http://www.babies-and-toddler-spot.com/Babies-blog.html Welcome to our Babies and Toddler Spot Blog. We have wonderful in depth information for parents. We have provided many tips and how to guides to get you started off on the right foot. en-us Babies Thu, 24 Jul 2008 20:00:37 GMT Thu, 24 Jul 2008 20:00:37 GMT babies-and-toddler-spot.com http://www.babies-and-toddler-spot.com/baby-cotton-cloth-diaper.html Not only are cloth diapers available now, but they are becoming more popular all the time. They are the obvious choice if you want to prevent more garbage from going in the landfills while saving mone Tue, 22 Apr 2008 02:04:30 GMT http://www.babies-and-toddler-spot.com/baby-care-product-organic.html You may wonder why you should worry about using organic baby care products on your new child. Tue, 22 Apr 2008 02:03:28 GMT http://www.babies-and-toddler-spot.com/Babies-blog.html#Nap-Time-News-Newsletter-#-003 Nap Time News Newsletter # 003 http://babiesandtoddlerspot.com This week: 1. Princess Party Birthday Theme Homemade Party Invitation Ideas 2. Easter Basket Ideas for Boys and Girls Easter Game Ideas for Kids 3. Product Reviews 4. Recipes 5. How to use a timer to keep the house clean. 6. March Special Report with Bonus Sun, 16 Mar 2008 02:09:21 GMT http://www.babies-and-toddler-spot.com/Babies-blog.html#Baby-Bedding It is important that you choose baby bedding that is not only attractive but is also safe for your baby and this is determined by the materials that the bedding is made out of. Contrary to what a lot of people believe there can be considerable differences in the quality and safety of bedding even though there are strict regulations in place to determine whether bedding is safe or not. Often the lower quality baby bedding products that are sourced from some overseas countries aren't up to a suitable standard to ensure that your baby is going to be safe at all times. While the authorities try to regulate against the introduction of materials that could be detrimental to your child's health there have been many occasions over recent years where products such as baby bedding and other baby related products have proven to be unsafe even after they have been on the market for some time. It is usually best to buy from reputable stores where they try to maintain a good level of quality with all their products and only sell child care products and baby bedding where they know that they have been tested for safety including such things as flammability and also for other factors such as ensuring that the fibers don't irritate your child or get inhaled. There is also the concern that some products are made of materials or have dyes and colours that could affect your child's health. Many more manufacturers are using natural fibres in their products these days that are less likely to cause allergic reactions to the sensitive skin of young babies. Natural fibres often allow your baby's skin to breathe a lot better while they are sleeping as opposed to synthetic products and that is another reason why more and more people are choosing natural bedding products rather than their synthetic counterparts. The size and the design of the bedding can also improve safety by allowing you to be able to tuck in the corners of the bedding insuring that it doesn't get wrapped around your child especially once they get little bit older and start moving about in the bed. Sun, 16 Mar 2008 02:04:16 GMT http://www.babies-and-toddler-spot.com/Babies-blog.html#Stress-and-Time-Management-for-a-New-Parent Holding your baby is one of the most important aspects in its development as it creates a bond of security trust and reassurance. Nothing in the world can replace the comforting arms of a mother or father for a baby. Initially your baby will have very little strength in its neck and will not be able to support the weight of its head so you will need to offer this support when you or anyone else holds your baby. If other children in your family want to hold the newborn they will need to be made aware of this so they can offer support too. Children should be taught to be very careful and everyone should handle the baby with the utmost care by keeping movements slow and smooth whilst still offering sufficient support. If young children are cuddling the baby it is safest if they are holding them over a soft surface such as your bed and you should never leave them alone even for an instant. Men are generally a little anxious to hold a baby as they fear they could do some damage to something so delicate however a baby will feel secure if it is fully supported when being held. Once the baby is a little older it becomes a bit easier to handle as it will have developed the strength to hold up it's own head with increased strength of the neck