The Dos and Don'ts of Introducing Solid Foods to Your Infant

During the first months, the baby enjoys the taste of the mother's milk. If there are no obstacles to breastfeeding, it is recommended to maintain exclusive breastfeeding until the baby is six months old and continue breastfeeding while introducing solid meals. If breastfeeding is not possible, the parents should replace it with the baby formula, for example, the best organic hypoallergenic formula or another formula suitable for their little one.

During the first months, the baby enjoys the taste of the mother's milk. If there are no obstacles to breastfeeding, it is recommended to maintain exclusive breastfeeding until the baby is six months old and continue breastfeeding while introducing solid meals. If breastfeeding is not possible, the parents should replace it with the baby formula, for example, the best organic hypoallergenic formula or another formula suitable for their little one.

What to Do

Serve vegetables first. If your baby accepts the delicate taste of veggies at the very beginning, it will positively affect their eating habits in the future. Typically, if vegetables are introduced to an infant’s diet first, the child will eat more vegetables later in life than children who start with fruit. 

Introduce simple flavors first. It is recommended to start supplementing the diet with simple, single-ingredient meals. Firstly, typical complementary foods, such as vegetables, porridge, gruel, and fruit, should be introduced. Gradual thickening of milk or baby formula by adding gruels and cereal porridges is a practical way to familiarize the baby with new consistencies.

Mix the flavors. An infant accustomed to variety early on will accept new flavors more easily in the following months. Once you’ve introduced two different products to your baby and ensured their body can digest them, try mixing them in one meal. A varied menu also promotes the nutritional value of the diet.

What Not to Do

Don’t underestimate delicate flavors. Do not add salt, sweeten, or season your meals. Providing unsweetened and unsalted meals is crucial because of the long-term impact on the child's health and the development of appropriate eating habits later in life.

Don’t overfeed your baby. Introduce new foods gradually, starting with around 1-2 teaspoons. In the first year of life, breastfeeding or formula feeding remains the most essential part of nutrition. Initially, it's just about trying and getting used to the new tastes and textures.

Don't get discouraged after the first few tries. The situation when an infant doesn’t accept a new taste does not mean you should give up. Sometimes, it takes many tries, even 10-15, to fully accept a new taste. It is also not worth giving up when the baby rejects the new consistency. Vomiting reactions and spitting out are signs of adaptation, not difficulties with swallowing. In this way, the baby copes with throwing pieces of food from the mouth that they cannot yet chew for swallowing.

Remember: the first thousand days of a baby’s life are a vital period of their development. It is the parent who decides WHAT the baby will eat, WHEN, and HOW the food will be served. The child decides IF they will eat and HOW MUCH they will eat.

Introducing solid foods to your baby

 Introducing solids to your infant is a significant milestone. There are so many flavors to discover and experience, and starting solids is the first step. In order to grow and develop, babies need solid food to get quality nutrients. Essential nutrients include iron, zinc, and others. Introducing solids is also an important part of helping infants learn to eat, allowing them to experience new tastes and textures. This helps develop their jaw and teeth, as well as other skills that they'll need later to develop their language.

When should I start introducing solids?

It is safe to say that most babies are ready for solid foods between 4 and 6 months, but your baby's development is a major factor to consider when deciding when it is time to move from formula to a more varied diet.

No matter how eager you are to start the solids, there are plenty of reasons why starting a baby on solids too soon may not be a good idea. 

When your baby is ready for solids, they'll give you clear signals. For example:

• Head control - Your baby needs to have good head control, he/she has to be able to hold his/her head upright and in a steady position.

• Significant weight gain - Your baby has to have gained a lot of weight, which means they have to have doubled their birth weight.

• Curiosity - In some cases, your baby may start eyeing or reaching for your food, or may even open their mouth if you offer them a spoonful.

• Extrusion reflexes disappear - Solids should be introduced when they are able to move food to the back of their mouth and swallow it, rather than pushing food out of their mouth with their tongue.

Which are the best baby foods to start with?

It used to be standard for parents to give their baby cereal as a first food, but this is no longer the case. You can start your baby on any pureed food with one ingredient.

Here are some options:

• Pureed peaches

• Pureed potato

• Mashed avocado

• Mashed banana

• Pureed meats

Foods not recommended to children under 4 years old (choking hazard):

• Popcorn

• Nuts and seeds

• Sticky foods (peanut butter)

• Whole grapes and cherry tomatoes

• Hard fruits and vegetables

• Candy

Food allergies

In case of food allergies, introducing new foods to a baby gradually, one at a time is crucial.

