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Super First Foods for Babies

When it comes to weaning, there is no shortage of advice, tips, recipes and more for new parents. Online, in books, word of mouth- this is how the modern parent picks up the tips and tricks that have been passed down from generation to generation. But do we really know enough about what our babies can be eating? Are we really giving them the very best that mother nature has to offer? The term ‘superfood’ is relatively new and fairly on-trend right now, but don’t let that put you off. And don’t be fooled into thinking babies can’t benefit from a diet filled with superfoods too. Here’s our very quick guide to super first foods for babies- enjoy!

Blueberries

These little gems make ideal finger foods and they’re great for snacking on the go too. I mean, we’re all busy, right? Pop some into a little pot, or sprinkle on top of porridge in the morning. It doesn’t really matter how you serve them, as long as you give them a go. Why? Because blueberries are literally bursting with nutrition and they pack a punch when it comes to health benefits too.

Blueberries help to maintain healthy bones, lower blood pressure, maintain heart health, improve cognitive function and to maintain a healthy digestive system. They’re filled with calcium, magnesium, manganese, zinc and vitamin K, alongside good levels of fibre, potassium, folate, vitamin C and vitamin B6. So what are you waiting for?

Avocado

Avocados are literally bursting with so many amazing nutrients that you’re going to want your little one to eat. THey’re packed full of healthy fats that are great for maintaining heart health; they’re also thought to help prevent high cholesterol and they’re a good source of vitamin E which is essential for eye health. And, of course- they’re delicious! Avocado makes a great finger food for babies, or you can mash them and add to toast, use as a dip for breadsticks… so many options!

Sweet potato

Sweet potatoes are another fabulous first food for babies and such an excellent source of healthy nutrients too. They’re filled with vitamin C and fibre, plus they contain a great source of carotene which is an antioxidant thought to prevent certain types of cancer.  The great thing about sweet potatoes though is the taste! Babies love the naturally sweet taste and you can serve them either pureed for very young eaters, or as wedges for more confident diners.

Eggs

So-called ‘nature’s fast food’-  and for good reason too! Eggs are so easy to prepare and so full of goodness for your little ones. Packed full of protein and healthy fats, they’re so versatile and such a great addition to your little one’s diet. Served them hard-boiled for finger foods, or scrambled on toast, or even soft boiled with wholewheat toast soldiers. Its is advisable to check with your doctor first if your baby has allergies, but otherwise, eggs make a fantastic addition to your baby’s diet.

Beans

Another super versatile and super tasty treat for babies! Beans are filled with antioxidants, fibre, iron, protein and vitamin B. And you don’t need to just reach for the nearest tin of baked beans either! Beans can be served in a variety of ways, and they’re best without the sugary sauces too. Buy them dried, soak overnight and make your own sauce filled with vegetables for added nutrition.

Oats

Oats are a wonderful source of fibre, vitamin E, zinc, iron and magnesium, and they also contain good levels of protein too. Again, oats are versatile because you can serve as porridge for breakfast, add to smoothies for added energy, or mix with banana and peanut butter for quick and easy no-bake flapjacks. Delicious!

It’s important for your baby to have a balanced diet, but don’t worry too much if she rejects some of the foods you introduce. Stay patient, and try again in a couple of weeks. Many of the superfoods listed above can be ‘hidden’ inside dishes if your baby really doesn’t like the look of them, but what makes them great for babies is the fact that they are all moderately mild tasting and generally accepted by babies. Give them a go today and let us know how it goes!

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Baby Massage for Baby Blues

Baby blues also known as postnatal depression is a form of depression which occurs after giving birth. Around one in six mothers suffer from this condition although it not always diagnosed, let alone treated. As to what exactly causes postnatal depression, no one is entirely sure and it could well be that a number of different factors play a part. Biologically, after giving birth there is a sudden drop in hormones, such as oestrogen and progesterone, which can cause a depression-inducing chemical imbalance in the brain. Psychologically, if you have suffered from, for want of a better word, ‘normal’ depression in the past, this may make you more likely to suffer from postnatal depression as well. Socially, after the excitement of the baby’s arrival and the streams of visitors start to fade, this can leave the new mums feeling somewhat lost and alone.

