tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68586656576059596292024-03-14T05:57:30.449-07:00Adventures in Baby Food Making...homemade baby food...mom tested and (sometimes) kid approvedMichelle Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18344980628402079740noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6858665657605959629.post-66046121461662150742012-01-11T21:15:00.000-08:002012-01-11T21:15:56.081-08:00Dropping the Bottle...We are dropping the bottle. In fact we've dropped every bottle except for their bedtime bottles. I know we should but I'm scared. It has been so easy to drop their other bottles (thus we still have formula left) that I worry it's like this means the bedtime bottle has a trick up it's sleeve. But I promised myself that once the formula runs out that they are done with bottles. No going back.<br />
<br />
On that note we have also been search for a better sippy. I had been using the Take N Toss sippy for a while. They seem to like the hard spout better. I added in a cheap Nuby style (also with a hard spout) but they seemed to like the handles. But then the Take N Toss ones started to leak more and more. So I was on the look out for a shorter sippy with an easy grip. Which brings me to <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Gerber-Graduate-Grips-Spill-Colors/dp/B000GCL5NI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1326343633&sr=8-1">my favorite sippy of all time</a> now. They are easy for the girls to hold and drink from, they don't leak and they are simple to wash.<br />
<br />
Oh yes, the bottle dropping went well. Probably to easy. We ran out of formula and threw away the bottles to prevent temptation. The first night went okay but they woke up a couple hours later. They cried. They cried for an hour (well actually more like just one cried) and then when she tired out and gave up our other twin girl cried for 20 minutes. We tried a couple times early on to calm them down and to give them a sippy, both of which just made them worse. By the time our second child was crying we gave up and fed them some oatmeal. Once their tummies were full they went back to sleep...yeah! The next night we gave them oatmeal before bed and had no issues. Now we feed them dinner with us around 6pm and then start bedtime routine around 6:30pm and haven't had another issue since the first night.Michelle Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18344980628402079740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6858665657605959629.post-50610196604595491852012-01-04T14:37:00.000-08:002012-01-04T14:49:34.096-08:00Breaded Chicken ChunksI was at the grocery store last night and looking at the frozen meats...chicken nuggets and strips to be more accurate. Most of the bags I looked at had 25% of your daily value for sodium (a couple were 17%). Yikes! As I said before I'm becoming a nutritional prude when it comes to my kids. So I decided to make my own in somewhat bulk and freeze them.<br />
<br />
<b>Breaded Chicken Chunks</b><br />
-3 chicken breast (5 breast pack for $8.50 @ $1.97 per lb)<br />
-plain finely ground bread crumbs ($1.08)<br />
-1 egg white with water<br />
<br />
Beat your egg white and water til frothy. Slice and dice chicken into small chunks (you can always cut them smaller for baby to eat after cooking). Pour bread crumbs into a separate bowl (add seasoning if you like; I added a little Italian blend). Dip chicken chunks by the handful into the egg white and then coat them with the breadcrumbs and place on a cookie sheet in one layer. Bake at 350* for 20-25 minutes. Check to make sure your chicken is thoroughly cooked upon removing from the oven. Serve warm or freeze and reheat at time needed.<br />
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*pictures to comeMichelle Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18344980628402079740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6858665657605959629.post-12196695604169222862012-01-01T21:46:00.000-08:002012-01-04T23:43:35.830-08:00Homemade Mac and CheeseThe girls had macaroni and cheese for lunch. They seemed to enjoy it. I was trying to figure out what to make and suggested Mac and Cheese (you know the Kraft kind) but I still don't like the idea of processed food or high sodium food (despite the fact I prob feed myself plenty of this). So my husband said "well what's in mac and cheese...pasta, milk, butter and cheese...try that" So we winged it and a masterpiece was born.<br />
<div><br />
</div><div><b>Small Shells Mac and Cheese</b></div><div><br />
</div><div>1 C cooked small shell pasta (you could use other pasta...this went through the food mill in the end)</div><div>1 Tbsp butter</div><div>1/4 C milk</div><div>1/3 C shredded cheese (we used colby jack)</div><div><br />
</div><div>*add veggies for some extra nutrition...we added peas and the girls still loved it. They did okay with the small shells but we decided to mill the food so it wouldn't take so long for them to chew and swallow (plus minimize choking or gagging risk).<br />
<br />
-the next time I made this they weren't having the ground up kind but they loved being able to feed themselves the non-ground kind. *sigh* 1 years olds hehe</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>Ratings:</b></div><div>Kendall - 4 stars (she loves peas)</div><div>Seren - 3 stars </div>Michelle Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18344980628402079740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6858665657605959629.post-43582769160027085422011-12-21T15:33:00.000-08:002011-12-21T15:33:35.801-08:00Parmesan PastaA new favorite snack for mom and the girls is parmesan pasta. The first time I made it out of a truce of desperation. Kendall loves tomato sauce pasta and Seren does not. I didn't want to make two dishes. So I boiled up some spiral pasta and sprinkled parmesan on while it was warm, let it cool and served it up. They weren't huge fans. Then today I tried again with small shell pasta. It was a hit and so easy. I hate to say it but I'm in a rut for something easy to throw together for them during the holidays. Next time I will definitely be adding real parmesan. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD_Cb0ZJXrthyphenhyphenT1vg0RPuDfd8Fv7Qz2jLzTpwtU9LmYgFhq2clrHjtbQijpUFwdSBPD5828342_h_dyyPZgMVlxfKWe4oSNQzupXIUmsORbljW7lDFfdw51K12xa9KEZCjI_M-UbuY6Sfs/s1600/pasta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD_Cb0ZJXrthyphenhyphenT1vg0RPuDfd8Fv7Qz2jLzTpwtU9LmYgFhq2clrHjtbQijpUFwdSBPD5828342_h_dyyPZgMVlxfKWe4oSNQzupXIUmsORbljW7lDFfdw51K12xa9KEZCjI_M-UbuY6Sfs/s320/pasta.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">looked something like this (found <a href="http://accidentalmommies.com/pasta-shells-with-garlic-butter-parmesan-cheese-sauce/">here</a>)</div><br />
