Want to learn to make homemade baby food?

Will you be in the Albany/Saratoga Springs area in the new year? If so look into attending a Babysmartees Homemade Babyfood Class. We are pleased to announce that our first class is on January 19, at 9:30am at Virgil's House on Henry Street in Saratoga Springs.

Learn how easy it is to give your baby a wide variety of all natural, nutritious food. Never worry about how food from the jar has been processed or that it will be recalled. Save money and make your baby's transition to adult food easier.

Registration is easy, just click here.

You won't be in our area. Don't worry, order the Babysmartees Homemade Babyfood Starter Kit and get what you need to start making homemade baby food including a recipe starter booklet with easy-to-do recipes and instructions on how to freeze and store your homemade baby food.

Infant Stimulation Activity 111: baby roll

Does it seem like your baby wants to roll? Is he wiggling around while on his back, flopping his hands from side to side? Can he already roll from his tummy time position to his back? You can get in on the action with him by helping him practice. If it is nice weather, you can go outside and put a blanket down on a slight incline which will make it easier for him to roll.

Indoors you can gently roll baby from side to side encouraging the motion and generally enjoying some fun time together. Remember, infant stimulation is about time spent together and interaction; don't worry about whether your baby is actually rolling or not. He will be moving around soon enough!

Infant Stimulation Activity 110: hand to hand

Hand your baby a toy, then take the toy from that hand and put it into his other hand. Let him think about the change from one hand to the other. You can enjoy a whole game of changing the toy from hand to hand. "Your rattle is in your left hand! Now let's change it to your right hand!" Soon he will learn to transfer the toy from one hand to the other all by himself.

Happy Holidays from Babysmartees

Infant Stimulation Activity 109: ball bounce

Bounce a large ball up and down while your baby is watching. He will get better and better at following the bounce with eyes. Bounce the ball higher and lower, slower and faster. Baby will continue to practice tracking an object with his eyes and will be doing so with an object moving fairly quickly. He will also be learning the cause and effect of a ball hitting the floor and bouncing up as well as it coming back down and it also makes a sound every time the ball hits the floor.

Be sure to be happy, stop and clap, and generally have a great time interacting with your baby as you do this ball bounce stimulation activity.

Infant Stimulation Activity 108: simon says

Your baby is learning from you every day. He is learning your sounds, your movements, your vocabulary; baby is watching everything you do and eventually will begin doing those same things. However, as your infant grows, develops, and becomes more coordinated a fun way to change up your stimulation activity is for you to mimic baby.

Imitate his oohs, ahs, and coos; your baby will know that what he is saying is being heard and responded to. Actions are fun too. Imitate his facial expressions: when he opens his mouth, open your mouth; if he squints his eyes, squint your eyes. Or if your infant is now sitting up and can pat a drum or roll a ball, your response with the same motion will ensure him that what he is doing is good, and then he is likely to continue doing it and to continue having fun.

Providing this positive feedback to baby will help him learn about himself as well as continue to develop his social skills for interacting.

Infant Stimulation Activity 107: everyone loves a parade

At even one month old, babies are looking for changing visual stimulation. Once your baby looks at an object for a few minutes he may look away as he is no longer interested because he has become familiar with the object and is looking for something new. One suggestion is to offer baby a mobile with changing objects or patterns - and these can be great for when baby needs a little independent time and perhaps you need some down time.

However, if you are up for some fun interaction then get out some objects and let the parade begin! Show your baby a series of animals allowing him a enough time to look over each one. The animals can be stuffed or even pictures or flash cards. Say the name of each animal, allow your baby some time to explore and become familiar, then show him something new.

Infant Stimulation Activity 106: hand & finger puppets

Puppets are fun for all ages, and the fun can begin as early as 2 months old. Soft hand puppets that do not have small parts that can come loose are best - think sock or knitted puppet or even finger puppets.

Move the hand puppet up and down, back and forth, and around in a circle within baby's line of vision. Sing songs, tell stories, or just talk to each other. The movement will give baby practice in tracking with his eyes and help develop visual skills; the songs and chatter are of course helpful in rhythm and language skills; and the interaction with you and the puppets . . . well, that is just fun!

Infant Stimulation Activity 105: you're over there!

The idea of stimulation is that your baby is interacting with you and is experiencing something that, in fact, will stimulate him. One idea is to talk to your baby from different places in a room. Your baby will begin to look for you as he begins to coordinate sights and sounds.