Baby's Own Health: Toddler Food

From fun purees and messy faces, to the delicate balancing act that is eating Cheerios, discovering food is as fun for parents as it is for baby. At some point, however, individual taste begins to emerge and the act of defiance becomes a part of your little one testing their boundaries. Picking meals that are balanced, nutritious, and not on the floor, can be a chore.  Of course, your own taste are also a factor. Maybe you have dietary restrictions for health or ethical reasons. Maybe certain foods have an "ick" factor for you, that might not be true for your son or daughter. I'm writing a blog about what to feed a toddler, mostly because I'm trying to figure out what to feed my toddler. Experimentation is the name of the game, and here are 3 fun ways to "try out" some fun toddler meals!

Crescent Wraps

Wrap anything around anything and a toddler is at least curious. These finger foods are a great way to get creative with any number of delicious combos, such as these enticing Parmesan and Spinach Twists from Little Grazers.  Why not try ham and cheese baked up in the crescent roll, or cream cheese and salsa pinwheels on a tortilla! Make a batch, so that if it's a winner, you can grab a few in a pinch. No takers? Well, throw it in your lunch bag for your own meal! Win, win.

Oodles of Noodles


Food can be fun as well as filling. If you have time to be messy, let them get their fingers in a pile of noodles! It's a good way to practice those pincer grasp skills at the next level, with the added challenges of sauce and cheese! It doesn't have to be all about the carbs either - pasta is a great way to hide some produce, or even gain it some approval. Try a scratch spin on the classics like tuna noodle casserol, mac n' cheese, or these fun Homemade Spaghettios!

Mini Muffins

Both sweet and savoury muffins are a great way to make a portable meal to take to the park or to quickly munch on when time is short. If you're thinking breakfast, add rolled oats and yogurt for added nutritional punch. Cut the sugar and the fat by substituting your butter with apple sauce, or by adding a mashed banana for a cakey texture (always a toddler fave.) 

Don't limit yourself to batter either - meatloaf muffins, mini quiche with ham and cheese, macaroni cakes with cauliflower, or try these healthy quinoa bites! I'm thinking these would be great at a potluck buffet or as a side dish for the whole family! If seeing the veggies is a problem, puree them nice and smooth before adding them.

Have you got some great ideas for meal time? Have some trick for snacks on the go? Tell us on Facebook and join the conversation!

Baby's Own Health - Exploring the Park

My son's day care provider is roughly a 45 minute walk from my house. It's not horrible, but it's not ideal to have to spend the better part of an hour walking before 8am. At least, that's what I thought at first. With the heat of the summer in full effect, parents can’t wait to shake off the layers and start up the barbeque! Kids get excited about outdoor play, and you might hear your older children start to ask for their bikes from the garage. Babies can’t ask you, but they need it, too, and as the day goes on, it sometimes gets too hot!

While it might seem designed for your school aged kids, the perfect destination for any sunny day walk is the park; a wonder-filled space for everyone to enjoy. It great for an early morning stroll to start your day with energy. It's a shade spot to picnic, and to reapply your sunscreen. It's lovely in the evening to hit the swings. So how do you interact with your little one if they are not yet mobile to do it themselves? Here are some tips!

*I throw a shopping cart cover in my stroller before we head to the park to use in the swings. It adds a bit of padding and protects baby's bum in case it rained earlier in the day.

The walk to and around the park alone is a great way to build vocabulary. Talk about the sights, sounds, and smells of your surroundings. Point out the colours and the animals you see. We like to mention the sounds the birds make and talk about their coloured feathers. Lay out a blanket under a tree to stare at the leaves, or the shapes in the clouds. Consider bringing a bag to collect fossils, shells, or other souvenirs to talk about later.

Take time to experience the difference in textures, something than babies and toddlers love. Spiky grass, rough stones, smooth sand, and refreshing, cool water are just some of the new experiences your little one will enjoy. Encourage your child to describe it to you, or laugh about how different things can be. 

No matter how your family enjoys the park; singing songs in the splash pad, walking the dog, or just relaxing and talking to your neighbours, find a time in the day to get the fresh air with your little one a couple days a week. It really shakes of the stale feeling of hiding from the heat, when you can do it in a safe way.