muscles and this will allow the use of a baby carrier that both the mother and the father can use. Getting the father to help reduces the strain that gets placed upon the mother's back from constantly having to pick up and carry a young child around. With the baby held in an upright position and its head draped across your shoulder it will in the ideal position to rock it to sleep comfortably while remain fully supported even when very young and lacking in neck muscle strength. Mon, 03 Mar 2008 05:05:26 GMT http://www.babies-and-toddler-spot.com/babies-and-toddler-newsletter.html Babies and Toddler Spot Newsletter: Take a look through our site for our free downloads and email tips! Do you want more free information? If so, sign up for our Newsletter (ezine) Nap Time News. Sun, 24 Feb 2008 17:03:30 GMT http://www.babies-and-toddler-spot.com/baby-food-tips-email.html Get free how to make and store baby food tips by email. Sun, 24 Feb 2008 17:00:21 GMT http://www.babies-and-toddler-spot.com/Babies-blog.html#Finances One thing that is a big concern for many new parents is the additional expense that is involved with having a baby in the family. The additional expenses can place more stress on parents who are trying to cope with big changes in their life and at the same time managing all this with possibly less sleep than they are accustomed to. There are many things that need to be purchased to care for a new baby and these expenses will continue to mount as the child begins to grow. Buying baby care products online can save a considerable amount of money and ease the financial burden as these online baby care stores are able to sell cheaper due to lower overheads and they usually are able to give you a far more comprehensive choice in virtually all areas of baby products. Another online option that you can consider is to on sell items that you no longer need for your child on sites such as ebay that will help you to recover some of your previous expenditure freeing up funds for future purchases of necessities. It certainly helps to engage some financial planning before the arrival of your child and after the birth and maintain a budget that will allow you to afford the necessities thereby reducing the additional burden of financial stress. Good planning can save a lot of money while still allowing you to give your child the care that is required for a good healthy and happy upbringing. The sooner you tackle any financial demands that you have the easier it will be in the future and the reduced stress levels will also help you to enjoy your child in a happier atmosphere. Provided your child is getting the essentials then the most important thing at the end of the day is the time that you can give and the support that will mean more to your child than all the money in the world. Sun, 24 Feb 2008 15:22:41 GMT http://www.babies-and-toddler-spot.com/Babies-blog.html#Diaper-Rash Diaper rash is something that you will have to deal with on a regular basis as it is just a part of life for a baby in the first year or so. The most likely cause of diaper rash is from wetness where even the most absorbent nappies won't take all the moisture away from the skin. As a baby's skin is very sensitive it doesn't take much to develop diaper rash. The longer a baby is left in a damp diaper the more chance it will have of developing diaper rash. This is only made worse when there is feces in the diaper as the bacteria from the stool will mix with the urine creating ammonia which is particularly harsh on a baby's skin. Moisture in the diaper also makes chafing worse and as chafing is one of the reasons for diaper rash the combination of the two can make for a very unhappy child. Once again cleanliness will help reduce the problem however even the detergents that you use to clean nappies can cause a reaction with your baby's skin and this can be another cause of diaper rash. Chafing can be reduced by powders or the use or petroleum jelly but even some of the powders can cause sensitivities with some babies. You can see how there are many different factors that need to be considered when trying to solve your baby's rashes. A change of food for your child and in particular when moving to solids can also cause a problem as the composition of the stool will change and there is likely to be more stool movements which will necessitate diaper changes more often. Because diapers are warm and moist the incidence of bacteria and yeast are increased and this can cause infections in the folds of the baby's skin. Diaper rash can be anything from very mild where it will only appear as puffy or warm skin to more severe where the skin is red and irritated and causes your baby discomfort even when lightly touched. For more Information: