Life definitely changes once a baby is on board, and there's nothing more interesting and exciting than your precious little bundle of joy. This section will answer many of your pressing parenting questions and hopefully help make life easier and more fun for you and your baby.
Hooray! Baby's Here. Now What?
- > Breast Feeding vs. Bottle Feeding
- > How to Make Breast Feeding Work
- > Essential Baby Items for Newborns
- > How Much Sleep Do Babies Need?
- > Signs of Postpartum Depression
- > Good Tips for Baby Immunizations
- > Fun Tips on How to Bond with Your Baby
Baby Safety
Being "Baby" Prepared
Behavior & Developmental Challenges
- > You Can Calm a Fussy Baby - Find Out How
- > Does My Baby Have Colic?
- > How to Identify a Growth Spurt
- > Is your Baby Teething? How You Can Help
- > Ways to Encourage Crawling
- > Ways to Help your Baby Sleep Well
Baby Health Issues & What to Do
- > Diaper Rash Remedies & Prevention
- > Help Your Constipated Baby Feel Better
- > Treatments for Cradle Cap
- > How to Help a Choking Baby
Developmental Milestones & Solid Foods
Tips for Making Homemade Baby Food
If you decide that jar food isn't good enough for your precious prince or princess then why not make your own. Here are some helpful tips on how to make homemade baby food the right way and safe way.
- Steam Foods - It's a good idea to start by steaming foods such as vegetables and fruits. Broiling or baking is also an option. Steaming is your best choice to ensure that all the nutrients stay in the food.
- Puree Your Food - Place veggies and fruits into the machine you will use to puree food. Add a little water, formula or breast milk as the liquid to help the solids puree easier.
- Puree Instructions - Just place a small amount of veggies or fruits in the machine at one time. This will give you the best results. Also, put a touch of liquid in with the food. Too much liquid will make the food too watery.
- Freeze Food - Take your pureed food and transfer it to ice cube trays and cover with plastic. Then you can freeze until needed.
- Label Food by Date - When the food has froze, take it out of the cubes and put cubes into a freezer bag and label it by date. Then when you're ready to use it you can take it out and defrost and reheat it.
- Throw Away After 1 Month - Never feed your baby frozen homemade food that's more then 1 month old.
- Give Baby New Foods Once a Week - Introduce new foods in your baby's feeding schedule once a week to pinpoint possible allergies.
- Don't Add Honey - Keep honey out of your baby's food until the age of 1 because of possible botulism.
- Problem Foods - Don't give your baby beets, spinach, collards or turnip greens before the age of one year. These foods have high concentrations of naturally-occurring nitrates which can reduce the baby's hemoglobin.
- Keep Sugar and Spices Out of Your Baby's Diet - Sugar and spices shouldn't be used when making baby food.
