2007 Jolly July Juniors Options

[*****030812]

Bek, that is great news about Cooper. Have a wonderful time away with hubby.

Nina, yeah there is talk of No.2. Probably s tart trying in a few months or more. Hmmm as to whether Zara would bother me, I guess it would depend if there were ever any 'issues' with his first love and how much you love the name.

Gayle, we are still on Step 2 with Taylor. I would have liked to of weaned her to cow's milk by now, but with all the illness it wasn't going to happen. We have just about finished a LF tin too that we bought when she had diarrhoea. I think I am going to wait until her paed appointment in a few weeks time to see what he says about going onto cow's milk.
My big thing atm is, the Toddler formula in the S26 is vanilla flavoured. Who the hell drinks vanilla flavoured milk ?!?!?! And I have read their website that says oooh if your child doesn't like drinking it like that, make it into a smoothy. To me, that is just asking for trouble.........creating a fussy bub. And if Taylor was to get use to vanilla flavoured milk, then she probably would never drink the real stuff.
So if we don't wean onto cow's milk, we will most likely stay on Step 2. But we will see.

[*Leash*]

Happy Birthday for yesterday Harley!

Bek that is fantastic about Cooper. I also hope you have a nice time away with Gary, you guys deserve a bit of a break.

Amy I agree with you, that seems insane to be giving them vanilla flavoured milk. Talk about getting them used to sweet things early on. I dont know if this would suit Taylor but the Karicare 1 - 3 Year Gold Formula isnt flavoured at all. Hope the pediatrician appointment goes well

[*****030812]

Thanks for that Leash. May have to consider it if the Paed thinks we shouldn't move onto cow's milk yet.


Here it is, from their website;




High in calcium and iron
17 other essential vitamins and minerals
No preservatives or artificial colourings
A larger family sized 900-g can
Available in stickpacks, ideal for daycare or outings
Yummy milkshake taste
Shocking!


Gayle, was thinking about you saying you have to buy more milk every couple of days. Is that because you only buy a small quantity, or does the milk you use not stay fresh for long ? Only reason I ask, is mine and hubbies experiences with milk, we have found that Dairy Farmers stays fresher longer. So much so, I can be seen using it on my cereal the day AFTER expiry. This is huge for me, I use to not touch milk the day before expiry I think I was like this though as we use to drink Physical and it always went off quickly.

And with preparing while out. Does an ice brick not keep the milk cool enough in the short time you are out ? I guess though, it's not like water and if you have any doubts, then there is no way you would give it to Keely, just in case.

[Ozbrit]

got told to swap to milk instead of formula though. She commented that it would be cheaper but I really don't see how and it's a PITA - it means I have to buy fresh milk every few days, it's terrible to travel with whereas I can whip up formula anytime, anywhere and the formula has more iron in it which while Keely is still getting used to food, seems to be something that I'd prefer knowing that she is getting in her diet.
Am I being silly with this? What is everyone else doing?

I'm not really sure what to do either, but my health nurse said to stay on formula (as Eva hardly eats anything and there is more nutrients in it) and just to put a bit of cows milk now and then into her cereal. Maybe you can do both?, take formula out and introduce milk in her cereal or in a bottle when you are at home.

Does Keely eat much?. We are having a painful time (well it is for me cooking and wasting so much food) as Eva just doesnt want to eat and if she does its a very smmmmmmalllll amount. She does like fruit but still 1/4 of a bananna or 1-2 strawberries only would be a meal for her. Although if I am eating something, of course she wants it. So now I have to sneak a chocolate biscuit without her seeing as she just points and goes 'yum yum yum' and wants some lol.

[*Leash*]

she just points and goes 'yum yum yum' and wants some lol.

That is so cute!
In my toddler book it says that some toddlers are born snackers, can you get Eva to eat a series of snacks each day rather than a couple of larger meals?

Btw I have to commend your decision to move from Sydney to QLD its absolutely freezing down here and I cant imagine how you're coping in Vic Gayle

ETA - I just posted this video on You Tube for my in-laws, thought I would share it. Emma caught me recording her playing with her blocks the other day

Emma Video

[~Ki~]

I am totally useless on the milk and weaning questions BUT



Jess- Hannah's Cake looks FANTASTIC!! Well done!



In the Toddler book I'm reading (Toddler Tactics - Pinky McKay)- it says not to make an issue of foods. Offer small portions, as they have short attention spans, and lots of variety. Feed them when they're hungry. As they get older, their growth slows a little, and as does their appetite)



Wining foods according to Pinky McKay are cool steamed vegies, cut into fingers, home made pizzas, different cheeses, different breads, and anything they can dip - like Hommus, or Yoghurt.