http://www.babies-and-toddler-spot.com/diaper-rash-remedy-cure.html Fri, 22 Feb 2008 14:53:34 GMT http://www.babies-and-toddler-spot.com/Babies-blog.html#Bottle-Feeding-Your-Baby Whether by necessity or choice you might decide that bottle feeding is best for you and your baby. If that is the case then here are some tips worth considering ensuring that your baby's health is always well cared for. Naturally when feeding your baby on formula you will need to read the instructions supplied with the formula and not deviate from the recommended procedure. It is possible to reduce the degree of nutrition your baby will be getting if you start to alter the recommended mixtures. Once you find a formula that your baby is happy with this will ensure that they will be getting their required daily nutritional needs as they will be more likely to have formula that they enjoy consuming. Some formulas can cause allergic reactions in babies and it might take a little while before you find the one that is suitable for your child. Cleanliness is one of the most important factors that you need to consider when using formula and bottles will need to be properly cleaned at all times. You should never refill a bottle that has been used with more formula until it has been properly cleaned as it is too risky for your child's health. Bacteria can form when old formula is left in a bottle. Never share bottles that other mothers have been using with their children and don't mix formulas or dilute one formula with another. Cow milk isn't recommended for younger children as it cannot be digested properly. It is not until your child is approximately one year old before they can digest cow milk sufficiently to get the benefit of the nutrition that is available. If you find that your baby isn't increasing in weight as normally expected consult with your doctor and see whether a different formula might be more suitable or if there are other factors that might be causing a deficiency in nutritional levels. Another thing that can cause degradation in the nutritional quality of the formula is if you freeze it for use at a later date. This is something that should never be done. Fri, 15 Feb 2008 15:21:39 GMT http://www.babies-and-toddler-spot.com/Babies-blog.html#Feeding-Your-Baby The easiest way to feed your baby is also the best and that is by breast feeding. Some women do however experience some problems initially but with the right advice most will overcome these problems and find that breastfeeding is convenient as there is always a ready supply available for the baby whenever it is needed. Breast milk is the best form of food that you can give your baby for maintaining good nutrition. Some women are opposed to breast feeding for various different reasons but don't let any preconceived ideas or opinions from ill informed individuals affect your decision making. It is acceptable to breast feed anywhere these days and that has made the decision for many women all the easier although some people still feel somewhat embarrassed to breastfeed in public places. If breastfeeding causes any form of pain or discomfort discuss this with your medical professional and see if the problem can be resolved. If there are ongoing problems then there might be no alternative than to use baby formula milk powders and bottle feeding. Fortunately the formulas for babies have improved considerably over the years and you will be happy to know that babies will get excellent nutrition from baby formula. There will be the added work of having to ensure complete cleanliness at all times with the baby's bottle and the need to have some way to warm the milk which makes it less convenient than breast milk but they are minor things that you will learn to deal with and plan for if you need to go places. One of the biggest advantages of breast milk is the fact that it is always ready should the baby require feeding and initially this can be at any time of the day or night and you can imagine how much easier that will be if your baby wakes up in the early hours of the morning expecting to be fed. Keep a watch on your baby's weight when breast feeding to ensure that it is getting enough nutrition to gain weight and if not talk to your doctor. Tue, 12 Feb 2008 11:59:35 GMT http://www.babies-and-toddler-spot.com/baby-food-breastfeeding.html Even when baby gets ready for solid Baby food he or she still requires Breastfeeding or Sun, 10 Feb 2008 06:07:44 GMT http://www.babies-and-toddler-spot.com/baby-food.html Infants can begin solid baby foods, homemade baby food or organic food also, between four and six months of age. Sun, 10 Feb 2008 05:07:37 GMT http://www.babies-and-toddler-spot.com/bathing-a-baby.html Bathing a baby may be a bit intimidating at first, but youll soon find out how simple it