<b>Happy Holidays everyone!</b>Michelle Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18344980628402079740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6858665657605959629.post-61523740825802667852011-11-27T10:39:00.000-08:002011-11-27T10:39:10.334-08:00A Few Favorite Food Sites...I have been trying to research more solid finger foods and meals as the girls are quickly approaching one year old. I am looking forward to getting expensive formula out of the equation but I am worrying as it's like my crutch and I know the girls are getting some balanced nutrition from it. So in an effort to find healthy food that provides good nutrition I refer you to a couple of my new favorites:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.designedtonourish.com/">http://www.designedtonourish.com/</a> (this is by Dr Brown's ; I found this on Pinterest and I am excited to try some of the recipes)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.homemade-baby-food-recipes.com/making-baby-food.html">http://www.homemade-baby-food-recipes.com/making-baby-food.html</a> (I also like the recipes on this page).<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/feeding-nutrition/Pages/default.aspx">http://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/feeding-nutrition/Pages/default.aspx</a> (this page has links for sample daily menus (amounts, type of food, etc) for 8-12 and 1 year old...awesome!)<br />
<br />
Basically I am thinking of making this my own personal link (and yours) to recipes I find online for babies and older children. I am not crazy enough to think or claim I know enough about nutrition to lead anyone down that path but I do love sharing the information I find (plus organizing for my own purpose). Enjoy these and if you try a recipe let me know how it goes.Michelle Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18344980628402079740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6858665657605959629.post-8236440559837531772011-11-12T09:42:00.000-08:002011-11-12T09:42:52.613-08:00Cheese QuesadillaThe girls have a new favorite finger food. Yesterday I threw together a cheese quesadilla for them and they ate all of it (and in a hurry). I don't know if it's the most healthy thing in the world but it is the easy to make and something we almost always have on hand at our house.<br />
<br />
<b>Cheese Quesadilla </b><br />
1 flour tortilla<br />
1/4 cup or less of shredded cheese<br />
<br />
Simply sprinkle the cheese on the tortilla. Then heat it to melting (I microwaved it) and then fold the tortilla over itself. Using a pizza cutter (or a knife) cut into strips and then cut the strips into little bite size squares. Serve on the warm side but make sure the cheese isn't too hot.<br />
<br />
*Follow the 4 day rule if your child has not been introduced to a food included in a dishMichelle Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18344980628402079740noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6858665657605959629.post-12450051901461384032011-11-10T18:33:00.000-08:002011-11-10T18:33:50.178-08:00Apple CubesWe have been having lots of fun with finger foods lately and table foods (ie sharing foods we eat). Tonight they enjoyed some gnocchi with a little alfredo sauce...they loved it. I also boiled some apples that I had quartered while we were eating dinner. Once our dinner was over I doused the apples in cold water to cool them off and then skinned them and cut them into small cubes. The girls seemed to really enjoy apples in this form. <br />
<br />
I am excited to also try some of the chunkier recipes out <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Starting-Solids-essential-guide-babys/dp/0756662141">Annabel Karmel's book</a> also. I think we are going to be turning the corner with this blog into more of the creative side of food for kids and less of the instructional or whatever it may be right now.Michelle Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18344980628402079740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6858665657605959629.post-22150673835662550712011-10-21T13:53:00.000-07:002011-10-21T13:54:24.258-07:00Finger Food Tip...This is just a simple tip I read on another blog (I can't remember which one now). But basically you cut up your fruit into small pieces (fruits precooked or not needing cooking) and then you can coat it with yogurt and then some baby cereal. This makes it so that your child can pick up the slippery fruit. I tried this with mango today (something we had problems with before) and it worked great. I didn't have any yogurt on hand though so that was left out and it worked fine still. No problem getting it to their mouths and they loved it too.Michelle Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18344980628402079740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6858665657605959629.post-69824977122466016272011-10-14T10:23:00.000-07:002011-10-15T23:16:31.397-07:00OrangesAccording to my "instruction manual" from the pediatrician it is okay to give babies oranges from 8-10 months. I purchased some clementine oranges (I have a hard time picking sweet navel oranges and I wanted the first orange taste to be a good experience haha). I peeled the orange and broke each wedge into a few pieces and placed it in front of the girls for finger food. Kendall didn't seem to have any issue but I will report that Seren (my "stuff as much food in at one time" child; babies and children often "chipmunk" food in their cheeks too) had her first real choking experience. Not fun. She gagged and I could see from her reaction she couldn't breath (no whine, cry or cough and a look of panic). The orange peels that were in my lap went flying and I reacted a lot faster than I thought was possible. I had her out of the high chair and was ready to whack her on the back when she must have gotten it to the right tube and swallowed it. What a relief to have her start crying. <br />
<br />
**Just want to emphasize again...always keep an eye on your children when they are eating finger foods (especially new ones) until they are very experienced and even then don't allow children to run around while eating as this causes distraction and choking risk. Take an <a href="http://www.redcross.org/portal/site/en/menuitem.d229a5f06620c6052b1ecfbf43181aa0/?vgnextoid=648946a80f2bb110VgnVCM10000089f0870aRCRD&vgnextchannel=aea70c45f663b110VgnVCM10000089f0870aRCRD">infant/child CPR</a> class (most hospitals offer community classes for FREE or a minimal charge) and if you ever feel foggy on the details take a refresher. I can't imagine having to deal with a day like this thinking "man I wish I would have taken a class" and not knowing what exactly to do.**Michelle Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18344980628402079740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6858665657605959629.post-49034328945424164522011-10-13T13:56:00.000-07:002011-10-13T13:58:20.378-07:00Give Me Texture Please...I think my girls have finally hit the stage (or are at least fast approaching it) where they don't love purees anymore. They still love the flavor of certain things as they will still gobble them up. But recently they have been turning the other cheek (literally) to some of the purees I offer. They do however love their finger food so I've been focusing on this and adding new things to try. <br />
<br />
