When can I introduce Flax and Flax Seed to my baby? Is Flax Good for Babies? What exactly is Flax and Flax Seeds and how will Flax benefit my baby?

Flax and Flax Seed is something that most of us have heard of either in passing or mentioned in an article somewhere. We know Flax is "good for us" and contains Omega 3's. Many people however have no idea where to buy flax, how to serve it and most importantly, when it may be introduce to baby and toddler. Our topic for October 2006 will introduce you to Flax. We'll show you how and when you may introduce Flax and Flax Seed to your baby!

As always, we recommend that you consult your pediatrician whenever you introduce your baby to a new food; generalities may not apply to your baby!

What is Flax?

Flax has been cultivated for centuries, it's cultivation can be traced back to the Stone Age even. The American Colonists grew flax to use it's fiber for making (linen) cloth and cultivated Flax for commercial production as far back as the 1700's!

Flax is a flowering perennial. It's flowers are plentiful and are amazing to see! Flax blooms from May through September. Flax is mostly grown in Canada and in the Northern Mid-West areas of the United States. Flax has amazing health properties and is a good source of healthy oils, fiber, and other essential nutrients for baby's (and adult's) health, growth and development. The three essential components of Flax that are wonderful for our bodies are:

• Omega-3 oils - You may recognize them as "alpha-linolenic acid" or ALA


• Lignans


• Fiber, both soluble and insoluble When Can My Baby Begin To Eat Flax?

How Much Flax Should I Offer my Baby?

We would recommend offering your younger baby no more than 1 tablespoon of Flax per day. Note that 3 teaspoons are equivalent to 1 tablespoon so you may add up to 3 teaspoons in several "meals" during a day. While one cannot really "overdose" on Flax, it is important to keep the dosage relatively low as Flax is a natural laxative. It is possible that very loose stools and/or diarrhea will occur with eating too much Flax. Many parents who give their babies Flax increase the amount once baby has turned 1 or 2 years old.

As with any new food, it is important that you watch out for any possible reactions. While Flax is not considered a high allergen, you still want to watch for any digestive upsets!

How Can I Add Flax to my Baby's Meals?

Many people add whole Flax Seeds directly to their baked goods and cereals. It has been found that the seeds may not prove to be as healthful as using the Flax Oil, Ground Flax or Flax Meal. The whole seeds may not break down enough in the digestive system to completely release all the wholesome and healthy goodness of the Flax.

Flax Oil, Ground Flax or Flax Meal may be added to your Baby's food in a variety of ways! (ensure your choice of foods is age appropriate for your baby!!)

• Add Flax Oil, Flax Meal or ground Flax Seeds to your baby's infant cereals


• Sprinkle Flax Meal or ground Flax Seeds in your baby's yogurt, mixed in or over baby's fruit purées, add it to veggie purees and meat/rice/veggie meals too!


• Flax Meal or Ground Flax is great in J&J's Baby Meatballs, meatloaf, fish cakes and homemade chicken nuggets too!


• Baked goods with added Flax Meal give your teething biscuits and rusks an extra nutritional boost too! Try Flax Meal or Ground Flax in Baby Cereal Pancakes too!


• Flax oil may be added to porridge, yogurt and anything else you may wish to add it to!

You cannot cook with Flax Oil as you do with Olive Oil! Flax oil will burn and go rancid when heated.

How do I store Flax?

Flax must be stored properly as it is very delicate. Whether you are using Flax Oil or Ground Flax, store your Flax in the refrigerator! Flax can go rancid very quickly and then it will be unhealthy to eat! Whole Flax Seeds are not as delicate and may be kept for up to 2 years in a dry cool sealed container.

How Will Flax Benefit My Baby's Health and My Family's Health?

One tablespoon of ground Flax Seed has about 40 calories, 2.3 grams of fiber and 2.8 grams of fat, 1.5 grams of which are omega-3s. Flax Seeds also contain Iron, some Calcium, Vitamins B-1, B-2, Vitamin C and E and some Vitamin E and carotene too! WOW! That's a lot of healthy nutrients packed into seeds!

Flax Oil is not as nutritious en masse as Ground Flax Seeds or Flax Meal. Your baby will still obtain all the Essential Omega 3 when using the Flax Oil however the protein and other nutrients decline when Flax Seeds are pressed into Flax Oil. It is worth grinding your own Flax Seeds or purchasing Ground Flax Seeds so that you can obtain all the healthy goodness of Flax!

