Tala tries the Baby Zilli range

Now Tala is finding his taste buds and starting to enjoy new textures and flavours we are eager to help him develop his new found love for food.

We are exploring new food ranges and the latest is the Baby Zilli range.  Celebrity chef Aldo Zilli launched the range in 2010 and it is now sold in many leading supermarkets.

We were sent the Pasta Pomodoro (Stage 3 from 9 months) and the Fruit and Veg puree (stage 2 from 6 months) along with 2 ready to use drinks - Apple and Orange, Mango & Apple (from 12 months)

Tala loved the Fruit and Veg puree and I was confident that the texture was a great blend for a stage 2 ready baby.  It contained no lumps and was a lovely smooth puree that smelt actually quite nice whilst I was feeding it to an eager Tala.  It was gone in no time!

I was less sure he would be able to handle the Pasta Pomodoro as he is only now just starting to get to grips with lumpier foods and this pouch is for babies of 9 months onwards.

Pasta Pomodoro

As you can see from the above photo the Pasta Pomodoro is definitely textured but I have to say after the initial spoonful or two Tala was happy to eat it.  I was really happy as he is not keen to try anything that resembles anything we would eat and this gave me confidence to try the stage 3 and onwards foods again.

I even tried the Pasta and it really was like a meal I would make (but probably not as good!) for the rest of the family.  Just like the Fruit & veg puree Tala soon finished his bowl and the portion size was, in my opinion, generous compared to other brands baby food pouches.

Tala gets stuck into his Baby Zilli....

......literally!

The drinks were ready to use and were both pourable, for use in a trainer cup, or through the straw provided.  Although I prefer to simply give cooled boiled water these would be great to have in the car or baby changing bag for use on the go.

Sadly the Baby Zilli range is not sold in our local Tesco (we seem to have a limited baby food range in our store - come on Tesco Buyer!!) but it is sold on-line through Waitrose as well as Tesco so I shall be adding it to my shopping basket when I next shop on-line.

Good textures, ingredients and totally organic.  I will be buying again although it would be nice to see a larger vegetarian range as I really struggle to find this within any baby food brands.

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READ MORE - Tala tries the Baby Zilli range

Tala finally loves food - yah!

For anyone that read my posts about weaning and the fact that Tala seemed to just 'not get' what food was all about, you will understand that being able to say Tala finally loves food is a proud statement.

He has never really been overly interested in milk or food since birth and the Midwives kept him on their rounds for a few extra days because he lost more than the usual amount of weight after he was born and never really cried for food.

Recently we have been able to be a little adventurous in our food choices and have been trying some of the baby food brands and ranges on offer at the moment.  One of these is the Boots Organic range.

Tala sampled the Organic Carrot & Potato jar which is a Stage 1 recipe and so did I - well how can I add my thoughts if I didn't?!

I liked the fact that it was a smooth puree as it is easier to convince Tala to eat something new if it is not textured.  The consistency was good and it did taste of carrot and potato although the brightness of the orange colour was a little startling.  We followed this with pudding (not something I would usually do as I prefer to keep it savoury at this age)  The Organic Creamed Rice Pudding with Cinnamon looked good enough for me to try - so again I helped Tala sample.

The consistency (this is a stage 2 recipe) was similar to the Stage 1 Carrot and potato but just thicker.  I could smell and taste the cinnamon and had I been given this in a bowl I would never have known it was baby food - abet it was not as textured as I would expect Rice Pudding to be. Although is is free from Artificial colours or flavours that of course does not include free from sugar and I was saddened to see that the ingredients showed organic sugar 5% which is one of the reasons I do not give puddings other than fruit (yes I know fruit has sugars but a different type and not added)  For this reason I would not buy this product again myself.  You also need very long spoons to fit in the jars or your knuckles end up covered!

Also from the Organic range we tried and loved Boots Baby Organic mini pasta shells which I made my own sauce to go with, Organic Apple Crumble (again with organic sugar 5%) but it tasted as good as anything I could make but sweeter. Tala also drank the Boots Organic water with a hint of bottles which we use already.

The 'Best on Test' from the samples sent had to be the Boots Baby Organic Mixed Fruit Fruit Pots which went down a treat every time although I did have to remove them from the fridge a few hours before serving as Tala preferred them at room temperature.  A big chubby baby thumbs up for those!

Bring on the food Mum!

READ MORE - Tala finally loves food - yah!

Review - Annabel Karmel's Baby & Toddler Meal Planner book (revised)

It is hard to believe that the Annabel Karmel Complete baby and Toddler Meal Planner book is 20 years old!

Now don't go thinking it must be out of date then because it has been revised into a great 20th anniversary edition.  I have been reviewing the hardback copy and the first thing that I loved were the illustrations.  They really draw the eye and are beautifully designed and continue throughout the whole book.

The book covers from first foods, first stage weaning. second stage weaning, 9 - 12 months and toddlers and the recipes are tailored very well to each age group.

Each chapter begins with an introduction to that particular stage of eating development and the first chapter (Best first foods for your baby) is without recipes and covers the food groups and importance of a varied diet and is very informative if a little too 'wordy' and a few of those beautiful illustration would just break this up slightly.

The illustrations are outstanding

Once onto the following chapters, the recipes are very easy to follow and many have accompanying photographs.  I really like the way each chapters recipes are in sections i.e fish, vegetables although I did find myself adding my own Post It note 'tabs' to make certain more used sections were quicker to find and I think section tabs would be a helpful addition to the book.

Something I found a good idea was that the recipes have symbols at the start of them to tell you if they are suitable for freezing or a happy and sad face so you can tick the ones your baby really loves or ones to try again rather than trying to remember what you have already tried.

