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Cozy For Baby Tips
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Buy food that is in season. Citrus fruits and tropical fruits are in season and at the peak of flavor in winter. Good winter vegetable values include:
Non-organic: broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, avocado, onion, garlic. Tropical fruits and citrus with thick skins that you do not eat (orange, grapefruit, lemon, tangerine, kiwi, banana, coconut, mango, pineapple, avocado) typically have low or no discernable pesticide residues, so save your money and buy non-organic. Cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage) have low or no discernable pesticide residues, so there's no need to buy organic here either. Use plenty of onions, garlic, and shallots when you are cooking. They have a built-in pest repellents with their pungent smell, so commercial growers use little or no pesticides to grow them successfully.
Organic: potato, sweet potato, beets and other root vegetables, carrots, leafy greens. Green foods should be purchased as organic or avoided in the winter. If you look outside and don't notice much "green", you'll know that "green food" had to travel a long way to get to your grocery. Non-organic green food has been treated with not only pesticides, but anti-mildew sprays and food waxes to maintain an appearance of "freshness." Leafy greens, crunchy fruits and vegetables (celery, apples, pears, cucumbers, peppers), and all lettuces are better to buy organic. Cruciferous veggies and tropical fruits are the exception to this rule. Buy organic dairy products. If you cannot afford organic, choose nonfat dairy. The more fat a conventionally grown product contains, the more toxins are found in the food, because many toxins concentrate in the fat. Choose organic or sustainably raised meats. If you have to buy non-organic, do choose chicken and meat labeled as raised "antibiotic and hormone-free." To use organic meat more economically, make it a flavoring instead of a primary ingredient - soups, stir fries, casseroles, and stews all feature the flavor of meat, but in small portions.
Avoid foods that are out of season: strawberries, raspberries, bell peppers, cucumber, zucchini. They will tend to be very expensive and of poor quality - not a good combo.
If you buy grapes, buy only domestic grapes. Imported grapes from Chile and Argentina are fumigated with methyl bromide (a neurotoxin) to kill medflies and other pests when they reach U.S. ports.
If you do want fruits that are out of season (such as peaches), choose canned fruit. Canned peaches, apricots, and cherries have considerably less pesticide residue than those same (non-organic) fresh fruits. Farmers who grow fruits used in canning use fewer pesticides because the fruit does not have to look "perfect." Additionally, the fruit is scrubbed and washed several times before processing.
Finally, store your food properly to avoid waste. When you buy organic vegetables with greens still attached (carrots, beets, turnips), remove the greens as soon as you come home. To keep leafy greens crisp, rinse, trim, and pack the greens with a damp paper towel on top. Store apples and other soft fruit in your refrigerator. Potatoes, garlic, and onions should be stored in paper bags (not plastic!) and away from bright light (moisture and light cause them to begin sprouting).
By Cindy Burke December 10, 2007
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Will Washing and Peeling Help?
Nearly all of the data used to create these lists already considers how people typically wash and prepare produce (for example, apples are washed before testing, bananas are peeled). While washing and rinsing fresh produce may reduce levels of some pesticides, it does not eliminate them. Peeling also reduces exposures, but valuable nutrients often go down the drain with the peel. The best option is to eat a varied diet, wash all produce, and choose organic when possible to reduce exposure to potentially harmful chemicals.
The Full List: 43 Fruits & Veggies RANK FRUIT OR VEGGIE SCORE
1 (worst) Peaches 100 (highest pesticide load)
2 Apples 96
3 Sweet Bell Peppers 86
4 Celery 85
5 Nectarines 84
6 Strawberries 83
7 Cherries 75
8 Lettuce 69
9 Grapes - Imported 68
10 Pears 65
11 Spinach 60
12 Potatoes 58
13 Carrots 57
14 Green Beans 55
15 Hot Peppers 53
16 Cucumbers 52
17 Raspberries 47
18 Plums 46
19 Oranges 46
20 Grapes-Domestic 46
21 Cauliflower 39
22 Tangerine 38
23 Mushrooms 37
24 Cantaloupe 34
25 Lemon 31
26 Honeydew Melon 31
27 Grapefruit 31
28 Winter Squash 31
29 Tomatoes 30
30 Sweet Potatoes 30
31 Watermelon 25
32 Blueberries 24
33 Papaya 21
34 Eggplant 19
35 Broccoli 18
36 Cabbage 17
37 Bananas 16
38 Kiwi 14
39 Asparagus 11
40 Sweet Peas-Frozen 11
41 Mango 9
42 Pineapples 7
43 Sweet Corn-Frozen 2
44 Avocado 1
45 (best) Onions 1 (lowest pesticide load)
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Quite often, you must have seen a baby trying to chew the railing of his cribs or some furniture or toy. This is because the baby feels uncomfortable when his teeth are coming out and wants to chew on some solid yet soft stuff that provides comfort as well as allows him to chew. This is where teethers prove themselves to be useful. The teethers are made of non-toxic materials and are of a size that is neither too big nor too small. This makes it safe to chew as there are little chances of the baby swallowing the teether. Many teethers can be filled with water and be kept in the fridge to cool down. Babies like it when their teethers are cool as it comforts them better. They also make an excellent gift item to be given to a friend who has recently had a baby.
