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

wParents, 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! 

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!  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!

Gluten Free Gingerbread Teething Biscuits

“Deck the halls with gingerbread teething biscuits, fa lalalalalalala la”!     We’re please to announce that our Gluten Free Gingerbread teething biscuits are back just in time to save your fussy teether from a holiday melt down.  It’s the perfect diaper bag accessory for holiday shopping excursions, parties, and long travels.   They also make great stocking stuffers!

Happy Teething!

Belle’s Biscuits Receives Certificate of Gluten Analysis from Bia Diagnostics

We are pleased to announce that our teething biscuits tested well below the FDA requirements for gluten-free products.  In an independent study, Bia Diagnostics ran multiple tests for gluten and we’ve posted the results below.   Belle’s Biscuits are handmade in a dedicated gluten-free bakery in Maine.  We do not use dairy, soy, wheat, or gluten in any of our products.  Belle’s Biscuits are suitable for all babies– the proof is in the numbers!Happy Teething!