Due to it's high soluble fiber content, Flax Seed or Flax Oil is a great natural laxative! Use Flax Seed Oil to help your baby with Constipation and to help keep the whole family "on schedule"!

Flax Resources & Learning More

• Flax Council of Canada - [http://www.flaxcouncil.ca/english/index.php?p=home]


• Seattle Times - What is Flax? - http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/living/2003192279_flax13.html


• Whole Foods - Flax Seed Information - http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=81
  

Margaret Meade is the Editor of http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com and is the mother of 3 boys. The boys were raised on all Homemade Baby Food; and since Mommy had been studying nutrition for many years, she knew homemade was best! Visit wholesomebabyfood.com and find out how easy it is to make your own baby food. Once you begin, good healthy eating habits will automatically flow!

Brand: JoJo Designs

• LeapFrog Learn & Groove Musical Table

If you're trying to conceive a baby boy, you should know that there are several things that you can do at home to help you accomplish this goal. These things are not that difficult, but they do require planning, patience, a bit of diligence, and the correct tools. Luckily, many of them are things that you will already be doing any way in an attempt to conceive. You'll just be tweaking them a little bit to tip the odds in your favor of having the boy that you want. So, let's get to it.

Timing Your Conception To Occur At The End Of Your Fertility Cycle To Conceive A Boy: Most people know that timing your conception will influence your baby's gender, but not every one understands why. The sperm that produces a male baby and a girl baby are very different from one another. The girl sperm are the slow, poky, but unwavering and hardy warriors, while the boy sperm are very quick, but are also just as quick to burn out and die off, making them much more vulnerable.

So, if you want a boy, timing becomes extremely important. Because, if you are too early, the boy sperm are vulnerable to weakness or dying off if they have to wait for the egg. In the best case scenario, the boy sperm are fresh and ready to go when the egg is released. This is most likely to occur on the day of or the day following ovulation.

Many people are content to guess at this, but don't. Because this step is just too important to ignore. I recommend using saliva ovulation predictors, but urine works too. Find a method that gives you a warning of when ovulation is approaching so that you can be prepared to pounce when the time is right.

Ways To Have Intercourse To Get A Boy Baby: So, we've discussed when to send the boy sperm to the egg, now we'll discuss how to do this and why it's important. Again, remembering that the boy sperm are extremely vulnerable, you want to make their exposure between release and the egg as short and as quick as possible. The best way to do this is to use sexual positions that allow for deep penetration. (Remember to do this on the day of ovulation, or at most on the day after. Even a day early or a day later can make all the difference.)

How (and Why) To Alkalize Your Body (Lowering Your PH And Acidity) To Get A Boy Baby: I've covered when and how to get the boy sperm to the promised land of conception. Now, I'll cover the last, but equally important, step. This is creating an environment that is not going to kill of these guys before they even have a chance. Because the sperm that will give you a son can not thrive for very long if your vaginal PH is too high. Most women will need to lower it, however one way to be sure is to use PH testing strips. This will tell you how alkaline you naturally are and how much you'll need to tweak this before you are ready to conceive a boy.

How do you tweak? There are a few ways. You can go on a low PH or alkalizing diet and / or you can douche with solutions that lower acidity. A friend of mine who has interstitial cystitis (bladder sensitivity) told me that the boy diet was actually pretty close to the low acid diet she is on because the acidic foods irritate her bladder.

The douching part is typically not as bad as you might think either. The solutions are more than baking soda and water, but usually you don't have to do this for too long (especially if you use the diet concurrently) until you are at the optimum level.

Putting It All Together: Hopefully, you can see that none of these steps are too difficult. The key is to methodically address each of them, because doing so will give you the best chance (as high as roughly 94% if you play your cards right) of success. It's really just a matter of having a plan, having the tools, and having the discipline to follow through.

Conceive A Boy is a website I set up to make the process of having a son a bit easier. I've included step by step instructions and resources for the douching recipes, food lists, and PH testing strips mentioned in this article as well as hints, tips, and support. Check it out if you like at http://conceive-a-boy-baby.com/

Best Customer Review

Brand: Grobag

• Grobag Lollipop Baby Sleeping Bag 2.5 Tog
• Grobag Tutti Frutti Baby Sleeping Bag 2.5 Tog
• SpaSilk 100% Cotton Long Sleeve Lap Shoulder 3-Pack Bodysuit
• Kinderville Little Bites Storage Jars Set of Four
• Grobag Jelly Bean Baby Sleeping Bag 1.0 Tog, 0-6 Months

In most cases, your infant's fever should be left alone. Fever serves a very useful purpose and is the body's ally in fighting infection. There are a few natural remedies, however, that are safe for babies that will help your little one feel more comfortable.

