5 Healthy Drinks Babies Would Love

During their growth, babies need water not only for hydration, but to help develop their kidneys. Pediatricians note that babies' kidneys need more water to move waste through their bodies. This is especially true when their diet begins to incorporate solid foods instead of just drinking milk and/or formula. To keep your baby properly hydrated after six months, consider adding some of these drinks to their diet.

Here are 5 drinks babies would love.

- Water is one of the best things you can give your baby. It quenches thirst, provides for hydration, and it doesn't add any unnecessary sugars to their body. No matter if you use tap, bottled, or spring water, it is best to boil the water before serving it to your baby. Use boiled water in your ice cubes, too, if you're chilling the water before serving it to your baby.

- Apple juice is a healthy drink for babies, although you don't want to serve them a lot of it. Too much can add to tooth decay or possibly add too much acid into their system. (That's why you should avoid the citrus juices.) However, apple juice is high in natural sugar and easy for a baby to digest. Don't serve the juice full strength, though. Rather do a one part juice to three parts water dilution.

- Milk is full of vitamins, iron and other nutrients. Keep it simple and watch for any allergic reactions. Until babies are older-past nine months-avoid giving them anything other than cow's milk, like sheep, goat, or soy milk.

- Green smoothies are a nutritional health rage for babies and infants. Combine various fruits, vegetables, and waters into a yummy smoothie that is easily and quickly absorbed into baby's system. Use spinach, kale, lettuce, and mix with fruits like apples, bananas, or peaches for a drink that will have your baby banging his/her sippy cup for more.

- Yogurt smoothies are another drink that will go over well with your baby. Combine carrots, apples, non-fat yogurt, and water in a blender for a vitamin-filled drink.

Avoid giving your baby more than one drink or juice other than formula per day. You'll want to serve any additional water or drink in a sippy cup instead of a bottle. Keep that for formula. Also, pediatricians and nutritionists recommend against giving your baby juice before going to bed. Although babies drink mostly formula, an occasional drink from the above list will be a healthy and well enjoyed treat for your baby.

Criss White writes about family, pregnancy, and baby topics. To check out some baby shower food ideas, visit Baby Shower Ideas.

What Foods are Best for Babies

Every new day with your baby is a learning process. There are so many nuances of this complex new person in our life. As a parent, it’s your duty to introduce good, healthy habits in your baby’s first year that will last a lifetime. One of those challenges is knowing what foods are best for babies. When your baby reaches six months, it’s time to start introducing solid food into his/her diet. Arm yourself with the knowledge of food champions that will help aid your baby’s nutritional growth.

Here are a few suggestions as to what foods are best for babies.

Apples
The saying, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away,” is quite accurate. Apples contain no fat, nor do they have sodium or cholesterol. The potassium in an apple is thought to help maintain heart health, blood pressure, and weight. It’s an essential food to eat at all stages of life. Babies can enjoy apples in the form of natural applesauce. They’re sweet, tasty, and filling, and provide multiple health benefits for a newborn.

Banana
Another low sodium, low saturated fat, and cholesterol food is the banana. It contains vitamins A, B6, B12, C, E, and K, and many other nutrients important to a healthy body. Babies love bananas because they’re so easy to chew and they add flavor to something bland, yet healthy, like rice cereal. Bananas also provide a good source of potassium and protein.

Sweet Potato
Yams or sweet potatoes are extremely beneficial to your baby’s growth. They are rich in vitamins A and C, and like apples and bananas, provide calcium, potassium, and sodium, as well as magnesium and phosphorous. They can be roasted, steamed, or baked and mashed or pureed into a tasty meal for your baby. As your baby grows, add chicken or turkey to the mix for extra protein.

Broccoli
This floret vegetable is rich in flavor, as well as crunch, and is an excellent vegetable to introduce early into your baby’s life. Broccoli contains fiber and calcium and can be served to your baby in a puree form or simply in small, steamed bites. Some pediatricians recommend chilled steamed broccoli for babies who are teething. In any event, it’s a versatile vegetable your baby can start with early in life for vitamins and good health.

Spinach
Rich in iron, this leafy vegetable has frightened many generations of kids. However, that doesn’t have to be the case with your baby. Starting your child out with spinach at an early age guarantees them the vitamins and nutrition this formable food offers. Steam spinach and puree it to get your baby used to it. Then, add the puree to rice cereal or pastina as your baby’s taste for it grows.

