Everyday Life as a New Parent

Making your own baby food

2012-04-10T11:58:00.003-07:00

I think that making your own baby food is one of the most rewarding things you can do in terms of providing for your baby. I really enjoy it, it doesn't take a lot of time and I know that my baby is getting fresh and healthy food. I decided to makemy own baby food when I started reading about the different things that were in store bought baby food. Baby food bought in the store has a shelf life of approximatly one to two years. Everyone thinks differently and I understand that but I do see how baby food that has been sitting on the shelf for that long can be healthy or fresh. Also when you make your own baby food you are able to give your baby a variety of fruits and vegetables that you won't be able to buy premade on the shelf. But putting that aside making your own baby food is so easy heres how you do it:

I have the baby bullet system which comes with the baby bullet serving cups pictures above as well as freezable batch trays, the blender and so on. However, it is not necessary to have these items..

What you will need:

A blender

freezable batch tray ( you can also use ice cube trays)

fresh fruits or veggies (can be frozen as well but I would stay away from canned fruits and veggies)

sharp knife (for cutting up or peeling fruits and veggies)

spatula

freezer bags

permenant marker

steamer or pan with a strainer placed over it

After I choose the fruits and veggies that I want to use (keep in mind that just one sweet potato can make between 12-14 servings so you will not need a lot of one particular set of veggies/fruits. I will put a guideline at the end of this post ) I will steam them, however if it is a soft fruit such as bananas, avacados, mangos, etc then you don't have to steam them if you choose not to. Once steamed place the food in a blender and add water. There is not set amount of water however, I usually start with 1/4 a cup. Depending on the consistancy of the food you may add more or less water. I then blend the food till it is completely smooth with no chunks.

Infants 4-6 should have pureed food that is somewhat runny. When you pour the purees into the batch tray or freezer tray it should be able to run out. 6-9 month pureed food can have a little texture you may find the pulse method to be more suitable for making this puree.

I then put my batch tray filled with the pureed baby food in the freezer. I wait till they are frozen (6-12 hrs) and then I transfer them into a freezer bag and write the day they were made on the outside of the bag.

You can keep the baby food frozen for a maximum of 3 months. Thawed baby food in the fridge should only be kept for 2-3 days. Keep in mind that it takes a while for the baby food to thaw. Place food inside container in a bowl of warm water for 20 minutes if thawing. Otherwise it should only take 3-5 minutes to warm up already thawed food.

First Year No-No List ( none should be fed to your child without pediatrician approval)

Honey
Peanut Butter
Nuts
Citrus Fruits
Raw Strawberries
Raspberries and Backberries
Corn
Egg whites
Whole Milk-as a drink
What
Shellfish/Crustaceans

Hi Risk Allergy Foods

Beans
Legumes
Berries
Buckwheat
Cabbage
Chocolate
Cinnamon
Citrus Fruit
Coconut
Corn
All Dairy
Egg whites
Mango
Melon
Mustard
Nuts
Onions
Papaya
Peanuts
Pork
Rye
Semolina
Shellfish
Strawberries
Soybeans
Tofu
Tomatoes
Wheat
Yeast
Additives
Artifial Foods

Low Risk Allergy Foods

Applesauce
Apricots
Asparagus
Barley
Beets
Carrots
Lettuce
Millet
Oats
Peaches
Pears
Plums
Rice
Tapioca

Safest First Foods

Sweet Potatoes
Avacado
Brown rice cereal
Peas
Zucchini
Squash
Apples
Pears
Bananas (can cause constipation)

SIGNS OF AN ALERGIC REACTION

Gas                   Diarrhea                         Nausea
Vomiting         Stomach Pain                 Coughing
Wheezing         Difficulty Breathing       Lip/Face Swelling
Rash                 Clear Runny Nose          Itching
Irratability       Fatigue                             Eczema
Eye Swelling

How Much Will It Make????

1 avacado = 4 baby bullet servings or 8 ice cube tray slots

1 squash = 10 baby bullet or 20 ice cube slots

1 banana= 4 baby bullet or 8 ice cube slots

1 sweet potato = 10 baby bullet or 20 ice cube slots

1 cup peas= 4 baby bullet or 8 ice cube slots

1 zucchini= 5 baby bullet or 10 ice cube slots

1 pear= 4 baby bullet or 8 ice cube slots

1 cup brown rice cereal = 16 baby bullet or 32 ice cube slots

1 apple = 3 baby bullet or 6 ice cube slots

20 spears of Asparagus = 4 baby bullet or 8 ice cube slots

1 carrot = 4 baby bullet or 8 ice cube slots

1 cup of green beans = 5 baby bullet servings or 10 ice cube slots

1 white potato= 8 baby bullet servings or 15 ice cube slots

1 peach = 5 baby bullet or 10 ice cube slots

How much will I actually save??

Depending on what brand of baby food you buy, 1 small jar of first stage baby food can range from 50-95 cents a jar. One of these jars is less than one baby bullet serving or 2 ice cube tray slots.

So if you take a banana for example which typically is 99 cents a pound you could make approximatly 21 "jars" of baby food for 99 cents and maybe 5-10 minutes of your time. If you were to buy this off the shelf you are looking at approximatly $13.65.

Of coarse the amount save with fluctuate depending on what you are buying but trust that you are saving a significant amount of money in the long run.

** for those of you that are concerned about not having the time to do this, it takes more time for you to pack up the baby, drive to the store, unload your baby, walk to the baby food aisle, pick out your baby food, pay, and drive home than if you were to just make it in the comforts of your own home.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FEEL FREE TO LEAVE A COMMENT AND I WILL BE GLAD TO ANSWER!

