Baby Food Facts & Recipes

Did you know that baby does not need rice cereal as a first food?

Baby's first taste of solid food should be a single ingredient, age appropriate first food. Great choices for first foods for babies, as many pediatric resources are now acknowledging, are tasty and creamy avocado, banana and sweet potato. These healthy and nutritious foods make really great first foods for baby.

These recipes for fresh homemade first foods for baby are idea first foods to introduce to your baby between the ages of (4) and 6 months old. Many parents still begin to introduce solid foods (complimentary or weaning foods) to their babies prior to the age of 6 months olds. These recipes acknowledge and accommodate this fact. Ideally, babies should have nothing but breast milk and/or formula during the first 6 months of life.

Nutritious and Tasty & Wholesome Baby Food for First Food Feedings  (4-6 months)

Avocado - a great first food for baby, avocados burst with essential fats and nutrients that a growing baby needs. Smooth and creamy, avocados are easily digested and well tolerated by most babies!

Vitamins:  A, C, Niacin, Folate  
Minerals: Potassium, Phosphorus, Iron, Magnesium, Calcium

1. Peel and take out the pit of a ripe avocado - do not cook
2. Cut “meat” out and mash with a fork
3. There should be no need to use a machine as just like bananas, avocados have a very soft consistency and texture. Avocados do not need to be cooked
4. Add formula/breast milk or water to thin or add cereal (if desired) to thicken up.

Bananas - bananas are another great first food for your baby. Research indicates that bananas and their mucosal properties actually help coat the tummy and help aid indigestion. Bananas are sweet, which may help baby more readily accept the first food experience. Learn more about bananas and if it's true that sweet fruits and veggies should not be introduced first.

Vitamins:  A, C, Folate  
Minerals: Potassium, Phosphorus, Selenium, Magnesium, Calcium

1. Peel a ripe banana - do not cook
2. Place banana in a food processor/food mill or blender and puree
3. You can also mash the banana in a bowl using a regular fork – heat in microwave for 25 seconds prior to mashing for extra softness
4. Add formula/breast milk or water to thin or add cereal (if desired) to thicken up.

Organic Brown Rice Cereal - Did you know that baby's first food does not have to be a commercial infant rice cereal? Many pediatric resources are acknowledging the fact that avocado, banana and sweet potato make great first foods for baby.

If you decide to make homemade baby cereal, make it with brown rice (organic if preferred). Whole grains are more healthy and nutritious for your baby (and for the whole family). 

1/4 c. rice powder (organic brown rice ground in blender or food processor) 

1 cup water

1. Bring liquid to boil in saucepan. Add the rice powder while stirring constantly. 
3. Simmer for 10 minutes, whisking constantly, mix in formula or breast milk and fruits if desired
Serve warm.

Pears
Vitamins: A, C, Folate  
Minerals: Potassium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Calcium

 1. Peel and cut into chunks so as to avoid the little seed portion. 
2. Steam gently until tender;
3. Place in a blender/food processor and puree until smooth. You may be able to just use a fork too.
4. Use the leftover cooking water if needed but Pears tend to be very runny and watery without adding liquid - Add some baby cereal to thicken if needed.

Acorn or Butternut Squash (winter)

1. Cut acorn, hubbard, or butternut squash in half, scoop out seeds
2. Place an inch of water in a baking pan, then place squash halves "face" down in the pan. Check on water level while baking
3. Bake in a 400 degree oven for 40 minutes or until the “shell/skin” puckers and halves feel soft then scoop squash “meat” out of the shell
4. Place squash "meat" into your choice of appliance for pureeing and begin pureeing. 
5. Add water as necessary to achieve a smooth, thin consistency.
6. You can also peel the squash, scoop out the seeds and then cut into chunks and boil/steam until tender (like when boiling potatoes for mashed potatoes)
7. Follow steps 4 and 5

Yams/Sweet Potato

Vitamins: A (24,877 mg ), C, Folate 

Minerals: Potassium, Sodium, Selenium, Phosphorous, Magnesium, Calcium

1. Wash and poke holes in sweet potato with fork then wrap sweet 

potatoes in tin foil - do not peel for baking/microwaving. (you can also do 

this in the microwave - only use plastic wrap and cook for 8 minutes on

high or until tender)

2. Place in a 400 degree oven and bake for 30 minutes or until soft.

3. OR

4. Peel sweet potatoes and cut into small chunks
5. Place chunks into a pan with just enough water to slightly cover potato
6. "Steam" boil until tender, be sure to check on the water level.
7. Reserve any left over water to use for thinning out the sweet potatoes
8. If you have baked your sweet potato, remove skins and use liquid from your preferred source
9. Place sweet potato into your choice of appliance for pureeing and begin pureeing. 