If not, parents may have difficulty tying an allergy to a specific food. When your baby consumes three new foods within the course of a day and develops an allergic reaction, you won't know which of the foods triggered it.

There are more than 160 allergenic foods, some of which are more allergenic than others. Approximately 90% of the time, the following eight foods or groups of foods are responsible for allergic reactions.

• Wheat

• Soy

• Eggs

• Peanuts

• Cow’s milk

• Fish

• Shellfish

• Tree nuts

You should consult your baby's doctor if you think your baby has a food allergy, such as diarrhea, rash, or vomiting.

Final thoughts

A positive feeding relationship during childhood can have a lifetime of benefits. It is your child's responsibility to decide whether and how much they eat, so wait for them to pay attention to each spoonful of food before feeding them. Allow your baby to touch the food in the dish and on the spoon. It sounds messy, but your little one wants to know what it is that he/she is about to eat.

Introducing solids may be stressful, but it is another milestone in your baby's development. It's supposed to be a happy, nurturing time. You'll be on your way to enjoying family mealtimes while experimenting with your child.

10 Easy Meals to Feed Your Toddler

https://images.pexels.com/photos/3905789/pexels-photo-3905789.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&dpr=2&h=650&w=940 

Don’t know what to feed your toddler at the next meal? This is understandable. A child’s preferences can be tricky at this stage. 

If you are looking for something quick, easy and delicious, there are a lot of options. You just need to try a few things to find the simple meals that will be a hit with your kids. To make things even easier, you could also try something like Yumble kids meals delivered straight to your door. 

For parents looking for something to make today, the following list offers a range of easy meals that are popular with kids. Even if your kids don’t like one of the options, you should be able to find something that will make a satisfying meal.

Tuna Sandwiches

It is as simple as stirring some mayonnaise in with a can of tuna. Tuna is a healthy meal and there are a lot of options for how it can be prepared. You can add different spices and vegetables like onions or celery. You can also use different types of bread or spread the tuna on crackers. 

Vegetable Soup

This is very easy if you are just heating it up from a can. With that said, you could try any number of vegetable soup recipes if you want to make your own. Homemade soup usually tastes better and you can always store the leftovers to reheat later in the week.

Pasta with Tomato Sauce

Pasta with tomato sauce can even satisfy most picky eaters. Top it with a little grated cheese and you should have a filling meal that will make the whole family happy.

Rice and Beans

Rice and beans is a simple meal eaten all over the world. You can try red beans or black beans and this simple meal offers a lot of opportunities for adding different ingredients and spices to make it a little more interesting.

Casseroles

Casseroles are great because the entire meal cooks in one pot. You also have a variety of casserole recipes you can try and you can always make extra to store and serve as leftovers.

Quesadillas 

Quesadillas offer a lot of flavor and they can be made quickly. You just need some tortillas, cooked beans, cheese and a dip. Just put your filling on the tortilla, fold it over and heat it up. You can then cut it into bite-size pieces and provide your child’s favorite dip.

Avocado Toast

Avocado toast can be a quick meal that can be good in the mornings or for lunch. You will need to make avocado spread beforehand, but it is easy to make and you can keep the extra in the refrigerator for meals later in the week.

Meatballs

Frozen meatballs can make this option very easy. You could also consider making your own and storing them in the freezer. Just pair the meatballs with a baked potato or some roasted vegetables and you have a good meal for your kids.

Frittatas

Frittatas can be made quickly on the stove and they pack a lot of flavor. With the primary ingredient being eggs, they can be a nice breakfast, but kids can enjoy frittatas at any time of day.

Roasted Chicken

Pre-cooked roasted chicken is another good option for toddlers. It tastes good and you can pair it with a variety of sides. 

You don’t have to spend hours in the kitchen to make a meal your toddler will enjoy. In many cases, it is the simplest meals that they enjoy the most. Try these quick and easy meals and you are sure to find a few options that will make your kids happy while also making your life easier.

Winnie the Pooh Baby Record Book: Celebrate Baby’s 1st Year with Personalized Book

Put Me In The Story, the #1 personalized books platform in the United States, is thrilled to announce a personalized baby record book featuring the one and only, Winnie the Pooh!

Disney’s Winnie the Pooh: Baby’s First Record Book, is the perfect way for new parents to capture the everyday moments – big and small – of their baby’s first year.