can be. Remember that young babies do not need a bath every day. Sun, 10 Feb 2008 03:49:02 GMT http://www.babies-and-toddler-spot.com/diaper-rash-remedy-cure.html Diaper Rash Remedy: By removing excess moisture from the area and keeping babys bottom clean, many rashes are prevented before they get started. Sun, 10 Feb 2008 03:39:06 GMT http://www.babies-and-toddler-spot.com/Babies-blog.html#Mixed-Emotions-with-a-New-Baby It is not uncommon for you to have mixed emotions when your baby is born as there are many changes to your hormones during pregnancy and for many new mothers it can take some time before they feel a bond with their new baby. You should not question your ability to be a good mother due to these emotions as it is something that many women experience. Having an understanding partner or the help and support of friends and family will go a long way to help you get through this period should it happen to you. On the other hand you will also have to attend to the needs of your newborn and having friends and family around too often can actually make it difficult for you to concentrate on developing a relationship with your baby. A newborns senses and reflexes are surprising well developed right from the beginning of their life. In some circumstances where you and the baby are forced to be apart after childbirth, where there might be some additional care required by the hospital nursing staff and doctors in special care units, you will need time to be with your baby and start developing your bond. It is a big change to your life to have a newborn baby and such a change can take time to get accustomed to so don't try to rush things along and always follow the advice of your doctor. Once you start getting involved more in the care of your baby you might find that any strange emotions begin to subside and you will begin to feel the love that you expected towards your child. You should always feel free to discuss anything that is concerning you and in particular your doctor and nurses as they are dealing with similar situations on a daily basis and it is better to listen to informed advice rather than the opinions of people who might not understand the situation. Such feelings might not affect you whatsoever but it always good to know the facts in advance should this happen to you as you will be better able to deal with it. Thu, 07 Feb 2008 17:09:40 GMT http://www.babies-and-toddler-spot.com/Babies-blog.html#Baby-shampoo-study-raises-chemical-concerns This was posted today at MSNBC http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22979800/from/ET/ Subject: Baby shampoo study raises chemical concerns Baby shampoos, lotions and powders may expose infants to chemicals that have been linked with possible reproductive problems, a small study suggests. Read our article at: http://www.babies-and-toddler-spot.com/baby-skin-care-product.html And also: http://www.babies-and-toddler-spot.com/baby-care-product-organic.html Wed, 06 Feb 2008 18:04:43 GMT http://www.babies-and-toddler-spot.com/Babies-blog.html#Developing-Proper-Routines-at-Bedtime The best way to make sure that you have a baby that sleeps well is to develop consistent routines that create good habits as this is the key to successful sleep patterns. If your baby associates particular activities with sleep such as feeding, bathing and burping at the same times every day then it will become a lot easier for sleep to come naturally as you will be helping to develop the habit of sleep. Other factors that will help to induce the right sleep patterns are for you to put your baby down for sleep in the same locations each day or night. This is another way of developing habit patterns and it also makes it easier on the child as they will be in familiar surroundings when they awake each time. Familiar sounds can also help to induce sleep and you should always make the lead up to sleep a calm and happy time for your baby as the results will be far more effective. Once you settle on a pattern that seems to be working stick with it and try to improve upon the results that you get rather than jumping from one technique to another to get your baby to sleep as this will only add confusion and make sleep time more difficult. The more that the same pattern is followed the more effective it will become and the easier it will be to get your baby off to sleep each night or even during the day if you develop patterns for daily naps. You need to persevere with setting the scene for sleep as it will get easier the more you do it. While it might seem a bit of an ordeal initially the benefits will far outweigh the time it takes finding the right balance in your child's pre-sleep regime. Wed, 06 Feb 2008 03:13:16 GMT http://www.babies-and-toddler-spot.com/Baby-Nursery-Designing.html