Baby's Own Health: Constipation

Some people might shy away from this topic. They might think it gross, or inappropriate... but I'm guessing those people aren't moms. You see, parents think a whole lot about food - both going in and coming out - of their children. Tracking bottles in and diapers off is a mathematical dance that starts in the hospital and stops...I don't know; when they go to college? A happy tummy is one of the most crucial ways to make a happy baby, so with that in mind we delve in to the dirty topic.

Infants

Constipation in infants is very natural, believe it or not. They utilize so much of what they take in, that the bi-product is often just a wet diaper. A formula fed baby can easy go a few days without a bowel movement, and an exclusively breastfed one can go over a week. They should be going sometime though, and the inability to do so can be painful, or a symptom that something else is wrong. So how do you know if you have a problem on your hands?

• If your baby is feverish, appears to be in pain, or experiencing other abnormal symptoms.
• If your baby cries or strains when attempting to go.

If you experience these symptoms, see your baby's doctor. He might recommend some exercises to help work the digestive system, encourage a small amount of water or prune juice, or something more serious, as the case requires.

Early eaters

New foods can cause all kinds of "interesting" results in the diaper. You might see rashes, discolored stool, and yep - constipation can happen. If first foods and simple purees cause problems with bowel movements, consider a few options:

• If your baby has tried prunes, apples, bran, or water rich foods (like melon), encourage more of these to aid digestion.
• Babies over 6 months can have filtered water in small doses to ward off dehydration.
• Give lots of floor activity (tummy time, crawling, and other movement).

Toddlers

The introduction of dairy, more solids, and more physical chewing sometime causes this age  group a little trouble. They also develop bigger appetites and preferences that can sometimes cause mom a little trouble striking a balanced diet.

• Don't go overboard with things like bananas and cheese. These two foods especially can cause a little tummy to back up.
• Fewer bottles doesn't mean your little one needs less liquid. Encourage drinking milk and water. If you have trouble, try cutting the water with a little apple juice for flavour, or offering a real fruit juice frozen treat.  

Every kid's tummy is different, and whether it's a matter of learning the proper balance, discovering a minor disagreement, or uncovering an actual allergy, it takes time. It's very easy to over think symptoms, and experience might be the only thing that teaches you when your child has a mild tummy ache or something more serious. Don't be afraid to speak to the support system in your life if you're concerned. For you, that might be your mother, a trusted aunt, a fellow mommy, or just your family doctor. It's always better to feel a little embarrassed because you overreacted, than have the guilt of not acting soon enough. 

Baby’s Own Health – Childproofing

I have to be honest – when it comes to baby proofing my house, I am months behind. I am less of a “lets bubble wrap everything” and more of a “oh, so now that’s a problem” kind of mom. I'm diligent with supervision, I have those plastic plug protector doodads, but otherwise, I'm flying by the seat of my pants, my lucky boy. I'm sure the internet is full of lists of products to buy and items to get rid of, but that’s not always realistic. You can very quickly drop a boat load of cash on a protective item, only to have your daughter injure herself with her own spill-proof sippy cup. With that in mind, here are a few things to consider (or not) when it comes to safeguarding your space.

Major falls are a major problem:

Whether you use baby gates or some other method, preventing large falls is essential. I’m not talking about the standard toddler misjudging the distance to the walker type falls. I mean stairs and other big drops. Making sure junior doesn’t tumble to the basement chasing the cat, or decide to climb the bookshelf while you make coffee. You can’t always secure them somewhere like a crib or playpen and expect them to be entertained. Playtime is a lot less stressful when access to other rooms and floors is limited.

If they can grab it, it goes in their mouths:

Common sense maybe, but it’s not that simple. I locked up my chemicals, and removed small objects (like batteries and nail files) from my coffee table. What I didn't anticipate he’d be interested in was; computer cables, couch fluff, cat food, my cell phone… the list goes on and on. I actually lay on my belly in the living room one day and imagined the number of items that he could (read: would) put in his face if he had the chance. It was a little frightening. Do your best to separate your room in two horizontally. If you need an item in that room, and you don’t want your baby to use as a teether, it should probably be locked up or on the upper half. It doesn't hurt to know a little infant CPR either. Any skill you can have to save your child's life, no matter where you are, is a good one.

Heat and water can kill in seconds:

No matter how relaxed I am about minor falls and other random baby klutziness, the two places I never mess around are the bathroom and the kitchen. If you are cooking, and also need to attend to your son or daughter, be sure to secure them in a high chair or playpen at a safe distance. Also, remember to prepare everything for bath time before your child is in the tub. Walking away for a towel or a ducky, even just for a moment is a serious, serious risk.

