Gluten Free, Dairy Free Breakfast Cookies For Your Teething Toddler

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Looking for new foods to start the day with your little one?  Here’s a great breakfast recipe for your teething toddler.  It’s sugar, dairy, soy & flour free (if you’re concerned about gluten, make sure you’re using gluten free oats).  What I like best about this cookie is the blending of textures.  The outside has a crisp texture and the inside is soft and chewy.  Perfect for a teething toddler! 

Ingredients

1.5 cups of oats

3 ripe bananas, mashed

1 cup unsweetened apple sauce

1 handful dried cranberries (or any dried fruit)

1/2 teaspoon  pumpkin pie spice

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Mix bananas, apple sauce, dried cranberries, oats, and pumpkin pie spice in a large bowl.  Drop by the spoonful on a baking sheet.  Bake for 30 minutes.  Yields 18-20 cookies. 

Happy Teething!

Surviving The Holidays With A Teething Baby

So the holiday season is in full swing and your teething baby or toddler is  a cranky, drooling mess.  Don’t despair!  There are things you can do to prevent your little one from becoming a permanent Grinch.  Last year, when she was 19 months old, my daughter was hard core teething the week before Christmas.   We went through three days of a low-grade fever and rash.  She had been drooling up a storm the weeks before and the fever came on very quickly with no other cold or flu like symptoms.

If your little one has excessive drooling, rash, fever, trouble sleeping through the night, and irritability without any signs of a cold or flu-like illness, chances are it’s teething related.  Here are some strategies that we’ve used at home to help our babies enjoy the holidays.

1) Make sure your baby/toddler gets plenty of rest during the day.   Even if they are sleeping through the night, extra long naps can be very beneficial during this time.  My daughter is taking 2-3 hour naps these days.  We keep her room dark and use an air filter to act as white noise.  I find that her mood greatly improves after she’s had some down time.

2) Avoid crowded and noisy places like malls, restaurants, grocery stores, ect.  Your baby/toddler will feel most comfortable at home in a calm, familiar environment.  If you have to go out in public bring Belle’s Biscuits for distraction and instant pain relief.

3) Make sure you have a mesh teether on hand.  They can be stuffed with ice cubes and frozen fruit.  The cold can reduce inflammation and numb the gums.  They’re a little messy so have your little one wear a bib.

4) Keep your temper under control.  The holidays can be a stressful time in general, but if your baby/toddler is teething they may push your buttons even more than usual.  Please recognize that getting mad will only make the situation worse for you and your little one.  So stay calm when they act up.

5) Take heart, this will pass!  You’re daily routine may be disrupted and you might find yourself exhausted, but know that teething comes and goes in waves.  Very soon your little one will be back to their normal self.  For now, do the best you can and don’t let teething spoil your day!

Happy Holidays from all of us at Belle’s Biscuits

High Levels of Arsenic Found in Rice

wImageParents, as if we have enough safely issues to deal with, here’s another one to shove on your plate (no pun intended).  On Wednesday, Consumer Reports, the FDA, and  Lisa Madigan, the attorney general for the state of Illinois, released results to the public regarding the presence of arsenic in rice . Madigan has been testing rice products as part of a state investigation into arsenic in food.

“First and foremost, I want to warn parents that every rice cereal product we tested contained arsenic. These results are shocking because rice cereal is often a baby’s first solid food,” Madigan says. “Parents and caregivers should moderate the amount of rice products they feed their children.”

The FDA’s tests of 200 different rice products show levels of harmful inorganic arsenic that are in line with tests performed by Consumer Reports. The magazine analyzed rice products including infant cereals, regular boxed cereals, rice cakes, rice milk, and brown and white rice. Both organic and nonorganic rice products were found to have arsenic.

The FDA is not ready to take action until further tests are completed.  “Our advice right now is that consumers should continue to eat a balanced diet that includes a wide variety of grains — not only for good nutrition but also to minimize any potential consequences from consuming any one particular food,” says FDA Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg, MD.

So what are we to do?   To lower your exposure to arsenic, Consumer Reports offers these tips:

  • Test your water. If your home is not on a public water system, have your water tested for arsenic and lead.
  • Change the way you cook rice. Boiling rice with more water than you need and draining it afterward removes about 30% of the inorganic arsenic. Try using a ratio of 1 cup of rice to 6 cups of water.
  • Eat a varied diet. Some vegetables accumulate arsenic when grown in contaminated soil. To help, clean vegetables thoroughly, especially potato skins.
  • Eat other grains. Wheat and oats have lower levels of arsenic than rice. For those who need to eat gluten-free, quinoa, millet, and amaranth may be better options.

It is worth noting that Belle’s Biscuits have always been free of rice products.  Our primary ingredient is gluten free oat flour which is a great first food for baby.

Happy Teething! 

Top Ten Tips for Your Teething Baby or Toddler

If your teething baby or toddler is having a rough summer chances are your entire family is feeling the pain.  Like a bad sunburn, teething pain is persistent and bothersome.  That’s why we’ve assembled a list of top ten pain relievers and distractions.   Here are some simple tricks to help  you and your little teether through the day.  No medication required!

