What to do if your baby is choking.....

We were at a party on the weekend and my 18 month old son got into the peanut bowl when I wasn't looking - so I thought I better update myself on first aid tips for a choking baby.

Obviously, I know it would have been better if I had not let him near the peanut bowl at all - but I don't have eyes in the back of my head (unfortunately) and he is super fast - which I know is how most accidents happen.

I found some great advice with diagrams on the website http://www.babycenter.co.uk/ that I thought I would share with you.

What to do if your baby is choking

Dislodge the blockage

• Hold your baby so that he is lying face down along your forearm with his head lower than his body and his back and head supported.

• Use the heel of your hand to give up to five back blows.

• Check your baby's mouth and remove any obvious obstructions. Do not use your finger to sweep inside his mouth - this could push the obstruction further into his throat.

• If your baby is still unable to breathe, turn him onto his back and give up to five chest thrusts:

• Use two fingertips to push inwards and upwards (towards his head) against his breastbone, one finger's width below his nipple line.

• Try to dislodge the object with each thrust. Don't automatically do all five.

• Check your baby's mouth after each thrust and remove the obstruction. If the obstruction does not clear after three cycles of back blows and chest thrusts, call an ambulance immediately and continue giving your baby back blows and chest thrusts until help arrives.

If the baby is unresponsive and does not have a pulse (heaven forbid) you would need to start CPR. I wont put all the information about how to do this on this post but the link to the website is below and you can see pictures and clear instructions on this web page. http://www.babycentre.co.uk/baby/safety/chokingguide/

I sincerely hope that none of us ever need to use this advice, but figure, it is better to be prepared in the case that we do..............

Jennifer x

Top Tips for Introducing Solids to your Baby

I have noticed lots of clicks on the "Introducing Solids" bookmark and in this blog I only referenced Leanne Cooper's article in the My Child Magazine so for those of you who did not see it - I thought I would put some information from her quick reference chart to introducing solids below.

If you would like to know more - please visit her website http://www.cadencehealth.com.au/SneakysShop.htm where you can download her excellent ebook called "What do I feed my baby". You can also buy this book at http://www.roseandlily.com.au/

Quick reference guide to introducing foods

Around 6 months

Suitable Foods

§ Gluten-free iron-fortified cereal i.e. rice
§ Vegetables such as sweet potato, pumpkin, carrot, avocado, choko, parsnip, broccoli, peas, potato, zucchini, cauliflower, beans.
§ Avocado
§ Cooked/mashed fruit such as apple, pear, banana, paw paw, rockmelon.
§ Teething rusks
Consistency - Pureed into a smooth paste with breastmilk or formula.
Milk Feeds - Baby still relies primarily on breastmilk or formula.

Around 7 months
Target - Working up to 3 meals a day and adding of texture

Suitable Foods
§ Iron-enriched rice cereal should be used by 6 months.
§ Baby yoghurts or plain natural acidophilus yoghurts which are often more nutritious and have less additives
§ Increasing variety of vegetables first, then fruit (not citrus fruits or tomato), corn, beetroot, peas, capsicum, turnip, parsnip
§ Increasing variety of fruit – strawberries, mango, blueberries, watermelon, plum, star fruit and custard apples
§ Brown and white rice cooked till soft
§ Use of feeding cups over bottles
§ Offer water regularly over the day

Consistency - Mashed into a soft and lumpy consistency, similar to the texture of cottage cheese. Milk Feeds - 4 or more milk feeds per day.

Around 8 months
Target - Babies develop a swallowing reflex for coarser foods.
Suitable Foods

§ Fish
§ A teaspoon of almond, linseed, sunflower or hazelnut meal (powder) added to mashed foods for protein and essential fats.
§ Thoroughly cooked brown and white rice.
§ Vegetarian proteins such as tofu and lentils
§ Cheese (cheddar has low amount of lactose)
§ White meat such as fine pieces of chicken or turkey
§ Lumpy food
Consistency - Introduce lumpy foods.
Milk Feeds - 3-4 milk feeds per day.

Around 9 months
Target - Baby starts chewing and moving food around their mouth
§ Start with gluten-free cereals such as corn, millet, rice, buckwheat, tapioca and quinoa – try buckwheat and rice noodles before pasta
§ Nut spreads (caution with allergies)
§ Expand on cheeses (cottage etc.)
§ Red meat such as lamb mince
§ Finger foods – grated cheese, vegetables fruit
§ Vegetables, thin slices, grated
§ Peeled and seeded fruit
§ Beans
§ Cereals, couscous, semolina, tapioca, pasta, noodles etc.

Consistency - ‘Finger foods’, grated cheese, finely chopped meat.
Milk Feeds - About 3 milk feeds per day.

10 months
§ Eggs (cooked egg yolk first)
§ Well-cooked red meats
§ Small amounts of milk, soy milk, nut milk, oat milk in foods
§ Stews, rissoles, casseroles, sandwiches, etc
Consistency - Scrambled egg yolk, Finely chopped or minced meat.

Milk Feeds - 3 milk feeds per day.

11-12 months
§ Other legumes (kidney beans, butter beans, cooked legumes, soy beans, tofu)
§ Pasteurised milk

12 months+
§ Most foods the family eats including whole eggs, milk etc.
Whole foods except nuts.
Water is best fluid.

Potato Heads

Hi - sorry I didn’t post a blog last week. Life just got on top of me and I didn’t get a chance to sit down with my computer. But I promise to write 2 this week - just to make up for my tardiness :-)

I just started thinking about our good friend the potato - because I heard from someone that many babies go through a stage when they only want to consume things that are white "ish" - e.g. milk, chicken, rice, pasta, cheese, yoghurt, potatoes etc so I thought I would look into whether or not potatoes are actually good for you (Hey - generations were raised on them in Ireland and Europe so must be ok - no??)

Thanks to my favorite website (fresh for kids) I have found out why potatoes are very good to eat. Contrary to popular belief they are not at all fattening. You would have to eat almost 4kg of potatoes in a fairly short period before your body would convert their carbohydrate into fat. It’s only when they are made into chips, fries or crisps, or served with sour cream, butter or margarine that they become potentially fattening. They are an excellent source of vitamin C. They also provide some niacin, potassium and dietary fibre. They are a good source carbohydrate (starch), which gives energy for physical activity, as it’s broken down quickly to glucose.

And great news for mums; they make an excellent first food for babies (as the taste is not strong and they puree very well)

Here is my suggested recipe for a winter veggie puree

1 x potato (peeled and chopped)
1/2 sweet potato or a small piece of pumpkin (peeled and chopped)
1 handful of frozen peas
1 small piece of meat - around 30gms (beef, lamb or chicken-what ever you have available)


Pop them all in the Bébédelice with 300mls of water and cook as per the directions

Transfer into blender with a small knob of butter and puree as per baby's taste

Cool to room temperature and serve

Easy, cheap and yum. Should go down a treat with your little one

Hope you are all keeping warm over winter. Until next time…………

Jennifer xx