Small accidents are going to happen, and you can't protect you child from every knee scuffed at the park, or from playing with other children, frankly. Buy some fun bandages, take a deep breath, and move on. In your home, however, you want to be able to relax a little. That might mean a more practical coffee table, and putting away your shoes. It just shouldn't mean living in a bouncy castle until they go off to college.

Baby's Own Health - Boo Boos and Owies

Borrowed from http://alterforchildsafety.ca/

Whether your child is a master of the ball pit or still hanging around the play mat, accidents happen - a lot. While learning to walk, while petting an anti-social cat, or just over eagerly playing with your toy horses.  If you're my son anyways... It can be tough. Part of you wants to run yelling to the scene, scoop your child up dramatically and smother them with cure-all kisses. Yet, part of you is saying to wait it out, see how bad it is. It's all part of learning independence! Growing a thicker skin! It's definitely harder on mommy than on baby sometimes. As I learn to calm my own inner panic attack, here are some tips for coping with your little klutz.

The best place to start is always with an ounce of prevention. A local initiative funded by several southern-Ontario health units, in association with the University of Guelph, suggest that parents "ALTER for Child Safety."

Activities - Change what you are doing or what your child is doing.

Location - Move to where you can better see your child or bring your child to where you are.

Timing - Ask yourself "Do I need to be doing this now?"

Environment - Make changes around your home that can prevent a fall.

Resources - Ask for help and use what you have learned.

Let's be honest; you can't keep your eyes on your child for 100% of every day, but a huge number of minor injuries can be prevented using these strategies. Your supervision can only do so much, so set your home up for success. Install baby gates on stairs, and have a secure spot for baby to wait for you when nature calls. Have anti-tamper plugs for electrical sockets and locks for cupboards with chemicals. It's a real juggling act sometimes, but don't let household guilt override quality time. Let the laundry and the dishes pile up every once and a while to focus on play. Small, largely common sense changes make for a huge difference in protecting your child from your space, and vice versa!

When the inevitable bumps or scratches happen, focus on the lesson as well as the bodily damage. It might not be their fault, but they might be able learn something about why they got hurt. This might mean calm instruction as to why the activity they did was dangerous, for example, even if they don't fully understand. Kids are very eager to please, and far more receptive to conversation than they might lead you to believe. Talking over what happened becomes part of the healing process, and can distract from the initial shock of what happened.

It's an emotional thing to get hurt, and that's not something to be ignored either. They are exploring their environment and learning skills about which they have no experience. When something unexpected happens, there is frustration, sadness, disappointment, and maybe even anxiety to try again. Consider bringing a little fun in to the healing process with a toy that ices while it cuddles! They are easy to make and super cute (not to mention seasonal)! 

It's called a Boo Boo Bunny, and it takes under 10 minutes and 10 items to make one! You can find instructions here, but there's are lots of cute animal variations to make your child's perfect healing companion!

Take a deep breath, and know that these things happen. What they need more than anything is a big hug from you, and encouragement to try again. There is no better medicine in the world than the love of your mom.

Baby's Own Health: Babies Meeting "Fur Babies"

Those who know me well know how much I love my pets. I've had a string of "misters" in my life that pre-date my husband; Mr. Bill (a 17 lbs rabbit), Mr. Chow (a super chubby long haired cat), and currently Mr. Fritz (the most affectionate and dog-like cat you've ever met.) Needless to say, the thought of subtracting his from my life to add my son to the family was not an idea that crossed my mind. It was just a new "mister" to add to the clan! It never occurred to me that Fritzy might not feel the same way, and the transition was not exactly smooth... Based on the experience of my friends and I, we hope to help you ease the joining of your family with these tips!

Cats

Your feline family friends are extremely territorial; they have spots for sleeping, good vantage points for surveying their land, and... well, and a couple more good sleeping spots, let's be honest. The very fact that they sleep in your clean sweater purely because it's slightly more elevated than your bed, tells you their attitude. They are in charge, and your are their loyal subject. It only makes sense that when a tiny new interloper takes all of your time, plus has lots of cozy places only they're allowed to sleep, the adjustment would be abrupt. To prevent undue wrath from your feline overlord, follow these tips.

