Making your own baby food

After the terrible eating issues I faced with my daughter, I am determined OBSESSED with making my own baby food when it is time for #2 to start solids. I want to control everything...the ingredients, the texture the amounts...EVERYTHING. This new baby will eat all colors, textures, ingredients if it KILLS me. 

I'm sure you can tell I'm a bit passionate about this topic. In fact, I think this has been my favorite post to research and write about so far because I haven't done much to prepare myself for making baby food (hey, I still have awhile before this is a topic in my household again!).

Making your own baby food isn't for everyone. It takes a lot of planning ahead, time and equipment...so don't feel bad if you prefer to go the store bought method. Thinking about giving it a try? After LOTS of research, here's what I've found: 

1- It is easy, but time consuming. The steps for making baby food can be boiled down to the following: wash and quick chop raw foods, cook if needed (boil or steam), puree and store. Whew! I'm sweating already. 

2. No fancy equipment required. There are so many baby food making systems out there, but I've decided not to invest in one because I already have a food processor. Some people find that a food processor is too large for some of the single serving cooking they do, but I plan on doing most things in bulk to save time anyway. 

http://www.questforrealfood.com/2010/06/make-your-own-baby-food.html

3. Have plenty of storage. With baby #1- we didn't own an extra freezer/fridge so my family got the joy of storing some of my extra expressed milk (and by some I mean coolers FULL). We don't have that option this time (plus it was super inconvenient for all parties involved...my Grandpa was sick of looking at breast milk when he wanted some ice cream) so we are going to invest in a freezer chest for milk and food storage. 

In addition to a new freezer, we will also be investing in some kind of baby food storage system. There are plenty of brands out there that sell small plastic, freezable storage containers that are the perfect size for baby food portions. I've also seen on Pinterst where people have just used ice cube trays. My plan is to use the ice cube trays at first, then when baby starts to need more variety (aka- more food to store) move to a storage system. 

http://greenbabyguide.com/2010/05/21/how-do-you-make-baby-food/

4. Find a few good cook books.  I already have a good head start with Deceptively Delicious by Jessica Seinfeld.  

This book is aimed more for toddlers and bigger kids that are eating "real" meals (think pancakes, soups, meatloaf...) that have fruit and veggie purees in them. She has a great section at the beginning of the book on how to make purees, what equipment you need and how she stores things...which is really a great intro to starting baby food. This book has been a life saver in our house and even my husband and I like eating the food that we make from it!

Another book I'm going to invest in is The Baby and Toddler Cookbook by Karen Ansel.  

I've thumbed through this book and it's just what I'm looking for to get started. It has 90 recipes that are organized by your child's age so it is easy to follow along. Since I haven't personally used this book I can't rave about it just yet...but it has TONS of great reviews online so I'm anxious to pick one up.  

Sounds simple enough, right? Well...we'll see. Baby #2 isn't even due until Thanksgiving so MY food making adventures won't start until the spring. I'll make sure to keep you updated and in the mean time, does anyone have anymore baby food making tips for us? 

Tips for Starting Baby on Solids

Starting baby on solid foods is SO fun! It is a great break from the bottle and a huge milestone (break out that camera!). Unsure of when to start or exactly how to get started? No problem...we've got you covered! 

http://bartonblabs.blogspot.com/

When to start:

KellyMom.com has a great section on when to start baby on solids. Basically watch your baby and look for these signs of readiness: sitting up well with no support, willing to chew, baby looks interested when Mom and Dad eat...all of these signs occur right around 6 - 8 months. See our post about introducing rice cereal as a first food.

Stock the pantry:

Are you planning on using store bought baby food? Going to try making it yourself? Or do a mix it up? I would suggest weighting the advantages and disadvantages of both before rushing to the store to buy supplies. In terms of food, rice cereal, green beans, peas, sweet potatoes, bananas, apples and peaches are all great foods to start with. 

http://frugalwifewealthylife.blogspot.com/2010/10/homemade-baby-food-merrick.html

Gather supplies:

Make sure you have plenty of plastic (or at least unbreakable) bowls, plates and spoons. Plastic bibs are great because they don't stain and most come with a pocket on the bottom to catch drips. If you are going to make your own baby food make sure you have a food processor (or baby food maker) and lots of storage containers. 

http://www.chocolatemoosedc.com/kool-kids/baby-bowls

Be aware of allergies:

This is especially important if baby has a family history of food allergies. When starting baby on solids, some pediatricians recommend a day or two "wait period" before moving to something different. This will allow you to not only recognize an allergic reaction, but it will be easier to tell exactly what food is causing it. We all think of nuts, dairy, coconut and seafood as potential threats but did you know that berries, citrus and wheat are some of the top foods to watch as well?