He's a stomach sleeper..rolling fool :-p

2012-04-06T08:16:00.000-07:00

So my son has been rolling over for some time now. But he is really starting to get the hang of it. I wouldn't mind so much but he has recently decided that he is a stomach sleeper and so he is constantly rolling around and spinning in his crib. His face is always pressed up against the side of the crib or limbs are sticking out. I will try to move him but as soon as I do back he goes. Last night was probably the most scariest time yet. His leg actually got stuck between the bars. Of coarse I panicked because Lincoln was screaming; and my boyfriend ran over and pulled him right out. Thank god for that he's good under pressure like that...I'm good when he chokes on a bottle :-) (thats when its his turn to freak out).

I know that the recommendation for crib sets is to leave the bumpers out, but each time I see him bonk his head or see those hands and feet outside the crib I think about putting it in. Thats just scarry too though. Not really sure what to do, but I guess for now I will wait it out a little bit.

Beginning solids

2012-04-02T18:22:00.002-07:00

At the beginning of this month I decided that my son was ready for solids. While I know that the recommendation is that you wait till six months I decided that Lincoln was ready. He would watch his father and I when we were eating, stare at food, open his mouth when a spoon would come near it. I decided to try some solids I had bought from the store. I thought that he would probably prefer fruits so that is what I started with. He didn't seem to be a fan at first, which I am guessing is because of the texture. In the beginning he would gag and make his lips so tight I couldn't put the spoon inside. However, I never forced him to eat. If he wouldn't open his mouth after a couple of tries we were done; I let him decide where and when.

In the picture above we are trying broccoli, which from the expression on his face shows me his not a fan. I am guessing that it is because of the bush part of the broccoli which I added in when I make my own baby food ( future post). So far Lincoln has tried: pears and parsnips, peaches, avocado, sweet potatoes, baked butternut squash, apples, broccoli, and papaya.

Leave comments about your adventures of trying new foods or even a photo blast showing your little ones and their cute faces!!

Parenting a Colicy Baby

2012-04-02T12:33:00.001-07:00

When my son was three weeks old he began crying at the same time at night. I could hear gas in his stomach and no matter how much I would try to comfort him he would continue to cry. I took Lincoln to the doctors and was told he had formula induced colic. Once I learned more about what colic was I began to formulate ways relieve my baby. I thought that I would share with you some of the ways that I overcame these issues.

What is Colic?

Throughout my extensive research on colic I have found a variety of explanations found from doctors. Some believe that colic is a period throughout the day where an infant cries for at least three hours. This time throughout the day is often consistent. The child is often inconsolable.

Others believe that colic is a buildup of gas in the intestines. This causes the child pain and results in the crying, fussiness, and large body movements such as kicking, squirming, and arching of the back.

And then there are those doctors who believe that colic is a mixture of both of the above beliefs.

Some Solutions and Suggestions

Cradle Hold-

Hold your baby belly to your belly using the cradle hold. This places pressure on their stomachs and may help them express the gas. It also comforts them.

Try different formulas-

Some babies have problems breaking down the nutrients to particular formulas. There are a variety of formulas out on the market that can help babies who may have anything from milk allergies to problems breaking down particular proteins. You should consult your pediatrician prior to changing formulas however.

**once I visted the pediatrician, he recommended that I switch Lincoln from Enfamil Lipil to Similac Alimentum. I am not sure if this has really alleviated his symptoms of if he just simply grew out of the colic (I plan on switching him back within the next few days to see if he his ready for regular formula).

Colic Massage-

Colic massage is a great way to get lazy intestines up and running. Newborn intestines are immature and are still “learning” how to work. The massage shown in the following youtube clip is a great way to get them kick started. (I do not own any of the rights to the following clip)

**The colic massage was amazing and really helped get the air out of Lincoln's tummy. If you are having trouble with colic issues I highly recommend this!

Check out this video on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1kQ-7gREcM

Gripe Water-

There are a variety of gas drops and gripe water available on the market. Gripe water is an herbal remedy believed to help babies break up gas allowing them to get rid of it. Through my research I have found some gripe waters that stand out beyond the hundreds of other brands.

Colic Calm- I could only find this at my local CVS.

Mommy bliss-Rite Aid

Lil Tummy’s gripe water-CVS

Giving infant a bath-

When you find that your infant is becoming fussy a bath just may do the trick. Completely undress your baby and either give them a warm bath or sponge bath. This can help calm them down and the interaction may soothe an inconsolable infant.

Getting Help

The persistent crying that comes with colicky babies can often be extremely stressful and you may find yourself at your wits end. It really is beneficial when you are in this situation to have a partner or someone else that you trust that is willing to help you out.

If you find that you are becoming over stressed try to have someone take over for you for a few minutes until you can calm yourself down.

Having a safe place that you can put the baby so that you can walk away when alone (such as a swing or pack and play) can be extremely beneficial.

WARNING: Never let yourself get to the point of frustration where you may shake your child. Even though you may not feel that you are shacking hard it can still cause significant damage. It is better to walk away for 2-3 minutes even if the infant is crying than to allow yourself to get so frustrated that you may shake the infant.

I hope that the above information helps those of you whose child(ren) suffer from colic. If you have any additional questions feel free to leave a comment and I will help in any way I can. It really helps to do research on colic. It allows you to both understand what it is and different ways that you can try and help your child. When you feel like you are actively trying to help your child; it helps alleviate some of that stress. Good Luck!

Introduction

2012-04-01T18:38:00.000-07:00

My name is Kimberly. I am 22 years old and recently had my first child, his name is Lincoln and he is a 5 month old amazing little boy. I started this blog because I felt that it was important for first time moms to have a place where they can read and discuss all the good times and hard times associated with being a first time parent. I have had many struggles along the way as well as great accomplishments. I plan to share these up and down moments with you in hopes that you will be able to see that you are not alone.