• Be firm with the rules from the beginning. Cats respect you until they find a crack in your armour. If you put Sir Fuzzington on the change table for a picture, it will never be off limits again.
• If you can, avoid putting baby things like cribs, bassinets, and play pens in "designated" cat areas. It will only tempt them to sleep in and/or destroy the offending item.
• Do your best to maintain your cat's routine. Of course, in the delirium of taking care of a baby, you might not get food in their bowl for 7 am on the dot. They will, however, let you know that you're late, and remember the offence for later.

Dogs

While your cat might be a little ticked, you risk really hurting your dog's feelings, and this is so much worse. The loss of their spot on your bed, the decrease in walks, and less cuddle time will have a huge impact on Spot. A puppy lives and breathes for you, and if you start to yell at them or ignore them to take care of junior, they can get depressed or start acting out to compensate. A good friend of mine has a gorgeous big dog, and I asked her how she prepared for him to meet her new daughter.

• Bring a blanket that was used by the baby home from the hospital for the dog to smell and get used to before the actual baby gets there.
• While you might not think you have the energy, walks and play time are important to address your puppy's energy in a healthy and safe way. Hey, it might just give you a nice break and help with the mommy tummy at the same time.
• "When we brought her home my husband went in and greeted Henry while I waited outside with Adeline, then we switched and I let him say hi to me. We let him get his excitement that we were home out of the way so that he would be as calm as possible when we brought the baby in."

Pets don't end with our four legged pals either. Whether you have fish or a hamster, the fact is that animal is going to have to cede some of it's attention to a new person, and you are going to have way more to consider than you did before baby. Good friend and diaper bag alumna Eva, for example, has a bird.  She told us "After two weeks Gus completely ignored Gilad and only in the last three months has been showing interest in Gilad. She flies down to the floor to see what we are doing when we play there. Now she flies over to see us when he's eating in his high chair. I am still nervous to let them touch because Gus is a biter but they get super close."

Integrating pets and children isn't impossible, but it's not always easy. Not all pets are capable of the discipline you want and not all parents want to deal with the additional work once a little one arrives. You wouldn't be the first to choose flesh over fur if push came to shove. The additional cost, care, and supervision might not be for you, and that's okay too. If you're determined, just don't give up. Be consistent and patient. They will grow to love each other, and having a pet can be a very rewarding experience for the whole family.

Baby's Health: Hallowe'en Safety

Only 2 more days until Hallowe'en! The excitement in your house is probably at a fever pitch as children anticipate the candy haul awaiting them this Friday. However, your strongest emotion may be anxiety. Hallowe'en is a time to let imaginations run free, but keeping an eye on potential safety concerns can save you a world of trouble. A fun, worry-free night requires an awareness of the 3 C's.

The WIYDB 3 C’s of Hallowe’en Safety:

CANDY:

Before going out trick or treating, take the time to enjoy a light meal or snack. This will ensure that your child feels satiated and won’t be tempted to snack on the go as his bag fills up with candy. You need a chance to inspect the contents of goody-bags. Closely examine the treats in the bag by looking for choking hazards, signs of tampering (tiny pinholes, tears in wrappers, etc.), unusual appearance or discoloration, or homemade treats. It is a lovely gesture that your neighbour took the time to bake her famous “spooky brownies,” but children should only consume factory-wrapped treats. Once they have the go ahead, you should still limit the amount of treats your children consume in a day.

COSTUMES:

Always think of your child’s safety when purchasing, or making, a Hallowe’en costume. Choose light coloured fabrics (for visibility) that are not too long (to avoid tripping). If a costume needs swords, knives, or similar accessories, make sure they are short, soft, and flexible. Opt out of masks in your child’s costume because they can impair vision. Instead, use make-up and adhesives that have been tested the night before, on a small area, to make sure no allergic reactions occur. Thoroughly wash off make-up before bed. And don’t forget: costumes should be flame resistant….think of all the Jack ‘o’ Lanterns just waiting to be kicked over!

CARE:

Safety during trick or treating is mostly a case of common sense. Stay visible by fastening reflective tape to costumes and bags to help drivers see you. Walk on sidewalks whenever possible obeying pedestrian road signs. Always walk from house  to house (as tempting as it is to run!) If you cannot accompany your child, make sure they are with a group or another trusted adult and that they only visit well-lit houses on their trip.

Hallowe'en is a really fun time for children and adults alike. It is a holiday that many look forward to, so the aim should be to make it memorable in a positive way. Following these safety tips will not take away from the excitement and joy of the night, but it will enhance the good feelings as everyone can breathe easily and focus on the festivities.