A Vanderbilt study looks at a new, but unproved, occupational therapy that helps some autistic children learn to speak.

More kids getting vaccines

CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta talks about a new study showing the number of kids being vaccinated is increasing.

How to get the birth you want

A third of women deliver via Caesarean section. CNN's Elizabeth Cohen has tips for how to ask for a vaginal birth.

Q and A: Children's health

Dr. Jennifer Shu answers parents' medical questions for children and addresses adults' concerns.

Benefits of breast-feeding

A new study shows that mothers could see healthy benefits from breast-feeding their babies.

How to Put a Baby to Sleep Without a Pacifier

When putting a baby to sleep without a pacifier, it's important to feed them and make sure that she is dry before wrapping her in a blanket. Make bedtime easy for babies with help from a mother of three in this free video on babies sleeping without pacifiers.
How to Put a Baby to Sleep Without a Pacifier -- powered by eHow.com

Eating for a Healthy Pregnancy

Prenatal Vitamins

Youre pregnant! Time to start taking those pre-natal vitamins. Which do you chose? What do they do? And why is it so important to take them? Parents TVs Anne Ebeling talks to an OB-GYN for the 411 on pre-natal vitamins.

Child Development & Positive Parenting Skills

Dr. John Breeding, Ph.D. in Child Psychology give your advice, information & tips about how to raise youre a happy and successful child; how to increase open communication between you and your child, how to help children learn, how to handle and upset child, how to deal with ADHD, etc.

自製有營嬰兒食品

當嬰兒約有5至6個月大，便會踏入「斷奶期」。於這個階段，嬰兒的生長速度亦會加快，飲食中便需要添加奶以外的食物，確保他們攝取足夠的熱量和營養。通常初為人母都希望給予寶寶最好的食糧。經過市場調查分析後，媽媽都喜歡購買標榜無防腐劑，甚至有添加助長營養素的嬰兒食品。他們深信這些產品既方便，又含有最佳的營養配方。

不過，食物安全中心曾指出，有兩款嬰兒梨汁懷疑受重金屬「砷」污染，並呼籲市民應停止飲用。其實，「砷」屬含毒素重金屬，研究顯示「砷」可能影響兒童的發育，增加他們將來患上癌症的機會。因此要給予寶寶最安全的食糧，相信自製嬰兒食便是最佳選擇。它不僅新鮮、營養價值得已保證，而且絕對不會含有害物質。媽媽們可參考以下為您推介的有「營」食品的材料，自製獨特的嬰兒食品。

抗流感特工－甘筍蘋果汁

適合剛踏入「斷奶期」的嬰兒，甘筍蘋果汁味帶甘甜，較受嬰兒歡迎。營養方面，甘筍含多種胡蘿蔔素(Carotenids)，屬超強的抗氧化物，能增強嬰兒的抵抗能力，預防疾病。另外，胡蘿蔔素亦能強化鼻、肺和喉嚨黏膜組織的健康，減低流感細菌侵襲。

媽媽於製造果汁時，必須徹底分隔出果肉和果皮，因為嬰兒的吞嚥能力未成熟，未必能一下子接受固體食物，建議由全流質開始，待嬰兒習慣後，逐漸增加濃度，如果蓉(半流質)、果粒(半固體)等。訓練他們吞嚥的動作。若察覺到嬰兒將食物吐出或有哽咽，可能時機未成熟，應暫時停止餵食，切勿操之過急。

護眼戰士－菠菜番薯蓉

菠菜，最為人知的是含有豐富鐵質。其實，它還含有一種人體不能製造的物質-----胡蘿蔔黃體素(Lutein)。近年，有研究顯示這種物質能讓視網膜正常成長，強化保護眼睛色素層，阻止藍光對眼睛侵襲，減低日後眼睛退化機會。雖然暫時未有建議進食份量，但其重要性毋庸置疑。

菠菜番薯蓉是最適合踏入「斷奶期」中期的嬰兒食用。製作時必須將番薯蒸或烚至軟身，壓成蓉，混入以攪拌器攪爛的菠菜蓉內。這樣是利用番薯的甜味，蓋過菠菜的青草味。讓蔬果蓉變得更香甜，更容易被嬰兒接納。除了番薯外，媽媽也可以選用甘筍、南瓜、黃瓜、蘋果等蔬果，既可讓嬰兒嘗試不同的味道，又有更多材料可選擇。

補血將軍－香蕉肉泥

牛肉、豬肉、羊肉及豬肝含有優質的「原紅血素 (HEME)鐵質」。原紅血素鐵質的吸收率可高達35%，較源於菠菜的非原紅血素鐵質，吸收率只有約2%為高。鐵質的主要功用是製造紅血球，把氧氣輸送至人體各器官。處於嬰兒階段，對鐵質的需求量特別高。研究指出，患有缺鐵性貧血的兒童，其心智發展會比一般兒童較為遜色，是絕對不容忽視的營養素。

以灼熟的肉類混入香蕉蓉，用攪拌器製成像奶般濃度的肉泥，味道香濃，廣泛受嬰兒的愛戴，而且香蕉含有益生素(Prebiotics)，是腸道益生菌的食糧，有助益生菌的繁殖，腸道的免疫力亦會提升。嬰兒出現肚瀉和腸胃不適的情況亦會減少。

自製有「營」嬰兒食品好處多不勝數。其實，媽媽可因應嬰兒的喜好而配搭不同材料，而每次新鮮製造，不含添加劑，能保留最多的營養要素，並避免因儲存時，一些不穩定的營養素流失。此外，媽媽視乎嬰兒的習慣程度，自行調教需要的食物濃度，真是一舉三得。

Recognize the signs of bonding

Learn how bonding through touch and massage not only brings the two of you closer together, but also how the positive attachment between mom and baby can enhance later development. Here are a few key signs that will help you recognize that the bond between you is growing even stronger.

Magazine photos and SIDS

CNN's Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen reports on infant sleeping positions and preventing SIDS.

Safe Sleep For New Born Babies

Babies & Sleep:
Safe Sleep For New Born Babies

Baby Bathing And Skin Care

How do I bathe my baby? What are key safety tips for bathing my baby? How should I care for my newborn's skin? How should I wash my newborn's clothes?
Baby Care:
Baby Bathing And Skin Care

Understanding Your Baby's Crying

What does it mean when babies cry? How much do babies normally cry every day? How should I respond to my baby's crying? How do I know when my baby's crying indicates a serious problem?
Baby Care:
Understanding Your Baby's Crying