Last night I brought home a rotisserie chicken. I cut up some of this chicken into little pieces for the girls. They loved it. They had cheerios and chicken for lunch again today (with their usual 6 oz bottle). I gave them cooked peas the day before and tossed some carrot puree in the middle of it just for good measure. They mostly played with this meal but it was great just the same.<br />
<br />
I haven't found love for my food mill still. But I am thinking that some beef stew (with some of their favorite veggies) thrown through the food meal might do the trick. I think I'm ready...I think they might be ready...to basically just eat more of what we have (with a little help from my small blender or the food mill). Looking forward to some fun and flavor.Michelle Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18344980628402079740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6858665657605959629.post-88316949550468993372011-10-02T21:42:00.000-07:002011-10-02T21:42:26.991-07:00Always Changing...I was reading through my "owner's manual" we received at the girls 9 month appointment. It seems you can never be 100% on top of things. You do your best of course. I noticed under the juice portion of the table for food that it now states that the AAP does not recommend juice until a child is 1 year old and older. Interesting. So I suppose we will be cutting out the apple juice and not planning on trying out other juice until next year now. It also doesn't recommend cheese beyond cottage cheese now until 10 months of age and older. Another change I will probably debate on adapting too as the girls have been enjoying their cheddar and are less than a month away now anyway. Anyway...I'll have to really compare them and see what else is different.Michelle Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18344980628402079740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6858665657605959629.post-15367168269937848142011-09-29T11:06:00.000-07:002011-09-29T11:06:28.427-07:00Letting Go...(otherwise known as Here's Where It Gets Messy)<br />
<br />
I am a pretty clean person. No my house is not spotless. I have twins and a life and as a friend once told me "happy kids are more important than a clean house". So if you saw my house you would know my kids are happy. But just the same I try to keep my girls pretty clean. I don't like them covered in food at the end of a meal and I don't want to bath or change them two or three times a day. But today I gave in and decided it is more important for them to learn to feed themselves than it is for me to try to keep them spotless (I was failing at it anyway haha). Kendall is my neat eater and only ended up with food all over her mouth and hands. Seren on the other hand...food in her hair and eyebrows as well as her mouth and hands. We had cheerios, bananas and cottage cheese by the way. They had fun and you know what...so did I. Maybe next time I'll just make messy meal time right before bath time and strip them down to their diapers first.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVntocby8NxnKvWOsGCb80l7U0I9ZzwvDj8KVPMxaM7-2P8VofucJz3MHF32fPcr-3bo-h9qV25CuBOdXeFyn_K7VynkOZUfDpXvLLGZ92O6cc-2aKF85O5rP6UVF-x5Elk4OTiB3Qa_J9/s1600/IMG_6229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVntocby8NxnKvWOsGCb80l7U0I9ZzwvDj8KVPMxaM7-2P8VofucJz3MHF32fPcr-3bo-h9qV25CuBOdXeFyn_K7VynkOZUfDpXvLLGZ92O6cc-2aKF85O5rP6UVF-x5Elk4OTiB3Qa_J9/s320/IMG_6229.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Seren</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijRFn3EU32aqim4WXoHX08S-sQU2NT3NAcfedY9_9e-7SUVsEGgjwVnyET6hOf1pC4TtoBS-bNtplfmDN9CkjCbh9P2Hk8cHcXCAglj00WIX68T9_BOPcq44tYOjFW8RyZxSmpgIv4Dic6/s1600/IMG_6230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijRFn3EU32aqim4WXoHX08S-sQU2NT3NAcfedY9_9e-7SUVsEGgjwVnyET6hOf1pC4TtoBS-bNtplfmDN9CkjCbh9P2Hk8cHcXCAglj00WIX68T9_BOPcq44tYOjFW8RyZxSmpgIv4Dic6/s320/IMG_6230.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Kendall</div>Michelle Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18344980628402079740noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6858665657605959629.post-72449288393780247882011-09-25T14:18:00.000-07:002011-09-30T16:08:16.894-07:00Constipation Cure SerumI'm pretty sure that solids added to our constipation issues. And I'm quite positive that finger foods have added to it even more. Maybe I'm making it up in my head. But Kendall has always had bowel issues and she was improving when the introduction of solids brought it back and then came the finger foods and she seems even worse off. We give her an ounce of prune juice with her morning and evening bottles. I try to give them some water or apple juice during the day. And still she cries when she has to get it out and I feel so bad for her. She even had the smallest amount of blood the last time I tried to help her go (holding her thighs up to her tummy). So...we're back to prune puree or what I'm starting to call our constipation cure serum.<br />
<br />
<b>Prune Puree</b><br />
I buy the semi-dry prunes in the canister at Walmart. I throw it in my blender and put enough water to just cover the prunes. Then I puree until it is lump free. Then I probably add about another cup of water. I puree it until it's a semi-runny puree (like yogurt). Then instead of pouring into ice cube trays I just put it in one big tupperware. When I'm ready to dish some out I use a metal spoon to scoop it (somewhat like ice cream) and then heat it up in the microwave.<br />
<br />
We're going to try prune puree for breakfast and prune juice with bedtime bottle and see where we stand. Then if it's runny we will just go to puree. We will also be bringing this up again with our pediatrician at their 9 month appointment on the 30th. <br />
<br />
<b>Update</b>: The prune puree and prune juice were a little too much combined. I have her at a little less than a tablespoon of prune puree for breakfast and the last two days have been going well so this might be the spot for us. They say to try things for a few days before adjusting usually.<br />
<br />
**From my college Biomed courses (human biology and physiology). When our body gets ready to excrete waste the last amounts of water are absorbed from the waste through the colon. So when a person (or baby) holds in waste (or has a "slower" gut) and doesn't rid their body of it when the sensation occurs then it leads to additional water or moisture being wicked out therefore causing harder stool** So although Kendall's stool isn't necessarily like adult constipation it is pretty firm. I really believe that she hurts when she does go that she gets anxious about the next time and so she holds it in and it gets more firm and adds to the problem. So we will be working on getting it super soft or even runny again for a while until (hopefully) she doesn't hold it in anymore.Michelle Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18344980628402079740noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6858665657605959629.post-31101064403305048022011-09-24T21:30:00.000-07:002011-09-29T14:08:03.187-07:00Finger Fooding ItI recently posted about <a href="http://adventuresinbabyfoodmaking.blogspot.com/2011/09/finger-foods.html">finger foods</a> and the cues to know when your child is ready for finger foods and what foods you might try. But I thought it would be appropriate to post about the finger foods we have been <strike>enjoying</strike> trying out.<br />
<br />
