby has a food intolerance, symptoms might include diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, colic or wind.

Treating Baby Food Allergies

As long as you can find the cause, then the best way to treat a baby food allergy is to refrain from giving your baby that particular food.

If your baby is experiencing related symptoms then the allergy could be pollen related rather than a baby food allergy. Non food substances that could also cause an allergic reaction include pet hairs, tobacco smoke, feather pillows, perfume or dust mites.

Baby Food Allergies – Healthy Alternatives

If your results indicated that your infant is experiencing baby food allergies, here are some non allergic foods that you can try introducing into their diet.

• Mangoes, apples, grapes

• Barley, oats, rye

• Cauliflower, carrots, sweet potatoes

• Chicken, salmon

If in any doubt you should seek professional help to determine whether it is a baby food allergy or something more serious.

Baby food allergies are quote common and with a little work are fairly easy to detect. Once you have detected the source of your baby’s food allergy, the simplest way to eliminate the symptoms is to remove the cause.

MORE FREE INFO

On all aspects of health and more on babies visit our website for a huge resource of articles, features and downloads and at http://www.net-planet.org/index.html

4 Simple Steps For Hosting the Perfect Baby Shower

No need to go overboard on the upcoming baby shower you are hosting! Just follow these simple steps, and you will be off and running towards baby shower success!

Free Baby Shower Game Ideas:

• Scoop It Up! For this game, open up a bag of cotton balls and place them in a large bowl. Set an empty bowl beside it. Instruct the guests that they are to scoop as many cotton balls as possible from one to the other while blindfolded. Hand the first player a wooden spoon and blindfold them. Give them 30 seconds to scoop up as many cotton balls as possible and place them in the second bowl. This is challenging because the balls are so light that you have no idea how many cotton balls you have, if any. Count the cotton balls after each guest plays. The guest with the most wins! Fun and simple!
• Ice Cube Game! Buy a package of tiny plastic babies (found at craft stores) and freeze them in ice cubes. Give each guest a cup with water and an ice cube with a baby in it. The first one whose baby is 'born' wins!
• Don't Say Baby! The object of this game is to NOT say the word 'baby.' When guests arrive, hand everyone a clothespin or safety pin. If someone catches you saying 'baby' during the course of the shower, she gets your pin. The person with the most pins at the end of the baby shower wins a prize.
• When Will The Baby Come! Take a page or two from a calendar and have it enlarged on a copy machine (at your local copy shop). Pin the page(s) up on the wall at the baby shower and have guests sign their name on the date they think the baby will be born along with what time he/she will be born. You can either have each guest pay a dollar to place a bet and give the winner the money, or you can have everyone play for free and the winner gets a prize. The prize will have to be given after the shower so you might want to get phone numbers to call the winner.

Baby Shower Decoration Ideas:

• For a great baby shower decoration idea, and to avoid having to pass all of the presents around the room: hang a clothesline (heavy yarn or string) across the room and put clothespins on it, every time the mom-to-be opens a cute outfit, receiving blanket, socks, or a bib, hang it up on the clothesline, so everyone can see it. Very cute!
• Sprinkle baby-themed confetti all around countertops and tables
• Fill empty baby food jars with jelly beans and top with a t-lite candle
• Decorate tables with baby bottle vases! Fill baby bottles with water and put daisies in them!
• Use teething rings and baby key rings as napkin rings
• For a baby shower centerpiece, fill a baby bath or mini red wagon with tons of baby good! Socks, onesies, bibs, stuffed animals, you get the idea...then give it to the mom-to-be as your gift to her!

Baby Shower Cake/Invitation Wording Ideas:

• Oh Baby!
• Happy Labor Day!
• True Blue!
• A Giggle, A Curl, A Sweet Little Girl!

Baby Shower Punch Recipes:
Serve some festive baby shower punch and float cute little rubber duckies in them! Be sure tto make blue punch for a boy and pink for a girl!

Blue Baby Shower Punch Recipe:

• 1 package blue, berry flavored unsweetened drink mix
• 1 (2 liter) bottle lemon-lime flavored soda
• 1 (64 fluid ounce) bottle white cranberry juice
• 8 scoops vanilla ice cream
• 1 cup white sugar, or to taste

In a large punch bowl, stir together the drink mix, lemon-lime soda, and white cranberry juice. Taste, and stir in sugar to your liking. (I like to add the whole cup.) Float scoops of ice cream on the top. The ice cream melts somewhat and turns the punch a beautiful baby blue color with frothy white clouds floating on the top.