It's a good idea to see a Naturopath, Homeopath or other licensed health care provider who specializes in natural remedies before using them on your baby. He or she can point you in the right direction when choosing herbs and homeopathic remedies as well as help you with dosing.

Lemon balm leaf, chamomile, peppermint, licorice and elder flower have been traditionally used to treat infant fevers. A baby older than 2 can be given one half cup of herbal tea, up to 4 times a day, for 24 hours. For babies younger than two who are breastfeeding, it is best if Mom takes the herbs herself in order to pass along the medicinal properties to her nursing infant. Or you can purchase over the counter herbal formulations with dosages designed for infants at your local health shop.

Echinacea and goldenseal have been proven in some studies to clear up infection. Try a combination specially designed for children.

Garlic also has antibacterial properties. If your baby is older than 9 months, you can make a batch of chicken broth with garlic, and serve it to your baby.

Ginger tea can help with a fever. It's also great for stomachaches. Ginger has warming properties and is wonderful for babies who are chilled. Make a weak tea with grated fresh ginger. If your infant is over one year of age, add a drop of honey to sweeten.

Homeopathic remedies are effective for infant fevers, but the specific remedy must match the individual child's symptoms. Check a homeopathic reference book to find the right one, or call a Doctor of Homeopathy.

Be sure to keep baby well hydrated with clear liquids. If baby is nursing, offer the breast frequently so that baby will get plenty of fluids and the natural immune factors in breastmilk.

Keep in mind that if your infant is younger than 6 months old, it's a good idea to call your Doctor about a fever. Additionally, if baby is listless, lethargic, acting unusual, having difficulty breathing or complaining of a stiff neck, phone your Doctor immediately.

Natural Baby can help you raise a healthy baby in a toxic world. Visit and find natural baby care tips, products and other resources for your little one.

Brand: Baby's Own

Gender Selection by using the Chinese Birth Chart (Chinese Gender Chart) is easy, natural and costless. The chart can predict the sex of an unborn baby accurately ONLY when using it correctly.

The original Chinese Birth Chart is believed to have been buried in a tomb near Beijing for almost 700 years and the original is now in the Beijing Institute of Science. Based on the chart, by knowing the month when a baby was conceived, with the age of the mother at conception, the sex of the baby can be determined. For example, if you were 35 years old, at the time of conception and your baby was conceived on the 8th month, the chart predicts you'll have a boy. And if you were 40 years old at the time of conception and your baby was conceived on the 5th month, then the chart predicts you'll have a girl. Simple!?

The accuracy of the Chinese Birth Chart, however is questionable, as many people found the chart generates a wrong outcome. Some people even claim that using the Chinese Birth Chart method to select the gender of a baby is just equal to flipping a coin. The fact is that thousands and thousands of people are still searching the web everyday, and wishing to find out how to use the chart correctly. Then what's the main factor causes wrong predictions? The chart must be used with Chinese Calendar.

Both the mother's age and the month at conception must based on the Chinese (Lunar) calendar. In other words, you need to know how to convert the Western (Gregorian) calendar into the Chinese calendar if you want to get an accurate prediction.

Two more important tips regarding the calculation of lunar age.

1. When a baby is born, he/she is already one year old.

2. All people gain 1 year of age at the Chinese new year.

So, for example, if John was born on January 23, 2006, then he was 2 years of lunar age on February 23, 2006 (because Chinese new year was on January 29, 2006). You can find more information about the lunar age calculation here. Good luck!

Master Yae Lok is the founder of the website 'Chinese Birth Gender Chart' at http://www.chinesegenderchart.info Please visit his website and learn all the tips about using the Chinese Birth Chart for gender selection, plus articles about Chinese customs at pregnancy and childbirth.

Best Customer Review

Brand: ACORN

• ACORN Infant/Toddler Spa Terry Bootie

Being a mother how much do you love your baby?

Do you really take care for your sweetheart baby?

Now you might be thinking that the author of this article is so stupid to ask such questions from a mother! Of course, every mother loves her baby more than anything else...

But let me explain one thing to you, sweet mama.