So what does a reaction look like? If your child has sudden loose stools or vomiting, a rash/hives, flu like symptoms, swollen lips/face/tongue or trouble breathing you should probably call your doctor. Make sure you have a list of foods your child has eaten within the last few days ready to share.

Many kids grow out of these food allergies. My daughter showed a reaction to peaches when we first introduced them around 7 months, but by a year she was a peach eating machine! Just be careful when you reintroduce foods.

A great website to learn more about allergies is www.wholesomebabyfood.momtastic.com.

Grab a feeding schedule:

This isn't 100% necessary but I always found it very helpful to know what other people do. I found a great list online that breaks things down. If you are starting at around 6 months, here is the recommended plan:

 (Serve grains runny, fruits and veggies should be a very smooth/runny consistency. Can mix with rice cereal at first)

And one last tip I have for every single parent and caregiver (or anyone that lives on planet Earth really...) PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE know your infant first aid. Babycenter.com has a good guide with illustrations but this is no substitute for taking an in person class. Check with your local hospital to see if they have classes available. I had to use this on my daughter when she choked on a piece of waffle and I'm telling you, there is absolutely NOTHING scarier than watching your baby try to breath. It traumatized us both for life (she's 2 and I still feel the need to breath through a paper sack when she eats a meal) and I just can't stress how important it is to know what to do in these situations. You'll be so glad you took my advice (as always). ;o)

And now that I've just given my PSA- Anyone else have tips for starting baby out on solids? Stay tuned for a post on how to make your own baby food (something I'm going to try for baby #2).

Trapped.

Have you ever been trapped in a car with a screaming baby??

Lets be honest.  Motherhood is not all pink roses.  

Lets talk about things you can do while your baby is SCREAMING and you are driving in the car.

1.  Use Dr. Karp's Happiest Baby on the Block method and SHHHHHHHHH as loud as you possibly can.  Spit will probably end up all over your steering wheel and possibly your windshield.

2.  Turn on a lullaby and try to soothe baby.  "Hush little baby don't say a word, mommy is gonna buy you whatever you want."

3.  When #2 does not work (because it probably won't) turn on Journey as loud as you can stand it to drown out screaming baby and sing at the top of your lungs, "Don't Stop Believing!!".

4.  Open all windows for a brief moment.  Maybe the quick breeze of wind will calm baby.

5.  Give in.  Pull over and feed and cuddle baby.  I have done this...as soon as I pulled over baby stopped crying and as soon as I got back onto the road baby started crying again.  (of course!)

6.  Bargin.  Tell baby you will buy him a new rattle, stuffed animal, car, mansion, anything!!  PLEASE just stop crying!!!

7.  Try throwing back pacifiers.  I know baby is young, but he has to be able to catch at least ONE, right?!?

8.  Call husband and have him listen to this madness.   

9.  Silently cry along with baby.  Don't they have empathy yet?!?

10.  Scream and cry along with baby.  Who can cry louder??

Happy Traveling!

Is it Time for Rice Cereal?

You've gone through pregnancy, child birth and now are in the early months of baby's life...you have probably figured out by now that people have opinions about EVERYTHING. I hate to tell you, but it gets worse when people start thinking your baby is ready for solids. 