Perfect Pink Baby Shower Punch:

• 1/2 cup fine granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup lemon juice
• 1 pint raspberry sherbet
• 1 cup orange juice
• 2 cups cranberry juice cocktail
• 28 ounces ginger ale, chilled

Combine the first four ingredients in a punch bowl and stir until sugar is dissolved. Spoon in sherbet. Pour ginger ale over all.

Serve some simple baby shower snacks such as croissants with ham and cheese, a veggie platter, some strawberries and a bowl of mixed nuts.

Now that you're all set, remember to relax and have fun! This baby shower is going to be a blast!

Amy Cordray runs a website full of cute baby shower ideas! She lives in WA state with her husband and 2 little girls.

Organic Baby Food - A Healthy Choice

As parents, there’s nothing we wouldn’t do for our children. And when it comes to our newborn baby we are constantly seeking those things that will give our child the greatest health advantage possible. It is not surprising, however, that there is a growing trend towards organic baby food and the myriad of benefits it can offer to its smallest consumers.

Organic food continues to grow in popularity as more and more people understand the benefits of eating food that is free of pesticides and chemicals. Organic farmers – within strictly enforced government guidelines – grow produce without the use of chemicals often used in traditional farming. They are committed to producing fruits and vegetables that are not in any way chemically altered. Organic agricultural farmers – that produce meat and dairy products – feed their animals only organic products; no supplements or chemicals of any kind are given to livestock or dairy cows.

If adults are receiving such tremendous benefits from organic food then it stands to reason that organic baby food could be just as healthy for infants. When babies reach the point that they can be introduced to solid foods, pediatricians advise that each food should be introduced one at a time to keep a careful eye for any food allergies. Organic baby food, because of its natural state - free of all harmful chemicals – provides another level of protection against allergies.

Further, because organic baby food is chemical free it is the safest thing for our environment. Subsequently, giving our children organic baby food ensures their health and the health of the planet on which they live.

Finding organic baby food can be as simple as visiting the nearest grocery store or health food store, depending on where you live. For those who have limited access to organic food, there are home delivery services that will bring the requested organic baby food straight to your door; a comprehensive list of such services can be found online.

Organic baby food shows your commitment to your children and the environment. Making small changes can go a long way to ensuring a lifetime of good health.

For easy to understand, in depth information about oganic food visit our ezGuide 2 Organic Food.

The Ultimate Baby Health - Making Your Own Baby Food

The ingredients that go into baby foods are the basis of early, healthy development. Babies will grow up fast, and will require different kinds of foods with different textures etc. Little ones need to have calcium, protein, vitamins, fat, carbohydrates and plenty of iron in their diets for physical and mental growth.

Here is a basic timeline for developing a baby’s eating habits: The first six months or so you will want to breast feed if at all possible. If breastfeeding is not possible, consult your doctor about which formula might be best for your baby. After the first months try the baby out on soft, almost watery purees, such as runny yogurt. After seven months your baby can handle lumpy foods, with the mushy consistency of foods like rice pudding, mashed bananas etc. etc. Once the baby has become nine months old, you can feed him or her soft foods that are diced or shredded into very small pieces, such as Vienna sausages and cheese. Try to use the same types of foods that you are eating for that meal, if possible. You will continue this manner of feeding until the child is one year old. By their first birthday, babies should be adapted to family foods cut into very small pieces, as well as whole milk.

It doesn’t take much time to make baked potatoes and mash them to a pulp for the baby. And other kinds of fruits and veggies such as avocados, bananas and pears require hardly any prep work at all. Blenders and food processors, even manual potato mashers produce suitably runny purees with minimal effort, so you don’t have to worry about time. A great plus, considering the overall eating habits of Americans today, is that by making these mini-meals you're more likely to have fresh produce in the house.

A baby needs a lot of vitamins and iron. Vitamins promote growth and healing. Iron is important for babies between 6 months and 2 years because it aids mental and physical development. Vitamin C helps babies absorb iron, so try to mix iron-fortified cereals with foods high in vitamin C.

Some good foods for your baby include foods like apricots, avocados, broccoli, butternut squash, cantaloupe, cauliflower, nectarines, peaches, pumpkins, rice cereal, and sweet potatoes.