<b>Cereal Puffs</b><br />
-yep I'm a sucker. The girls first exposure to a "finger food" was Cheerios so this seemed like the next logical step. Plus they reportedly dissolve quickly in their mouth so I felt like it was a safer bet for the nervous mom I was (or am). The girls loved them and loved feeding themselves but due to expense we have since gone back to Cheerios (more for the money and they still love them).<br />
<br />
<b>Toast</b><br />
<b>-</b>simply toasted bread and then broke it into very small bite size pieces. They loved this one too. Also when the mango didn't really turn out I used the <a href="http://adventuresinbabyfoodmaking.blogspot.com/2011/09/baby-food-mill-and-cottage-cheese.html">food mill</a> to mash it up and then spread it on the toast. The mango<b> </b>toast was also a hit.<br />
<br />
<b>Scrambled Eggs</b><br />
-Thoroughly cooked scrambled eggs and split into small bites. This was not a hit. Perhaps it would be more popular next time.<br />
<br />
<b>Mangos</b><br />
- I used frozen mango (the type used for smoothies) that we had in our freezer. They reheated nicely but were difficult for the girls to pick up. This would probably be a no-go at this time.<br />
<br />
<b>Bananas </b><br />
-I cut them into 1/4 and then sliced them. They had an easier time grasping these but they were still slippery. They also seemed to enjoy them.<br />
<br />
<b>Cheddar Cheese</b><br />
-I cut up small bite size pieces (similar in size to a cheerio) and then served them on their trays. They didn't seem to know what to do with it at first. Then Seren went after it and enjoyed it. Kendall took her time and chewed each piece for quite a while.<br />
<br />
<b>Cottage Cheese</b><br />
-I gave them a couple tablespoons of large curd cottage cheese. They weren't sure how to pick it up but seemed to catch on and get it into their mouths. I thought it was interesting that when first introduced to cottage cheese (that had been through the food mill) they did not like it. This time they really liked it. Maybe texture is a big role player at this age as well.Michelle Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18344980628402079740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6858665657605959629.post-20511765289060520122011-09-22T13:49:00.000-07:002011-09-24T20:39:53.714-07:00New Foods to Try - 8-10 monthsFoods I want to try within this range:<br />
-<strike>scrambled eggs as a finger food</strike><br />
-artichokes<br />
-asparagus<br />
-mushrooms<br />
-zucchini<br />
-eggplant<br />
-<strike>blueberries (again?)</strike><br />
-grapes (cut up - with teeth?)<br />
-cantaloupe<br />
-cherries<br />
-tofu<br />
-turkey<br />
-beef<br />
-cheese (cottage cheese, colby, jack and <strike>cheddar</strike>)<br />
<br />
HOLY COW!! Can we say that is A LOT to get through. It looks like they can have most things I have ever thought of giving them...minus the forbidden list (honey, certain dairy, nuts, raw eggs, etc)<br />
<br />
As we enjoyed some watermelon over the weekend I was thinking...watermelon for baby? I gave them some and they enjoyed it.<br />
<br />
Notes on what I read: Melons can generally be given from 8 months of age on. Some believe it can be introduced earlier. Some babies will develop a rash but from what I was reading this is more likely due to acidity of the melon (never thought of them as acidic myself) and not due to an allergy. As always use caution just the same and consult your pediatrician prior to any concerning food choices or reactions.Michelle Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18344980628402079740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6858665657605959629.post-76336059388946121982011-09-13T11:14:00.000-07:002011-09-30T16:06:44.587-07:00The Incredible Edible Egg<b>Scrambled Eggs</b><br />
We started off the morning with some scrambled eggs. I made sure they were fully cooked (no runny or "shiny" egg) and also made sure to cut them into small pieces with the spatula. Then I let them cool a little and served them to the girls.<br />
<br />
<b>Rating</b>:<br />
Kendall - 3 stars (not so much a like or hate but she's been under the weather so giving her a 3)<br />
Seren - 4 stars (but she had trouble grabbing or stuffing too much in her mouth and then gagging)<br />
<br />
*always keep an eye on your child when giving them finger food (especially unfamiliar ones). Also I think it's best to take an infant CPR class before even starting finger foods and refresher courses too. I'm thinking of doing another refresher myself. Most hospitals offer community classes on CPR for free or a small fee.<br />
<br />
<b>Update</b>: I asked about eggs at our 9 month appointment. I had read that eggs should be cooked fully and I had read that only yolk should be given. Well per my pediatrician egg whites should not be given until after age one due to risk of egg allergy. They can be cooked into other items but alone eggs white whether fully cooked or runny should not be given at all.Michelle Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18344980628402079740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6858665657605959629.post-52341639789388162132011-09-11T15:18:00.000-07:002011-10-02T21:30:28.348-07:00Combination 2.0Just a list of some new combinations we've tried and how they have gone over.<br />
<br />
<b>Broccoli, Beans and Ham </b>(2 cubes broccoli, 1 cube beans and 1 oz ham)<br />
Ratings:<br />
Seren - 3 stars<br />
Kendall - 3 stars<br />
<br />
<b>Butternut Squash and Broccoli </b>(3 cubes squash and 1 broccoli)<br />
Seren - 4 stars<br />
Kendall - 3 stars<br />
<br />
<b>Carrots and Parsnips </b>(2 cubes carrot and 2 cubes parsnips)<br />
Seren - 4 stars<br />
Kendall - 4 stars<br />
<br />
<b>Yams, Beans and Ham</b> (2 cubes ham, 1 cube beans and 1/2 oz ham)<br />
Seren - 4+ stars<br />
Kendall - 4+ stars<br />
*they LOVED this...they were whining and wiggling for more<br />
<br />
<b>Yams and Beans </b>(2 cubes of each)<br />
Seren - 4 stars<br />
Kendall - 4 stars<br />
<br />
<b>Mango and Blueberry </b>(2 cubes mango and 1 cube blueberry)<br />
Seren - 3 stars<br />
Kendall - 3 stars<br />
<br />
*to be continued......(keep in mind my mixing ratio is for two kiddos so you can shrink it down)Michelle Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18344980628402079740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6858665657605959629.post-89858621112923333482011-09-10T13:38:00.000-07:002011-10-02T21:29:02.210-07:00BeansSo I finally got around to making the beans that sat on my shelf. I tried to make one type first and after following the directions on the bag (ie cooking 1 1/2 hours is all) decided this was not the way to go (that pot of beans went in the trash). The next attempt I decided to cook the beans on low for hours (estimating 8 hours) but not sure. This finally seemed to cook the beans to a tender state that could be pureed. I added about a 1/2 teaspoon of salt because I figured beans would be very bland. In the future I wouldn't do this. They didn't need it. <br />