I think I received every opinion in the book regarding rice cereal from the time my daughter was just a few weeks old until she was 6 months. "Put it in her bottle to help her sleep" or "Give it to her before bed to help with reflux" or "You are giving her rice cereal ALREADY?"...I heard it all. So what do you do?!

http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/right-way-to-feed-babies

As always, check with your pediatrician before starting your baby on solids or anything new for that matter. Most articles I've read say that baby doesn't need anything but milk until they are about 6 months. If you look at the comments under some of these articles, you can see that some Mom's give their children rice cereal as early as just a few weeks old...some wait until 9 to 12 months old.

http://splashofsomething.com/tag/rice-cereal/

I started giving my daughter rice cereal right around 4 1/2 months old. She was waking up hungry WAY too much at night and I'd been told over and over again that it would help her sleep. She just got a tiny bit mixed with breast milk and fed to her with a spoon but you know what, it totally worked for us! It also DID help with her reflux (she was on medication at this point) and it helped with spitting up too. Rice cereal was our miracle and I loved it. 

So you think your baby is ready for something a little satisfying than milk, milk and more milk? Great! Give it a try! Here's how we started:

- Put about 1 tablespoon of rice cereal to 4 -5 tablespoons of breast milk or formula. I found that my milk made it a bit runnier than formula, but that was perfect for the beginning. 

- Set baby in a bouncy seat or swing if they aren't sitting up on their own yet. Make sure the head is propped up...you don't want baby to choke (same as with bottle feeding). 

- Have lots of burp rags, wipes and bibs ready to go!

- Using a soft baby spoon, "pour" small amounts of the cereal into baby's mouth. The consistency should be SUPER runny so the pouring method is easiest. 

- Be prepared for a HUGE mess and maybe even a few tears. My daughter actually did amazing with cereal...it was love at first bite. But if your baby doesn't like it, don't give up! Eating from a spoon and the texture of the cereal are both new experiences for baby, they need some practice and words of encouragement. 

- Don't forget your camera! You'll get lots of silly faces and capture a huge milestone for baby. 

When did you start giving your baby solids? Did you start with rice cereal or something more adventurous?  

Lets Talk About Sex Baby...

Yes, I am well aware that sex is probably the last thing on most new mommy's mind.  Lets be honest though; it is not the last thing on your husbands mind.  And, unless you are wanting another baby anytime soon you MUST use protection.

There are lots of options for birth control. 

Here are a few:

Condoms

Pros and Cons:

Effective against pregnancy.

Helps prevent STDs.

Inexpensive.

May disrupt or interrupt sex.

Can break.

"The Pill"  Talk to your doctor to find the best option for you.

Pros and Cons:

Very effective against pregnancy when used correctly.

Mentrual Cycles are more regular and cramps are reduced.

Cost $$.

Must remember to take it every day at the same time.

Need a prescription.

May cause side effects such as headache, nausea, and increased appetite.

Does not reduce risk of STD.

Nuva Ring

Pros and Cons:

Very effective against pregnancy if used correctly.

Makes menstrual cycles lighter and more regular.

Does not protect against STD's.

Need a prescription.

Can cause side effects such as headache, nausea, and increased appetite.

Higher risk of blood clots.

**personal note:  I tried this form of BC after my daughter.   It dried up my milk supply.   I was devastated.  I was able to get my milk supply back (later blog post) but beware of using this form of BC if you are nursing!**

IUD

Pros and Cons:

Small, T-shaped device inserted into the uterus to prevent pregnancy.

Safe, effective, and long lasting.

Must be inserted by health care provider.

Costs between $500-$1000 but lasts up to 12 years.

Does not prevent against sexually transmitted diseases.

Abstinence

Pros and Cons:

Your husband or significant other may not love this.

Safe.  

Easy (for you).  

Convenient.  

Prevents against sexually transmitted diseases.

"Family Planning"

Pros and Cons:

Woman gets to know her body and ovulation cycle.

Natural.

Free.

Does not protect agains STDs.

Requires a lot of work.

Failure rate is high.

Source:  http://www.youngwomenshealth.org/prosandcons.html

There are many more options.  Do your research and make sure you sit down and talk to your husband and doctor before making a final decision.  

Momma Called The Doctor...

Momma Called The Doctor And The Doctor Said.....

Yes...I am THAT mom that calls the doctor for EVERYTHING.   

Me: "Hi, this is Ashley W"

Doctor Office:  "Hi.  Is this for Grayden or Addelyn?"

Slightly embarrassing at times, but I would rather be safe and overprotective than let things go and possibly turn into a bigger problem.