Certain foods to avoid include: Gluten, which is a type of protein found in barley, rye, wheat and some oats—avoid feeding these to your baby until he or she is six months old at least, high-fiber foods should also be avoided, honey (honey should not be given to your baby until he or she is at least a year old) According to the American Academy of Pediatrics. There is a connection between honey and infant botulism, which is a potentially fatal illness.

Also, you will want to avoid nuts (not only can there be an allergic reaction to nuts, but they can also be a choking hazard. It is recommended that you do not feed your child nuts until he or she is at least five years of age.) Salt is another bad thing for babies under the age of one to consume. (Salts can strain their immature kidneys, as well as can cause dehydration.) Sugars are a no-no too. Try to save sugary snacks or deserts for rare occasions, and unpasteurized cheeses (which can promote listeria infection).

Talk to your doctor for more advice on making baby foods.

Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for websites on gardening, parenting, fashion, and home decor. Her background includes teaching and gardening. For more of her articles on parenting please visit Baby Care.

Having Fun at a Baby Shower

Planning to have baby shower? Try out these baby shower games!

How Big is Your Belly?

Have guests slice off a piece of string to the length they think the pregnant woman's belly is in circumference. The mom-to-be then wraps every string around her belly, one at a time, to see which piece is the closest. Whichever guest has the closest measurement is given a prize.

Guess the Baby

Have guests bring baby pictures of themselves in advance. Every guest must match the baby picture with the other guests. Whoever guesses the most right, receives a prize.

'My Water Broke!'

Buy some plastic babies and freeze them in ice cube trays. Place one in all of the guests' drinks. The first person whose baby breaks out of the ice and floats to the top, receives a prize. The winner has to yell, 'My water broke!'

Do not Say 'Cute'

Attach numerous small safety pins to one large safety pin. Ask the guests to attach the large safety pin to their shirt and tell them the forbidden word, i.e. 'cute' or 'baby' or anything else you might like. When a guest hears another guest say the prohibited word, they get to take one of that guest's safety pins. Whoever has the most safety pins by the end of the shower wins a prize. Cute is a good forbidden word if the mom-to-be will be opening presents at the shower.

Messy Diapers

Get a few candy bars and melt each one into a disposable diaper. Use a variety of candy bars that are less common to jazz it up. Label each diaper with a number and ask the guests to guess which candy bar is in the diaper. They can use their senses to guess the kind of candy- possibly even taste. Whoever gets the most diapers correct, wins a prize. Don't forget a camera!

Footprint and Handprint Advice

Cut out footprints and have guests write down advice or helpful hints on them. Place them in a scrapbook for the mother-to-be.

Stork Bingo

Take blank bingo cards and hand them out to each guest. Guests will fill in the bingo card by guessing what the mother-to-be is going to receive as a gift. While she opens her gifts, guests scratch off the item from their card. Whoever gets a bingo first, wins.

Word Scramble

Scramble up a list of baby related words. The guest who unscrambles all the words, receives a prize. .

Nursery Rhyme Lines

Write down one line from a nursery rhyme. Ask all the guests to guess which nursery rhyme the line is from. The person who gets the most right wins a prize.

Baby Food Mix-Up

Remove the labels from a bunch of different jars of baby food and re-label the jars. Ask the guests to guess the type of baby food by looking at the jar without opening it. A prize is given to the guest who guesses the most correctly.

Note: Use of this article requires links to be intact.

As a father of eight, Chris Dunn enjoys writing articles for the Baby Shower Games section of his childbirth website.

Pretty As A Picture Baby Shower Decorations

The baby shower decorations you choose can enhance your theme. Many elements go into creating the perfect baby shower, and baby shower decorations help create the mood of the baby shower theme.

Anything can be a decoration, so feel free to let your imagination go wild. Try these tips for baby shower decorations that help make your party a fun and fancy one.

Pink, blue, green or yellow don't have to be the only colors of choice for baby shower decorations. These days, traditional colors are fading from favor and many people are turning to brighter colors or colors in fashionable style for the season.

Go for purple or green, and add a splash of something brighter, like a bright red. Anything goes with baby shower themes!

The perfect baby shower decorations are simple, and practical is even better. Try decorating your baby shower themes with items that do double-duty as decorations and party favors or gifts.

