The "Ce-Real Life"

Like any mother I take an interest in what my children are eating. I talk with other mothers about what they feed their children, and discuss alternatives to the larger brand foods that aren't always so good for your child as they say they are. Well I recently started comparing cereals. Which ones are as "organic" as they claim, which cereals seem to work better with their little systems? I even wondered a little closers after viewing a few documentaries about GENETICALLY MOTIFIED FOODS. You would be suprised to know how many foods are motified or contain motified ingredients, so pleasantly to my eyes I wonder down the isle and find Earth's Best. Intrigued I read the label (something i suggest everyone do for your entire family).  On the front of the box it reads Organic at least twice, then it goes on to say NO GEI( What is Genetically Motified Genetically modified (GM), or genetically engineered (GE), foods are made from plants that have had traits in their DNA changed. Scientists take genes — the pieces of DNA that differentiate living things — from one plant or animal and insert them into another organism. These plants are also known as genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The purpose of genetically modifying plants is to make them better in some way. So a corn plant, for example, might have a gene added that makes it more nutritious, more resistant to herbicides, insects, or diseases, or more tolerant of ). so I'm in awe now. For the first time I see a cereal that actually says on the box there are no genetically engineered ingredients! The box carries the USDA stamp for organic and it's says it's also grow WITHOUT potentially harmful pesticides or herbicides.

So of course by now you know I'm thrilled. I mean this is great, but I have to read closer I mean this is just the front of the box. I turn the box over and they say Introduce your baby to the whole line of  Earth's Best products including organic infant formula, organic jarred baby food, 70% organic gentle baby body care and new chlorine free diapers and baby wipes. So I'm like wow this is great I have to contact this company and show my approval, which I will very soon. However, now I have to compare to the cereal I've already been giving them.  Beech Nut, now right away I see a difference but that's just the packaging. On the front of the box it doesn't say organic however, it does say made with NATURAL ingrediencts, 45% daily value of iron, 25%daily value of Zinc & 7 B-vitamins. It's soy free and gentle on the tummy. Now the ingredients are about the same so there is nothing to make me say hey this one is better than the other one, OTHER THAN the package. I mean first impressions is everything but you can't judge a book or cereal by the cover! So I have to investigate closer. Both cereal claim to not use artificial colors or flavors or preservatives and both say soy free. So now I must look at the NUTRITION FACTS. I want to know the daily value really of vitamins. So while Earth's Best says we are organic and we don't use GEI, Beech Nut scores big with the vitamins (Vitamin D 20% Vitamin E 25% Vitamin B1 B2 B6 B12 Folic Acid and 25% Zinc)

Now I'm not saying either cereal is better than the other one, they both seem to have quite a bit of concern and thought into how they manufature and package their product. I'm impressed. Only time will tell which one seems to be the better cereal. With a little more research I will get back to you all.

Love and life
Empress

(available on the Earth's Best box~The Hain Celestial Group's policy on Genetically Engineered Ingrediencts 1-800-434-4246)

More info on other GEI products to avoid~http://todayyesterdayandtomorrow.wordpress.com/2007/05/28/baby-food-2/ 
http://hubpages.com/hub/GMOs-in-infant-formula
http://www.momsview.com/discus/messages/23/11251.html  
The easiest way to ensure that the baby food is guaranteed GM-free is to buy organic. Organic food is:



• Free from GM ingredients


• Produced without artificial pesticides and fertilisers


• From animals allowed to roam freely and reared without the routine use of antibiotics, growth promoters or other drugs


Organic regulations also forbid the use of artificial colourings and flavourings and most of the artificial ingredients used in non-organic foods.

Scooting and Cooing!!!

This is the stage in every mother's life when she awww's and oooo's over her baby's great accomplishments. Holding up their head, scooting across the floor, looking around and recognizing your voice you are so excited that you take pictures of every moment right!!! Well what if you have twins? One baby is scooting, and looking around getting on their knees and taking notice of the world around them and well one baby says NOPE I'm not ready yet!

bayareasupernanny.com

Well if nothing else twins will let you know that they are definitely individuals. They do everything in their own time. While one baby loves the floor scooting and trying to learn to crawl the other one loves the water. Splashing every way you can think of. Does this mean one baby isn't developmentally on schedule of course not. As a matter of fact, I advise any mother that bought all those books to throw them away! Because your baby is going to be on their own time schedule, even if you have twins. Just think even though they were in the womb together doesn't mean they are the same person. They are going to do everything when they are ready. They weren't even technically born together. Rather a minute or two apart the only thing most twins have in common is the day they were born! SO don't be alarmed and go to the local neurologist because one baby just lays around on their back all day while the other baby is moving around and looking for something to get into, regardless to the books and specialists, at the end of the day, babies are going to move to the beat of their own drums or beat machine EVEN TWINS!!!

two fresh beats

FDA says throw out infant positioner

Today, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a statement telling parents not to use this popular product because babies can suffocate.







The governmental agencies have received 12 reports of deaths involving babies who have suffocated in a sleep positioner or became trapped and suffocated between a sleep positioner and the side of a crib or bassinet. The babies were between 1 month and 4 months old. Most suffocated after rolling from a side to a stomach position.






“The deaths and dangerous situations resulting from the use of infant sleep positioners are a serious concern…” says CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum. “We urge parents and caregivers to take our warning seriously and stop using these sleep positioners, so that children can have a safer sleep.”

“To date, there is no scientifically sound evidence that infant sleep positioners prevent SIDS,” says Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, FDA Principal Deputy Commissioner and a pediatrician. “We want to make sure parents, health care professionals, and childcare providers understand the potential risk of suffocation and stop using infant sleep positioners.”







Many parents use these products to help their kids fall asleep. They create a snuggly environment, which babies like because it reminds them of being held or even of what it was like in the womb. Also, some product manufacturers claim the positioners prevent flat head syndrome (plagiocephaly) and aid in food digestion to ease colic or the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).






CPSC and the FDA are telling parents and child care providers to:






STOP using sleep positioners. Using a positioner to hold an infant on his or her back or side for sleep is dangerous and unnecessary.


NEVER put pillows, infant sleep positioners, comforters, or quilts under a baby or in a crib.


ALWAYS place an infant on his or her back at night and during nap time. To reduce the risk of SIDS, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends placing infants to sleep on their backs and not their sides.

information provided by The Baby Center