Product Link: Baby & Toddler Meals
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More than just a recipe book, “Baby & Toddler Meals for Dummies” includes a plethora of related advice. How to avoid food (and detect) allergies and intolerances, when to introduce certain foods, how to prepare and store foods, how to choose fresh produce, etc. It even has a chapter (chapter 4) that provides some excellent basics for formula and breast feeding moms for the baby’s first 4-6 months of life.

CONTENT:

The book is broken down into 7 parts, 17 chapters and 3 appendixes that take you from birth to five. The book contains typical “Dummies” fare- each part has an amusing cartoon that parents can relate to.. There are handy dandy icons that highlight important information or that call out special technical tips or tidbits (which can be skimmed over- but which I found fascinating). The book has various quizzes to test your knowledge and make the learning process truly engaging. And the front of the book has the always-present pull out cheat sheet. This book’s cheat sheet shows the “food pyramid” for kids, foods to avoid during baby’s first year, helpful foods for common ailments (colds, fevers, etc.), and a checklist of staple foods to keep on hand. Since the food pyramid apparently doesn’t apply to the birth-2 year old crowd, I would have preferred to have the common signs of allergies/intolerances on this cheat sheet. But other than that it’s quite useful, as the cheat sheets typically are. The book is also chock full of important tips and advice such as “don’t use food as a reward or punishment”, and “keep the sippy cups in the kitchen to avoid tooth decay”. The book ends with the “tens” which are quick check lists of helpful hints in two areas.

Read on for the chapter-by-chapter overview and summary:

CHAPTER BY CHAPTER:

Chapter 1 covers important topics such as “Why Intuition Isn’t Enough” “Why Homemade is Best”, “What Mealtime Teaches Your Child”, Basic rules of introducing new foods, Allergies and intolerances and how to handle them, and other good solid information. My only quibble with this chapter is that it talks about starting your baby on solids at 4-6 months. The American Association of Pediatricians recommends exclusive breast or formula feeding until the age of 6 months. However, I can’t really fault this book on this issue since most Pediatricians ignore this as well. Better the book cover “what to feed your baby” during this time than not.

Chapter 2 discusses serving sizes, covers the different foods that are vitamin and mineral rich, some precautions about raising children on a vegetarian/vegan diet, various eating habits by age, and has excellent sidebars on how to prepare and store avocados, mesuring calcium intake, The BRAT diet, and growth spurts. The section on vegetarian/vegan diets seems unnecessarilyslanted against such diets without providing much solid information on how to successfully manage such a diet. If you are interested in a vegetarian/vegan diet for your child invest in a book specifically targeting that topic- as I do agree with the authors that the information available on the internet can be quite sketchy and there isn’t a lot of room for error when it comes to your child’s nutrition. The sidebar on the BRAT diet neglects to mention that breast milk will still be an important part of your sick toddler’s diet if you’re still breastfeeding. Very little is more soothing to an upset tummy.

Chapter 3 covers the basics of cooking for your child- the equiptment, what to have in your pantry, how to pick fresh produce, how to store produce, cooking cooling, freezing and heating foods, and keeping the kitchen safe while you’re cooking.

The information on choosing equiptment earns some brownie points by its cautions against using Teflon or aluminum cooking pans for the food you are making for your baby. It also provides an excellent source of information on common questions such as “Do I need to buy a special food processor for my baby’s food?” and “Should I buy an electric steamer or a steamer basket?” And the advice offered is generally “go with the multi-purpose cheap and easy solution.. But if you don’t, here’s some guidelines.” I love the non-judgemental approach of the “Dummies” guides. The authors of this book go out of their way to encourage parents to make their own decisions and feel good about them. Even more valuable is the advice on what type of freezer containers to buy (ones that market themselves for use in the freezer!) and how to shop for a high chair that will meet your needs.

This is one of the first “cook books” that I’ve seen that tells you something that every new parent should know– don’t just toss the bottles and nipples into the sink with all the other dishes. Grease is almost impossible to clean off of them. Wash them separately.

Chapter 4 finally gets into the nitty gritty of actual feeding by diving headfirst into discussing the feeding of your child from birth to 4-6 months. Before you run screaming from this chapter with the fear that it contains the dreadful “breast vs. bottle” debate, this book covers the topic with a wonderful matter-of-factness and without the guilt trips. Breast is the best nutritionally… But formula does have benefits as well– and they’re quick to list the benefits and downsides of formula and tell parents that whatever decision they make they’re making a good decision. A wonderful way to discuss the often volatile subject.