There are very few mothers, who really make efforts to maintain proper hygiene for their baby. Just thinking to make your baby healthy for a lifetime is not enough. What you need is the proper way to prepare hygienic recipes for your baby according to his/her age requirements.

So, to help you all sweet and caring mothers, here are a few recipes especially for your o-so-lovable babies:

1. Peach Cobbler - For 6 Months And Over

INGREDIENTS:

3 canned peaches (into 6 halves) or 3 ripe peaches

1 egg yolk (for babies who are 6-10 months old, omit egg yolk and thicken with an infant cereal)

1 teaspoon sugar

METHOD:

Peel the peaches into small pieces and dice them. Mash the mixture to your desired consistency. Now beat in the egg yolk and sugar until it gets smooth (for 6-10 months old infants, omit egg yolk and add infant cereal by 1 tablespoon until you get the thickness you desire).

Finally, bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes or until it sets. Cool before serving and Enjoy!

2. Tomato Pasta - For 10 Months And Over

INGREDIENTS:

1 tablespoon margarine

1/4 cup cheddar or mild cheese, finely grated

1 large tomato, skinned, seeded and chopped

1 teaspoon baby rice

1 tablespoon cottage cheese

1/2 cup small pasta shapes

METHOD:

Cook the pasta according to the instructions on the pack. Melt the margarine in a saucepan, add tomato to it and then cook over a low heat for not more than two minutes. Remove the pan from heat. Add the cheeses until they melt into a sauce.

Finally, stir in the baby rice. Pour the sauce over the cooked pasta and serve. And Tomato Pasta for your baby is ready to serve.

So, how was the experience, lady! I am quite sure you will thank me for this. You can also check out for some more tempting ones on my website.

Navneet Brar provides you with a rich collection of Hygienic Baby Food Recipes. These recipes are for all you sweet and caring mamas to make your baby’s eyes twinkling. Check these out!

Brand: Enfamil

Your days have become so much brighter ever since your baby comes. His cries are surrounding the house, but they give a feeling of happiness. Everyone in the family is in the joy.

If you are a first-time parent, you must be thinking so much about how your baby will develop. How fast will he grow? How much does he eat/drink your mill? Or how long does he sleep in these early days of his life?

Those questions will be answered below. But before you read the part of physical development, it's best if you take some time to read about his brain development. You will be surprised that a baby's brain can grow incredibly fast and that it holds a very important role in a baby's life.

Enjoy the reading!

* Brain Development

You probably have thought that a baby's brain develops right after he is born. You're incorrect. Surprisingly, a baby's brain starts growing immediately after a conception. By the time a baby is born, his brain has already undergone a major amount of development, though it is still in a developmental progress.

o Brain volume
Talking about the volume, a newborn baby's brain is about one-forth the size and weight of an adult brain. Consisting of about 100 billion nerve cells or neurons at the time of birth, the number is what a baby will have all his life.

o Brain parts

At the time of birth, the lower portions of the brain (the spinal cord and the brain stem) are already developed. The roles of these areas are:

- controlling basic life functions, such as breathing, blood pressure, heart rate, and REM (rapid eye movement) sleep.

- controlling all inborn reflexes (crying, startling, and suckling).

- responsible for baby's emotions, especially anxiety or calming down.

Meanwhile, the higher portions of the brain (cerebral cortex and the limbic system) are rather immature at the time of birth. They still need to go a long way of developmental process. All of the neurons in these regions are weakly connected.

Most of these connections are created after birth. Cerebral cortex is the highest and most recently evolved part of the brain, responsible for all of our conscious thoughts, feelings, memories, and voluntary actions. As the connections between cerebral cortex are formed, a baby receives many mental milestones, such as color vision, a pincer grasp, or a strong attachment to his parents.

Enhancing the development of these connections is important. It, without doubt, depends on the amount of interaction between you and your baby. Communicating with him is the most important way you can help your baby. You need to talk and sing to him, play with him, kiss him and hug him. You must create an environment that is rich in stimulation, comfort, and loving attention. Why so? Because it will significantly enhance the development of your baby's growth and intelligence.

Newborn babies might have some ability to remember because of the hippocampus. This important structure lies deep within the brain, below the cerebral cortex, that aids your baby's development - it helps control memory.

Then, the occipital lobe, which is located near the back of the head, controls vision and visual recognition. This part is fully developed at the age of 8 months.

Last but not least, located near the crown of the head, the parietal lobe of the brain controls taste, touch, the ability to recognize objects, hand-eye coordination, and some visual recognition. This area of the brain is fairly developed in a newborn. Environmental stimulation is significant for its further development.

