Tag: development

You Are What You Eat

| June 3, 2013

The range of baby food available in my local supermarket is vast. You can buy everything from baby porridge to pasta to purees to toddler meals to rusks and every imaginable snack in between.

There is a greater choice of baby food available now than there was a few decades ago, with many brands producing organic baby purees and toddler meals. Despite this growth in the selection of baby food, it is still better for your baby to eat fresh homemade purees and meals.

As tempting as it can be to buy ready made baby food, it is important to be aware that some baby food contains artificial additives, salt and sugar. These added ingredients are unnecessary and are of no nutritional benefit to your baby. Sugar can lead to your baby developing a habit for sweet tasting foods as well as increasing the risk of tooth decay. Salt places strain on your baby’s immature kidneys and can lead to dehydration.

food

When you make your own baby food you know exactly what is being eaten by your baby. You can guarantee the freshness of the ingredients and you know the amount of each food type that has gone in to your baby’s puree or meal. As well as being a healthier option for your baby, it is also more cost effective to make your own and will save you and your family money.

I always think of the importance of what my baby is eating for her health and wellbeing. A healthy diet from the outset will give your baby the best start in life. Fresh, natural food is full of nutrients that provide us with nourishment and energy. These nutrients assist us to grow, aid in the repair of cells and help to fight off disease.
Developing your baby’s tastes and their enjoyment of the natural texture of food is vital for when baby is ready to eat family meals.

It takes less than 15 minutes a day to make a healthy meal that will give you and your family vital nutrients to keep you healthy. As a healthy and cheaper alternative to buying ready made baby food and to save time, I often make more than enough for one meal and save a portion for the following day. Another easy way to have fresh homemade baby meals available is to freeze small portions of puree or a freshly made family meal. These can then be defrosted and served when you need a meal for your baby that is quick and nutritious.

Experiment with new recipes and enjoy cooking for you and your family. Good nutrition is one of the key building blocks to your child’s development, growth and health.

mummy and me magazineLydia Oliver – Nutritional Advisor Only Best For Baby

This article was published in the June 2013 edition of Mummy and Me Magazine

I offer one to one nutrition programmes for breastfeeding, post pregnancy weight loss, weaning, weight management and health. Contact me.

Baby Sleep Aids

| August 24, 2012

A good night’s sleep is essential for the health of the whole family. You need a restful sleep to regenerate your mind and body. And a peaceful night’s sleep is crucial for the development of your baby.

Thankfully there are some incredible baby sleep aids that really work.

Top 3 Baby Sleep Aids

It has been found that babies will go to sleep more easily to the soothing sounds they heard when in utero. The comforting noises heard daily from their mother’s womb and her heartbeat are reassuring to a newborn.

Ewan the Dream Sheep is one of the most effective baby sleep aids.

Ewan the Dream Sheep replicates the soothing sounds of a pregnant mother’s womb and heartbeat. The sounds have been combined with household, musical and natural sounds at low bass frequencies of 125hz to produce pink noise which is the type of noise babies predominantly hear when in the womb.

Research has shown that babies are comforted by certain aspects of the womb. So a pink ambient glow is the natural choice for Ewan the Dream Sheep’s tummy.

easidream® Ewan the Dream Sheep

The Grobag Egg Thermometer and Night Light is a simple to use thermometer that changes colour according to the room temperature and acts as a warning if the room is too hot or cold.

It also provides baby with a soft and comforting glow at night.

The Grobag Egg Thermometer and Night Light uses a digital thermometer and permanent backlit LCD readout. It is conveniently mains powered so you don’t need to worry about batteries running out.

Grobag Egg Thermometer and Night Light

The Gro Anywhere Blackout Blindfits directly onto the window glass using suckers which gives it the closest fit possible to block out light.

Gro-Anywhere Blackout Blinds can be used vertically or horizontally and will fit most shaped windows.

Gro Anywhere Blackout Blindconveniently pack into a handy travel bag and are the ideal way to help children to sleep in unfamiliar surroundings when travelling or on holiday.

Each hem can be shortened for a proper fit and fitting takes just minutes. The Gro Anywhere Blackout Blinddimensions are 198cm x 130cm.

Gro-Anywhere Blackout Blind

The Best Baby Cups

| June 13, 2012

When it’s time for weaning, whether from the breast or the bottle, you want the best baby cups to allow your baby to learn how to hold a cup and drink from it themselves.

It’s so wonderful to see how much pleasure your baby gets from having the independence of holding a cup and drinking from it.

This is such an achievement and marks another milestone in your baby’s development.

We tried many cups including the Doidy Cup, the Tommee Tippee Essentials First Cup and the Tommee Tippee Tip It Up Cup.

It’s the Tommee Tippee Tip It Up Cup that our baby took to immediately.

She drinks her water and milk from these cups. We have all 3 colours and mix and match the cup with the handles to create fun new colour combinations each day.

The Tommee Tippee Tip It Up Cup has a soft silicone spout for drinking from that’s spill proof.

It’s BPA free and suitable from 4 months.