If you've got a choice, offer fresh fruit and veg. And basically what the family's eating.



of course, that is life according to Pinky. In our house, Connor eats some of his dinner most nights - some of his lunch, which is sandwhiches and fruit. And Alllllll of his breakfast (Porridge, with purreed fruit to sweeten). With about 3 BF's in between throughout the day.



WTF is with Vanilla formula is it real vanilla? or some hideous artificial flavour?

[*****030812]

yeah crazy huh Ki.


Man, I wish Taylor ate only 'some' She is an absolute monster when it comes to eating. I worry that she is still hungry but I feel her tummy and it's about to burst

She loves to feed herself, though doesn't know when she has put too much food in her mouth, piglet.
With some foods that I feed her she will go grabbing it out of her mouth to play with. I have found if I let her play with it, it distracts her long enough to get more in Mummy dislikes it when it goes on her freshly washed pants though

Ki, what sorts of fruit does Connor have? I must admit, I am slack in the fruit department. Taylor has had various fruits as per SOS, but we have been slack and stuck on pear for a while. When I go out to buy her something different to eat 'fresh' I can't find anything. Wrong season.
Veges wise, Taylor has zucchini, pumpkin, potato, broccoli, cauliflower, carrot, beans.

I have found it easier now to just cook them up fresh.


Nina, are you only spoon feeding, or letting Eva get at the food herself ? Maybe cook up some veges and pop her in the highchair and let her go crazy


ETA: Taylor was never too fussed on rockmelon and I tried her on watermelon only recently (yes slack me) and she wasn't too keen on that either. I'll have to buy and try again. Maybe puree them to see if she will take them if she doesn't have to chew and then go from there. Oh and she doesn't seem to like banana much.

[*Leash*]

Keira what do you put on Connors sandwiches? I make Emma vegemite, she also had grilled cheese and LOVES salmon. Aside from that I cant really think of much else to do in the sandwich department at the moment. I tried giving her ham but she prefers to eat that on its own so I give her pieces of ham and cubes of cheese as lunch sometimes.

Amy I found I had to persist with banana, at first she didnt like it but now she loves it. Emma does exactly what Taylor does with her food. She insists on feeding it to herself and if I put it into her mouth on a spoon she spits it out and then feeds it to herself with her fingers, we've had to invest in some pretty big bibs

[*****030812]

Leash. Have you seen the smocks at Big W ? They are Silly Billyz brand. They have plastic sleeves and a fleecy front. Brilliant at keeping them and their clothes clean. They are in the baby section near the bibs.

We use cream cheese, cottage cheese, avocado as some of our toast/sandwich fillings. Have you tried Tuna with Emma yet ?

It's so hard to come up with ideas and I should keep a list of everything that Taylor has eaten, meals, fillings everything. Would make it easier on those 'no brain' days.


Do you give freshly cooked salmon or from the tin ? I want to give Taylor Salmon but not keen on the bones in the tin stuff (i know they are edible, but yeah, would prefer to hold off on that one).
Maybe I should make my yummy baked salmon dish so I can give her some freshly cooked.

[Ozbrit]

Leash I do the fillings like Amy suggested. It is hard coming up with new things. Eva loves toasted sandwiches and had a salmon and cheese one today (tinned salmon that doesn't have bones). Another thing (although I probably wouldn't eat it) is Hommus (the natural stuff and not the hommus dip) or even bananna sandwiches?.

I have read vegemite has a bad additive (does anyone know about this?) so I am put off giving this too her too much although Michael has it on his toast and she always seems to get a bit anyway.

Nina, are you only spoon feeding, or letting Eva get at the food herself ? Maybe cook up some veges and pop her in the highchair and let her go crazy

She has had finger food from the word go and this is the part of the problem I think lol as she just wants to feed herself and of course throw the food across the room.

Ki, thanks for the info from Pinky!

[~Ki~]

Con has vegemite, pureed fruit spread, cream cheese, tuna, and sometimes avocado sangers



With regards to fruit, I Basically give him what's fresh and in season. He'd sell his soul for watermelon though. It's quite hillarious!



I have read about the vegemite additive - but haven't researched further It's quite high in salt too. But we use it pretty sparingly.



Apparently the bones in salmon are a really good source of calcium - but I tend to think they're a really good choking hazard also.



Con won't be spoon fed - little toad, so it's finger food and mess round here. I suppose the good thing is, he's learning textures and sensations



I most likely won't get on tomorrow - so

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELIJAH KAI

Heidi and Simon, congratulations, it was an exciting time last year when we were both in hospital. I hope Elijah enjoys his special day!

