Baby, That’s Good – Washington Post Article

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It’s interesting to me the shift in cultural “norms” over the years. It seems to be true that everything is cyclical. From hairstyles to fashion to politics and beyond, things just have a way of getting out of hand, then coming right back to the basics.

It’s funny to me how so many people today think you are supposed to just buy baby food in jars or pre-packaged in the grocery store. They don’t even stop to think how it was done before this convenience was ever created. Many of these people buy their own food the same way…pre-packaged and lacking in nutrients, but many of them do not. They make their own food, but just don’t even think about serving the same thing to their babies. Then, there are people like me. Our desire to have healthy-eating children, is making us change the way we view food and prepare meals for ourselves.

This was my possibly underwhelming observation when reading this article from April 2009, but I did find it super interesting and hope you will too.

Baby, That’s Good
Homemade Food Has Practical Appeal
By Bonnie S. Benwick
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Washington Post Staff Writer

Please share your thoughts and comments.
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Tags: why

Homemade Baby Food Benefits

What are you really doing? Why are spending this time and effort to make food for your baby rather than just opening up a jar and spooning out some great tasting delights? Well, for me, it’s a combination of a lot of great benefits.

1. It gives me total control.
2. It just feels right, natural.
3. I know what’s going into your baby or toddler.
4. I cook food for myself, right? Or, at least I know that cooking food for myself is better than eating packaged foods. 
5. I’m establishing good habits.
6. It gives me satisfaction.
7. I’m able to choose high quality foods.
8. I’m exposing my kids to a variety of tastes, textures, and styles of food.
9. I’m saving money.

Share some of your thoughts on why you’re doing this.
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Tags: baby, why

SAMPLE BABY FEEDING SCHEDULES: Introduction

In the coming weeks, I plan to post my experiences with our feeding schedules over the first year. This post is an introduction to that series to give you some background on my thoughts and style.

I have followed an eat-wake-sleep routine with my boys since birth. For this reason, I also started scheduling solid feeding times with liquid feedings. Liquids first since they are to be the primary source for infants, then solids. I think this timing helps establish good mealtime habits without snacking all day. This is not to say that healthy snacks aren’t good, as I believe we all function better with them in our day. But, I want to teach my children to slow down and focus on eating healthy food at the table. I believe food is important and shouldn’t be eaten on the run, while playing, or in any place in the house. We have always done bottles and still do milk some in laps, so that may occur in a chair or on the couch, but all food is consumed at the table.

We have consistent snack and meal times each day for multiple reasons.

1. This helps develop a baby’s metabolism.
2. My boys know what to expect and like this order in their day.
3. I NEED A SCHEDULE. I’m very schedule-oriented and need to know what is coming next so that I can prepare and find the times in my day to get things done.
4. This schedule helps when others take care of the boys and know what to do when.

The schedule posts to come will serve as a place for everyone to share their different thoughts and styles and when, how, and how much works when feeding babies the first year.

Here are the following schedule posts.
SAMPLE BABY FEEDING SCHEDULES: 10-12 Months
SAMPLE BABY FEEDING SCHEDULES: 7-9 Months
SAMPLE BABY FEEDING SCHEDULES: 4-6 Months
SAMPLE BABY FEEDING SCHEDULES: 0-3 Months

Tags: routine, schedules, why

Why?

Well, It’s 2010 and I’ve been making my boys’ food since they were 6 months old. Actually, I started sooner than that and stored it up in the freezer until they were ready to start. I’ve read a lot, experimented a lot, and learned a lot along the way. My plan is to continue making even more interesting foods for them as they grow into toddlers and document my weekly events along the way.

You may wonder what made me want to start making their food. Well, lots of people are doing it…yes. It’s healthier for them…yes. It saves money…yes. But, really, it’s because I like to be in control. If you know me and you’re reading this right now, then that’s a real shocker, huh? I wanted to make their food so I would know what was in it, I would know how much to make, and I could prepare and store it in my own way. I also wanted my boys to learn how to eat different foods and I was afraid with limited baby food options, that I wouldn’t have that control either.

No, I am not a “cook” by any means. I try to make meals at home and am ok in the kitchen, but I don’t know much about making things from scratch or how to prepare gourmet meals. I like my crockpot. I like my microwave. And, I don’t own many kitchen “gadgets.”

So, here goes…my 52 weeks of making food for my boys simply because I like to be in control.

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Tags: control, why