Storing Baby Food Puree

I absolutely love making homemade baby food puree with the Baby Bullet. I never thought making baby food would be so quick and easy. I am able to make about 1 week worth of baby food at a time. I love that the Baby Bullet also comes with storage containers that are fridge and freezer safe.

The only down fall to the Baby Bullet is that it does not come with enough storage containers. All of my containers were filled up by the time I introduced my son’s second food. One thing that annoyed me was when I poured my liquid baby food puree into the ice cube tray I had to use up all the food in the tray before I could use the tray again. It’s impossible to wash one section at a time.

I began to think of solutions for this little dilemma that I faced. I looked into buying more storage containers but could only find the ones I wanted online. I needed an immediate solution. I didn’t have time to wait for shipping since I needed to get a new batch of food ready. I then remembered that I have a box full of Medela Pump andSave Breastmilk Bags. I never really use the bags since my son doesn’t take a bottle and thought I’d put them to good use.

I quickly took the Baby Bullet ice cube tray out of the freezer and transferred the cubes of puree into the freezer bags. Now I had a solution on how to free up my tray for the next batch of food. Now when it’s time to feed my son, I just simply take out a cube of puree from one of the bags, place it into the original Baby Bullet plastic storage container and let it thaw until its time to serve. The thing I love about using the Medela Pump and Save Breastmilk bags is that they come pre-sterilized and are DEHP & BPA-Free.

Do you have any easy methods for storing baby food?

Guest Post: Things Don't Always Go As Planned, and That's Okay!

Guest Post: Written by Kayla from www.crunchymamakayla.blogspot.com

Hey everyone!

My name is Kayla! I am the administrator and owner of Attachment Parenting Love (APL). A review blog for baby products and a mommy blog! I want to give you all a little insight on my childbirth experience.

While I was pregnant, I had EVERYTHING planned out.

How I would parent, how I would refuse medication during birth, how I would NEVER have a c-section, because its unnecessary… Everyone told me ‘you keep on planning, but just wait, everything will change...’ It made me angry. No one believed me. So my mindset was that of ‘I’m gonna show YOU!’

November 17, 2013: 1 week until my due date. I was so excited, so scared, so nervous! My husband had finally come home from his deployment, just in time to welcome his baby girl! My family would all be here any day now, hopefully she would arrive while they’re here! I was still very adamant about a med-free vaginal birth. I made my birth plan and packed my hospital bag. I was all ready!

November 23, 2013: 1 day until my due date. My family had arrived in time for my due date AND Thanksgiving! I was thrilled! I couldn’t wait for Paisley to make her appearance and my whole family be around to see her! I was getting anxious, but I still wanted that med-free birth.

November 30, 2013: 6 days after my due date. My family had come and gone and still no sign of Paisley. My doctor said I was completely unfavorable. 1 cm dialated, 0% effaced. The thought of induction sounded REALLY great at that moment, even though I SWORE I would NEVER do it. At this appointment, my doctor said that if I have not gone into labor by my next appointment, he would induce me.

December 3, 2013: Induction day. Yes, I chose the induction. I strayed from my plan. I proved everyone right. At the time, I just wanted her out. I was tired of being pregnant. I never once felt contractions. I was still completely closed. They started me on cervadil at 5pm and let it sit overnight.

December 4, 2013: My doctor came in to check me after the cervadil. Still completely closed. He tried to break my water, but my cervix was too high up. So they started me on pitocin (logic?)

15 hours later, still completely closed. So I told my doctor just to schedule my c-section. I knew where this was headed.

5:26 PM, I birthed a beautiful baby girl via c-section. 7lbs 20.5 inches. At that moment, I realized... it doesn’t MATTER how you have your baby. Having a c-section doesn’t make you less of a mother. Just like having a vaginal birth doesn’t make you more of a mother.

After my c-section I was loopy from the drugs and I didn’t even see my daughter or my husband for at least 2 hours after the surgery. I was able to breastfeed when she came in, with the help of a nipple shield. She was beautiful. It didn’t matter how she came, only that she did.

I’d do it all over again, for her <3

Burberry Inspired Baptism

My son’s Baptism was inspired by the iconic Burberry print. I love the red, tan and black plaid pattern. It just looks so clean and sophisticated, the colours stand out beautifully. The best part about choosing a Burberry inspired theme was seeing our son decked out in a beautiful Burberry inspired suit. Such a stud!  

Scroll down to see the vendor credits.

Vendors:

Burberry Inspired Suit: Kidzzz

Burberry Inspired Shoes:  AK Baby Designs 

Burberry Cake: Cakes by Celia

Burberry Cupcake Favours: Diaper Cakes & Goodies by Jen

Guest Post: Not Everyone Can Breastfeed

Guest Post: Written by Erin from http://www.aspoonfulofspitup.com 

Before my husband and I even started trying to make a baby, I read about it.  I read about getting pregnant, being pregnant, birthing a baby, feeding a baby, keeping a baby alive...if it was about babies, I researched it.  I'm a chronic over-preparer...just ask my husband!

One Sunday I stayed home from church because I wasn't feeling well.  I started doing more research about breastfeeding, and came across an article on Kelly Mom about Insufficient Glandular Tissue (IGT).  You can read that article here.

I started reading the article because it was interesting.  Then I got to the part that described the physical markers for IGT.  And they described me, almost to a T.  My husband came home from church to a hysterical, sobbing, hugely pregnant wife.  

I was devastated that I might not be able to feed my baby.