While it is normal to suffer mood swings in the first few weeks after birth, if these symptoms do not clear up within a month this could be a sign of postnatal depression. It usually develops in the first month and a half after giving birth, but it is not restricted to this timeframe and there are many cases where it does not fully set in for a number of months. Partners and others close to the new mother need to keep an eye out for the symptoms of postnatal depression so it can be diagnosed and dealt with as swiftly as possible. And if you are suffering postnatal depression yourself, it is important to bear in mind that it is an illness and try not to feel guilty about how you may feel towards your new baby.

Signs of Postnatal Depression

  • Feeling very low, or despondent, thinking that nothing is any good, that life is a long, grey tunnel without end or hope.
  • Feeling tired and lethargic, or sometimes feeling numb, not wanting to do anything or take an interest in the outside world.
  • A sense of inadequacy – of feeling unable to cope.
  • Feeling guilty about not coping or about not loving your baby enough.
  • Being unusually irritable, which has the, unfortunately, tendency of making the guilt worse.
  • Being tearful and crying, or at least wanting to cry.
  • Being hostile or indifferent to your husband or partner.
  • Being hostile or indifferent to your baby.
  • Having panic attacks, which strike at any time, causing rapid heartbeat, sweaty palms, and feelings of sickness or faintness.
  • An overpowering anxiety, often about things that would not normally bother you, such as being alone in the house.
  • Obsessive fears about your baby’s health or wellbeing, or about yourself and other members of the family.

A Natural Way to ease your Baby Blues

If you are looking for a natural way to help cure your baby blues it’s worth giving baby massage a try. Baby massage is widely known to provide many benefits for baby, but there are also great benefits for the mother too. Studies have shown that mums who are suffering from Post Natal Depression hugely benefit from baby massage. The increased eye contact with baby, along with the calm one to one time has proven to improve mood and strengthen bonds between mum and baby.

Massaging your baby could help you to feel better. Baby massage can help mums who have mild depression, as well as those who are more deeply depressed.

If you have postnatal depression (PND), you may struggle to take any pleasure from looking after your baby. Everyday tasks, such as feeding and bedtime routines, will feel like a real trial for you.

Having PND can also make it harder for you to communicate with your baby. For example, your baby may gurgle and then leave space for you to respond. But if you’re feeling depressed or anxious, it’s easy to miss your baby’s cues. You may be feeling distant from your baby, or think that you’re not quite in tune with what she needs.

The good news is that baby massage can help you to bridge this communication gap, and allow you to focus on your baby.

Massage stimulates the release of your body’s natural feel-good chemical, oxytocin. When oxytocin floods your body, it helps you and your baby to form a close bond. Oxytocin is known as the love hormone and can help heal the horrid feelings postnatal depression brings.

Making eye contact with your baby, and chatting to her, may come more easily when you’re massaging her. This close physical contact can help you to be sensitive to your baby’s needs, and your baby will start to respond more to you, too. Those everyday tasks that have been a struggle should gradually become more manageable.

How to get started

You do not need to be a professionally qualified masseur, but some parents may initially feel daunted by something they are not experienced with. If this is the case, speak to your health visitor or local baby group to see if there are any classes that you can attend. Alternatively, there are lots of instructional videos online that you can refer to for techniques and tips. It’s a good idea to read up on baby massage before you start so that you are able to understand the principles behind it, and how it may benefit you both.