Tala really enjoyed the Cauliflower cheese recipe in the book and I was pleased to find a recipe for my favourite ingredient.... Lentils

Lets hear it for lentils!

I didn't follow the meal planner part of the book very much, not because I didn't find it helpful, but more because I was more than happy just to pick and choice recipes as I went along but for those wanting to plan ahead this would be a helpful guide. 

You can find more that Annabel Carmel has to offer here!  I also found the book priced at £8.37 (less P & P ) on Amazon (RRP £14.99)

READ MORE - Review - Annabel Karmel's Baby & Toddler Meal Planner book (revised)

Another Tala first!

Yesterday 14th June 2011, Tala finally ate food and not simply swilled it round and let it dribble down his chin - he is nearly 8 and a half months old!

Although many babies are all too happy to eat when offered their first taste of 'real' food, Tala was far from clued up about what he was supposed to do even at the recommended age of 6 months when offered baby rice in a lovely bowl.  He was completely unimpressed to say the least and preferred to suck his bib!!  This video shows his face on his very first attempt:

After every attempt ended up dribbling down his chin, I asked advice of my Health Visitor and was told about 'Baby Led Weaning' (BLW).  This is simply allowing the baby to learn about food his way in his time by offering food for them to try themselves,  Suitable foods were suggested as cooked spaghetti, bread, toast, boiled potatoes and anything Tala could pick up himself.

I have offered a small piece of toast with fruit spread or chopped up fruit most days but there was little excitement from Tala.  Now and then a small amount would make it in but nothing to really jump up and down about but I persevered.

Yesterday I decided to try a puree of pumpkin, mango and carrot and after a few moments and a few spoonfuls he finally started to swallow some - a breakthrough!!  Although it is only puree, something that years ago babies were weaned on at 4 months, it is a way of introducing Tala to a whole world of new tastes and the start of his real weaning experience.

Although I am sad to see my baby grow up and move on from drinking just milk, I look forward to introducing him to the many different and exciting tastes 'real' food has to offer.  So even if a baby book says your baby should be doing something, don't panic and don't be afraid to ask advice from your Health Visitor.  In my experience all babies are individual and each develop at different rates and in their own time.

The fun (and mess) starts here...

READ MORE - Another Tala first!

Review - Vital Baby 'Unbelievabowl'

I am all for less mess when it comes to Tala feeding himself.  So much has changed in the years since middle son was born nearly 10 years ago.  In those days babies were weaned on purées at 4 months, not now though! These days parents are advised to introduce foods from 6 months and allow 'baby led weaning' which means less purées and more of letting the baby introduce themselves to food through finger foods.

Tala is hopefully weaning through feeding himself so when I was contacted to review a bowl that cannot be picked up or dropped it sounded too good to be true. Here is the Unbelievabowl by Vital Baby.

The Unbelievabowl from Vital Baby

The bowl itself has been designed to stick to a baby high chair or table using suction power.  The bowl has a suction base to it that separates from the bowl for cleaning but when required provides excellent suction  holding the bowl in place - no tipping it up now!

The suction base before the bowl is added.

Simply set the suction base onto high chair etc and then pull the handle down (Tala's fingers are over the handle in photo) This then secures it,  add the bowl and twist into place on the suction base and there it is - Unbelievabowl!

Tala tried it with his Vegemite on toast.

Good sized bowl for small children

The white at the base is the suction cap

Cannot be tipped or pulled over!

I really like this simple but really clever product. It certainly did as it said and although Tala made mess with his toast the bowl would really help stop mess from more liquid foods.  The bowl is, I think, great value for money at £4.99 (less any relevant P & P charges)

The bowl is BPA and Latex Free which is excellent.  If I had to find a fault it would only be with the packaging, in that, it says to start weaning using purees at 4 months which is not advised currently by WHO (World Health Organisation) so perhaps that needs updating to follow the baby led weaning advise currently in place (see further information here) 

Packaging advises to wean at 4 months.

Love this product - a winner in our house for sure!

READ MORE - Review - Vital Baby 'Unbelievabowl'

Review - Nuby Sure Grip bowl & Heat Sensitive spoons

We have reached another milestone - Tala has had his first taste of food and the weaning process has begun!

Although it makes me sad that the last 6 months have passed so quickly, I am looking forward to watching him grow and experience the joys of 'real food'.  For his first meal of delicious (?!) baby rice we used the Nuby Sure Grip bowl along with their soft edged Heat Sensitive spoons. 

As it has been nearly 10 years since I last weaned a baby, I am amazed at the array of helpful products on the market for us Mums.  The Sure Grip bowl was exactly that - the bottom has a non-skid base which will be perfect for Tala when he uses the bowl on his high chair table, but whilst he is still too small for the high chair and we feed him in a chair, the bowl is really nicely shaped and easy to hold in the palm of your hand or grip by the edge of the bowl.  It is lightweight and a nice size. The bowls are dishwasher safe and BPA Free. They are suitable for use from 4 months of age.

Nuby Sure Grip Bowl

The Heat sensitive spoons came in a pack of 3 and were a lovely size for small mouths.  The handle of the spoon is quite long which will help those Mothers that feed their babies from a baby food jar.The spoon itself has very soft , almost rubber like, edges which appears to help make them gentler on the gums. The spoon is designed to change colour to warn that the food may be too hot (approximately 43C/110 F or above) Again the spoons are BPA Free.

Nuby Heat Sensitive spoons

As mentioned this was Tala's first taste of anything other than milk - here's what he made of the experience!!

                                                         

READ MORE - Review - Nuby Sure Grip bowl & Heat Sensitive spoons