It quickly gets past the debate without completely ignoring it, and jumps into practical information. “How much should baby eat?” “How often”, etc. It contains some pretty decent advice on breastfeeding (Do NOT use this book as your only breastfeeding guide- a dedicated book on this topic is invaluable for getting past common pitfalls, etc.) and a lot of decent advice on formula feeding as well. (How many ounces, how to prepare it.)

Since your baby can start picking things up and stuffing them in their mouths at about this age range- I’d take a quick peek at page 137 which illustrates what to do if your child is choking. (And I’d take it a step further and invest in an infant CPR class.)

Chapter 5 brings on the fun. Actual food. Spoons. Messes galore! And thirteen recipes to cut your chops on- from grain cereals to basic purees. Organized in the suggested order of introduction. The advice on “knowing when your baby is ready to start” is spot on. (Although I do wish that it went further to encourage parents to delay solids until at least 6 months of age… *sigh*)

The information covering food allergies and intolerances is very important and should not be skimmed over. I love the conservative recommendation of introducing one new food a week instead of the more relaxed “one food every three days” approach that is common. This is especially important in the early days of introducing new foods, since intolerances ignored early in life can develop into more severe and lasting allergies.

The recipes in this chapter are very simple but surprisingly tasty. The purees can be turned into adult soups with just a slight addition of spices, and the cereals are delicious as well. And your baby may very well get a kick out of eating the same foods as you do. (Just don’t be tempted to spice up their food just yet.)

Chapter 6 covers foods from 6-12 months. With 23 recipes ranging from purees to chunky cheesy foods- this chapter is perhaps the most diverse. Just a note- if you have delayed solids until your child is 6 months old, start on the 4-6 month foods instead of diving right into the 6-12 month foods. Your baby needs to adjust gradually!

Chapter 6 also introduces the topic of weaning- from breast or bottle and onto sippy cup. Die-hard breastfeeders that intend to follow child-led weaning or wean closer to the 2 year mark will love this book’s easy approach of “If you’re breastfeeding you may do so for longer, but you can expect breastfeeding to slow down, too.” and the recommendation of viewing weaning as a process and not a calendar date.

The recipes in this chapter have some odd combinations such as “blueberry steak puree” which might raise a few eyebrows. And a few recipes such as “creamy taters and chicken” and “cheesy veggies” which are just plain delicious.

Chapter 7 dives into the feeding of your toddler- a whole different ballgame. Scheduled meals, snacks, and 18 recipes that are delicious enough to introduce to the whole family. (The veggie fritters are drool worthy and very fast to make.) This chapter introduces some new foods- whole milk, honey and strawberries. Yum! And also moves pretty solidly out of the area of purees. (Although if your baby still only has a few teeth and much of the food is ending up in chunks in the diaper I’d hold onto purees for a slight while longer.)

Since your child may be weaned off of breast milk by this age, and will certainly be weaned from formula- the nutritional needs of your child suddenly take on a whole new importance. Making sure your child is eating enough (light meals and snacks), and getting enough fat and calcium can be tricky- especially if you have a picky eater on your hands. The recipes in this chapter are nutritious and delicious enough to con picky eaters into downing the veggies and milk.

You’ll notice that this section starts breaking foods down into breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks.

Despite the added complexity of recipes in this chapter, they are still very quick to prepare and use a small number of easily available ingredients. A welcome change from some cook books out there that have you hunting desperately at your grocery store for something best found at a top notch gourmet shop in a major metropolis.

Chapter 8 starts easing you into the terrible two’s with recipes for 18-24 month olds. 16 recipes introduced in this chapter add even more imagination and a new variety of foods that can’t be introduced until around the 2nd year. (Peanut butter, etc.) This chapter has a valuable sidebar on what to do if your child is choking (p. 137)- a sidebar that I would have placed at the very beginning of the book and even on a pull-out sheet, since this becomes a concern far earlier than the 18-24 month range.

