More and more parents of young children are deciding to make their own organic baby food in preference to buying the conventional tinned or bottled varieties that are available at supermarkets and grocery stores.

Once considered the savior of young mothers, pre-cooked and packaged baby food is now being scrutinized by these same mothers before they buy.

If it says ‘organic baby food’ on the label, many parents are prepared to buy it, based on the word ‘organic’.

What does organic mean anyway?

Organic produce must be grown without the use of artificially-produced, synthetically modified or chemical pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers.

It focuses on enriching the soil to produce healthy plants, using natural fertilizers like compost, to make using artificial fertilizers and pesticides unnecessary.

What do the labels mean?

100% organic on the food label means, that the food contains no synthetic ingredients. It must have been grown under the stringent guidelines covered by federal law.

Organic means that 95% of the ingredients have been produced in an organic way.

Made with organic ingredients, means that at least 70% of the ingredients have been produced organically.

According to new scientific reports, babies that are born via C-sections versus traditional births may have a higher tendency to develop allergies, diabetes, and leukemia in life due to the higher levels of stress that are exerted on the baby’s body during a C-section birth.

The major difference found between C-section babies and their counterparts is they have a large difference in the amount of white blood cells which play an important role in the body’s immune system.

Pediatric specialist from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Prof. Mikael Norman, said that while it is not known why C-section babies have a higher risk of the above mentioned diseases; their theory is that the difference in birth conditions may leave a genetic imprint on the formation of white blood cells.

Norman added that C-section babies are not properly prepared for birth which adds to the stress are birth and may cause the baby to have a harder time adapting to life outside of the womb whereas a natural birth allows the baby to prepare to leave the womb.

The study was performed at the Stockholm institute and compared the blood samples of 37 newborns to see if there were notable differences in the white blood cell counts.

Some parents think that they will know when their baby is hungry because the baby will cry.

Actually, crying is one of the final ways that your baby will use to communicate that she is hungry.

If you learn to recognize baby’s earlier cues, and respond to them, there will be less crying, which makes life happier for baby and parents.

A baby who is hungry will often bring her hands to her mouth, and sometimes begin sucking on her hands and fingers, sometimes even her clothing if she can get it into her mouth. She may begin turning her head from side to side as if looking for a bottle or nipple.

When held, the baby may begin to “root around” as if searching for a breast from which to nurse. If none of these cues are met with a bottle or breast, your baby will probably begin to get fussy, increasingly so, until she begins crying.

Even when sleepy, your baby will exhibit these hunger cues. If you recognize these cues and feed your baby quickly so that she does not become fully aroused from sleep, she will go back to sleep more quickly, and consequently, so will you [Baby Feeding]. This is a time when having your baby close to you as she sleeps, such as using a co-sleeper, is especially helpful.

The toddler years are a time of huge development and growth and you can help your child reach maximum potential by playing suitable toddler games and organizing activities that will stimulate and entertain.

Once a child gets onto their feet and becomes mobile, a wonderful world of new excitement and experience opens up.

The time between 12 and 24 months of age is when the individual personalities of children start to emerge.

Battles of will, first attempts at making sentences and absolute delight at the wonder of the world around them are all aspects of this time in your child’s life. It might not always be easy, but it sure is going to be fun!

Don’t think that you have to devise toddler games and activities to keep your child amused all day, every day. A child needs time to explore their world for themselves; they need to learn to play alone; they need to make their own fun and entertainment.

The activities you organize will be short-lived, with quick results – a toddler has a short attention span. Some games will be spontaneous, prompted by the moment.

These days, more and more people are concerned about the environment and about the effects of chemicals and toxins on the health and safety of their families.

Organic baby clothing is one of the more recent ways that parents are discovering to protect their children.

By definition, organic baby clothing has been made using only natural fibres that have been grown organically.

Organic farming uses no chemical or artificial fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides. Agriculture in the Western world has come to depend on the use of these chemicals on almost every crop that is grown, whether for food, clothing or other uses.

As scientists have uncovered the potential dangers of residues of these poisons being present on food and fibers, there has been great interest in organic baby clothing, fabrics and bedding.

When a baby is expected in a home, great care is taken to ensure that high standards of hygeine are established to protect the newborn from infection and disease.

All new linen and clothing is carefully washed in non-allergenic detergents to remove residues that could irritate a baby’s tender skin.

Recent studies from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have found that 93% of tested people over the age of six out of 2,517 had BPA in their systems via urinalysis tests.

Additionally infants were found to be exposed to BPA at higher rates due to the use of plastic baby bottles.

BPA is bisphenol-A, which is found in hard plastics such as beverage packaging, cans, dental work components, and plastic utensils and is potentially harmful when exposed to for a lengthy period of time.

BPA is usually consumed when one consumes beverages or food that has been heated in a plastic container or has been exposed to heat continuously causing the plastic to break down and release BPA such as heated wash cycles in a dishwasher or microwave use.

Most studies of BPA have concentrated on the effects of BPA on infant lab mice with findings that show even low levels of BPA can affect behavior and brain development.

In animals, BPA has also been found to change the normal process of reproductive and hormonal systems in the lab animals which includes lowered sperm count, early puberty, and an increase in fertility problems in females.

If you have never cared for a newborn before, you may be surprised when you change your baby’s first diaper and find a thick, greenish-black, tar-like substance in the diaper.

This substance is known as meconium. This is your baby’s first bowel movement.

The first several bowel movements will be made up of meconium. Once your baby begins to be nursed, the meconium will quickly pass out of her system, sometimes even before you leave the hospital.

Generally a baby does not pass meconium until after birth. Occasionally, however, a baby may pass meconium into the amniotic fluid either before or during birth.

The danger is that the meconium can then be breathed into the baby’s lungs and cause inflammation. If meconium is present in your amniotic fluid when your water breaks, you and your baby will be closely monitored to make determine whether your baby is in distress.

Meconium can be difficult to clean from your baby’s sensitive skin. Ideally you should wait until your baby is a few days old to begin using baby wipes.

Until then, use gauze pads or soft washcloths to cleanse your baby’s bottom. Using wet gauze can help remove meconium, as can a quick wash with baby wash and a washcloth.

The range of items available in nursery furniture these days is absolutely mind-boggling, but how much do you really need?

Everything you could possibly think of in nursery furniture, and some things you wouldn’t think of, are available in specialist stores, department stores and online stores and sites.

Every expectant parent and grandparent wants the new addition to the family to have everything possible, and for their nursery to look beautiful.

It is admirable to want to provide well for your child, but your budget must be able to cover your expenditure.

If you are planning your nursery at the moment and are wondering how you are going to manage everything, here are some helpful tips for alternative ways to achieve a wonderful result in decorating and furnishing your baby’s nursery.

Decide what nursery furniture you really need and what can be done without

While it would be lovely to go into a store and order one of everything in a matching set, is it all really necessary? Remember that the manufacturers of nursery furniture and accessories keep adding to their ranges so they can sell more; this doesn’t mean that you have to buy it all.