Monday, October 14, 2013

Is Spanking Helpful?

Spotlight On: YouTube's Philosophical Parent


Check out this short, eight minute video response addressing spanking.


Saturday, October 12, 2013

Breaking News

Researcher Finds a Clue to the Mystery of SIDS


A physician and researcher at Seattle Children’s Hospital made another breakthrough in his research into Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), a mysterious disease that leaves grieving parents looking for answers that science has yet to provide.

Source
The latest finding supports his earlier work, which indicates that SIDS babies don’t necessarily have a problem with their brain. Instead, Dr. Daniel Rubens’ research has indicated that problems with hearing and the inner ear may be linked to SIDS.

His newest study, published in a journal called Neuroscience, shows that inner ear dysfunction in mice results in an inability to wake up and move away from a suffocating environment.

The theory is that babies can move into positions that restrict their breathing while asleep, and those with hearing impairment in at
least one ear don’t have the automatic survival mechanism to rouse and reposition themselves.

Source: Read more.

Friday, October 11, 2013

Adventures in Baby Food Making

Strange Tofu Combination


...that my girls' can't seem to get enough of is tofu with bananas and blueberries. It smells as terrible as it sounds but my girls inhale it like it's ice cream. Wut?!

Source
Here's how you make it:
  • Tofu, firm
  • 2 bananas
  • 1 small carton of blueberries
  • (optional) breast milk

Slice the tofu and lay flat on paper towels to absorb excess water. The boxes of tofu I buy yields approximately six slices. You can place paper towels on top of the slices as well to sop up maximum amounts of water. I recommend making the extra effort.

That's a tough as it gets.

Afterward, combine all ingredients with a food processor until fully incorporated. The bananas can be stubborn and might need a little help making their way to the blades.

Add breast milk if you would like the consistency to be a little more liquid.

The end result is going to be a gorgeous purple color. Fun!

Side note: I have one baby who is a vacuum cleaner. She eats everything. My other little one? She's the pickiest little thing I've ever met but this combination is probably her all time favorite meal right now.

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

October Baby Food Calendar

Month 3


This is our third month of baby food. They just turned eight months old but were one month premature, so I'm just now venturing into some finger foods and mixed purees. If you missed our first and second months of baby food, check them out here and here and see how the food prep magic happens here.

Here's what we'll be introducing this month:


October 2013

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
    1


Pumpkin
2


 
3


 
4
Tofu with bananas and blueberry
5


 
6


 
7
Butternut squash and pears
8


 
9


 
10

Pumpkin with bananas
11


 
12


 
13

Peas (whole - finger food)
14


 
15


 
16

Bananas (whole - finger food)
17


 
18


 
19


Acorn squash
20


 
21


 
22


Plums
23


 
24


 
25


Broccoli
26


 
27


 
28

Cantaloupe
29


 
30


 
31


Cherries

Monday, October 7, 2013

Publicly Punishing Children

Parenting: You're Doing it Wrong


I'm sick and tired of stories like these. It is humiliating and degrading to subject your children to abuse like this. What happened to speaking to your child like a human being and treating them with respect? Children emulate the actions they see. Could it be that your child simply needs a good example?

To me, this is no different than yelling at your child to stop yelling at their sibling. Great example, parents... bullying your child by subjecting them to being honked at on a street corner because they were a bully. Yes, I'm sure your example of solving the problem by bullying will show them that doesn't solve problems. Wait...