Unopened jars of baby food can be used as balloon anchors, then given to the expectant mom after the shower. You can create a mood with lightly scented candles as baby shower decorations, and give them as shower favors before guests go home.

Another idea is to decorate the guest-of-honor chair with a baby gift clothesline. Hang a clothesline up, attaching one end to the chair, and decorate the line with baby blankets, clothes, booties, bibs, hooded towels, and other baby necessities attached by colorful clothes pins. Suggest that guests bring an item for the baby clothesline, too.

The gift display can be part of the baby shower decorations. Streamers and other decorations hung from an open umbrella above the gift table look very nice. Set up a baby's bassinet in a corner of the room.

From the ceiling above, hang tulle, a reasonably priced fabric available at any fabric store. Let the fabric drape and flow around the bassinet. As the gifts fill it, place the overflow on the ground around the bassinet for a show-stopping centerpiece.

If you don't have a bassinet, use a larger gift the mommy-to-be will receive instead. This baby shower decoration results in a lovely photo for the baby memory book.

An edible centerpiece can play important part of the baby shower decorations. Carve a watermelon into the shape of a baby carriage and use it as the table centerpiece.

Placing the watermelon lengthwise, cut one quarter out then scoop out the inside. Carve a zigzag edge around the canopy top. Slice up other types of fruit and re-fill the watermelon.

Decorate with ribbon around the edge to make the centerpiece look frilly. Any presentation of food can be part of the shower theme as well as the baby shower decorations.

Keep your baby shower decorations simple. If you don't have a lot of time to spare for elaborate baby shower themes, you may want to consider decorating the night before or enlist the help of other guests.

The simplicity of your plan and the extra help will go a long way to keep your stress levels low and enable you to enjoy the event as much as everyone else.

Educate yourself about baby shower decorations from Mike Selvon portal and be able to throw baby showers with style and flair. We appreciate your feedback and welcome your comments at our baby showers blog.

Make Your Own Baby Food

It is becoming more common for parents to make their own baby food. The rising number of recalls and outbreaks from store bought items can make anyone stop and think about this. Also, making your own can save on your grocery bill. Please note that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends beginning solid foods between four to six months old, but many doctors suggest waiting until they are at least six months old.

The very first solid food that your little one should be introduced to is a single grain cereal, and breast milk or formula should remain the primary source of their nutrition. Once they are eating cereals well you can begin to offer different foods.

There are many simple and cost effective foods that you can start out with. Bananas, potatoes, peaches, sweet peas, and avocados are only a few of them you can try. As with any foods, always make sure you only introduce one new food every few days. This is especially true if your family has any history of food allergies. If you are only letting your little one have a new food every few days, it will make it much easier to spot any potential problems foods.

If your baby is at least six months old you can probably get away with mashing any of the foods with your fork to a consistency that is good for them. If they are younger, you can use a food processor or blender. There are gadgets on the market made specifically for mashing foods like this for babies. However, they can be expensive and difficult to clean out.

It can be very easy to incorporate your baby’s food from whatever it is you are already preparing for the rest of your family. If you are making steak and potatoes, simply take a small part of the potato and mash it up to the desired consistency. No extra effort, very little time, and you didn’t have to pay a dollar for a tiny serving of food. If you have some veggies included in your family’s dinner, why not set aside a small bit of them once soft, and mash them up? If you add salt or any kind of spices, be sure to take out your little one’s serving before doing so.

On the other hand, if you prefer to do things in advance, there is a multitude of ways to prepare weeks worth of baby food. One of the easiest methods is to prepare the foods that you choose, and then fill ice cube trays with them. You can simply put it in the freezer and take out a block each time you want to serve some to your little one.

Making your own baby food does not have to be time consuming or expensive; it can take as little time as you want (taking from the meal you are already preparing), or you can make an afternoon of it. Just be sure to watch them for any problem foods and not to introduce too many at a time.

For more Parenting Guide please visit our blog http://www.caringparent.org

www.caringparent.org

How to Make Quick, Easy and Healthy Homemade Baby Food

Why make your own baby food?

By making your own baby food you can have total control over what you feed your baby and you will know that what they are eating is free from salt, sugar, additives and fillers which are sometimes found in shop bought food.