10 Steps to Basic Baby Massage

  • Always start with the legs, as this is the least intrusive area. Begin by holding baby’s right foot in your left hand, gently stroking up the leg with your right hand from the outside of the ankle, up over the knee and to the inner thigh, then sweeping down the inside ankle, repeat 3 -4 times.
  • Now use a kneading technique to move up your baby’s leg. Hold their ankle with one hand to keep the leg in place, and use your other hand’s fingertips and thumb pad to knead from ankle to thigh. Make sure you don’t put pressure on the knee joint, and it is very delicate. Once done, glide your hand back down and start the process again. Repeat 2 – 3 times
  • Gently use your thumb to lightly circle the soles of the feet, gently squeezing and releasing baby’s toes one by one.
  • Glide your hands up to the tummy area. This is an ideal time to introduce little circles with your fingertips around your baby’s tummy. Helping breaks down trapped wind. Massage a baby’s tummy clockwise as this is the way the digestive tract runs.
  • Complete the front by placing both hands in the centre of baby’s chest and sweep up and out over the centre of the chest, over the shoulders and hugging the entire length of the arms finishing off at the fingertips. Massage each finger from base to tip but do not attempt to restrain your baby if he/she curls fingers, kicks or moves arms.
  • Gently turn baby over and use the whole hand to stroke from the shoulders, down baby’s back to the buttocks. To take care of baby’s delicate spinal area always work either side of the spine
  • Use both thumbs to make small circles around the top of the buttocks using both hands, starting in the middle and moving towards the sides.
  • Move to the back of baby’s leg glide up and down the leg gently. Switch hands as you move to ensure continuous contact and pressure.
  • Using a long, light and rhythmical strokes glide from the head to baby’s toes, this finishes off the back area.
  • Carefully turn baby over, wrap them in a warm towel or blanket and pick them up and give baby a lovely cuddle.

For more baby massage guides why not try out my video’s on youtube, like the one below.

Much Love, Samantha x

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Gentle Bedtime Routine.

Establishing a bedtime routine is key to instilling good sleep habits in your baby.  A calming bedtime routine that follows a predictable pattern every night helps give your baby the cue that it’s time to put their little heads down to rest. This, in turn, helps them settle more easily. A mother needs time to relax and wind down after a busy and demanding day with an infant. From as early as twelve weeks we can incorporate gentle sleep methods into an infant’s routine, which can help them sleep more soundly.

We can teach an infant that bedtime is safe and help them relax by regulating the environment where they sleep. Lights should be dimmed and the room quietened, with no over-stimulating colours or objects. We here at Mumma Love Organics believe creating a calm atmosphere is essential in helping to soothe and settle your baby before bedtime. Perhaps play gentle instrumental music to help them recognise bedtime easier or infuse the air in the room with the light fragrance of Lavender Essential Oil (aromatherapy oils with their natural settling properties can be diluted and added to the room the baby sleeps in before they begin their bedtime routine). A recent study reported that mothers who used nursery aromatherapy in their infant’s bedtime routine were more relaxed and shared more physical contact and positive cues (such as smiling) with their child. The mother’s relaxed state helped calm the infant, who provided more eye contact and smiled at their mothers, cried less and finally spent a greater length of time in deep sleep. Reduced levels of cortisol (the stress hormone) were also exhibited by both mother and child.

The essential oils used in aromatherapy stimulate the olfactory senses that dictate your sense of smell. The signals produced trigger the brain’s emotional response, resulting in the creation of mood-changing hormones. Not only does this help relax your child, in time they will begin to recognise the fragrance of the essential oils as a part of their bedtime routine.

To disperse a calming aroma around the room, infuse the air with essential oils about half an hour before settling your baby to sleep. To do this, add 3-4 drops of oil  to one pint of steaming water in a bowl. Make sure the bowl is placed away from the infant’s head and out of reach of other children and animals. The steam will gently infuse the molecules of the essential oil into the room.

Bathtime Bliss

While waiting for the oil to evaporate you can give your baby their nighttime bath with our relaxing bedtime bath wash blended with lavender to help soothe and settle your baby. The sensation of warm water produces the hormone oxytocin, and when oxytocin levels are raised, feelings of trust are elevated. After baby’s bath, wrap them in a warm towel and take them to the perfumed nursery to carry on with their routine.

The aromatherapy teamed with a bath will result in a very relaxed baby. This feeling can be enhanced by incorporating a bedtime massage, as this act releases yet more oxytocin, while the increased flow of blood delivers oxygen and nutrients around the baby’s body aiding a deeper, fuss-free sleep. (Please below my directional video guide for bedtime massage). After the massage, dress baby for bed and supply one last feed before bedtime. Once the baby is ready, place them where you wish them to sleep in their still awake but drowsy state and give them a kiss goodnight.

Bedtime Massage