[*****030812]

Con has vegemite, pureed fruit spread, cream cheese, tuna, and sometimes avocado sangers

I have read about the vegemite additive - but haven't researched further It's quite high in salt too. But we use it pretty sparingly.

Apparently the bones in salmon are a really good source of calcium - but I tend to think they're a really good choking hazard also.

Con won't be spoon fed - little toad, so it's finger food and mess round here. I suppose the good thing is, he's learning textures and sensations

Taylor has had vegemite once, that was yesterday, and the amount was so small it would not have even covered my small fingernail simply because of the salt content. Had noted the Preservative 220. I am not clued up on all of these, but I guess it's more of a concern if you have a bub that is extremely sensitive to food additives............asthma triggered by it, etc.


Yep Ki, the salmon bones are good for you. I eat them, but yes, too paranoid about the choking side of things, so have since found out you can buy boneless in the can.


I try to alternate with spoon feeding and finger food. Lunch finger food, dinner spoon fed, or vice versa. But if I am having a super lazy day it will be spoon all the way

[*Leash*]

Happy Birthday Elijah!

I had no idea about problems with Vegemite, we are big fans in this house. Guess I'll have to reconsider that one, not that we've been giving it to her too often.

I hadnt even thought of cream cheese, avocado or banana so I'll have to try those too. I was watching Taming Toddlers the other day and they had a nutritionist make Hommus from scratch so Im going to do some this week, I just have to go to the supermarket and buy some tahini. Emma loves it when I make chickpea stew so Im hoping she will like the hommus too.

Amy I give Emma both types of salmon but mainly tinned. I make sure that I take out the backbones and the larger bones that lead off the backbone but the others I leave and make sure Ive crused well with a fork. She hasnt had any problem yet. I'll have to look for one of those bibs, my sister has a couple and they do seem great, oh and Im glad all the bubs are obsessed with feeding themselves!

Emma LOVES watermelon too! I guess its so sweet and tasty you cant really blame them

[indigo]

Still salty but if you want a vegemite that has no preservatives or that additive, I just looked at hubby's gluten free variety. It's found in the health food aisle of the supermarket.

Now that Keely isn't a coeliac, we've been feeding her toast but she won't come at sandwiches. Will keep persisting! She still lives on a lot of fruit and if it's not in season, I'll use tinned fruit. She also loves spaghetti which is interesting to watch.

Not much news this way. More teething happening. She already has 8 teeth and it almost feels like it's a permanent state of being for her at the moment! She gets one through after nearly a week and then gets a few weeks grace and then another one will start!

Happy birthday Elijah!

[Ozbrit]

Happy Birthday Elijah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hope you had a nice day Heidi.

Gayle, silly question probably but do u add anything to the spaghetti or just give it to her plain? (or is it tinned you mean?)
Hope the teething sorts itself out for you. I really had no idea that teething was such a big deal pre baby!!.

Eva had her first 1 day sleep today!!. (ERRRR). She conked out at 7pm and my DH keeps telling me thats it now and I need to plan for 1 sleep a day. I am hoping its just today as I like her sleeping 2x a day ( ).

Ooh we are also experiencing tantrums here. If she wants something and doesn't get it she throws a hissy fit. She even layed on the tiles last night crying!!! (OH NO IT'S TOO EARLY). She woke at 4am and was crying too, I gave in and picked her up and took her into our bed. I have done this the past couple of nights for about 5- 10 minutes till she is calm and then put her back (and she justs rolls over and goes back to sleep).

However last night, when i put her back she went MENTAL. Never have heard her like it. She was pointing to our bedroom and throwing herself back pretty much saying, take me to your bed or else!!. We didn't give in (are we mean?) as I realised we were creating a rod for our own back, but I gave her some milk (it's worse than the early days lol) and then she pointed at her cot, which meant she wanted to go back in there! (?). Anyway fingers crossed for tonight.

Oh back to the vegemite thing. Sorry I shouldn't have mentioned it without the info I had...
The best book to explain it all (its a minefield understanding/explaining all the additive/preservative thing) I have found is Additive Alert by Julie Eady. It is very interesting and has encouraged me to throw out things.

This is a quick checklist of the ones we should avoid if we are trying to pick out a few

100 102 104 110 120
122 123 124 127 129
131 132 133 150 151
153 155 160b 173 174
175 249 250 251 252
280 281 282 283 310
311 312 319 320 321
385 407 407a 431 433
435 436 466 530 553
621 627 631 635 900
914 943a 950 951 952
954 967 1201 1520 1521
This list includes the worst additives that most people want to avoid. These are the additives that are suspected carcinogens, banned in other conuntries or are linked to other serious adverse health effects. If you have asthma or other specific health concerns, there may be more additives that you wish to include on your list.