You can choose to use only the freshest, highest quality produce and if you wish to make organic baby food then use only organic fruit and vegetables and away you go. However, if you are short of time then you could use freshly frozen vegetables in your own homemade baby food. It is very easy to make your own baby food – all you need is a kitchen or hand blender and fresh ingredients. And as an added bonus, if you make large amounts of his or her favourite meals you can freeze them and you’ll then be able to serve healthy, wholesome food in minutes and for every meal of the week.

And if the thought of making your healthy, wholesome baby food is not enough, then how about the added incentive of saving money and the environment! Homemade baby food will cost much less to make that the equivalent shop bought products – and you will not have an endless supply of empty jars to have to recycle!

The cooking process...

Most foods will need to be baked, cooked or steamed (the exception to this are bananas, avocados and melons) until they are nice and soft. Once cooked, put them in a blender to be pureed, add a little of the cooking water to make them the necessary consistency and hey presto - wholesome, homemade baby food just like that.

Steaming is the best way to preserve nutrients, and it also is the best way to keep the fresh taste of the fruit and vegetables. Why not buy a multi layered steamer and cook different vegetables at once? The excess can be pureed and frozen for future meals. Boiling is a perfectly good alternative if you don’t have a steamer, put the vegetables into a saucepan, just cover with water, and boil until tender.

Why not try baking some of the vegetables in the oven? Veggies such as potatoes, sweet potato and winter squashes are great when baked. Cook them until tender, scoop the flesh out of the skin and mash with a fork. What could be simpler?

Puréeing...

A food processor can be used to purée large quantities of food – and is also useful for many other aspects of home cooking. But if you don’t have a processor, or don’t want to have to invest in one, why not buy a hand blender? These tend to be cheaper – and it is probably easier to find a space for one in your kitchen!

Storage...

If you prepare a large batch of food it can be poured into ice cube trays and then frozen - future meals in minutes! The flexible trays are best, and once the food is frozen just store the cubes in well sealed freezer bags – remember to label them though and it’s also helpful to add an expiry date (6 weeks from making the food is about right!)

And finally…

And one last reason……homemade baby food is much tastier than its shop bought equivalents. Your baby deserves to eat delicious, homemade food just as much as we do!!

More tips and suggestions for homemade baby food recipes can be found at http://www.homemade-baby-recipes.com

Safe Baby Food Recipes - Go For These Mouth-Watering And Hygienic Recipes For Your Darling Baby

Being a mother how much do you love your baby?

Do you really take care for your sweetheart baby?

Now you might be thinking that the author of this article is so stupid to ask such questions from a mother! Of course, every mother loves her baby more than anything else...

But let me explain one thing to you, sweet mama.

There are very few mothers, who really make efforts to maintain proper hygiene for their baby. Just thinking to make your baby healthy for a lifetime is not enough. What you need is the proper way to prepare hygienic recipes for your baby according to his/her age requirements.

So, to help you all sweet and caring mothers, here are a few recipes especially for your o-so-lovable babies:

1. Peach Cobbler – For 6 Months And Over

INGREDIENTS:

3 canned peaches (into 6 halves) or 3 ripe peaches

1 egg yolk (for babies who are 6-10 months old, omit egg yolk and thicken with an infant cereal)

1 teaspoon sugar

METHOD:

Peel the peaches into small pieces and dice them. Mash the mixture to your desired consistency. Now beat in the egg yolk and sugar until it gets smooth (for 6-10 months old infants, omit egg yolk and add infant cereal by 1 tablespoon until you get the thickness you desire).

Finally, bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes or until it sets. Cool before serving and Enjoy!

2. Tomato Pasta - For 10 Months And Over

INGREDIENTS:

1 tablespoon margarine

1/4 cup cheddar or mild cheese, finely grated

1 large tomato, skinned, seeded and chopped

1 teaspoon baby rice

1 tablespoon cottage cheese

1/2 cup small pasta shapes

METHOD:

Cook the pasta according to the instructions on the pack. Melt the margarine in a saucepan, add tomato to it and then cook over a low heat for not more than two minutes. Remove the pan from heat. Add the cheeses until they melt into a sauce.

Finally, stir in the baby rice. Pour the sauce over the cooked pasta and serve. And Tomato Pasta for your baby is ready to serve.

So, how was the experience, lady! I am quite sure you will thank me for this. You can also check out for some more tempting ones on my website.

Navneet Brar provides you with a rich collection of Hygienic Baby Food Recipes. These recipes are for all you sweet and caring mamas to make your baby’s eyes twinkling. Check these out!