This chapter covers some important information for the impending terrible two’s and the onset of true independent thinking (and rebelliousness) in your little munchkin. Tips on dealing with the kid that puts way too much into his/her mouth (shoveling syndrome), tips on how to make mealtime tantrum-free, and tips on encouraging healthy breakfast habits are all covered in this chapter (and are very much necessary and welcome). The zuchini pear pancakes, vegetable rounds and stuffed potatoes are delicious and will appeal to the whole family not just the little ones. The desserts are a lot of fun as well- although gummy worms should be used in moderation. (If you must use this recipe, see if you can get gummy vitamins in the worm shapes- as they’ll at least be adding to the nutritional value! Or use sugar-free worms to cut down on the tooth-attacking sugars)

Chapter 9 dives full force into mealtime with the terrible two’s- as is quickly evidenced by the topic headings that start the chapter off. “Saving your sanity at mealtime”, “Smiling your way through breakfast”, “focusing your efforts on lunchtime” and “Winding down the day with dinner”. Nineteen recipes in this chapter show new creative ways to convince your picky eater to eat nutritious meals.. And the add-on advice is, as always, invaluable. Topics such as the visual appeal of food (this chapter also has a wonderful color section which illustrates what the authors mean by “visual appeal”), portion size, and weight issues are covered.

Chapter 10 moves beyond toddlerhood to the three-to-five year old and the recipes mellow out and take on a slightly more “adult” feeling. This chapter covers issues such as healthy mealtime routines and food variety.

Chapter 11 introduces you to cooking with your toddler- an essential part of instilling a life-long love for healthy food and home cooking. Not to mention a wonderful way to start building memories that will last your child the rest of his/her life.

The 23 recipes in this chapter are easy and fast to make and can be done either entirely with your child, or has child-friendly elements to it that can make your little helper feel very valuable. This chapter also covers ways that your little one can hang out in the kitchen and learn even before they are old enough to truly pitch in.

The authors get you started by child-proofing the kitchen and then by going over the “game plan” to help things move smoothly and ensure that the experience is positive.

Cooking with your older child can be an excellent way to bond with an older sibling once a new baby arrives.

Chapter 12 covers family mealtimes with 22 recipes that should satiate a diverse range of likes and dislikes and age ranges and that allow the whole family to eat together without requiring multiple meals. Breakfasts, lunches, dinners and desserts are all covered. While these meals don’t include the smallest members of your family (children still on purees) they do a great job for the rest of the family.

Chapter 13 is a wonderful guide to dealing with food allergies and intolerances and provides gluten free, egg-free, milk-free recipes and lots of helpful information on dealing with allergies and intolerances. It also discusses reflux briefly.

Chapter 14 discusses an entirely different hurdle- the picky eater. The 20 recipes in this chapter focus on how to convince your picky eater to eat the fruits and vegetables that s/he needs to be healthy. The chapter also contains some wonderful information on why kids go through a picky stage, determining if your child is really too picky or if they’re eating more of a variety than you think, and tips for overcoming picky eating behavior without resorting to force-feeding or discipline (which almost always backfire and create life-long unhealthy eating habits.)

Chapter 15 covers healthy eating away from home and how to avoid the fast-food trap. Or- if you must settle for fast food it offers tips on what foods to avoid. Along with some surprising tips such as “avoid the chicken nuggets”- the deep frying cancels out the fact that the chicken meat is lean. Information on healthy travel snacks and how to transport food is great. The foods in this chapter can really relieve some of the normal travel associated grumpiness in kids.

Chapter 16-17 are the “tens”- a Dummies feature that has quick helpful lists of ten. “Ten time-savers and tips for busy parents” and “Ten tips to get your child to try new foods” The time savers are my favorite section of this book, as I tend to get lost in kitchen-time.

The Appendixes include a metric conversion guide, food logs, and sample menus for children of various age groups. The sample menus are especially helpful for a parent that wonders “Exactly how do all these meals fit together?”

CONCLUSION:

While this book isn’t perfect, it certainly gets you up and running with providing your baby with a healthy diet of home-made foods that are easy to prepare and that are largely made of easy to find ingredients. As with most books in this series- the “Dummies” label belies the excellent quality and breadth of the information provided in this book. I would definitely recommend it to any mom that fears her habit of “burning water”, and would even recommend it to moms that are already well in the habit of cooking- the recipes in this book are some of the easiest to follow and the quickest to make.