Source: Cheryl Tallman and Joan Ahlers, Fresh Baby        

Introducing solid foods is a very important step in your baby’s development and well-being. In fact, studies show that babies who are fed nutritious, healthy diets grow into stronger kids and better-adjusted eaters than those who are fed poor diets.

Many parents don’t realize that making baby food at home is a simple and economical plan to provide your baby with the best in quality, nutrition and taste. It makes it easy for you to ensure your child gets the best start possible. Making baby food using fresh, all-natural ingredients has many benefits, including:

Increased nutritional value

Vitamins and other nutrients are critically important to your baby. For the next three years, your baby will experience rapid growth and development. It is essential that he be fed a healthy and nutritious diet to maximize his growth and development process.

Processed baby foods have added water, sugars and starchy fillers. While these products are not nutritionally bad for your baby, their use in baby food dilutes the nutrient content of the actual foods. To make matters worse, processed baby foods are cooked at high temperatures to kill bacteria, so they can be stored in jars at room temperature. Bacteria are not the only things that are eliminated in this process. Vitamins and nutrients are also destroyed. Many baby food manufacturers compensate for the loss of vitamins by artificially adding some of them back in after the food is processed.

When you make baby food at home, you can cook it quickly. This process not only preserves the wonderful color and taste of the food, but most importantly it maximizes the foods’ nutrient content for your precious baby

Elimination of additives

Processed baby foods contain trace amounts of chemicals, including pesticides, herbicides and fungicides. Although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved these chemicals, you may choose not to feed your baby products containing them. Buying certified organic produce (fresh or frozen) and preparing food at home eliminates agricultural chemicals from your baby’s diet.

In addition, many varieties of processed baby foods add ingredients that are not essential or beneficial to your baby’s diet. These can include ingredients such sugar, butter and salt. Most healthcare professionals will recommend you avoid the introduction of these foods until your child is much older. Homemade baby food is pure, wholesome food with nothing added that you did not add yourself.

Improved freshness

Have you compared fresh green peas to a jar of pea baby food? Even though they are the same food, they don’t look, smell or taste similar. While your baby does not have the refined palate of an adult, he does respond to taste, color and smell. With the enormous availability of fresh produce in your grocery store and the simplicity of making baby food, there is really is no reason he needs to be deprived of colorful, tasty, great-smelling baby food. And serving fresh food from the very beginning will help your baby be more open to tasting new flavors and types of food.

Additional variety

Processed baby food is developed for the mass market and, as a result, is limited in variety. Variety is key to a balanced diet and healthy living. Today’s grocery stores offer a tremendous variety of fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables. There is no reason why your baby should be limited by what food manufacturers consider the most popular foods. What’s more, preparing baby food at home enables you to add herbs, combine flavors, and easily introduce new textures, making your baby’s mealtime a pleasurable, gourmet experience.

Luna Lullaby is having a fun “Homemade Baby food” recipe contest on our Facebook page! We would love for all of our viewers/followers to participate! First, Second, and Third prizes will win Luna products.  Check it out and share your favorite recipe!

When your little one has mastered baby food, you can start with small pieces of finger foods. Basically, any foods that are cut up small enough to be picked up and eaten by baby are classified as finger foods. This is an important step toward independent eating and also allows baby new tastes and textures. Around 7 to 9 months is when most babies are ready to make this step, and they generally show their desire to eat on their own by grabbing the spoon you’re feeding them from.

So what are some of the best finger foods you can give your little one?

- Bananas are soft and easy to eat, plus packed with plenty of vitamins.

- Avocados are filled with good fat and super soft for little fingers.

- Sweet potatoes can be cut up in small chunks or sliced into fries. They’re sweet and power packed with nutrients.

- Cooked peas are easy to eat and even more fun to play with!

- Shredded, cooked chicken is a lean protein.

- Cheerios contain whole grains and serve as the perfect snack for little fingers. Instead of adding sugar, try the flavored varieties as a treat.

- Cooked lentils are soft and easy to pick up. They contain lots of protein and get baby used to eating beans.

- Garbanzo beans are also easy for baby to grasp and have a sweet taste that kids love! Serve them cold or hot.

- Whole wheat macaroni is filled with whole grains and tastes delicious with a bit of sauce or butter.

- Cubes of tofu are fun and easy to eat, plus absorb flavor. They can also be added to dishes such as macaroni and cheese.

- Pieces of low-mercury fish such as salmon or tilapia are tender and tasty. Cook these filets of fish in a small amount of butter or oil and season lightly for a delicious alternative to meat.

- Small chunks of cheese are tasty for baby and offer good fat and plenty of calcium.

Image c/o: thebabycorner.com

The teething process is different for every baby. For some, a tooth may cut overnight, causing little to no fussiness from your baby. However, for some babies, the teething process is a long, painful process. Signs that your baby is teething include irritability, diarrhea, cold like symptoms, drooling and the main sign – chewing or gnawing. Babies like to bite or chew on things when they teethe because the counter pressure gives them a bit of relief from the cutting tooth. They are a few ways to naturally soothe your baby’s sore teeth and gums that will help both of you get a better nights rest and a better day.