TRY OUR ORGANIC GRAPES AS TEETHERS. Our GRAPES are made of 100% Organic Egyptian Cotton. If you soak it in fresh water and put it in the freezer for some time, it will make a safe and colorful teether for your baby...
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The Pros:
-Bonding time for your family especially for busy and/or working parents.
-Mom usually sleeps better when nursing. It's easier to roll over than get up, get baby and nurse.
-Some tests suggest that co-sleeping with baby may reduce the risk of SIDS since babies who sleep with their parents don't sleep as deeply.
-According to Dr. Sears, Co-sleeping gives the child of overall feeling of well-being and confidence.
The Cons:
-Intimacy with your partner is difficult.
-Adult mattresses are not designed for babies and can be dangerous.
-The older they are the more difficult it usually is to get them to sleep in their own bed.
-Squirmy babies can prevent you and your partner from getting a good nights sleep.
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What better way to teach your baby than through fun, playful games. Games help our youngest learn language, social, and motor skills. Enjoy these time-tested games babies love to play.
Peek-a-Boo This game teaches your baby that objects out of sight still exist and can be found�an important cognitive lesson for baby.
Here are some variations of the game: Hide your face behind your spread-apart fingers. Peek around the corner of a doorway. Use a light cloth that baby can pull off easily and victoriously as you call out "Peek-a-boo!" This game can be played throughout baby's first year of life and into toddlerhood.
Ahh-Boom!
When baby is between five- to seven-months old, prop her in a sitting position facing you on your lap. Lower your head and gently touch foreheads with your baby while slowly saying, "Ahh-boom!" at each touch. In time, your baby will anticipate the game by leaning forward before your foreheads meet.
Sooo Big!
Your little one loves it when you lift both his arms up very high and exclaim delightedly, "How big are you? You are so big!" Once your child has learned this game, lift your hands up high and let your child stretch his own arms way upward as you exclaim, "Sooo big!"
Pat-a-Cake
Babies learn to clap both hands together at the body midline between seven and nine months. "Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, baker's man; bake me a cake as fast as you can!" is an excellent rhyme to chant with your baby. She will enjoy mimicking your clapping, and her confidence will build as she learns the movements and words.
Oops!
This game can be played with various props but works particularly well with building blocks. Build a tower of blocks with your three- to six-month old and let him knock them down. This game teaches cause and effect-that actions have consequences. And it's lots of fun!
This Little Piggy
Respond to your baby's burblings with encouraging words as you play "This Little Piggy Went to Market" with her tiny toes. Your baby learns that despite being a small creature, she has control over play situations: Notice how she thrusts out her toes in a clear request to play the game again and again!
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We would love you to share your tip, advice or comment with other parents on our message board! Please click: Cozy For Baby Message Board
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FOOD: ORGANIC OR NOT?
Shopping for food during the winter can be a challenge. Organics are often very expensive in winter and the price of many diet staples has increased dramatically in the past year. What are your best strategies for eating healthy while still getting a good value for your grocery dollar?Buy food that is in season. Citrus fruits and tropical fruits are in season and at the peak of flavor in winter. Good winter vegetable values include:
Non-organic: broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, avocado, onion, garlic. Tropical fruits and citrus with thick skins that you do not eat (orange, grapefruit, lemon, tangerine, kiwi, banana, coconut, mango, pineapple, avocado) typically have low or no discernable pesticide residues, so save your money and buy non-organic. Cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage) have low or no discernable pesticide residues, so there's no need to buy organic here either. Use plenty of onions, garlic, and shallots when you are cooking. They have a built-in pest repellents with their pungent smell, so commercial growers use little or no pesticides to grow them successfully.