I have learned some basics along the ways.  Let me to share some tips on when you should probably go ahead and call the doctor.

Temperament.  Baby has a runny nose and is lethargic vs runny nose and happy.  


Unusual Crying.  Baby starts crying suddenly and cannot be calmed down.  Or if baby's cry is weak, unusually high pitched, or if baby is lethargic and not crying or difficult to wake up.

Appetite.  While baby's appetites change from day to day, if baby has an unusual lack of appetite, or tires easily from nursing or taking bottle, call the doctor.  If baby spits up more than usual or spits up with more effort or is a greenish color, call the doctor.  


Abnormal Bowel Movements.  Young babies, especially breastfed babies have loose stools.  If baby's stools become extra watery, keep a close eye on him.  Make sure baby is breastfeeding or bottle feeding to keep hydrated.  Baby should also have a minimum of six wet diapers a day.  (The new Pamper diapers are awesome for knowing if baby had a wet diaper or not.  A line turns blue to let you know baby tinkled!)  On the other hand, if baby has small, hard bowel movements, has blood or mucus in his stools, or a jelly consistency, call the doctor.  


Difficult Breathing.  If your baby is having a difficult time breathing or if breathing is labored, call the doctor or get help immediately.   


Fever.  This one is tricky for me because I feel like if a baby has a fever they must be very sick.  However, a baby could have a high fever and not super sick, or a low grade fever and very sick.  As a general rule, if your baby is under 3 months old and has a temp of 100.4 or higher, call the doctor.  If baby is older and has a fever, I generally call the doctor and talk to the nurse to get their best assessment as to whether or not to bring them in.  
Source:  www.babycenter.com

Baby Center also has this fun quiz you can take to see if you know when you should call the doctor.  

http://www.babycenter.com/when-should-you-call-the-doctor-for-your-baby

How did you do??

(I got a 7/10) 

What classifies as a CODE RED?

Every Mother has had to do it at one point in time. It makes you gag, makes you want to burn your whole house down to get ride of the smell, and makes you feel the need to throw boiling hot water on your hands to get clean...that's right ladies, we've all changed some pretty nasty diapers.

Handling poopy diapers is just something you have to get used to as a Mom. But what about those "Code Reds"? Here's how you know you've changed the nastiest diaper in your life:

#1- You can smell what you are about to get into from across your house. 

#2- You think everything has been contained in your child's diaper. You slowly open the zipper to their sleeper and realize things are pooled at the bottom of the feet. 

#3. You wish you could call your husband home from work and say "your turn".

#4- A "blowout" normally consists of poop going up the back...a "code red" situation consists of poop going up the back, front, sides and legs of the diaper. Nothing is safe. 

#5. You have to shampoo the carpet after you have finished changing your child. 

#6. You, your child and your dog ALL need a baths. 

#7.  You are digging poop out of your child's belly button. Cursing the doctor that tied your child's umbilical cord to be an "innie".

#8. You start running out of room to pile up the half a box of wipes that you are using to wipe your child off. You resort to dumping the clean wipes out of their plastic container and stuffing the dirty ones in.

#9. You have a visitor 4 hours later and STILL have to explain the odor in your home was caused by a "code red". 

#10. You decide to invest in a hazmat suit. 

Happy diaper changing! 

Vaccination 101

Researching vaccinations can be a very daunting task. More information is out there than ever due to controversy surrounding vaccines in the last decade. We've tried to create a great list of resources to help make things a little easier for all the confused Mommas out there! 

EverydayHealth.com has a simple, but informative FAQ section on childhood vaccinations.

CDC- Vaccination Schedule: You can find an easy to read, printable schedule for recommended vaccinations up to age 6. There is even a "catch up" tool to help determine how you need to go about getting a missed dose.

Relfe.com offers a perspective on why parents choose not to vaccinate their children.

WebMD.com explains what Dr. Sear's Alternative Vaccination Schedule, the difference between an alternative schedule and routine schedules and the advantages/disadvantages. 

If you know of any other great resources, we'd love to hear about them! 

Diet and Nursing

SO, baby is now about 3 months old and you still have baby fat to loose.  You are ready to go on a diet BUT you are nursing.  