Each page of this sweet, heartfelt record book featuring Pooh Bear contains simple prompts for families to record their favorite memories, from “Baby’s First Day on Earth” to “Baby’s First Steps.”

Filled with beautiful illustrations of the characters from the Hundred Acre Woods and quotes from the silly old bear himself, Disney’s Winnie the Pooh: Baby’s First Record Book will remain a cherished keepsake for generations.

My Thoughts

This book is absolutely adorable. The website was super easy to use, and personalizing was nice and simple. You just put your child's name in. You could put anything you want. They have the suggestion of Baby Meenan, but I tried out a bunch. I tried Declan Meenan, Baby Declan, and Baby Meenan. I finally set on simple Declan's. You can then write the sweetest personalization message. I did not share mine for personal reasons, but I teared up righting my baby a little note for the inside of the book. Then you upload a photo for the cover. They make is very easy to edit it and guide it. Your job after that is done.

I like the fact that they let you look through every picture on the website. You can preview the entire book. Which is good for me, because I am OCD, but also have terrible handwriting. So I actually took a screenshot of each page and put it into a power point and typed in my answers so I could edit and organize first, but also because my handwriting is terrible. This way I can get everything set for the book and then give it to my aunt to write in the answers, because she has pretty handwriting. Your child's name is on every page, and it has some cute sections too for what was popular the year he was born and things like that. Most of the sections have a corresponding photo page where you can put a photo for the event like "First Bath" or "First Outing". The book was a perfect size. It was about the size of one of those Golden Books, and nice quality with a good hard cover. It makes it look expensive. The photo printed on the cover well too. This would make a great baby shower gift for someone if you wanted to get them a gift card for future making or for a first birthday. 

Connect with Put Me in a Story


Website        Face Book       Twitter         Instagram         Pinterest        You Tube 

Ollie the Elephant Silicone Feeding Set by Marcus & Marcus

This bright and bold animal themed baby feeding 6 Pack collection is a smart and functional assortment of products for babies that includes a silicone placemat, baby bib, feeding spoon, collapsible container, learning chopsticks and a teether. Marcus & Marcus’ baby-feeding collection is lightweight, simple to clean and easily portable. 

• Food Grade Silicone,
• Imported
• OLLIE THE ELEPHANT Silicone Baby Feeding 6 Pack - Green
• This bright and bold animal themed baby feeding 6 Pack collection is a smart and functional assortment of products for babies that includes a silicone placemat, baby bib, feeding spoon, collapsible container, learning chopsticks and teether.
• Our baby-feeding collection is lightweight, simple to clean and easily portable. The Marcus & Marcus portfolio is made from food-grade, soft and stain resistant silicone.
• Easy to clean! Simply give the items a quick rinse in hot soapy water or put them in the dishwasher for an even easier clean
• Marcus & Marcus' feeding sets are all molded from BPA-free, PVC-free and phthalate-free materials.

My Thoughts

This is such a cute feeding set. It is a great starter set for any child, and my new go to baby shower gift. It is made of such great material, and such a wonderful design. There are a few other designs with different animals. They have a giraffe, lion, whale, and pig. It comes with a placemat, bib with a great well to catch falling food, spoon, the most adorable chopsticks for training chopsticks. It also has a collapsable bowl with a lid. 

We have just started rice cereal, and we are in the military so we are constantly moving and going places. So the portability of this set is fantastic. As we all know, children are not the neatest of eaters when they are first figuring out a spoon, and the trough on this bib is wonderful. The collapsable bowl with the lid is perfect for putting in my diaper bag. We are not quite at the age for the chopsticks yet, but the spoon, the bib, and the bowl are my favorite pieces so far. 

"The Magic of My Name" Custom Children's Book

I’m Clara from The Story Tailors, the authors of the personalized children’s book “The magic of my name”, a book that invites every child to a magical adventure in order to find the meaning of the child’s name. Our company is based in Barcelona (Spain), but our book is available in different languages.

We want to introduce our personalized children’s book to you:

In “The magic of my name” each letter of the child’s name receives a certain character trait and behind every trait there is a little adventure. What is so special about our books is that the entire story is based on the individuals name and therefore brings a unique element to the book. We aim to motivate children to read and to make every single one of them proud of their names.

Via our website www.themagicofmyname.com  parents are able to create a magic personalized  book. Not only can they specify the name but leave a personal dedication, change gender as well as the color of skin and hair. Feel free to try it out and look at the preview of our books.