-A Wooden Cooking Spoon: Although this may seem strange, it is no different than a wooden teething ring.

-Cold Fruits or Veggies: Depending on your baby’s age, giving them a tasty frozen treat could be very comforting to your little one. An alternative, if your baby is too small to digestive chunks of food, is a mesh feeder. Bread also works well for older babies.

-Clove Oil: Always test this on yourself first before you put it on your baby. If it is too strong, it could blister baby’s gums. However, in the correct dosage, this could be very relieving.

Remember, teething is not forever. Although it may seem like it will never end - it will.

Almost every mother is concerned about having a healthy pregnancy, even if she was never concerned about being healthy before she became pregnant. Here are five tips to having a healthier pregnancy that will help both you and your growing baby during this exciting time.

5 tips for a healthy pregnancy

1. Get started before you get pregnant. The best way to have a healthy pregnancy is to plan ahead, whether it is starting an exercise regimen or eating a more balanced diet.
2. Take a prenatal vitamin with folic acid. Your normal vitamin probably doesn’t have all the vitamins you and your baby will need while your pregnant, so starting on a prenatal vitamin as soon as you start trying to conceive will ensure that your baby has all those nutrients from the first day of development. Plus, these vitamins may help with fertility.
3. Rest up. Get at least eight hours of sleep each day. If you are having trouble sleeping at night, take afternoon naps to get the rest you need.
4. Exercise daily. If not daily, then as many days a week as you can manage. The workouts should not be intense or exhausting – try a workout class aimed at pregnant women or just walk for 20-30 minutes a day.
5. Avoid dangerous toxins. Don’t drink while you’re pregnant and if you are a smoker, this is a great time to quit. Avoid areas where others are smoking as second hand smoke is also detrimental to both mother and child.

What every mother wants

Healthy moms and healthy pregnancies are the best way to get a healthy baby, so having a healthy pregnancy is something that is important to everyone during this incredibly exciting time in your life. Here are some ideas to help you have the healthiest pregnancy possible!

Educate yourself

The best thing you can do is to learn as much as possible about what is happening and what to expect during your pregnancy, childbirth, and infancy. Once you have this information, you will be able to discern between normal changes and ones that should be discussed with your health care professional. You can read books, check out websites (being careful to stick to reliable sources), and ask your doctor for advice and information to add to your knowledge base.

Good habits

Another way to stay healthy during this time is to establish habits that will help you be healthy and safe after your pregnancy as well. Remember to wear your seat belt and exercise regularly – these are things you know you should have been doing anyway, but with the baby growing inside of you, you have a better reason than ever to take especially good care of yourself.

Better diet

Eat a varied diet while you are expecting with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. This will help you get the nutrients both you and the baby need and the fiber in these foods will alleviate constipation issues that are common among pregnant women. Also, drink 6 to 8 glasses of water daily.

What’s the real story?

With over half of Americans classified as overweight, the concerns about weight gain and pregnancy are not unfounded. Although it may not be something you have considered before, many women ask their doctors if it is safe to diet while they are pregnant.

Gaining weight is ok?

For women who are already overweight, the idea of putting on thirty or more pounds seems counter productive and perhaps even unhealthy. It is important to know it is not safe for women who are pregnant to try to lose weight by restricting their caloric intake because your body needs nutrients to help your baby develop properly and your body to adjust to the demands placed upon it during pregnancy.

General guidelines you can learn

However, if you are overweight and pregnant, the amount of weight that you should gain during a normal pregnancy is different than the amount that a woman who is at a healthy weight should gain. Doctors use a patient’s body mass index, or BMI, to determine whether they are at a healthy weight (BMI between 18.5 and 24.9), overweight (BMI between 25 and 29.9), or obese (BMI over 30). This scale is based on height, weight, and gender to give an accurate assessment.

Based on this number, pregnant women should aim for the following amount of weight gain while pregnant:

• Healthy weight: Between 25 and 35 pounds
• Overweight: between 15 and 25 pounds
• Obese: Between 11 and 20 pounds

Focus on health not dieting

Even if you are overweight or obese, pregnancy is not the time for a diet. Take this time to establish a healthy way of eating and you will be in a better position as a new mother to lose weight, be healthier, and have more energy.

Can switching from breast to bottle cause digestive problems?

Many parents worry about their child’s bowel movements. It is something you probably haven’t thought about before, but once your baby is born, it is an important concern.

While it is important that your child has regular bowel movements, constipation in general and constipation caused by switching from breastfeeding to formula are often misunderstood by parents, resulting in unnecessary worry.

Constipation defined

Constipation is not the same for infants as it is for adults, leading many parents to become concerned that their child is experiencing this problem when it is not the case. Bowel movements change as a child develops, both in frequency and consistency.