Avocado
Avocados aren’t just for guacamole. Your baby can benefit from the unsaturated fats in this fruit (it’s not a vegetable, technically) that can aid in healthy development. Some nutritionists claim that the fat in an avocado is the closest in similarity to a mother’s breast milk. There’s no need to cook this fruit that’s packed with vitamins A, C, niacin, and folate. Simply peel and pit the avocado and mash the “meat” with a fork. It’s also another good source of potassium, iron, calcium, and magnesium.




Criss White writes about family, pregnancy, and baby topics. To check out some baby shower food ideas, visit Baby Shower Ideas.

How to Prepare Starter Food for Babies

The first six months or so of your new baby’s life will be sustained and fortified with milk or formula. However, soon after that, your baby is ready to move on to more solid foods, which can be a challenge to any parent. You’ll need to check with your pediatrician about any allergy risks, but now you’re ready to move on and introduce solids into your baby’s diet.

Here are some suggestions on how to prepare starter food for babies.

Doctor’s Orders
Don’t start your baby on any new food regimen without first talking to your pediatrician. Let him or her know what’s going on with your baby and your plans for introducing solid foods into the diet. As your doctor will tell you, you will be charting the course of good eating habits for your child’s life by what you start them on. Discuss food and preparation options with your doctor before taking that next step with your baby.

Cleanliness
Whenever preparing anything for your baby, make sure your hands have been cleaned with hot water and a disinfecting soap. All utensils, plates, and dishes should also be clean. If you’re preparing the baby food yourself, make sure the fruits and vegetables have been washed properly. Even though you may purchase fresh produce from the grocery store, it still may contain trace elements of pesticides and other chemicals used in the growing process. It’s just smart to clean things when you get home.

Allergy Awareness
When introducing new elements into your baby’s diet, you want to be careful not to set off any allergies that you may or may not be aware of. General rule of thumb from pediatricians is to test a new food for your baby for four straight days and take a “wait and see” attitude. Monitor your baby’s reaction to the new item and discontinue if you recognize any signs of an allergy like rash, difficulty breathing, itching, diarrhea, vomiting, etc. Only introduce one new food at a time into your baby’s diet so you can monitor this properly.

Baby Food in a Jar
Many name brand producers have been making start baby food for decades. They offer balanced nutrition, low sodium, and a variety of flavors to test your baby’s palate. These are easy to find in grocery stores and larger retail merchants like Target or Wal-Mart. Follow the directions on each individual jar to ensure temperature is correct. Feed your baby with a rubber covered spoon so they won’t injure their mouth. Keep a pad with notes on how your child reacts to each new taste for future use.

A Bounty of New Tastes
For baby’s first foods, avoid manufactured cereals and instead take advantage of nature’s bounty. Foods such as bananas, apples, pears, avocados, carrots, and sweet potatoes are excellent starter foods. Bananas and avocados are easily peeled and mashed into an easy paste for baby’s enjoyment. Pears, apples, carrots, and sweet potatoes will need to be baked or boiled first. Peel the item and then cut into smaller chunks for easy cooking and then pureed in a food processor for the best consistency. Again, introduce only one new food to your baby at a time to monitor for allergies and/taste preferences.

Rice Cereal and Pastina
Rice cereal is a perfect first food to start a baby with. Rice cereal is easy to prepare and very nutritious. You can add mashed bananas to it for flavor and variety. Also, pastina (very tiny pasta) can be combined with any of your pureed vegetables for a healthy meal.

Just remember as you’re introducing new foods to your baby, they won’t like everything. No two babies are alike and foods will have different tastes and textures to them. Be patient and experiment with your little one. You’re starting life-long eating habits with the foods you serve. So think healthy and natural.




Criss White writes about family, pregnancy, and baby topics. To check out some baby shower food ideas, visit Baby Shower Ideas.

Cloth vs. Disposable Diapers - Pros and Cons

Parents today have many choices for their babies. One is the decision to use cloth or disposable diapers for their newborn. It is calculated that your new baby will spend in excess of over 30,000 hours in a diaper, which produces up to over 7,000 changes in diapers in the first year alone. Research shows that 80% of baby diapering in this country is by disposable diapers, coming to 18 billion diapers in use per year. Those used diapers have to go somewhere. So, when you’re making the decision for what’s best for your family, your baby, and your wallet, you need to weigh the benefits and challenges of both types of diapering.

Here are some pros and cons of cloth versus disposable diapers.

