Human breastmilk

Human breastmilk is the only pure, unprocessed, natural food for a human baby. There are so many commercial interests, who wish to convince us that bottle-feeding is the norm, we have forgotten what a new phenomenon it is. Baby-formula was invented a mere one hundred years ago, and it was then considered such an abnormal thing to give a baby that you had to get a doctor’s prescription for it!

Breastmilk is the perfect food for a baby, designed by nature to have the exact balance of fats for the baby’s brain development and lots of mother’s antibodies. (A study completed in 2007 proved this point, showing that the fatty acids produced in breastmilk are absolutely crucial to a baby's brain development and can result in increasing its intelligence by as much as seven points!) Also, during this time, a baby will lay down the fat cells it will have for the rest of its life. The food a baby is fed during this period, affects the baby’s relationship with food and its metabolism, for the rest of its life.

Introducing Solids

Around six months of age, is the recommended time to start introducing solid foods to your baby. You can begin at four months, but it is generally believed that this increases the risk of your child developing food allergies
. Waiting that little bit longer gives a baby that little bit of extra protection, as its digestive system has had a little more time to develop.

When the time is right to start your baby on solids, start introducing well-chosen, healthy babyfood, one at a time. Certain foods are not suitable at this stage and should be avoided

Healthy Babyfood is Simple, Pure and Natural
In general, the food you give to a baby should be as natural and unprocessed as possible. Choosing organic food for your baby is hugely beneficial to a baby's health. This is because your baby has a less developed blood-barrier system to protect it from food chemicals. And, a baby's body, being smaller than an adult's, gets a proportionately higher dose of whatever chemicals are present in food. The so-called 'safe levels' of agri-chemicals have been tested as safe for adults, not for babies, or children.

Also, a baby has all of its physical development to go through until it reaches adult maturity. This entire developmental process comes under the influence of whatever chemicals a baby consumes in food.

Chemicals used in food are poisons. Many of them are known cancer-causing compounds. They are permitted in food because they are in very low concentrations. But logic dictates that if you eat a poison, while you may not eat enough to kill yourself, or make yourself sick, it cetainly is not going to be good for you. Over time, continued, low-level exposure to toxic substances will take their toll on your health. The longer you can hold-off exposing your baby to these chemicals, the more beneficial it will be. The less chemicals that are present, the healthier your babyfood is going to be. Everything that applies to food for children and adults, also applies to babyfood. Pure, unprocessed, natural food is what is best to feed a baby. Before a baby is ready to eat solid food, this means breastmilk, which is such a perfect, complete meal for a baby that it should really be called 'breastfood', or 'motherfood'.

Healthy Babyfood Matters!

Healthy babyfood sets the template for lifelong eating habits and affects a baby's health
and relationship with food for the rest of its life. During baby food, babies develop their taste for good food, they lay down fat cells, and go through important stages of physical development in a very short space of time. It is vitally important that we feed babies what is good and natural to their metabolisms during this formative period.

When you have a baby, you should start as you mean to go on, in order to set down an early pattern of good food habits for your child. If you want your child to grow up liking good, healthy food, you need to start her off with healthy babyfood. Breastfeeding is unequivocally the best possible start you can give to your baby in terms of her future health and eating habits. It is simply the best, the healthiest babyfood and should always be the first option to consider.

If you are pregnant, or are currently a breastfeeding mother, I would highly recommend this specialist breastfeeding site, www.breastfeeding-magazine.com where you will find a wealth of helpful information and resources and an online community of like-minded people, which is so important.

Baby food habits

If you are looking to reduce your carbon footprint making organic baby food is a great way to go. Plus homemade baby food tastes great. Who knows?

Your baby may grow up to love brussels sprouts and mangoes! As a new parent, you want to provide your baby with the best possible start in life. Studies show healthy eating habits begin to develop with your baby's first foods.

Starting early by educating yourself and to introduce your child to fresh, all-natural foods, you are creating the foundation for your child to make healthy food choices.

Healthy eating habits play a key role in preventing obesity, a serious issue that will affect more
of all babies born in 2004Child obesity rates are rising at epidemic levels, so quickly, that some researchers predict this new generation of children will have a shorter life expectancy than their parents. 10 Healthy Eating Habits.

Teach your baby about different fruits and vegetables

Talk about what your baby is eating. Make it fun.