Organic: potato, sweet potato, beets and other root vegetables, carrots, leafy greens. Green foods should be purchased as organic or avoided in the winter. If you look outside and don't notice much "green", you'll know that "green food" had to travel a long way to get to your grocery. Non-organic green food has been treated with not only pesticides, but anti-mildew sprays and food waxes to maintain an appearance of "freshness." Leafy greens, crunchy fruits and vegetables (celery, apples, pears, cucumbers, peppers), and all lettuces are better to buy organic. Cruciferous veggies and tropical fruits are the exception to this rule. Buy organic dairy products. If you cannot afford organic, choose nonfat dairy. The more fat a conventionally grown product contains, the more toxins are found in the food, because many toxins concentrate in the fat. Choose organic or sustainably raised meats. If you have to buy non-organic, do choose chicken and meat labeled as raised "antibiotic and hormone-free." To use organic meat more economically, make it a flavoring instead of a primary ingredient - soups, stir fries, casseroles, and stews all feature the flavor of meat, but in small portions.
Avoid foods that are out of season: strawberries, raspberries, bell peppers, cucumber, zucchini. They will tend to be very expensive and of poor quality - not a good combo.
If you buy grapes, buy only domestic grapes. Imported grapes from Chile and Argentina are fumigated with methyl bromide (a neurotoxin) to kill medflies and other pests when they reach U.S. ports.
If you do want fruits that are out of season (such as peaches), choose canned fruit. Canned peaches, apricots, and cherries have considerably less pesticide residue than those same (non-organic) fresh fruits. Farmers who grow fruits used in canning use fewer pesticides because the fruit does not have to look "perfect." Additionally, the fruit is scrubbed and washed several times before processing.
Finally, store your food properly to avoid waste. When you buy organic vegetables with greens still attached (carrots, beets, turnips), remove the greens as soon as you come home. To keep leafy greens crisp, rinse, trim, and pack the greens with a damp paper towel on top. Store apples and other soft fruit in your refrigerator. Potatoes, garlic, and onions should be stored in paper bags (not plastic!) and away from bright light (moisture and light cause them to begin sprouting).
By Cindy Burke December 10, 2007
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WHY SHOULD YOU CARE ABOUT PESTICIDES?
There is growing consensus in the scientific community that small doses of pesticides and other chemicals can adversely affect people, especially during vulnerable periods of fetal development and childhood when exposures can have long lasting effects. Because the toxic effects of pesticides are worrisome, not well understood, or in some cases completely unstudied, shoppers are wise to minimize exposure to pesticides whenever possible.Will Washing and Peeling Help?
Nearly all of the data used to create these lists already considers how people typically wash and prepare produce (for example, apples are washed before testing, bananas are peeled). While washing and rinsing fresh produce may reduce levels of some pesticides, it does not eliminate them. Peeling also reduces exposures, but valuable nutrients often go down the drain with the peel. The best option is to eat a varied diet, wash all produce, and choose organic when possible to reduce exposure to potentially harmful chemicals.