<br />
<b>Cooking Beans -general direction-</b><br />
1 1/2 to 2 cups beans<br />
The package said to spread them out and remove foreign particles so I spread them out and looked for anything unusual but found nothing (but I'm sure it's a safe measure). Next, I submerged them in water, covering and then an extra inch. I put this on my stove with a lid and cooked it on low for most of the morning and afternoon. I think I finally got around to pureeing them in my large blender that evening when they were soft. They tasted salty to me but my husband said they just tasted like beans to him (maybe it's just the red bean flavor I'm not familiar with). <br />
<br />
<b>Cook/Prep Time</b>: 8 hours / 5 minutes to prep and 5-10 minutes to puree<br />
<b>Servings</b>: 40 oz (2 1/2 ice cube trays)<br />
<b>Cost</b>: $1.25 (estimate)<br />
<b>Notes</b>: I was tempted to go with canned beans but after reading <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6858665657605959629">Wholesome Baby Food's advice</a> determined as always that "fresh is best".<br />
<br />
<b>Ratings</b>:<br />
Kendall - 4 stars (red beans)<br />
Seren - 3 stars (red beans)<br />
<br />
*black beans are my favorite so we'll see how they like those a few days from now*Michelle Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18344980628402079740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6858665657605959629.post-63943022875874797802011-09-06T13:11:00.000-07:002011-10-10T22:15:02.974-07:00Ham<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div>I have meaning to introduce more protein to my girls since they turned 8 months. We introduced chicken back around 7 months (I think) and this has gone over better recently now that the texture isn't such a problem to them. Now that the chicken has been polished off I thought we should add another meat into the mix.<br />
<br />
From my reading on making ham for baby food it states that it should be "natural" ham...I'm assuming this means ham that isn't cured (extra salt) and isn't lunch meat or some other processed type ham. I purchased a small smoked ham and cooked it in the oven for lunch/dinner the other night. It was the type that came with a honey/spice glaze. I waited until the ham was cooked according to directions, sliced off what I planned on making into baby food and then added the glaze to the rest of the ham for our adult enjoyment.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlPbKxRNLY0Hi5DPZtuLZszSefc4hOJp9xLofVqU39DKAgSb0iAxrcxMgZG47-f7IufV8c0mr_cbwQi3eZzz7J4wB3cEjhhyLN1p9qFWlQlQTHjmvVgkqymWSQxexqC51KAhmf6R9EByEt/s1600/IMG_5853.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlPbKxRNLY0Hi5DPZtuLZszSefc4hOJp9xLofVqU39DKAgSb0iAxrcxMgZG47-f7IufV8c0mr_cbwQi3eZzz7J4wB3cEjhhyLN1p9qFWlQlQTHjmvVgkqymWSQxexqC51KAhmf6R9EByEt/s320/IMG_5853.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">With the ham that I cut off I removed most of the rind and fatty edges. I broke it into smaller pieces and then tossed it into my <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Magic-Bullet-MBR-1701-17-Piece-Express/dp/B001WAKFDY?ie=UTF8&tag=TallUtahGirl&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">small power blender</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=TallUtahGirl&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001WAKFDY" style="border-bottom-style: none !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-width: initial !important; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> with some water and blended away. I blended it until it was mostly puree but this did leave some smaller texture also. I then used <a href="http://www.amazon.com/GladWare-Round-4-Ounce-Containers-8-Count/dp/B000EGBLBM?ie=UTF8&tag=TallUtahGirl&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">GladWare 4-Ounce Containers</a> to package the ham and freeze it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhENiTKhx1zOUnof4dtHwYWxSpa9nmNb5wi0kMo3PeKgbMAf-Q41PhMoB-UU288SaUMf96v3lKc235brxTtFladvRb26mPB8MSs46uZEYFbgoruekMUxowxtQKV2m6qSr4Hn2lBsLj4V-hd/s1600/IMG_5868.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhENiTKhx1zOUnof4dtHwYWxSpa9nmNb5wi0kMo3PeKgbMAf-Q41PhMoB-UU288SaUMf96v3lKc235brxTtFladvRb26mPB8MSs46uZEYFbgoruekMUxowxtQKV2m6qSr4Hn2lBsLj4V-hd/s320/IMG_5868.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><b>Cook/Prep Time</b>: 50 minutes cooking / 5-10 minute prep<br />
<b>Serving</b>: six 4 oz containers (24 oz)<br />
<b>Cost</b>: approximately $15 for 5 lb ham (I used about 1 to 1 1/2 lb on the baby food ; $3 or $4)<br />
<b>Notes</b>: I would probably try to freeze these in ice cubes trays in the future as the frozen 4 oz block of ham is hard to break apart and I would like more control over how much ham I use.<br />
<br />
<b>Ratings</b>:<br />
Kendall - 3 stars<br />
Seren - 4 stars<br />
<br />
<b>Hammy Yams</b><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
I mixed 3 cubes of yams with about 1 oz of ham. Tossed it in the microwave and heated until it was piping hot and then allowed it to cool down before feeding. The girls liked this combination. I plan to use ham as a mix in for the most part at this time.Michelle Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18344980628402079740noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6858665657605959629.post-21648785686041920752011-09-03T13:13:00.000-07:002011-09-07T12:30:19.314-07:00Baby Food Mill and Cottage CheeseSo I made my first Food Mill purchase. I went with the Green Sprouts Baby Food Mill. It was cheap and I didn't want to invest money in something I didn't see using for a long time and from reviews it supposedly ground into bigger textures. Also it had a deeper bowl and so I figured I could feed both girls with one grinding (I hope) based on this. No other real logic to it than that. <b>Side note</b>: Can I just say how much I am loving my free Amazon Mom subscription (no marketing intended really). But I love it...you get two months free prime shipping and then when you purchase from Amazon Mom you can add on months to this benefit (one additional month for every $25 you spend) and it's free two-day shipping on any Amazon Prime item (not just baby stuff)...nice!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Green-Sprouts-Baby-Food-Mill/dp/B002F9MUL6?ie=UTF8&tag=TallUtahGirl&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Green Sprouts Baby Food Mill, Green" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B002F9MUL6&tag=TallUtahGirl" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Green Sprouts Baby Food Mill (BPA free and "green" friendly)</i></div> <img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=TallUtahGirl&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002F9MUL6" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