Be a role model. Your baby learns by mimicking you.

Encourage drinking water. Offer it at each meal.

Don't give up. Your baby's tastes will change daily.

Your baby needs a balanced diet. Offer plenty of variety.

Don't be in a rush at mealtimes. Relax and enjoy the time.

Set times for breakfast, lunch snacks and dinner.

Homemade food chart

Making baby food is a great gift to give the environment and your baby. Consider the GREEN facts:

ORGANIC - Organic fruits and vegetables are the best choice for making baby food. They are the most natural ingredients and organic foods drastically reduce harm to the environment.

LESS WASTE - When you make your own baby food, there are no jars, labels or metal lids to dispose or to recycle.

NO FACTORY REQUIRED - Just a little energy to steam foods and run a blender is all you need to make your baby's meals! Did someone say near 'zero' greenhouse gases?

LOCAL - Your baby's food does not need to trucked to you from a factory thousands of miles away. Instead you can simply buy organic produce from your local farm market and get started.

HEALTHY - Homemade baby food is safe & nutritious. Baby food jars are often lined with Bisphenol-A, a controversial hormone disruptor that should be avoided. In addition, homemade baby food has no preservatives, additives, or chemicals - it is pure and natural goodness.

Vitamin chart for Mother and babies

1 Vitamin A Fortified milk, eggs, cheese, liver, fish oil, carrots, margarine. Growth; night vision; protects the linings of the digestive, urinary and respiratory tracts; antioxidant.

2 Vitamin D Fortified milk, oily fish, egg yolks. Helps absorb calcium and phosphorus for healthy bones and teeth.
Vitamin D is important in helping the body absorb and use calcium from food and supplements.

3 Vitamin E Vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, wheat germ, green leafy vegetables. Helps form blood cells; antioxidants.
Also contributes to a healthy circulatory system and aids in proper blood clotting and improves wound healing. Some studies have shown that vitamin E decreases symptoms of premenstrual syndrome and certain types of breast disease.

4 Vitamin K Spinach, Broccoli, milk, eggs, cereals. Help blood to clot.
Water-soluble vitamins
Vitamin K is necessary for blood clotting. Without it, even a small cut would cause continuous bleeding in the body. Vitamin K also plays an important role in kidney function and bone growth and repair - some studies have even shown that it may help prevent osteoporosis.

5 Vitamin B1 Pork, seeds, nuts, fortified bread, cereals, yeast extract. Needed for muscles and nervous system to function; aids digestion.

6 Vitamin B1, also known as thiamin, helps fuel your body by converting blood sugar into energy. It keeps your mucous membranes healthy and is essential for nervous system, cardiovascular and muscular function.

7 Vitamin B2 Milk, yogurt, meat, nuts, green leafy vegetables, whole grains, lentils. Aids hormone production; keeps eyes, skin and nerves healthy.
Vitamin B2, also called riboflavin, works with other vitamins in the B complex to process calories from carbohydrates, protein and fat. Your body needs it for growth and red cell production, and adequate riboflavin intake promotes healthy skin and good vision.

4 to 6 month baby food

Cereals: Cereals, like, rice, barley, oats can be given to the baby in paste form or mixed with the water of legume porridge. You can also try to feed him rice or oats cereal mixed with breast milk, water or formula.

Fruits: Apples, bananas, pears, avocado are the fruits that can be given to the baby. Banana can be smashed easily, however, apples, pears and avocado has to be processed in the food processor along with milk, to make milkshakes of the fruits. Preferably, filter the shakes to so that no big pieces of the fruits are accidentally fed to the baby.

Vegetables: Potato or parsnip, cauliflower, carrot, acorn squash, sweet potato, green peas, broccoli, butternut squash. Boil these vegetables and smash them to make a soft paste. Do not add any spices, salt or sugar to it.

Crying is the only way for a four month old baby to indicate that his stomach is upset. Generally, many mothers prefer to give Gripe Water to their babies after meals to prevent these stomach upsets. Gripe water is an European remedy that always works for gas problems or any other stomach related irregularities.

Gripe water is nothing but herbs-fortified water. These herbs are proven to help calm the stomach and even the intestines. For a baby aged 4 months, one teaspoon of Gripe water, 2-3 times a day is recommended. If the baby continues to feel distressed, it is better to consult the baby's doctor immediately.