When designing the baby nursery, it is important to understand that your child Wed, 06 Feb 2008 00:55:47 GMT http://www.babies-and-toddler-spot.com/homemade-baby-food.html Homemade Baby Food mayfbe for you if you have concerns as to what ingredients commercial baby foods may contain. Sun, 03 Feb 2008 21:40:02 GMT http://www.babies-and-toddler-spot.com/free-baby-coupons-frugal-tip.html Free baby coupons and other Frugal Baby ideas are easy to get. We have many ways to meet babys needs without breaking the bank. Sun, 03 Feb 2008 20:23:42 GMT http://www.babies-and-toddler-spot.com/baby-coupons-save-money.html Baby Coupons are a great way to save money on expensive baby supplies. There are a lot of coupons available for disposable diapers, formula, baby wipes, baby food and lots of other i Sun, 03 Feb 2008 20:21:39 GMT http://www.babies-and-toddler-spot.com/convertible-baby-cribs.html Convertible baby cribs, bassinet, or a Moses Basket . What is yourbaby is going to need to be safe and secure at night so you can sleep well also! Sun, 03 Feb 2008 17:28:17 GMT http://www.babies-and-toddler-spot.com/index.html Do you have babies or a toddler? If so we have spot on information for you! Breastfeeding, Baby Food, Nursery Furniture and Much More.... Sat, 02 Feb 2008 15:09:00 GMT http://www.babies-and-toddler-spot.com/Babies-blog.html#Administering-Medications-to-Your-Baby Administering Medications to Your Baby Whenever your child needs medication you need to be careful that you only give the precise dose as recommended by your doctor. While adults and older children might be able to get away with doses that are 'close enough' this is very risky for a baby. Being so much smaller you need to be aware that even a small variance in the dose can have a dramatic effect on the results. Make sure that you always use the measuring device that comes with any medication and if one isn't supplied make sure that you buy an accurate measure that you can rely on. Don't give doses based on a teaspoon as the size of teaspoons can vary and along with that there is the possibility that you will be giving your child more medication than is necessary or worse still you could be giving doses that could be more detrimental to their health rather than solving a problem. You should also never make your own judgment on the amount of medication that your child needs without first consulting your medical practitioner as this can endanger your child's health without you realizing it. Natural health remedies are often very potent and the fact that they are natural doesn't make them 100 safe for your child so once again always seek professional advice even when using natural products. Some natural products can even be toxic to a small baby and can do a lot of harm. Unfortunately there are far too many people who don't have the necessary knowledge to give you the best advice when selling these 'natural' products and more often than not they are doing harm without knowing it. In the early stages of your baby's development it is best to rely on trusted medical practitioners as a baby can get to a critical stage of sickness very rapidly and it isn't worth the risk using medication that could have a negative affect on health. Even small changes in your baby's weight will have a big affect on the amount of medication your medical profession will prescribe. Sat, 02 Feb 2008 14:10:38 GMT http://www.babies-and-toddler-spot.com/Babies-blog.html#Simple-Steps-to-Stop-the-Crying One of the most commonly asked questions of most new parents is how to stop their baby from crying. There are many different reasons why a baby is crying and there are as many solutions to solve the problem. Once you know that all your baby's needs are met with feeding, warmth and toileting then other than a problem such as teething it is most likely comforting that is required to settle down the crying. What works for one baby might not be so successful for another and you are sure to get many suggestions from people you know on what works best for them. What makes it even more difficult for some parents to understand is why one method worked so well for one of their children and is totally ineffective for another of their children. This is just one of the many joys of parenting and an example of why so many people struggle with bringing up a child especially when it is their first born. The simple solution is to try one method after another until you find one that works for you. Some babies like rocking to relax them while others like a particular type of music. Here are some options that you might like to try. I am of course assuming that your baby has been fed and doesn't have wet or soiled diapers. First you will need to check whether there have been any changes in your baby's