Tag: weaning

Help With Breastfeeding

| February 1, 2012

Breastfeeding isn’t easy, but it’s so worth it if you are able to. In the beginning it takes perseverance, practice and the knowledge of how to breastfeed to get it right. But even then, it doesn’t always go to plan.

I found invaluable support from fellow breastfeeding mothers, midwives and La Leche League.

If you want help with breastfeeding contact La Leche League.

La Leche League can offer help if:

  • You are expecting a baby and want to know more about breastfeeding
  • You are already breastfeeding and want help with challenges
  • You need information on starting solids or weaning
  • You want to meet other breastfeeding mums to share support and experiences
  • You are interested in reading more about breastfeeding, birth and parenting
  • You are a health professional interested in learning more about breastfeeding
  • You want to find out about peer counselling programmes
  • You want to help other breastfeeding mothers

Find out more and get support from your local branch of La Leche League.

Best Baby Toothbrush

| January 30, 2012

I started weaning my baby onto solids at around 6 months. At that stage she still didn’t have any teeth, but they soon started to show under the gums and all the key signs of teething began – dribbling, chewing on everything, putting her fingers in her mouth and sleepless nights due to teething pains.

My baby’s bottom left tooth was the first to break through the gums, followed a few days later by the bottom right tooth. They looked so adorable and her smile changed, instantly looking less like a baby.

With the introduction of solids and teeth it was time to find the best baby toothbrush!

The Baby Ono – Safe Silicone Finger Toothbrushis safe and easy to use. It’s made of soft 100% food grade silicone and fits on your finger. You can add a little Baby Toothpaste to the bristles and very gently massage it over your baby’s teeth and gums.

I found my baby enjoyed chewing on the toothbrush with my finger in it, which proved a great way to clean her teeth and gums. It’s very soft so it won’t hurt your baby’s gums and can be used to massage the gums during teething to help ease discomfort.

The Brush-Baby Chewable Toothbrushis made of 100% safe silicone and is BPA free. Suitable from 0 months old to 3 years, it fits accurately in baby’s mouth to provide the right amount of cleansing of the teeth and gums. As well as helping to clean teeth and massage gums, the Brush-Baby toothbrush can also be used to soothe teething gums when chewed.

I use Green People Organic Baby Toothpaste which my baby loves the taste of and it’s 100% safe if swallowed. It’s natural, organic and without fluoride so you can be sure there are no nasties in it. It’s recommended by midwives and suitable for babies and children.

Weaning Your Baby

| January 9, 2012

Annabel Karmel’s New Complete Baby and Toddler Meal Planner

Weaning is such an exciting time for you and your baby. I love the idea of my baby trying foods for the first time. It opens up a brand new world of texture, smell, colour and taste.

It can also be quite a nerve wracking time as you are responsible for feeding your baby the right range and quantity of nutrients for their optimal growth and development.

If you need some guidance on what to feed your baby you will find it all here in Annabel Karmel’s New Complete Baby and Toddler Meal Planner which is bright and colourful with over 200 varied and easy recipes for purees and baby meals.

These recipes help to ensure your baby is getting the right combination of nutrients, proteins, carbs and fats. This book has certainly helped to make my life as a Mummy easier!

When first weaning your baby it’s all about your baby trying foods and getting a taste for them, getting used to solids and swallowing food rather than milk. It’s not about eating specific amounts of food as your baby will still need milk for 100% of their nutrition in the early days of weaning.

I highly recommend the book Weaning by Annabel Karmelwhich is a very handy book providing advice on what, when and how to wean, as well as including meal planners for the different stages of progression onto solids.

Have fun with natural, organic foods for your baby even in the early stages, everything your baby eats contributes to their health and wellbeing. I highly recommend good nutrition from the first spoonful of food your baby tastes.

I love the Annabel Karmel Food Masher and Bowlwhich is great for mashing soft fruits and vegetables.

The bowl has inner ridges to help make mashing ever so quick and easy and the handle grip prevents slipping, as does the non-slip base on the bowl.

The Annabel Karmel Food Masher and Bowl is really convenient when you’re on the go or travelling, just pop in the soft fruit (some great fruits to try are banana, avocado, pear and peach) and cooked veg (you can try carrots, sweet potato, parsnip and swede) and you’ll have tasty and nutritious food for your baby in seconds.

And when weaning you will certainly need some good bibs for your baby so we’ve selected the best baby bibs – these are truly brilliant!