Anyway back to the Food Mill. I received it in the mail yesterday and was excited to try it out. So I washed it and decided to throw some cottage cheese into it. I loaded it wrong (yes I skipped reading the directions) so I then started over and voila milled cottage cheese. What did the girls think of it? Kendall liked it and swallowed most of her few spoon fulls and Seren...well not so much. She gave me the look of "what is this putrid thing you put in my mouth?" and spit most of it out. Oh well...maybe next time.<br />
<br />
<b>Cottage Cheese </b><br />
I only did a few tablespoons/ounces and milled it through. Then just used a baby spoon to feed them right from the bowl.<br />
<br />
<b>Serving</b>: 3 tablespoons (approx 3 ounces)<br />
<b>Prep/Cook Time</b>: 2 minutes (super easy)<br />
<b>Price</b>: approx $4 for a 3 lb tub at my bulk store and I love cottage cheese so it's basically always on hand in our house.<br />
<br />
<b>Rating</b>:<br />
Kendall - 3 stars<br />
Seren - 1 starMichelle Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18344980628402079740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6858665657605959629.post-33582601059581479502011-09-01T15:40:00.000-07:002012-01-01T22:00:16.346-08:00The Sippy Cup<b>Bottle Weaning and Sippy Cups</b>. The age to start you baby on a sippy cup is dependent on the child. It is recommended to wait until at least 6 months. There are many types of sippy cups. Some are free-flow style and some have a valve so that the child has to suck or bite on it. Others may have spill resistant design. Which style you chose is up to you and ultimately up to your child liking it or not. We went with a spill resistant style at first. Then a style that had slits which required minimal sucking. We also introduced the sippy cup to our twins very soon after 6 months of age. I figured it was best to introduce it early on so they didn't get attached to their bottles for drinking and also they were showing interest in drinking out of our cups as well. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD2PvGseFK4LS5FlNaf9-vxlETeeoFCfEbXyj3QZi_YtgwICdZ8TT5d8_X4aukQsOLIvFalJJeFOvyqFDd0E-2uKH2oLew7qF5BnIHtO74MVTzfxSyiB9xkrEObeoiSh_nnUWFa_qgLjpF/s1600/bpa-free-sippy-cup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Munchkin-Mighty-Spill-Proof-Ounce-Colors/dp/B002I3WXLQ?ie=UTF8&tag=TallUtahGirl&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Munchkin 2 Pack Mighty Grip Spill-Proof Cup, 10 Ounce, Colors Vary Vary" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B002I3WXLQ&tag=TallUtahGirl" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=TallUtahGirl&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002I3WXLQ" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <i>We started with something like this</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwiryeb706o4SgopKmLUUnhonaJdddUDm_6vHpjvSubDlHIcdWb9bD3qO8Nw2L33AJX5V4eZFZuBFcUk47f_b1Yb6_wzGfu9UIWhAhTQqDPZ4JtpCXObmOgk5RlqFICA0TLR7jLwmN6AC1/s1600/cleaning-sippy-cups.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/First-Years-Spill-Proof-Colors/dp/B00005QSKC?ie=UTF8&tag=TallUtahGirl&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/First-Years-Removable-Handles-Colors/dp/B001D7M6UG?ie=UTF8&tag=TallUtahGirl&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="The First Years Take & Toss With Removable Handles, Pack, Colors May Vary, 7 Ounce" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B001D7M6UG&tag=TallUtahGirl" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=TallUtahGirl&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001D7M6UG" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=TallUtahGirl&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00005QSKC" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>...then moved on to something like this. However our twins don't seem to have a preference so we still switch it up quite a bit so they don't get settled into one or the other. </i></div><br />
I have also read and heard from family that it's best to keep formula in bottles and juice, water and other liquids in the sippy cup. That way the child associate the bottle with other liquids besides formula and doesn't expect formula when given a sippy. Also, when the time comes to drop the formula you simply drop the bottle all together and go to the sippy cup (probably a free-flow style at this point but it probably doesn't matter). I've also read that if you want to give the child formula in the sippy that it is best to introduce the sippy with formula first and then other liquids. It's really all trial and error I'm sure.<br />
<br />
<b>Tips to introducing a sippy cup</b>:<br />
-Wait until a time when your child is rested and in a good mood. Introducing a sippy cup to a child who is tired, hungry or thirsty may lead to frustration and tears (for both parties). <br />
-Be prepared to try different types of cups. Don't give up if your child doesn't like the first style you offer them.<br />
-If you are using the valve type and your child has difficulty try removing the valve. Be aware that this makes the liquid flow fairly quick and your child might need help.<br />
-Demonstrate (without actually drinking from) how the sippy cup is used and making appreciate sounds or slurping sounds to clue your child into the purpose of the cup if they don't seem to understand what is inside.<br />
<br />
Water down juice to reduce the sweetness factor and also offer water frequently in the cup so there isn't an expectation for juice. Don't offer or send a child to bed with a sippy or bottle as formula and juice can cause tooth decay.Michelle Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18344980628402079740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6858665657605959629.post-23987069017574487612011-09-01T15:27:00.000-07:002011-09-07T11:03:38.008-07:00WeaningI am definitely not an expert here as I've never even gotten through weaning one child yet. My only knowledge is from what I've read, what I believe and of course experienced parents who have done this a number of times.<br />
<br />
<b>Weaning</b> is the process of introducing an infant to what will eventually be it's adult diet. "Starting solids" is also a common phrase. It is also the process of increasing the solid intake and lessening the breast milk or formula intake. It does not mean taking away the formula or breast milk from baby's diet. Many mother's breast feed until close to two years old (some even longer). Typically a formula fed baby is switched over to milk at one year. I always thought this was supposed to be whole milk but recently read that if a child is predisposed to obesity or overweight for their size already that 2% milk can be given (I'm sure this would be determined by your doctor). Some parents also chose to go with soy milk or other types of milk. This should also be discussed with your doctor in case supplements are needed to provide full nutrition. Do not cut out breast milk or formula with the introduction of solids. As my doctor put it when I asked about when it was appropriate to replace a meal fully with solids...formula (or breast milk) is important for your baby because it provides the full nutrition they need whereas solids are only providing bits and pieces at this point. <br />