Keep the following in mind when worried about your baby’s constipation:

• As a baby gets older, they may not have a bowel movement daily. This is normal.
• Straining during bowel movements does not indicate constipation for infants. Their developing digestive system may just be adjusting, and straining does not indicate a problem.
• If your baby’s stool is hard, pebbly, and dry, your concern about constipation is warranted. If not, don’t worry.

Constipation and formula

When a baby switches to formula from breast milk or from one formula to another, he or she might experience some constipation. This is normal and in many cases, they can outgrow the constipation as their digestive system adjusts.

The baby has only been exposed to a very limited variety of food sources and their digestive system has only been functioning since they were born, so it is natural that they would need to learn to digest and process new foods as they are introduced.

If the problem persists, make sure that you are using sufficient water in the formula and consult your doctor about either adding water into the baby’s feeding schedule or switching to another formula.

Maybe, but let’s look at why it can happen

While good health is always important, it becomes particularly important to keep a close eye on your health during a pregnancy. Not only are you responsible for the development and growth of another person, but you may face unusual or unforeseen health issues as a result of the demands pregnancy places on your body.

For this reason, it may be disconcerting to see that your cholesterol levels are higher than usual both during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.

Normal fluctuations

The good news is that these elevated cholesterol levels are entirely normal. Most pregnant women see a decrease in their cholesterol during the first trimester followed by higher levels for the remaining two trimesters.

The higher levels often persist while the mother is nursing.

The cholesterol is produced by your liver, which receives hormonal signals telling it to make more cholesterol than usual because you are pregnant. It does not reflect an unhealthy diet or poor health choices.

Cholesterol is important for babies

Cholesterol is a waxy, fatty substance that plays an important role both during pregnancy and nursing. It contributes to neurological development in the infant and is an important way to transfer energy. Cholesterol is able to hold a great deal of calories and can be completely digested by the infant after he or she is born, making it a great way for the baby to get the nourishment and energy needed at this time.

Additionally, the higher levels of cholesterol do not pose a threat to mothers during this period because the cholesterol is used by the body and transferred to the child rather than remaining in arteries to cause problems.

Diet “don’ts” for breastfeeding moms

In a previous post, we discussed good things to make sure that you incorporate in your diet while breastfeeding, including fruits, whole grains, sources of calcium, and lots of water.

However, there are also certain things that you should make sure to keep OUT of your diet while breastfeeding, as they can be dangerous to you and possibly to your infant.

Some of the things to stay away from while you are breastfeeding include:

-         Alcohol. This toxin is dangerous to development while your baby is in the womb and now that he or she is born as well.

-         Mercury. High levels of mercury are found in some types of fish including swordfish and halibut, so be careful with seafood.

-         Caffeine. This stimulant can be found in soft drinks, coffee, and tea, among other products, so read labels carefully before drinking or eating anything you think might contain caffeine.

-         Artificial sweeteners. These chemicals can be found in diet drinks and low-calorie foods and may be harmful to your baby.

-         Nutritional supplements. While it is important to get vitamins and minerals while breastfeeding, it is best to get them from fruits and vegetables than to take a multivitamin or other supplement. These supplements are not monitored by the FDA, so it is difficult to be certain that what you are putting into your body is safe for you and for your baby.

Have a question?  Ask your doctor.

If you have any questions about what to eat while breastfeeding, be sure to ask your doctor about specific issues. Being healthy will help you be the best mom you can be, so take care of yourself during this bonding time with your infant.

Diet “Do’s” while breastfeeding

You know that you had to watch what you ate while you were pregnant – certain foods could make you feel nauseated, while others were off-limits because they contained certain ingredients or chemicals that could hurt the developing baby.

However, now that you have gone through childbirth and are preparing to breastfeed your little one, you may be uncertain about the dietary rules for this new phase with your little one.

As with most things in life, moderation is the key

The good news is that there are not a ton of rules about what you have to eat in order to successfully breastfeed. Your body will produce a consistent quantity of high quality milk as long as you eat a varied, nutritious diet. However, certain things can be beneficial to your health and to your baby, so it is a good idea to incorporate them into your diet.

The following list is a few things you may want to keep in mind while breastfeeding:

-         Whole grains are a great source of fiber which can help with constipation

-         Hydration is essential. Breast milk is up to 87% water, so it is easy to get dehydrated when breastfeeding. Try to avoid carbonated drinks because they contain sodium – stick to plain water instead.

-         Fruit is always a good choice. Fruit contains water and fiber along with vitamins and minerals, helping a new mom get many of the things she needs in a single food source.

-         Don’t forget about milk for yourself as well. Both pregnancy and breastfeeding can take calcium from your bones, so be sure to give your body plenty of extra during this time in your life.

Stay tuned for more

In our next blog post – we’ll discuss foods you should avoid while nursing a baby.