10. Add the reserved water or other liquid as necessary to achieve a smooth, thin consistency minutes or until a knife inserted near center comes out clean.

Mango (6-8 months - sometimes over 8 months) 

Vitamins:  A (1262 IU in one cup.), C, E, K, Folate  

Minerals:  Potassium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Calcium, Sodium

1 Ripe Mango
Peel, Deseed and mash Mango until smooth

Add  formula/breast milk or water to thin or add cereal (if desired) to thicken up. 

Apples (Applesauce)

Vitamins: A, C, Folate 
Minerals: Potassium, Magnesium, Calcium 

This recipe is written so that you may use any amount of apples 

you wish. 

1. Peel, core and cut apple into slices/chunks 

2. Place slices or chunks into a pan with just enough water to 

slightly cover apples

3. Boil/steam until tender; be sure to check on the water level 

and stir.

 4. Apples may be mashed with a potato masher to achieve a smooth applesauce consistency. 

If your masher will not achieve a puree type of consistency, then follow steps 5 – 7

5. Reserve any left over water to use for thinning out the apples

6. Place into your choice of appliance for pureeing and begin pureeing. 

7. Add the reserved water as necessary to achieve a smooth, thin puree

8. Add cereal (if desired) to thicken up the

9. Ask your pediatrician about adding some cinnamon for new tastes.

HINT.  You may also buy an "Adult" jar of Natural applesauce from your local grocers.  Make

sure you buy Natural Applesauce however. Read the labels if you are unsure.  The only 

ingredients should be apples and water or just apples.  A few companies may add ascorbic 

acid (vitamin C) or citric acid to their Natural Applesauce; this is fine.

Salt and sugar are never needed when making baby food. Omit these items, preferably at ALL times, in your baby's meals. Other spices such as cinnamon, garlic powder, pepper etc. may be introduced as early as 7 months with your pediatricians consult.

 

Child Care Tips

Every parents want to nourish their children in a loving, caring and secured atmosphere. The parents would want to give proper care and attention to the little ones, especially during their initial stages of development. As far as child care is concerned, everything, starting from their health, hygiene to safety at home and outside the home needs to be considered. We are here to help you with some child care tips. In this section, you will learn about how to give baby massage, car seat safety tips for babies and young children, facing challenges of diapering babies, weaning babies from breast or bottle, soothe a colic baby and to deal with insisting cries of a toddler to be always held.

Baby Massage
Baby massage is a good old tradition of nurturing the infants, followed by people since centuries. The conventional method of massaging the body parts of the baby with oil helps strengthen the immune system of the infants. The moms take immense pleasure in massaging the soft and delicate skin Apart from being a therapy for strengthening the muscles; baby massage is a nice way to bond with the child. of the infants. However, they should know how to give proper massage, so that the baby gets all the benefits of the therapy.

Car safety seats
Car safety seats, as the name suggests, are primarily designed to protect the children from the impact of an accident in a car. Such seats shield the child during an accident and reduce injuries on a sudden jerk. Child car safety seats are available in a variety of types, designs and with unique features. It is important to purchase the right type of car seats, so that the children can enjoy a safe ride, every time they get into the vehicle. This is because children placed in the wrong type of seat are more prone to accidents.

Colic Soothers
Generally, an infant cries when he/she is hungry or unable to sleep. However, if the baby cries for longer hours continuously, probably he/she is suffering from some ailment. One of the most common health problems suffered by babies is colic. It generally occurs in a baby aged between 3 weeks and 3 months. Immature nervous system in the little ones is the prime reason for the occurrence of colic. Learning how to deal with colic babies is very important, because the baby whimpers all the time, which causes frustration, deprivation of sleep and exhaustion in parents.

Carrying The Growing Baby
Many toddlers, who already know how to walk well, often insist on being carried by their parents. The babies, perhaps, like to view the world at the same height of the elder ones. They might be eager to enjoy a trip to explore the world around them, by resting on the shoulder of their parents. Other factors prompting the babies to be carried by the parents may include insecurity in the presence of strangers. While carrying the growing baby, the parent should make sure that he/she is held comfortably.

Diapering Fidgeting Babies
Diapering a baby is one of the intimidating tasks for the parents, especially when the little ones fidget. While many parents know how to hold their babies in the correct position and tie the diaper, others are not adept at doing the job effortlessly. It becomes even more challenging for the parents, when the baby wobbles and tires to push the diaper with his/her legs. Simple techniques can help the parents to diaper the baby without making the little one cry or become restless.