daily routine that might have caused an unsettling disruption? If so you might need to rearrange your plans and revert back to your former routine and make changes a little more gradually. Are you giving your baby enough attention? It is very easy with all the additional work that has been brought about by having a newborn in the family to find it difficult to manage your time where baby gets sufficient attention. Newborns are particularly demanding especially in the first few months. They can also pick up on your stress levels and that can be unsettling for them. Ensure that your baby is well wrapped and warm as this will give it a sense of comfort and security. Alternatively if the weather is particularly warm then over heating could be the cause of distress. Invest in a baby carrier that you can wear while you go about your chores so your baby is with you and the swaying motion of you walking will often put a baby to sleep. Some babies find comfort in the motion of a ride in a car but you don't want to make a habit of having to go for a drive each time the crying starts. A warm bath can be soothing and sometimes the simplest things like a pacifier to suck on is all that is needed. Think of things that might comfort you but don't resort to giving your baby chocolate even though that might be the first comforting thought that comes to mind for you. Tue, 29 Jan 2008 15:36:48 GMT http://www.babies-and-toddler-spot.com/Babies-blog.html#Why-did-The-FDA-issue-the-Second-Warning-against-OTC-Cold-medications-for-Infants? The short answer is that many parents did not listen. A recent survey showed bout 2/3 of parents still give over the counter cold medicines to children under the age of two. The FDA basically said do not use OTC cough or cold products on children under two unless it is under the direction of a physician. The FDA believes that these types of medicines only treat the symptoms and do not cure the cold. What is wrong with that? Well the risk of life threatening side effects to too great for the benefit. There still is no cure for the common cold. The only cure is to let it run its course and it will go away. If your baby is sick, tender loving care is always good medicine. There are times when your baby will be fussy. The loving touch of mothers arms or lap can make an infant feel much more comfortable. Consider it a cheap placebo without side effects. If you are instructed to give any medication to you child, use an accurate dosing tool. Household teaspoons and tablespoons vary too much to be an accurate measure for medication. Childrens medication is most often prescribed by calculating the childs weight. Because they do not weigh much, the margin for error is small. Invest in a measured dosing spoon or syringe for the best results. Never give a medication labeled for an adult to a child. The concentration of medicine per dose may be too much for you child. Mon, 28 Jan 2008 16:12:11 GMT http://www.babies-and-toddler-spot.com/Babies-blog.html#Babys-First-Stool-What-Should-you-Expect The first stool that you see from your baby can come as a surprise simply because most parents aren't expecting what they see which is a green/black and is a result of the baby excreting the substance that is present in its system from before the birth. This is actually a good sign because it shows that the baby's systems are working as expected in the elimination of this substance. The usual color for a breast fed baby is a mustard or yellowish colored stool that is very loose and easy to pass. Babies with colic can have stools that are more greenish colored. The color of a breast fed baby's stool can change somewhat depending on the foods that the mother is consuming. If your baby is bottled fed on baby formula the stool is more likely to be light brown in color and usually better formed than those of a breast fed baby. You should always note any changes in the color and consistency of your baby's stool as this can show where there might be some irregularities in the diet or other health problems. When weaning your baby you can expect changes in color and consistency, sometimes on a daily basis depending on what you are feeding your child. During weaning these can even be multi-colored but more often than not they will be of a similar color to the food that they have been eating. If you notice foods that are passing through without being digested then this is a sign that those foods might not be suitable for your baby at this stage and should be eliminated form the diet until a later date. The frequency that baby's pass stools can vary considerable from those who will go every day to other babies who will take up to a week to pass a motion. Provided your child isn't constipated there is generally nothing to be worried