The Full List: 43 Fruits & Veggies RANK FRUIT OR VEGGIE SCORE
1 (worst) Peaches 100 (highest pesticide load)
2 Apples 96
3 Sweet Bell Peppers 86
4 Celery 85
5 Nectarines 84
6 Strawberries 83
7 Cherries 75
8 Lettuce 69
9 Grapes - Imported 68
10 Pears 65
11 Spinach 60
12 Potatoes 58
13 Carrots 57
14 Green Beans 55
15 Hot Peppers 53
16 Cucumbers 52
17 Raspberries 47
18 Plums 46
19 Oranges 46
20 Grapes-Domestic 46
21 Cauliflower 39
22 Tangerine 38
23 Mushrooms 37
24 Cantaloupe 34
25 Lemon 31
26 Honeydew Melon 31
27 Grapefruit 31
28 Winter Squash 31
29 Tomatoes 30
30 Sweet Potatoes 30
31 Watermelon 25
32 Blueberries 24
33 Papaya 21
34 Eggplant 19
35 Broccoli 18
36 Cabbage 17
37 Bananas 16
38 Kiwi 14
39 Asparagus 11
40 Sweet Peas-Frozen 11
41 Mango 9
42 Pineapples 7
43 Sweet Corn-Frozen 2
44 Avocado 1
45 (best) Onions 1 (lowest pesticide load)
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BABY TEETHERS
A very useful baby product that helps a baby during his teething is the baby teether. Available in a plethora of colors and designs, teethers for babies are very helpful in soothing the baby when he feels uncomfortable. The irritation and slight pain that the infant feels during the time his new teeth begin to come out, are soothed down by a good quality teether.Quite often, you must have seen a baby trying to chew the railing of his cribs or some furniture or toy. This is because the baby feels uncomfortable when his teeth are coming out and wants to chew on some solid yet soft stuff that provides comfort as well as allows him to chew. This is where teethers prove themselves to be useful. The teethers are made of non-toxic materials and are of a size that is neither too big nor too small. This makes it safe to chew as there are little chances of the baby swallowing the teether. Many teethers can be filled with water and be kept in the fridge to cool down. Babies like it when their teethers are cool as it comforts them better. They also make an excellent gift item to be given to a friend who has recently had a baby.
TRY OUR ORGANIC GRAPES AS TEETHERS. Our GRAPES are made of 100% Organic Egyptian Cotton. If you soak it in fresh water and put it in the freezer for some time, it will make a safe and colorful teether for your baby...
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PROS AND CONS OF CO-SLEEPING
Co-sleeping, family bed, bed sharing ... any way you slice it, letting Baby sleep in your bed is a decision that you and your partner (not you and your doctor or anyone else) need to make. This list of co-sleeping pros and cons can help you decide what's best for your family.The Pros:
-Bonding time for your family especially for busy and/or working parents.
-Mom usually sleeps better when nursing. It's easier to roll over than get up, get baby and nurse.
-Some tests suggest that co-sleeping with baby may reduce the risk of SIDS since babies who sleep with their parents don't sleep as deeply.
-According to Dr. Sears, Co-sleeping gives the child of overall feeling of well-being and confidence.
The Cons:
-Intimacy with your partner is difficult.
-Adult mattresses are not designed for babies and can be dangerous.
-The older they are the more difficult it usually is to get them to sleep in their own bed.
-Squirmy babies can prevent you and your partner from getting a good nights sleep.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6 CLASSIC BABY GAMES
Teach your baby through fun, playful games, that foster language, social, and motor skills. You'll love elliciting giggles and grins from your little one!What better way to teach your baby than through fun, playful games. Games help our youngest learn language, social, and motor skills. Enjoy these time-tested games babies love to play.
Peek-a-Boo This game teaches your baby that objects out of sight still exist and can be found�an important cognitive lesson for baby.
Here are some variations of the game: Hide your face behind your spread-apart fingers. Peek around the corner of a doorway. Use a light cloth that baby can pull off easily and victoriously as you call out "Peek-a-boo!" This game can be played throughout baby's first year of life and into toddlerhood.
Ahh-Boom!
When baby is between five- to seven-months old, prop her in a sitting position facing you on your lap. Lower your head and gently touch foreheads with your baby while slowly saying, "Ahh-boom!" at each touch. In time, your baby will anticipate the game by leaning forward before your foreheads meet.
Sooo Big!
Your little one loves it when you lift both his arms up very high and exclaim delightedly, "How big are you? You are so big!" Once your child has learned this game, lift your hands up high and let your child stretch his own arms way upward as you exclaim, "Sooo big!"
Pat-a-Cake
Babies learn to clap both hands together at the body midline between seven and nine months. "Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, baker's man; bake me a cake as fast as you can!" is an excellent rhyme to chant with your baby. She will enjoy mimicking your clapping, and her confidence will build as she learns the movements and words.
Oops!
This game can be played with various props but works particularly well with building blocks. Build a tower of blocks with your three- to six-month old and let him knock them down. This game teaches cause and effect-that actions have consequences. And it's lots of fun!
This Little Piggy
Respond to your baby's burblings with encouraging words as you play "This Little Piggy Went to Market" with her tiny toes. Your baby learns that despite being a small creature, she has control over play situations: Notice how she thrusts out her toes in a clear request to play the game again and again!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We would love you to share your tip, advice or comment with other parents on our message board! Please click: Cozy For Baby Message Board
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