Weaning Strategies for Babies
Many parents find the transition period of switching from breastfeeding to bottle feeding, called weaning, quite hard to cope with. By the time the babies are one year old, most of the parents stop nursing their children. During the process of transition, it is important to consider the gentle weaning strategies that are recommended by the doctors, so that the baby drinks in bottle and cups happily, without showing any discomfort.

Four Steps for New Moms

As you emerge from the cocoon of the early postpartum period, it is time to start getting to know your new self. This may feel like a time of flux, when you decide which parts of your old life can be carried over or adapted to fit your new life as a parent. This period may be accompanied by feelings of exhilaration, pride, exhaustion, confusion, being overwhelmed—or all of the above.
There is a danger of losing your connection with your own identity. At the same time, the opportunity to reinvent one’s self can be a precious gift; one that offers freedom to make radical changes. This journey may lead you to reshape your career, examine your priorities, start a new venture, or rekindle long-dormant interests.
Phase One: Survival Mode
Be gentle and generous with yourself during this period of settling in, recovering physically and emotionally, and getting to know your new baby. Enjoy the positive aspects of life inside the cocoon and remember that your baby will grow beyond this sometimes-unsettled newborn stage. If you plan to return to work soon after your baby is born, make sure you arrange the help you need to ensure your rest and recovery and to meet the baby’s needs. Help can come in many forms. In addition to paid child care, you may consider asking family or friends, or hiring someone to cook, clean, do yard work, or take over the family accounting and bill paying. You need to be able to focus on your baby and older children, yourself, and your partner at this time.
Getting outside assistance for tasks will help you conserve your energy for the things only you can do. It is impossible to hire someone to sleep for you, so it is perfectly legitimate to arrange for help with housework and childcare so that you can take a nap. Your physical wellbeing is a key for success now and in the long run, for you and your whole family.
Phase Two: Incubating Your Desires
Your desire to pursue your interests may return before you can practically arrange to pursue them, leading to a period that feels uncomfortable and restrictive. Rather than fighting this restlessness, you can explore it to find out what you really do want to do. Ask yourself what you would want to do if you did have free time to spend. What would you do with two hours, a free afternoon, or a day on your own? Which of these can you realistically arrange?
Make sure that your partner understands that having time to yourself is important, even if you just get away to browse in your favorite bookstore, take a walk by yourself, or commiserate with friends at a Moms’ Night Out. This is not wasted or selfish time, but a precious opportunity to recharge your batteries and maintain your interests and strong relationships with your friends.
When you are watching over your child, even if he is sound asleep in another room, there is a powerful sense of “mom vigilance” that is always humming in the background of your mind. This powerful survival tool is an amazing gift and skill. However, it is draining to have your subconscious radar turned on 24/7, which is why I advocate the absolute necessity of creating regular opportunities for personal time.
Phase Three: Setting Priorities and Goals
Once you have cultivated your desires, you will begin to act on them. Remember that you need to become a master at setting priorities and sticking to them. Adjusting to life as a new mom can be overwhelming. You may be dismayed by just how much more housework there is once you have a child. I remember a tearful conversation with my husband when our daughter was a baby, in which I said, “You have no idea how much work it is to keep this place looking just bad instead of disgusting!” Housework is unrelenting—there is always something that could be done, and the mess you clean up in the morning returns in full force by the evening. To set my priorities, I use three criteria to evaluate any activity trying to make its way onto my to-do list. Is the activity fun, meaningful, or absolutely necessary? If it is none of these, the demand can be respectfully declined or let go without any guilt or explanation other than, “I won’t be able to take that on right now.” Resist the temptation to apologize or over explain your reasons for saying “no.” Remember that you are not doing anyone a favor by taking on a responsibility that you are ill equipped to manage.
Phase Four: Baby Steps toward Your Goals
As this process unfolds, you may develop some big goals that will take time to fulfill, as well as smaller changes that you can implement now. If you are staying at home but have an idea for a career you’d like to rejoin or start in the future, take time to research that field, and think about signing up for a reasonable schedule of additional training you may need or volunteer opportunities to keep your skills honed. If you are employed as well as fulfilling home obligations, you may focus on achieving balance in a hectic schedule and making sure there is still time reserved for yourself.
A good way to deepen your relationships with your female friends is to get together as a group to discuss your long-term goals. This is, of course, also an excellent discussion to have with your life partner. Sometimes I find it easier to have free-ranging discussions with my women friends first, then discuss the results with my problem-solving, solutions-oriented husband after I have a more concrete goal in mind. Brainstorm initial steps you can reasonably take to head in the direction of your dreams, creating a time line of short, medium, and long-term goals. If you start preparing now, when the day arrives that your children are ready for independent schedules away from home (whether that is daycare or school), you will be ready to take larger strides toward your own goals.