* Physical Development

The growth of a baby is highest during his first year, particularly in the initial months. A baby usually doubles his birth weight within the first 4 months and triples the birth weight by 1 year of age. The process of learning also begins soon after birth and the baby achieves numerous physical milestones in the first month.

o Growth and appearance

By the middle of the first month, your baby will gain about one and a half to two pounds (about 14-28gm (½ - 1oz) per day) and grow about 2.5 - 3.7cm (1 - 1½ inch). Your healthcare provider takes these measurements at her well child visits and plots the numbers on percentile curves. These charts help determine if she is growing at normal and expected rate.

Your baby's head will probably grow an average of 1.25-1.5 cm in diameter during the first month. The increase in size of the head allows room for her brain, which is growing and developing. Her legs will start to straighten from inward-curved position present at her birth time. Her fingers also begin to relax their tight-fisted newborn grasp.

o Baby's eyes can track objects now

During the first days of life, babies can focus only on objects 8 to 15 inches away. By the end of the first month, most babies can focus on objects about three feet far from them.

o Baby's hearing sense in first month

Your baby will begin to recognize your voice and will respond by turning her head towards the sound, by producing throaty sounds and by movement of arms and legs.

o Can recognize certain smells

Your baby will be able to recognize certain smells in her first month, e.g., the smell of your breast milk.

o Can soothe her

Your baby will learn to soothe him by sucking his thumb. In fact, he learnt to suck even before birth. Prenatal ultrasounds often catch the view of babies sucking their thumb or fingers.

o Feeding

The stomach of a newborn has a room for less than ¼ cup. Since babies can eat very little at one time, they will want to be fed every 2 to 3 hours in the day and may sleep 3-4 hours between nighttime feedings. The feeding and sleep pattern of newborns is irregular and it may take about three months for them to follow a regular schedule. Most babies may spit up soon after feeding, as their cardiac sphincter valve at the top of the stomach is not fully developed yet.

o Sleep

Your baby will generally sleep more than 15 hours and will usually take short naps. He will probably wake up three or more times during the night until he settles into a pattern. You will find him spontaneously and unselectively smiling during the sleep.

Adwina Jackson is a working mother of a gorgeous young boy. Join her guides about Newborn Guide at http://insparenting.com/guides/newborn-guide/ Visit her daily blog now where you can get helpful parenting stories and tips on: http://www.insparenting.com

Brand: Dr. Seuss

• Vulli Sophie the Giraffe Teether

Acne is a condition only affecting teenagers, true? False. Acne is a condition which can affect people of any age, hence baby acne and adult acne are common. However acne is more common in teens. Acne is the number one skin problem in the world and affects huge numbers of people worldwide. And baby acne, although not common, can be a cause of some angst amongst parents.

What is baby acne? Acne is not totally understood, including baby acne. The cause of acne is not agreed on amongst the scientists. However the general consensus is that acne, including baby acne, is a condition caused by changes in the body's hormones.

And when are the body's hormones changing? Well certainly in the teenage years. But also at some other times in life. Like birth. When a baby has been separated from it's mothers body by birth and it is living on it's own for the very first time. And when it is also getting some supplies of hormones from it's mothers milk at the same time.

Baby acne can occur in very young babies of 2 or 3 weeks, more commonly boys, up until around 6 months or so. It appears on various parts of the baby's body such as the forehead, cheeks and chin, or more rarely the bottom or back, and appears as small white spots on the skin. Or it could look like a red rash with raised bumps.

The good news is that baby acne is not serious and very rarely requires any treatment, so refrain from rushing out looking to buy baby acne remedies. In fact you should refrain from any baby acne remedies until you have seen your doctor and usually your doctor will not prescribe any medication at all.

Baby acne usually goes away by itself. It is sufficient in most cases to do some gentle facial cleansing once or at most twice a day using a mild baby cleanser and clean water. Do not scrub baby's face, this will not help and may be counterproductive. Don't apply lotions or potions or oils. Don't look for fancy baby acne remedies, don't try applying vinegar solution for baby acne as some do.

It will all go away in time. When attending one of your regular baby check ups ask them about it. Chances they will tell you it's just baby acne, don't worry about it.

Find out more about Acne as well as Acne Cures and adult acne, acne skin care product, the best acne treatments and more at Peter’s website, Acne All Gone.