Cloth Diapers - Pros
- May be less diaper rash because they are more absorbent
- Cheaper because they’re reusable and washable
- Extras are good for burps and/or spit-ups
- Better for the environment because you’re not adding to the landfills
- Made of cotton, so no chemicals against your baby’s skin
- Can be stored and used for the next baby
- Thought to aid in potty training because the child is aware of the wetness against their skin
- When baby is out of diapers, the cloths they make good furniture polishing cloths


Cloth Diapers – Cons
- More leaks due to heaviness, even with plastic panties over them
- Use pins which can stick the baby, although Velcro tabs are available for cloth diapers
- More laundry, heavier loads, more water, and more soap being dumped into the environment (plus your washer can retain the smell of poo and pee)
- Fees for diaper service, if you chose to use them
- Odors aren’t contained as well
- Very hot in summer weather, which can cause diaper rash
- Most daycares require disposable diapers

Disposable Diapers – Pros
- No diaper pins to stick the baby
- Less leaks because they’re tight, fit, and snug
- Easy to use and find in stores
- Easy to dispose
- Lighter, especially in hot weather
- Good for overnight to prevent accidents and uninterrupted sleep
- Easy changing solution when out in public/away from home
- Most daycares require disposable diapers
- Comes in various sizes for different ages

Disposable Diapers – Cons
- Can harm the environment by adding more to the landfills
- Can be more expensive to purchase over time
- Garbage has to be emptied regularly due to smell and can add expense
- Plastic and chemicals against baby’s skin
- Chances of diaper rash are higher
- Thought that it’s harder to potty train because the child isn’t used to feeling the wetness




Criss White writes about family and baby topics. To check out some baby shower game ideas, visit Baby Shower Ideas.

Why are Babies so Cute?

Who can resist the charm of cute babies in this world? Why are they so utterly cute anyway? Perhaps these questions have run through your mind while looking at baby pictures or simply cradling your very own. Babies seem to have that power to put a smile on our faces or tug at our hearts whenever they need loving comfort. A baby can sometimes even soften the heart of a grouchy person.

First, let’s look at the scientific explanations. Genetics has something to do with the way humans respond to little creatures like babies. The way we see our babies might be because we see a bit of ourselves in their tiny features. These traits are being passed on. This is not only true among females but also with males. Grandfathers, uncles and brothers will also see these family inherited features in the newborn baby. Like the female, these males have also preferences on cuteness trait and it keeps getting stronger with each generation. Scientists also associate cuteness with good genes. Ultimately, humans are biologically designed to see babies as cute and care for them.

When one looks up in the dictionary for the word ‘cute’, it’s always synonymous to beautiful, small and attractive. These words are definitely true just by merely looking at the shining eyes and button noses of a baby. By holding their tiny fingers and washing their small feet, people are amazed at how delicate they are. Most of us love the feel of the babies’ soft skin and their innocent gaze. Nature must have intended babies to be so cute in order for humans to love taking care of them.

Even many reluctant moms will always find it in their heart to love their newborns once they see how small and alive they are. Most of us would call babies a tiny miracle because seeing them simply move us. They are signs of hope and their lives become gifts to the family. The cuteness of the baby even draws family members close together and this will certainly strengthen the bond.

Another reason people love babies is because they are innocent. Unlike adults, babies are new to the world and are incapable of malicious acts. They are generally happy creatures with the whole lives ahead of them. Babies will smile at strangers and for no reason at all. They will make funny noises and they will make extended eye contact.

Babies are tiny and people often associate cute with smaller things. Their laughter and smiles are contagious. Because a baby is less aware of the world around, sometimes it will just smile for no reason at all. The power of a simple smile can be uplifting to adults around the baby.

How many times have you seen people smile when they saw a baby? The usual comment will be, “How cute!” Especially among women, maternal instincts make females particularly fond of babies and toddlers. No matter how everyone sees a baby, the truth remains they are very much adored. They are our sources of complete joy and happiness. Seeing them brightens up our days and lightens up our future.





Criss White is a professional article writer who writes about pregnancy, babies, and other family topics, like baby shower themes and baby shower ideas to celebrate a newborn or arriving baby.

Making Your Own Healthy Baby Food at Home

When you are blessed with a newborn baby, it is important to get the child off to a good start by feeding them with the most nutritious baby food that you can find. Baby food is readily available at your local grocery store and although some brands claim to be healthy, most bottled baby foods are processed and contain chemicals and preservatives that are not ideal for a baby’s consumption. One of the best ways to ensure your child gets the nutrients that he or she needs and avoids unnecessary additives is to make your own baby shower food.