  • Ask for help!  Let friends or family members take care of your teething baby so you can catch up on sleep and have some quality time to yourself.
  • Take your fussy one to the library.  Most public libraries have story times for infants and toddlers.  This provides a great distraction for your teether and allows you to meet other parents.
  • Try to create a calm, relaxed atmosphere at home while baby is teething. Too much noise and commotion will not help with a stressed, over-tired baby.
  • Use teething rings.  Keep a couple in the refrigerator and while one is in use, the other is chilling. Give one to baby to chew on for relief whenever necessary.
  • Massage baby’s gums with a clean finger, or a clean washcloth on the end of your finger.
  • Teething biscuits help with discomfort as well as giving your baby something to suck on. If their appetite is low they may gain some nutrients from the biscuit and feel like eating a little more next meal time.
  • Buy a mesh teether and stuff it with frozen fruit. Once baby tastes the sweetness, they will continue biting down and sucking. This will exercise and massage gums, which provides relief.
  • Give your teething toddler a yogurt tube that has been frozen or make homemade popsicles.
  • Give your baby a bath.  Take them to the beach, or let them swim with you at a community pool.
  • Take baby for a walk in the stroller.  The fresh air and interesting sights and sounds will provide instant distraction.

If all else fails, know that teething comes in waves and this wave will pass!

Happy Teething

Belle’s Biscuits Earth Day at Whole Foods Market

We had so much fun at this year’s We Love Local Earth Day event at Whole Foods Market, Portland.   The turnout was tremendous despite the fact that it was pouring cats and dogs outside.   Thanks to everyone who stopped by and showed their support.  We are going to be back at the store for Mother’s Day and will be post details soon.

Happy Teething!

Your Local Whole Foods Can Carry Belle’s Biscuits

Lately we have been receiving emails and phone calls from parents and grandparents wondering why their local Whole Foods Market does not have Belle’s Biscuits.  In response we have created a letter that you can print out and bring to the customer service desk to request our product at your store.  If you don’t live near a Whole Foods, no worries.  You can still use this form for your favorite grocery or natural food store.

Click on this link and print …Belle’s Biscuits Request Letter

We know there are Belle’s Biscuits babies all over the country and we are doing our best to make this product more accessible and affordable for you!

Happy Teething!

Five Signs Your Baby Is Teething

So your little angel has recently become a tyrant?  It might be time to join the teething baby club.  Members include exhausted parents and cranky babies (good times for all).   Here’ s five signs from Dr. Sears that you might be eligible to join…

  • Bulging gums – you can actually see the outline of the teeth as they are bulging inside the gums. The middle bottom teeth are usually the first place this happens.
  • Drooling – it will seem like someone left a “drool faucet” on inside your baby’s mouth.
  • Fussing – baby often will become cranky and more difficult to console.
  • Night waking – most babies sleep fairly well between one and four months of age, but now the honeymoon is over! Beginning around four months of age, baby may start waking up much more frequently at night.
  • Biting – baby will start chewing on everything he can get his hands, or gums, on – his fingers, your fingers, toys, and especially the breast.

Best piece of advice that we can offer to parents with teething babies is to keep your cool.  It’s easy to get frustrated and lose your temper when you’re on duty 24/7 with a little teether.   Just remember that this will pass in due time and your little angel will return.

Happy Teething!

Belle’s Biscuits Now at Whole Foods Market

 

                                 

We are very excited to announce a new partnership with Whole Foods Market.  If you have a little teether in Maine you can now  find Belle’s Biscuits at the Whole Foods Portland store.  They will be available just in time for Valentine’s Day and we can’t think of a sweeter gift to give your teething baby or toddler!skip to primary navigation  If you live in the Northeast stop by your local Whole Foods and ask for Belle’s Biscuits.  We will be distributing to stores in this region first.

Happy Teething!

Kimberly’s Journey – Belle’s Biscuits Product Review

A couple of weeks ago we received an email from You Tube product reviewer, Kimberly Mallas.  She has a seven month old boy who  just got his first two bottom set of teeth and is starting to get bored with conventional teething biscuits.  So we sent her a variety of Belle’s Biscuits and here is her sweet review…

Happy Teething!

When Your Teething Baby Becomes A Grinch

So the holiday season has arrived and your teething baby or toddler is a cranky, drooling mess. Don’t despair! There are things you can do to prevent your little one from becoming a permanent Grinch. If your little one has excessive drooling, rash, fever, trouble sleeping through the night, and irritability without any signs of a cold or flu-like illness, chances are it’s teething related. Here are some strategies that we are currently using at home to help our toddler enjoy the holidays.

1) Make sure your baby/toddler gets plenty of rest during the day. Even if they are sleeping through the night, extra long naps can be very beneficial during this time. My daughter is taking 2-3 hour naps these days. We keep her room dark and use an air filter to act as white noise. I find that her mood greatly improves after she’s had some down time.
2) Avoid crowded and noisy places like malls, restaurants, grocery stores, ect. Your baby/toddler will feel most comfortable at home in a calm, familiar environment. If you have to go out in public bring Belle’s Biscuits for distraction and instant pain relief.
3) Make sure you have a mesh teether on hand. They can be stuffed with ice cubes and frozen fruit. The cold can reduce inflammation and numb the gums. They’re a little messy so have your little one wear a bib.
4) Keep your temper under control. The beginning of the new year can be a stressful time in general, but if your baby/toddler is teething they may push your buttons even more than usual. Please recognize that getting mad will only make the situation worse for you and your little one. So stay calm when they act up.
5) Take heart, this will pass! You’re daily routine may be disrupted and you might find yourself exhausted, but know that teething comes and goes in waves. Very soon your little one will be back to their normal self. For now, do the best you can and don’t let teething spoil your day!

Happy Holidays from the folks at Belle’s Biscuits!