So....now what??

I struggled with this.  My body actually did not want to loose weight until I was done nursing.  I hung onto every last 10lbs till my babies were at least 9 months old or I got my first menstrual cycle.  It totally stunk, but worth it for me to continue to nurse.  Other moms actually loose a ton of weight from nursing.  (I SO wish I was one of them.) But, these moms sometimes gain weight back when they are finished nursing.   Every body is different.  Your body may not react the same as your best friend's so try your best not compare or pass judgement.  

According to Kelly's Mom there are six basic guidelines to follow when dieting and nursing.

6 Basic Guidelines to Follow When Dieting and Nursing

1.  Wait until baby is at least 2 months old before you start to diet.  Your body needs to establish a healthy milk supply before you restrict your caloric intake.  By nursing, you are burning 200-500 extra calories per day, so even without dieting, you are burning extra calories.   

2.  Breastfeed without restriction.  Breastfeed frequently and for longer than six months reduces maternal weight loss.

3.  While nursing, you should not consume less than 1500-1800 calories per day.  Most woman need to stay at the high end of this range and some woman even need to be above it.  By eating less calories per day you may be putting your milk supplement at risk.  

4.  Keep weight loss at less than 1.5 pounds per week.  You should be able to safely loose 1.5 pounds per week or 6 pounds per month after the second month without affecting the baby's milk supply or well-being.

5.  Decrease calories gradually.  A sudden drop in calories could decrease your milk supply.  When mothers are ill and dehydrated or are taking a medication they have a higher risk of their milk supply decreasing.  

6.  Avoid quick-fix solutions.  Avoid low-carb diets, fad diets, and weight loss medications.  

Weight Loss Tips

1.  Make dietary changes.  Decrease your fat intake to 20-25% or less of total calories.  Eat lots of protein to reduce the loss of muscle mass.  The recommended intake of protein for nursing mothers is 65grams per day for the first six months and 62grams per day for months six-twelve.

2.  Spread your caloric intake out.  Instead of eating 2-3 larger meals, eat 3 small meals and snack in-between.  Your body will be less likely to go into starvation mode by making this lifestyle change.

3.  Exercise moderately.  Your body will burn more fat while keeping lean muscle mass by exercising.  Resistance and weight training is a great way to build muscle mass and the more muscle mass you have, the more calories you will burn even while resting. 

Specific Weight Loss Methods

1.  Weight Watchers.   Weight Watchers even has a specific program for nursing mothers.

2.  My Fitness Pal.  This program is free and allows you to count your calories and calculates your nutrient details.   

Loosing the baby weight is a frustrating task.   From a mommy who gained 47lbs with BOTH pregnancies, I am telling you it is NOT easy to take the weight off.  It took me a full year to loose the weight with both of my kiddos.  I am pretty sure I have every size of jeans in closet from 0-12....and I am not getting rid of any of them!!  

Weaning Yourself From Nursing

At some point, you may decide that nursing is not for you any longer. This decision is personal.  

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends to exclusively breastfeeding until baby is six months old and then providing a combination between solids and breast milk until baby is one year old.  

However, the decision of when to wean your baby is personal.  Some moms decide to wean upon returning to work.  Some moms need a more flexible schedule to bottle feed vs breast feed/pump.  

The decision to wean your baby from breastfeeding may be very emotional.  Many moms feel like they are giving up the intimacy of nursing their baby.  They may also feel like they are giving up on something that only they can provide for their baby.   These feelings are all completely normal!!  It is not an easy decision nor one that should be taken lightly. 

If you do decide to wean your baby from nursing, here are some tips from babycenter.com to make the transition easier for both mommy and baby.

Skip a Feeding.  Skip one feeding and see what happens.  How do your breasts feel?  How did baby handle a bottle feeding?  By skipping one feeding at a time you are allowing baby and yourself to slowing get used to these new changes.  Your milk supply will slowly start to diminish without leaving you engorged or getting a breast infection.


To read more about dealing with a clogged milk duct, click HERE.   

Shorten Nursing Time.  Cut the length of time that baby is nursing down by a few minutes.  For example, if baby is nursing for ten minutes, cut baby's time down to eight and then supplement with a little bit of formula or a healthy snack.  This transition may be most difficult to do with night time feedings.

