Jealous Pooch & Baby

Sharing the love and intention between an intensely jealous pooch and that tiny but threatening new human you'll soon be bringing home from the hospital is worrisome.

Though a little initial moping around my be unavoidable, you'll have to do whatever is necessary to avoid excessive jealousy and more seriously any aggressive reactions. Here's how:

1. If you dog isn't already trained, invest in an obedience training programme.
   
2. Get your dog use to babies now


3. Get your dog used to life with a baby in the house - play baby with a doll


4. Get your dog used to sleeping alone


5. Take your dog for a complete medical checkup. Be sure your dog is flea, tick and worm-free


6. If you dog's feeding station is one your baby will later be able to easily get to, move it to the garage or any other suitable place that doesn't attract the curious roamer.


7. After delivery, but while you're still in hospital have your spouse bring home an unwashed piece of clothing your newborn has worn so that your pet can get used to your baby's scent.


8. Be attentive to your baby, but don't act overprotective around your dog. This will only make your pet more jealous and insecure.


9. If despite your efforts to prepare her, your dog is still hostile towards the new arrival keep her tied up and away from the baby. Just because your dog hasn't bitten before doesn't mean she's not capable of it.

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Baby's First Recipes - Carrots & Apples

Carrots and Apple
Suitable for babies 6 months and up; yields 32 tablespoons

Ingredients:
1 bag peeled baby carrots
½ Golden Delicious peeled and diced
1 pinch ground ginger (optional)

Directions:
1. Place carrots in a pan with a steamer basket. Add enough water so that it just comes to the bottom of the basket. Bring to a slow boil, cover and steam for 5 minutes.
2. Add diced apple and steam for 10 minutes more. Transfer to a blender and reserve the steaming liquid.
3. Add ginger (optional) and 1/2 cup of reserved liquid; puree until smooth and desired consistency. Add more liquid if necessary.
4. Cool to room temperature. Divide into ice cube trays, cover with plastic wrap and freeze.

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Baby's First Recipes - Stewed Fruit

Stewed Fruit

Suitable for babies 4-8 months old.
Makes 1-2 cups, depending on the fruit used.

Ingredients:

2 fresh apples, pears, peaches or plums, or 3-5 apricots, well scrubbed, peeled, cored or pitted and cut into medium-size chunks.
Water, apple or white grape juice, breast milk or formula (optional)

Method:

1. Pour water to a depth of 2.5cm into a medium-size saucepan and bring to the boil over a high heat.


2. Place the fruit of choice in the pan, cover, lower the heat to a simmer and cook the fruit until tender, 7-10 minutes.

Note:

Most fruits are naturally sweet. If a fruit puree you are serving tastes a little bitter, add a dash of apple or grape juice. But remember, babies haven't developed a sweet tooth yet and it's best to keep it that way for as long as you can, by keeping fruits not too sweet.

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