<br />
<b>From a handout my pediatrician gave me</b>: Infants 0-4 months should have 5-10 feedings a day (16-32 oz). Infants 6 months of age should have 4-7 feedings a day (24-40 oz). Infants 6-8 months should have 3-5 feedings a day (24-31 oz). Infants 8-10 months should get 3-4 feedings a day (16-32 oz). Infants 10-12 months should have 3-4 feedings a day (16-24 oz). A feeding is breast milk or formula and does not include the amount of solids your child is eating. For more information on solids and amounts to give refer to your doctor. This is simply a guideline I was given and is not meant to substitute medical advice.<br />
<br />
<b>Baby Led Weaning. </b>Many parents also practice or use baby led weaning. I hadn't heard of this until I started reading up on solids. Basically it is allowing your baby the opportunity to express interest in the food you are eating and to not introduce solids or food before this point. Some parents just start offering the same food that they are eating (probably pureed or put through a food mill for texture depending on the age of the child). This would also include age appropriate food that isn't at a high risk for allergens.Michelle Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18344980628402079740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6858665657605959629.post-58010521291180912292011-09-01T13:23:00.000-07:002011-09-07T11:04:13.344-07:00Finger FoodsNever underestimate your kids. And I guess never underestimate their desire to do things. Their desire to move. Their desire to talk. Their desire to connect. Their desire to feed themselves.<br />
<br />
I wasn't planning on introducing any finger foods until around 10 months. I had read that introducing them too early can lead to frustration for baby with self-feeding and a negative impact in the long run for self-feeding. But then we went to Florida and my mom broke out the Cheerios for them. And what happened? They LOVED them. We broke them in halves and thirds at first to prevent choking and then by the end of the week we were giving them whole cheerios. <br />
<br />
When we returned home I got out the baby cereal puffs that I had purchased and let them try these. They couldn't get enough of them. Then today I put one into Kendall's fingers and she quickly put it to her mouth. She missed the target once or twice but quickly learned to pick them up and stuff them in her mouth (one at a time mind you). Seren also caught on quickly, although she would often fist her's and had some issue getting it into her mouth from there but not for long. So after several minutes of my husband and I playing with them and teaching them to pick them up I moved them to their high chairs, put the tray with a few puffs in front of them and viola. They were feeding themselves. And having a ball with it. Seren was giggling and smiling and Kendall was going for puff after puff (swallowing in between) and whining when she ran out. I guess I was wrong on my timing for starting finger foods. We definitely will move into the bigger and harder to eat stuff with caution for choking but I think they love being able to do something for themselves finally. <br />
<br />
Finger foods can be introduced (from what I've read) around <b>8 to 10 months of age</b>. It really depends on the child and their coordination. A lot of the factory finger foods will label these for as<b> "crawler" stage</b>. The most important thing of course is the <b>pincer grasp</b> (food between thumb and forefinger). Other big indicators it's okay to try finger foods include: <b>ability to sit upright without support, ability to crawl and making a chewing motion</b>. I have also heard that having teeth can be an indicator although neither of my dears have any teeth yet and they have done just fine with these. Obviously with chunkier food or foods that require biting teeth would be important. Like everything else it's on a child-to-child basis so only you really know when your child might be ready.Michelle Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18344980628402079740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6858665657605959629.post-30572117882485314352011-08-30T15:38:00.000-07:002011-10-10T22:04:37.640-07:00Pumpkin Puree<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is the only puree that I'm aware of where it is completely acceptable (maybe even encouraged) to purchase canned goods. Just make sure that you buy the 100% pure pumpkin and not the pumpkin pie mix.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgk3zrpIFl5dAXQwYLXBTn2_L0NWWoUF-Qi6yedjkY4bEOVX_z85gsBKBgRySqq_8vInMMxlIlbsIGT8E7Gyy_K254VGNBEYag158MEKK-PNBmuhA2hE6Qb3E4vFsJTU2eWWyNThKP3fFs/s1600/IMG_5689.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgk3zrpIFl5dAXQwYLXBTn2_L0NWWoUF-Qi6yedjkY4bEOVX_z85gsBKBgRySqq_8vInMMxlIlbsIGT8E7Gyy_K254VGNBEYag158MEKK-PNBmuhA2hE6Qb3E4vFsJTU2eWWyNThKP3fFs/s320/IMG_5689.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I purchased Libby's 100% Pumpkin (29 oz can) and mixed it with formula to get the right consistency. I'm trying to decide how to start storing thicker or more textured purees but in the meantime I want my ice cube trays to work. Also with the pumpkin I was tempted to add in nutmeg or allspice (especially now that the girls are 8 months) but thought it best to just mix these in when I heat it up so I could obey the 4-day rule and also so if they hate it I haven't wasted anything. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghEZDUw80N0a2p81DBi6D5xrv2LOLSGG73nlm6SAuLmQvs7vZTYgPdDlCYHQx05sRP4dn12WZbtfaXQvnPAWfwoZwa_uknF52dXGKRHZypy15SnNtHw6hEOMDh5re7i2fF3LC1y-m0eF9s/s1600/IMG_5693.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghEZDUw80N0a2p81DBi6D5xrv2LOLSGG73nlm6SAuLmQvs7vZTYgPdDlCYHQx05sRP4dn12WZbtfaXQvnPAWfwoZwa_uknF52dXGKRHZypy15SnNtHw6hEOMDh5re7i2fF3LC1y-m0eF9s/s320/IMG_5693.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b>Prep/Cook time</b>: 5-10 minutes (literally opening the can and mixing it up)<br />
<b>Servings</b>: 36 oz to freeze and 4 oz fresh to eat; 40 oz total<br />
<b>Cost</b>: $<br />
<b>Cost Comparison</b>:<br />
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<b>Ratings</b>:<br />
Seren - 3 stars<br />
Kendall - 2.5 stars<br />
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<b>2nd try with cinnamon</b>:<br />
Seren - 4 stars<br />
Kendall- 3 starsMichelle Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18344980628402079740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6858665657605959629.post-68163570467691129072011-08-28T20:29:00.000-07:002011-09-07T11:05:36.697-07:00Traveling With Baby...We recently made a trip to Florida to see my parents so I thought I would share some of the things I learned while preparing and while flying with the girls and all of their gear. Most of these tips are regarding air travel. Check with your airline and also check with <a href="http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/children/index.shtm">TSA's website</a> for tips regarding travel with children also.<br />
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<b>Baby Food - during travel</b><br />