Postpone and Distract.  Try to postpone feedings if you are only nursing a few times a day.  This method works well with older children.  

Do you have any tips for mommy's that are wanting to wean their baby from nursing??  

Things to do while pumping at work

I am the QUEEN of multitasking, and pumping at work was no exception. In fact, I am so bizarre that I thrived on that 10 minutes or so where I could sit in a bathroom stall, pump AND get work done. It's a pathetic life I lead...

Anyway, I have a million ideas for what to do while pumping at work (a lot of this can be done at home too of course!). Here are just a few to keep you busy:

1. Work of course! I would take my Blackberry, notebook, files...etc right into that bathroom stall with me. I did refrain from making phone calls though...I didn't want people to hear my pump in the background! 

http://www.sunshinebabiesboutique.com/blog/no-stress-nursing-for-the-busy-mom

2. Read a good book or magazine. Go ahead and break out "Twilight"...you deserve it and no one will ever know.  

http://team-twilight.com/20090911/twilight-racy-primary-school-aussies

3. Angry Birds, Brick Breaker, Words with Friends...download LOTS of games on your phone. My biggest achievement after having my daughter? Getting all the golden eggs. Don't judge. 

http://www.angrybirdsworld.com/cheats/

4. Organize pictures on your phone. Instragram is always fun too! 

5. Catch up on Facebook, Twitter..etc. Your social life takes a dive after having a baby, but you can always keep up with the gossip online!

6. Eat. Sometimes this is the only alone time I'd get all day so I'd indulge in some chocolate, popcorn...I even took ice cream in with me one time. 

http://blindgossip.com/?p=24499

7. Make a list! To do list, grocery list...any kind of list!

8. Just think. You are in a quiet room with nothing to do so just breath and think. I call this "pumping yoga"...with out the exercise of course. 

9. Plan your next vacation. Or if a vacation isn't on your radar...dream about your next vacation. 

10. Pinterst. Plan what the nursery for your NEXT baby will look like. Or Pin ideas for your 4 month old daughter's wedding (when she's 30 of course). 

11. Obsess over how many calories you are burning by pumping. Eat another chocolate bar. 

12. Watch TV. Hulu on an Ipad with headphones...this is a great invention!

 13. Read our blog! Duh! ;o)  

Ash B's Gender Reveal...is it a boy or girl?!

I had my 20 week ultrasound yesterday. I made everyone wait until today to find out the gender because we wanted to do something super fun and special. So is "Baby Button" a boy or a girl? Click on the picture to find out!

Pumping at Work

Pumping at work is something I will not miss! To make things a little easier for first timers, we've made a list of tips to get you to "pumping pro" status in no time. 

bee-spot.blogspot.com/2011/05/you-have-not-lived.html

1. Choose a pump. I've said it a million times and I'll say it a million more...spend the money for a quality pump. A higher quality pump is more comfortable for you, cuts down on your pumping time and will maximize the amount of milk you are able to express. The Medela Pump In Style was my BFF for 9 months:

2. Practice pumping BEFORE you go back to work. You will be less stressed about it in general plus you'll know exactly how much time you'll need during your "breaks". 


3. Gather supplies. Have plenty of storage bottles, an ice pack and cooler to keep your milk from spoiling during the workday. 


4. Figure out how you are going to clean your pump. I used Medela Breastpump Wipes to clean my pump accessories. They come in a 24 pack that can be thrown in your bag. Just give everything a quick wipe down, stuff accessories back in your bag wrapped in a burp cloth and they'll be dry before your next pump session. 

5. Plan ahead. Check your calendar each day and make sure you have enough time built in to pump. Nothing like running into a meeting late because you HAD to pump. Try explaining that one to a group of all males. 


6. Study up! The storage guidelines for refrigerating and freezing breast milk can be confusing. Avoid dumping that precious milk by familiarizing yourself with how to store your supply. 

Have more questions about pumping? I pumped exclusively and lived to tell about it. Check out my Pump...Pump it UP blog.

Did you pump at work? How long did you keep it up and what tips do you have for new working Mommas?