ParentDish

Baby Food Storage Tips

Amber DeGrace — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 08:40:00 EST

Filed under: Babies, Health & Safety: Babies

What are we gonna do with these leftovers? Credit: Getty Images

Making baby food last can be difficult. Sometimes babies only want a bite or two, but the very next meal they're bottomless pits. Learning to go with the flow of what your baby is hungry for will make things easier. And, with a few tips on great methods of safe baby food storage, your baby food will last longer, too.

Healthy Basics: One of the first rules of making baby food last is to wash your hands and your baby's hands before eating. There are many food borne illnesses your child can pick up from bacteria left on your hands after touching raw meats, changing diapers or handling pets. You also want to ensure the refrigerator is set at the correct temperature, 40 degrees or below. The designated baby food storage area should never be on the door because the temperature often varies in that location due to the refrigerator being opened and closed.

Cool it Now: If you're making baby food at home, a good method of baby food storage is to cool it to room temperature and transfer it to ice cube trays. Cover the trays tightly with a sheet of plastic wrap and freeze. Once frozen, remove the cubes (now a convenient portion-size for babies) and put them into labeled freezer-safe bags.

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Best Baby Nursery Toys

Amber DeGrace — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Babies, Decor, Toys, Shopping, Gear Guides: Pregnancy, Gear Guides: Babies

Baby will giggle at his reflection in the Lamaze First Mirror. Credit: Amazon

Plush toys. Wooden toys. Retro toys. Modern toys. With so many baby nursery toys on the market, choosing the best playthings can be confusing. But whether you're shopping for baby toys for your own bundle of joy or searching for the perfect nursery item for a baby shower gift, this list offers up some of the hottest baby nursery toys available in 2010.

Lamaze Jacques the Peacock: It's important to provide baby toys that kindle a baby's senses and encourage exploration, and with all the different noises and materials used in the construction of this toy, there will never be a lack of stimulation. The Lamaze Jacques the Peacock also is one of the more convenient baby nursery toys, because it can easily be taken from place to place thanks to the Lamaze signature linking system.

Baby Einstein Baby Neptune Ocean Adventure Gym: Tummy time is a special routine for babies to practice the strengthening of neck muscles to hold up their heads, and this plush whale is ideal for babies to rest on while having tummy time in their baby nurseries. Toys are located all around the gym, from peek-a-boo flaps to the bar that arches across the soft mat. Vivid colors and textures ensure this will be a suitable match with any nursery decor.

Baby Einstein Octoplush: Every baby needs a lovey, and, out of all the other top baby nursery toys, we think this one quickly will become a squeezable favorite. Press the Octoplush and it begins to play music. Plus, each leg has a different color on the end with the color name on the bottom and, when pushed, the color name is spoken in three languages (English, French and Spanish). This is one of the sweetest baby toys out right now.

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Baby Shower Decorating: Tips for the Celebration

Amber DeGrace — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Babies, Decor

A baby shower with a tea party theme lends itself to elegant decorations. Credit: Getty

You've chosen invitations, planned the menu and picked out a few fun games to play. Now it's time to embark on another important part of the celebration of an expectant mother and her soon-to-be bundle of joy: baby shower decorating.

If you find yourself responsible for planning a baby shower, decorating need not be a stressful event. There are many varieties of baby shower decorations that can be implemented for everything, from simply themed get-togethers to elegant and sophisticated tea parties. Here are a few baby shower tips to help get you started.

Themed Parties: Themed parties can be a fun and memorable way to plan a baby shower. Decorating can be as serious or lighthearted as you want, but keep in mind what the mother-to-be would enjoy most of all. If she is not a fan of islands, tiki torches and leis, tropical-themed baby shower decorations are probably not the best way to go. However, if the tropics are right up her alley, a great idea for baby shower decorating could include grass skirts and plastic margarita glasses (virgin drinks for the mother of honor, of course). Be sure to play Caribbean music in the background.

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Hindu Baby Names: Best Online Resources

Amber DeGrace — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Babies, Baby Names

Hindu baby names are often inspired by gods and goddesses. Credit: Sam Panthaky, AFP/Getty Images

Selecting a name for a child is one of the most important choices a Hindu parent will make, as Hindus believe baby names help ensure the child will be moral during life and will one day attain immortality.

Babies most often are named after deities, gods, goddesses or holy and revered individuals, or after sacred qualities.

If you are considering a Hindu baby name, either for religious reasons or because the names are simply beautiful, here are the best resources for Hindu baby names lists and ideas:

Indian Hindu Names: This comprehensive website for Hindu baby names includes many sections, including Names of Gods and Goddesses, Indian Baby Names A-Z and Baby Names by Month, Rashi. There also is a page that provides a star chart for parents desiring to name their baby according to the child's birth star. Some examples of names found in this Hindu baby names list are Chandra (moon), Madhuri (sweet) and Sahira (mountain) for girls, and Barindra (ocean), Harit (green) and Padmal (lotus) for boys.

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Irish Baby Girl Names Are Beautiful, Elegant

Amber DeGrace — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Babies, Baby Names

Irish baby girl names are as beautiful as the nation's countryside. Credit: Corbis

One does not need to be Irish to appreciate the written and spoken beauty of Irish baby names.

Irish baby girl names, in particular, evoke a certain magical image: of lovely women with flowing hair and luxurious velvet gowns peering out over misty lakes, or empowered warrior queens passionately defending family, home and land.

Irish baby names are a great choice for parents looking to give their child a unique name that is still elegant. According to the Social Security Administration's yearly-published list, many of the top baby girl names are Irish in origin. Here are a few Irish baby girl names with pronunciation and their meanings. Consider these options when naming your upcoming bundle of joy.

Siobhan (pronounced shuh-VAHN) is a feminine form of John and an Irish variant of Joan. It means "God is gracious" or "God is full of grace." Alternative spellings of this Irish baby name include Siobhann, Sioban and Shivon.

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