1. <b> You can bring pre-mixed formula bottles through security</b> but you can not bring water alone through security (at least from what I read). I always fed the girls a few hours before our take-off and then made a hot bottle of formula to put in the diaper bag. It cooled enough to feed them at take off. Security / TSA never had issues with the bottles, baby food, juice or formula (although they did some extra testing on the formula that they had us observe).<br />
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2. <b> Feed your child at takeoff and descent to avoid earaches or pain</b>. You can also use a binkie, teething rings and toys they like to gnaw on if you have bad timing. I brought juice as a "bribe" for my girls to drink if I needed them to. We fed them at take off but didn't seem to have issues with landing although I had diluted juice at the ready if needed.<br />
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3. <b> TSA security allows for baby food, formula, breast milk and juice for your child in reasonable quantities</b>. Their site advises on <a href="http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/children/index.shtm">travel with children</a>. There is not specific measurements only "reasonable quantities" for your need of travel. I brought a small 8 oz canister of formula, two small 4 oz juices, two 4 oz containers with my homemade baby food inside and some baby cereal with no issues whatsoever. I also had two 8 oz bottles of premixed formula and 6 extra bottles for feedings. I found TSA agents to be extremely helpful with our travel. <br />
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4. <b>Be organized and prepared</b> for TSA security check. Make sure your liquids (including baby food) are pulled out of diaper bags or carry-on luggage. I packed a separate thermos type bag just to simplify things for myself with the baby food items. Use your quart size bags and know where you place these in bags for quick pull out and inspection.<br />
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5. <b>Need to make bottles...think Starbucks </b>(or at least we did). We simply got a small hot water and a larger cold water and mixed them together. The hot water was scalding though so be careful in the water temp before feeding your child. Also many other restaurant and eatery style places were happy to provide water if needed but we liked the control over the temperature with Starbucks (plus you can find one in every airport and frequently too).<br />
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<b>Baby Food and Needs - at your destination</b><br />
1. If you have someone you are visiting it is to your advantage to have them pick up things ahead of time if needed (diapers, formula, food) so that you can save trips and pain when you arrive. If you don't have someone it is still easier to purchase these items upon arrival (especially as you realize you run out of pack space and weight limit quickly).<br />
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2. I packed ice cube trays and travel containers. We purchased a few of their favorite foods and made enough to last a week using my parents blender. You can also purchase take-n-toss type styles that are cheaper. I brought take-n-toss sippies to the airport just due to concern that security might not allow for the amount of extra bottles and containers that I was bringing (they did with no problem).<br />
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3. I have heard of people using little bags to keep outfits together in their diaper bags to reduce the need to dig for items. I didn't do this but just packed coordinating clothes for any accidents. I also changed the girls immediately prior to take off and during layovers while in the airport to avoid changing them on the plane. For longer flights you would obviously want to change them on the plane and in the facilities on the plane.<br />
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4. Purchase new toys that your children haven't seen or played with. Also take away their favorite toys for a week prior to travel so that they seem new and exciting again (or at least they are sure to appreciate them). I chose toys that were quiet and not annoying to show courtesy to our fellow passengers. I also chose toys that could be used with links or strapped on with <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bella-Tunno-Fabric-Binker-Spring/dp/B003JQL7PY/ref=pd_sim_ba_2">binkie tethers</a> so that if my girls tossed the toy or dropped it I wasn't on my hands and knees looking for it.<br />
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<b>Other Tips</b>:<br />
-<b> If you are traveling with multiples or more than one child and planning to use "Infant in Arms" (where a child can fly for free on your lap until the age of 2) then I would strongly suggest calling a reservation assistant and also locking in your seats if possible</b>. I arranged our seats online far ahead of time and everything was fine until we showed up to check in and all of the sudden our seats were not compatible with the air mask capacity of where we were assigned. My belief is that an agent moved our seats next to each other without checking our special needs (ie Infant in Arms). We had to hassle the gate agent to arrange our seats closer together as all of our packing was based on sharing a diaper bag and being within arms reach of each other for this purpose. We also had trouble with this on the flight home when our first flight was cancelled and our new flight was not arranged with Infant in Arms in mind. Check your seats and check with your gate agent to confirm your seats prior to boarding.<br />
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-<b>Bag your car seats or rent them</b>. If you are renting a car at your destination I have heard you can also rent car seats. We didn't rent a car or seats but I like the idea and if we travel again I would consider this (depending on the fee). You can check car seats for free with most airlines. Also you are allowed to gate check them and if there is a free seat in your row you can also be permitted to use the car seat if it is approved (this does come with the hassle of car seats through security and the airport for a small chance of using them). I recommend just checking them if you did not purchase a seat for your child(ren). <b>We double bagged ours in large black trash bags and then used duct tape over the top to wrap around the handle and sun visor of the seat</b>. Worked like a charm. Pack extra bags and throw your duct tape in your checked bag for the return flight and you're set. <br />
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**some of this is really simple and some of it won't apply to your situation. I probably missed some things. But how I wish someone would have layed out the basics for me so I didn't have to hunt down the best strategies...therefore here I am laying it out the way I found most helpful**Michelle Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18344980628402079740noreply@blogger.com2