Making your own baby shower favors like baby food is not hard. Actually, it is very easy to make and with a little experience, it will become a simple part of your daily routine. Homemade food is not only cheaper, but more delicious as well. It has no extenders and is definitely healthier than the bottled variety. Here are some simple to follow recipes that your baby is sure to love.

When doing any of these recipes, please do not use mineral water or bottled water with mineral salts in it. Always use distilled sterile water for this does not usually have sediments. The sediments may be harmful to the immature intestinal tract of the child. Note that the GI tract is immature until two years of age so use the right water.

A great vegetable to start with is the carrot as this is full of vitamins, minerals and fiber. Simply wash the carrots clean and peel. Cut up into small pieces and place in saucepan. Make a batch as this can last up to three or four days in the fridge. Add bottled clear water to level off with the carrots and set to the lowest flame. Eventually, it will simmer and the carrots will soften. Remove from heat and mash. For finer results, push the mashed carrots through a metal sieve, but do not moisturize! This will release a gummy consistency and the taste could change. For babies four to six months the consistency should be really fine at first to gradually rougher in texture as the child gets older. The older child should be able to chew some tiny bits with their baby teeth if they already have them.

Apple sauce is usually a favorite among babies. Simply peel and core two or three Red Delicious apples, cut up into small pieces and put water to the level of the fruits. Simmer gradually on lowest heat until the apples are soft and easy to mash. Mash thoroughly through a sieve if need be and remove any pits or peel that may have been overlooked. This apple sauce should stay four days up to a week in the fridge.

The same system can be used with peaches. Do exactly the same thing as with the apples for the fresh peaches. Do not use canned peaches if the child is below six months of age. If the child is around six months the making of baby food is easier. Simply grab a can, drain the light syrup and place in clean container. Get the peach halves and push through the sieve and serve to the child.
Again, the finer the texture the better for younger babies, but gradually introduce the different textures so they learn how to chew.

You can even make your own baby food as gifts to other mothers or if you want to make your own baby shower favors for a baby shower party. As can be seen from the simple recipes above, healthy baby food does not have to be bought off the shelf. It can be made in a snap over the stove and will save lots of money.

How to Choose Only the Best Baby Bath Products for Your Baby

A baby’s skin is definitely the softest and smoothest there can possibly be. Keeping it this way and protecting it from rashes and allergies is one of the major concerns of a mother. There are hundreds of baby bath products available in the market and choosing one that’s best for baby may be confusing for anyone.

Choosing the best bath product means not having your baby cry overnight because of discomfort (which will turn into a nightmare for you as well). Despite popular brand names and enticing promises on TV ads, there are things that you should look out for.

When buying, consider the following:

-Buy only toys which pass international standards and do not contain any trace of hazardous chemicals. Remember that there have been toys that were recalled in stores because the toys contained substances that were toxic and in some cases, lethal in doses. Remember that kids sometimes put these in their mouths and the presence of chemicals will really prove to be dangerous.

-Purchase washcloths and towels that are made from pure cotton. Other fabrics may be harsh or rough on your baby’s delicate skin. Be careful as well when you buy items like these with prints. No matter how cute the animal or cartoon character prints may be, the ink may still contain traces of chemicals that may be harmful to your child.

-When choosing soap or shampoo, use one that is unscented. Scents are sometimes intended to mask away the chemicals that are used in the product, and no matter how sweet the scent is, unscented ones will generally tell you how mild the product is.

Other things to consider when buying bath products are:
-Read the labels on bath products and buy the ones which are labeled hypo-allergenic. This means that while the product is reliable enough to remove dirt and germs in your baby’s skin, the product is also light on chemicals that can irritate baby’s sensitive skin.

-Products that are formulated for sensitive skin are also good for the baby. This means that the product is really intended to be used on baby’s delicate skin.

And lastly, you can consult with your pediatrician about his recommendation on bath products. They are the ones who are in touch in medical representatives and the knowledge that they have on baby products is crucial. They can recommend which specific products you can use depending on the age or sensitivity of your baby’s skin.

When buying bath products for anyone or giving bath and soap favors, you should make quality your top priority, especially for a newborn baby. Caring for the baby’s skin should be one of the top concerns of mothers. Buying baby products should not depend on whether the item is inexpensive or not. And sometimes, similar to adults, what works for one baby will not work for another.