about but always mention any of your concerns to your doctor to be safe. Likewise if there are any signs that there are problems such as blood in the stool or mucous then consult with your doctor immediately. If you have a Baby or Toddler in your life.... http://www.babies-and-toddler-spot.com/home-page Sun, 27 Jan 2008 16:43:01 GMT http://www.babies-and-toddler-spot.com/baby-car-seat.html Aside from basic needs, if you and your baby will be riding in a car at any time the one thing you really need ia a baby carseat. You can pore over all the different carseats at the local Babies R Us Mon, 21 Jan 2008 03:33:54 GMT http://www.babies-and-toddler-spot.com/baby-skin-care-product.html Baby Skin Care Product Tips: It isn't uncommon for infants to experience skin irritations such as eczema or cradle cap. Every child is different, so it may be a good idea to look closely at the Mon, 21 Jan 2008 03:15:23 GMT http://www.babies-and-toddler-spot.com/baby-umbilical-cord-care.html Welcome to Umbilical Cord Care 101. uve just had a baby, and now there is this funny looking cord hanging from what will eventually be his belly button. Now what? Mon, 21 Jan 2008 02:19:39 GMT http://www.babies-and-toddler-spot.com/Babies-blog.html#Preparation-tips-for-homemade-baby-food. Hi everyone, I had a few minutes so I grabbed a recipe and some preparation tips for homemade baby food for you to use. If you have some time, stop in and take a look around the site to see the latest additions. Tips for Making Homemade Baby Food Work under the most sanitary conditions possible. Wash your hands with hot water and soap, scrub, rinse and dry with clean towel before fixing your babys food, before feeding your baby, and after changing your babys diapers. Scrub all working surfaces with soap and hot water. Scrub all equipment with soap and hot water, and rinse well. Prepare fresh fruits or vegetables by scrubbing, paring or peeling, and removing seeds. Prepare meats by removing all bones, skin, connective tissue, gristle and fat. Cook foods, when necessary, boiling them in a small, covered saucepan with a small amount of water until tender. The amount of water is important the less water used, the more nutrients stay in the food. Puree food using a blender, food processor, baby food grinder, spoon or fork. Grind up tough foods. Cut food into small pieces or thin slices. Take out seeds and pits from fruit. Test for smoothness by rubbing a small amount of food between your fingers. Add a liquid such as formula, water or fruit juice to achieve a desired consistency. If pureed food is not being used right away, refrigerate quickly. To freeze: pour cooled, pureed food into a paper cupcake liner or a section of a clean ice cube tray, and cover with foil. When frozen solid, store cubes in a freezer container in the freezer in a freezer bag or box. Reheat frozen cube in a heat-resistant container in a pan of hot water. When cooking foods for the family, remember to separate the babys portion before adding seasoning or spices. Babies need very little, if any, added salt or sugar. Vegetable Medley 1/2 cup cooked fresh, frozen or canned vegetables (potato, sweet potato, green beans, peas, carrots, yellow squash), without salt added 2-4 tablespoons cooking liquid, formula or water Cook fresh vegetables or use frozen or canned vegetables without salt or seasoning. (Read labels for ingredients.) Press vegetable chunks through a sieve or baby food mill. Thin with cooking liquid or formula to eating consistency. Or put cooked vegetables and liquid in a blender and puree until smooth. Serve or freeze. Freeze no longer than 1 month. Note: After the individual vegetables have been fed several times, some good combinations are: potatoes and carrots, potatoes and green beans, carrots and peas. Sign up for our ezine: Nap Time News for more tips and recipes in your mail box! Mon, 21 Jan 2008 01:34:40 GMT http://www.babies-and-toddler-spot.com/baby-crib-safety-tips.html Baby Crib Safety is is most important consideration when deciding which crib to buy and where to place in the nursery. Sun, 20 Jan 2008 00:19:41 GMT http://www.babies-and-toddler-spot.com/frugal-baby-furniture.html Why not buy frugal baby furniture so that you can maintain your finances, and get the most use from your money? Sat, 19 Jan 2008 23:42:13 GMT http://www.babies-and-toddler-spot.com/glass-baby-bottles.html With recent news stories of plastic baby bottles leaching out hormone-disrupting chemicals, where are new parents to turn? No one makes glass baby bottles anymore or do they? Sat, 19 Jan 2008 04:20:21 GMT http://www.babies-and-toddler-spot.com/Baby-washing-cloth-diapers.html If you havent tried cloth diapers before, washing them may seem to be a bit intimidating. Thats why they invented disposable