I've always thought there was something a little different about the way I looked, but I didn't worry about it too much.  Everyone is different, right?  Almost everyone can breastfeed, regardless of the size of their breasts!

People tried to reassure me.  "You don't know that you have IGT!  Everyone can breastfeed!  Just because your boobs aren't big doesn't mean you won't make milk...my cousin/grandma/mom/sister/friend is flatter than you and she breastfed her kids for years!  Just take fenugreek and it'll be fine!"

I tried really hard not to worry about it.  I wouldn't know for sure whether I had IGT until I actually tried to breastfeed...but it was always in the back of my mind, making me worry.

When my son was born, I fed him around the clock.  He had a bad latch from being stuck in my pelvis for so long, and the doctors were working to fix that.  I was taking several supplements to increase supply.  Again, I tried not to worry.  Having a c-section can delay the milk coming in, so I gave it a few days.

Unfortunately, my milk never came in.  After my son completely destroyed my nipples (we're talking lots of blood, skin coming off in chunks, and searing pain), I started pumping every two hours while he ate formula.  

After a week of pumping around the clock, I never made more than half an ounce a day.  Total.  And that was on a good day.

I would put the pump on, get ten drops of milk in the first minute, and then cry for the next twenty minutes as I watched the bottles remain empty.  I kept pumping in case my milk decided, by some miracle, to come in after a week or more, but it didn't work.  

Making the decision to stop trying to breastfeed was probably the hardest one I've made in my life.  Trying was causing me pain, both physical and emotional.  But quitting would also cause me pain.  In the end, it was better for both my family and myself that I formula feed my son.

I felt like a failure.  Maybe I wasn't meant to be a mother!  I mean, my body couldn't birth him naturally, and I wasn't able to feed him.  What kind of woman am I?

It took me a long time to realize that being a mom doesn't mean breastfeeding your child.  It means taking care of him.  Sacrificing for him.  Loving him.

I have faced judgment from many people who don't understand my situation.  People who think that, no matter what, breast is best.  When my son was four days old I was lectured by a stranger in Walmart about the evils of formula.  There were times that people almost convinced me that if I took enough supplements and pumped constantly and ate oatmeal and drank Gatorade and stood on my head for thirty minutes every morning, I would make enough milk for my child.  Because, as I was told by many people, everyone can breastfeed. 

Despite what people think, not everyone can breastfeed.  And even if they can physically breastfeed, there are so many reasons that moms choose formula.  Why do women feel the need to judge other moms when they have no idea what they're going through?  Not every mom who chooses to use formula is uneducated.  Some of us just can't breastfeed, no matter how badly we wanted to.

My decision to use formula was not made lightly.  It kept my son from starving, which made it the absolute best decision for my family.  I was doing my job as a mom: taking care of my child.  Why should I be judged for that?

I'm happy to say that my son did not succumb to formula poisoning during the first year of his life.  He's happy and healthy (with the exception of the ear infection that never ends), and so smart.  Breast milk was my first choice, but I would say that formula worked pretty well for us.

But if colleges start only accepting students who were breastfed as babies, he's screwed.  

...if that happens I'll just send them some cute pictures of him and they'll change their minds.  Because who wouldn't want this cutie going to their school?

Like Erin's guest post? Checkout Erin's Facebook Page and don't forget to "LIKE" it too. 

Babies First Food

I waited until my son was just about 6 months to start feeding him solids. I wanted to make sure that his digestive system was mature enough to handle new foods. I also heard that introducing food too early could increase the likelihood of allergies.

My son has been exclusively breastfed since birth and I know that my milk has been providing him with all the nutrition that he needs so I was in no rush to begin solids. I also decided to start introducing solids to my son during dinner. I choose dinner since my breastmilk supply is much higher in the morning and afternoon. I also continue to breastfeed my son regularly and always breastfeed him first before offering him his serving of solids. I want my milk to still continue to be his main source of nutrition.

I knew before my baby was born that I wanted to make all of my baby food and avoid buying over processed baby jar food. I want to be the one in control of what my baby eats and ensure that he is given fresh, healthy and wholesome foods. I prepare my son’s food twice a week and freeze single serving sizes for him to enjoy.

Yummy Homemade Organic Avocado Puree 

When deciding which foods to start with my husband and I decided that we would skip cereal all together and offer nutritious fruits and vegetables instead. Choosing what fruits and vegetables to start with all depends on what I could find in stores based on the season. I decided to start with avocado. I do not really follow a particular order, I just alternate between fruits and vegetables.

I also only buy organic produce. Babies developing systems are more vulnerable to chemicals and organic foods have minimal toxicity. I know buying only organic foods may be unrealistic to find or even afford, so here is a list of foods that are considered the Dirty Dozen. These are the most contaminated produce so buying these organic is highly recommended.

Apple

Bell pepper

Carrot

Celery

Cherries

Grapes

Kale

Lettuce

Nectarine

Peach

Pear

Strawberries

When starting with avocado I just started with one tablespoon. He ate half of that. It’s truly best to go with babies lead. Now my son is up to 3 tablespoons a day. He slowly wanted more each day. I also offered my son avocado for 4 consecutive days before offering any another food. The 4-day window is recommended to watch for possible reactions to the new food. Some reactions to watch out for include: redness around baby’s mouth, bloating, gas, irritability, fussiness, over-activity, trouble sleeping, congestion, eczema, and mucous in the stool.

Remember starting solids is just about the experience. What was your experience like?