 My Thoughts

There are many words I could use to describe this book, but the most important one is "magical". This book is so special and so beautifully illustrated. When I first heard of the idea of this book I thought it was adorable. You pick your gender, hair color, and skin color. Then you type your child's name. The website then shows you a preview of your child's custom book. So I put in white male with blond hair and his name is Declan. It then showed me the entire book in the preview (which I absolutely love about this site). The illustrations are gorgeous. You can write your own dedication or a little love note to your child. 

When I got the book I was in love. It is large which is great for the sensory development of our little ones. It really immerses your child when their entire vision is filled by the book. Some of the words they used for Declan was Loyal for L, Noble for N, and Dazzling for D. It is definitely I hearty story as well. You could have it for a good long story night or break it up among two or three nights. I absolutely love how special this makes my son feel. A whole book about him and his name! It is a beautiful idea and really well put together. I would highly highly recommend this as a baby shower or any other type of gift for young children. So beautiful!

Connect with The Magic of My Name

Website     Face Book     Twitter      Pinterest    Instagram

Diono Rainier #Giveaway

 We're almost at the end of Baby Safety Month and Diono wants to end it the right way. As parents we try to make the best decisions for our kids but sometimes all the information can be a little overwhelming. One thing as a parents that can be tricky is car seat safety. Many of us are use to the old "keeping them rear facing until a year "but guidelines have changed asking parents to keep their little ones rear facing to at least the at least the age of two,preferably 4. But what car seat will comfortably do that? Diono has come out with a great infographic to help facilitate a car seat purchase below : One car seat that fits all the above is the Diono Rainier which boast some amazing features like:

• Full steel frame and aluminum reinforced sides for unmatched safety
• Reinforced extra deep sidewalls lined with energy-absorbing foam give Rainier superior head and body protection
• Unique SuperLATCH system that makes installation easy
• Space saving design allows extra room for passengers while providing spacious interior for child
• NCAP crash tested, the industry benchmark for verifying child seat performance in severe accident conditions

Comfortably seats rear-facing children from 5 to 50 lbs Highest forward-facing capacity of any car seat in a 5-point harness: from 20-90 lbs (up to 57" in height) Converts to booster mode for children between 50 and 120 lbs. (up to 57" in height) Some other great features:

• Infant body support cushions and memory foam for added comfort
• Energy absorbing EPS foam and side impact protection provides added safety
• Extra-long leg support for comfy road trips and multiple harness and buckle positions for custom fit
• Safestop® energy-absorbing harness
• Additional forward-facing recline position to accommodate different types of contoured vehicle seats, 12-position adjustable headrest, 5 shoulder and 3 buckle positions deliver a comfortable ride.
• Rear-facing tether capability
• Only brand of car seats with SuperLATCH™: with the Strongest Connectors and Secureweave™ webbing it provides an easy and secure installation
• Additional set of harness pads included to use only when the child is over 65 lbs in the 5-point harness
• Expandable sides and long seat bottom allow proper leg support
• Sits low on vehicle seat for easy child boarding and improved safety performance in a crash
• Angled cup holder keeps a variety of drinks upright and within easy reach
• Cover is machine washable and dryable
• Rubber bottom grips for no-slip installation
• Industry leading 12 year product life (from date of purchase)

One great feature is that it Folds flat for travel and is FAA certified. Going on Vacation? Here are some things to consider when flying: To purchase this fantastic car seat you can go online to Diono.com .Diono knows that getting the right car seat can be hard so they want to make it easy for one family. One lucky reader will win a gorgeous Diono Rainier Convertible Car seat + Booster. This giveaway is open to US only and ends on 10/18 at 11:59pm. Must be 18 years or older to enter. Good luck!  

Entry-Form

Disclosure: All opinions are 100% mine. This giveaway is in no way associated with, sponsored, administered, or endorsed by Facebook, Twitter, Google, Pinterest or any other social media network.All opinions and experiences are Conservamom‘s. Open to US residents only , must be 18+. Confirmed Winner(s) will be contacted through email and have 48 hours to respond before a new winner will be drawn. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. The sponsor will be responsible for product fulfillment to winner(s) of the giveaway. The disclosure is done in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 10 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. For questions or to see your product featured in an Event you can contact Elia At Conservamom

Graco's Pack ‘n Play® Playard Sport™ Review

Graco's Pack ‘n Play® Playard Sport™ is the playard designed for outdoor play and imagination. It sets up in just 5 seconds and gives your child a secure and comfortable spot, thanks to a UV50 protection-lined canopy, roomy hexagon shape and durable base (to protect from the elements). This sporty playard features mesh for ventilation and a zip-open front door that lets you transition from playard to play space to grow with your child beyond toddlerhood. It weighs just 12 lbs. and comes with a convenient carrying bag with pockets, so it's ready for your all of your child's adventures.