diapers, right? So you wouldnt have to spend hours washing dirty smelly Sat, 19 Jan 2008 04:02:02 GMT http://www.babies-and-toddler-spot.com/Babies-blog.html#Be-Prepared-for-Change Life will never be the same after having a child and it will be constantly changing and you need to adapt to these changes as time goes on. You also need to understand that you have a life of your own as well and while it will be devoted to bringing up your child everybody needs some time out to maintain sanity. By developing a trusted support network of friends and family you should be able to include some time to yourself without neglecting the needs of your child. In fact it is only by looking after your own health and well-being that you are going to be able to give your child the support that it needs. It is not selfish to consider yourself as well because you are the provider of your child's support and without maintaining a balance in your own life you will not be able to do the same your child. Finding other young mothers to help share and support one another is an excellent way of maintaining your sanity and will help to understand the various different aspects of bringing up a child that come about from experience. One thing you must not do however is compare the progress of your child to that of others as every child reaches different milestones in their life at different rates and there is no set rule to say what is normal and what isn't. Provided your child is having healthy development and progress in their abilities and achievements then you have nothing to worry about. If you are at all concerned about your child's development then it pays to consult professionals rather than try to sort these problems out with other young mothers or people who don't have the necessary knowledge to give you sound advice. Make the most of any opportunities that others offer to help out and use that time to spend on yourself. Sat, 19 Jan 2008 03:44:30 GMT http://www.babies-and-toddler-spot.com/Baby-nursery-theme-mom.html Baby Nursery Design should include Comfort Items for Mom. When planning your Theme allow some flexibility for Furniture, Pillows and a Rocker that Tue, 15 Jan 2008 21:50:59 GMT http://www.babies-and-toddler-spot.com/baby-proofing.html Baby-Proofing! With minor changes in your home you can avoid a major accident. Tue, 15 Jan 2008 21:37:55 GMT http://www.babies-and-toddler-spot.com/nursery-theme-girl.html Themed Nursery for A Baby Girl?Where do you start? What types of decorations will assist you in your endeavor? Tue, 15 Jan 2008 21:09:42 GMT http://www.babies-and-toddler-spot.com/baby-food-organic.html From organic baby food to sweet baby food... how you can get your angel to eat Sat, 12 Jan 2008 18:06:22 GMT http://www.babies-and-toddler-spot.com/food-baby-avoid-babies-allergies.html Foods your baby should avoid because of allergies, bacteria or choking hazards include Sat, 12 Jan 2008 15:36:07 GMT http://www.babies-and-toddler-spot.com/Babies-blog.html#Security-from-Comforting-Parents Holding your baby is one of the most important aspects in its development as it creates a bond of security trust and reassurance. Nothing in the world can replace the comforting arms of a mother or father for a baby. Initially your baby will have very little strength in its neck and will not be able to support the weight of its head so you will need to offer this support when you or anyone else holds your baby. If other children in your family want to hold the newborn they will need to be made aware of this so they can offer support too. Children should be taught to be very careful and everyone should handle the baby with the utmost care by keeping movements slow and smooth whilst still offering sufficient support. If young children are cuddling the baby it is safest if they are holding them over a soft surface such as your bed and you should never leave them alone even for an instant. Men are generally a little anxious to hold a baby as they fear they could do some damage to something so delicate however a baby will feel secure if it is fully supported when being held. Once the baby is a little older it becomes a bit easier to handle as it will have developed the strength to hold up it's own head with increased strength of the neck muscles and this will allow the use of a baby carrier that both the mother and the father can use. Getting the father to help reduces the strain that gets placed upon the mother's back from constantly having to pick up and carry a young child around. With the baby held in an upright position and its head draped across your shoulder it will in the ideal position to rock it to sleep comfortably while remain fully supported even when very young and lacking in neck muscle strength. Sat, 12 Jan 2008 15:06:38 GMT