• The playard designed to give your little one a safe, comfortable and secure spot to play and rest outside
• In just seconds, your mobile play station is ready for your child
• Large domed canopy features a UV50 protective lining to protect baby from the sun and keep cool
• Durable base protects your child from the ground elements, so all they'll feel is comfort
• Convenient shoulder bag makes it easy to carry anywhere and features roomy pockets for carrying essentials
• Zip-open front door lets you transition from playard to play space for your growing toddler
• Two integrated storage pockets let you keep your child's favorite things closeby
• Canopy folds neatly into the built-in storage pocket, so all of your accessories stay with the playard
• Grows with your child from baby to toddler and beyond
• Inventive hexagon shape gives your growing toddler more room to play
• Airy mesh tech fabrics allow maximum air flow and ventilation for baby's comfort
• Two-latch system makes set-up quick and secure
• Weighs just 12 lbs. when packed up, so it's easy to bring wherever your adventures lead

Specifications of Graco's Pack ‘n Play® Playard Sport™

Weight: 11.5 lbs
Overall Height: 27" (42.25" w/ canopy)
Width: 50.5"
Depth: 45"

Our Thoughts

I have a 2-year-old. My sister-in-laws have a 1-year-old, 11-month-old, and newborn. When we are camping with the family, what happens with them? They usually end up staying inside the enclosed deck because of the sun. Graco's Pack ‘n Play® Playard Sport™ is and will be the solution for all of us until our children are too old to enjoy it. The Pack ‘n Play® Playard Sport™ holds an appeal for even the older kids if they were allowed to take part in the toddler's fun. What I think are the best features of this Pack ‘n Play® though, have to do with the easy set up, the canopy, and the mesh door inserted in the side for your growing toddler. 

Let's start with the easy set up. This Pack 'n Play is seriously TWO pieces. Yup, just TWO pieces. It's the Pack 'n Play and the canopy. The canopy actually has a pocket inside the side of the Pack 'n Play where it is stored. I LOVE that! I love that there aren't numerous pieces to this. It's so simple to set up that even my father-in-law can set it up and he's never once in his life set up anything like this for his kids or grandkids. 

Then you have the canopy. Like I mentioned before, the canopy has it's own pocket in the Pack 'n Play where it is stored. Want to know what's great about that? It's the fact that you have a storage spot for the canopy where it can't get lost! It's also snug enough so it's not real easy for the kiddos to try to pull the canopy out of it's hidey hole. The canopy is solid on one side and mesh on the other. The mesh allows the light in but the solid side gives you enough shade that your kiddos will not be in the direct sunlight if you don't want them to be. I have to say, I love that feature because it is easy to use down at the beach during the day when the older kids want to go swim but the little ones just want to play with toys or nap. 

The Full Canopy

The Canopy half way folded.

Next is the mesh door. How many times, with a regular Pack 'n Play do you have your child asking for in or out of it? For me, it's all the time. The mesh door makes things very simple. By leaving the door open, the toddlers can come and go as they please. Or even with an infant, the door makes it very easy for a parent to get them in and out of the Pack 'n Play without leaning over the rail. My daughter particularly loves the door because she can bring her babies, blankets and (toy) horses in with her without having to ask for help. You can see how happy she is with her "tent" as she calls it.

 I was skeptical that Graco's Pack ‘n Play® Playard Sport™ was going to be big enough for Miss K and her cousins but obviously (see the photo below) it's more than big enough for her and her cousins. I can't wait to take this to the camper and use it again the next time we have a family camping weekend!

If you are looking for something that is going to keep your little one entertained, contained and in the shade this summer, look no further. Go grab Graco's Pack ‘n Play® Playard Sport™ and enjoy your summer! You can find the store nearest you carrying  Graco's Pack ‘n Play® Playard Sport™ though Graco's website. You can also see more from Graco on their Facebook, Twitter, Pintrest and on YouTube.