Tips & Guide to Optimize Outlook 2007 , 2010 and Win XP, Win 7

Good links.

Good software
http://www.howto-outlook.com/products/outlooktools.htm
http://www.ghacks.net/2010/06/02/microsoft-outlook-tools/

http://www.ghacks.net/2009/04/16/microsoft-outlook-attachment-extractor/
http://www.kopf.com.br/outlook/screenshots.php


http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook-help/best-practices-for-outlook-2010-HA102459562.aspx#_Toc283818119

http://www.hackstacks.com/3-tips-to-optimize-your-outlook-20102007-mail-folders-for-faster-response/2913

http://www.emailaddressmanager.com/outlook/faster-outlook.html


• Tip 1: Clean Your Email: DELETE * FROM OUTLOOK WHERE EMAIL != NEEDED_IN_FUTURE.
• Tip 2: Archive Emails: Archiving is basically removing your older emails from your active PST file into another PST. There are auto-archiving options available in Outlook and you can set them up.
• Tip 3: Multiple PST Files: Outlook manages all emails, contacts, etc. in a Data File (PST file). It allows you to have multiple PST files open at a given time. Through experience, it has become very clear that the sluggishness of Outlook is directly compared to the size of the PST files it is working with. So, after deleting and archiving, if the size of your PST is still more than 600-700 MB, then break it up into multiple PSTs. I have 3 PSTs open: Personal Mail, Project Mail, and Everything Else.
• Tip 4: ReIndex: After you have carried out your deleting, archiving, and moving around of the email, rebuild your search index. With Outlook 2007, you get Windows search integration which help in lighting fast searches. However, since you just moved everything around, the index is out of sync and though it will get in sync over time, it’s best to delete the old index and make a new one. This ensures that you get right search results after maintenance.
• Tip 5: Compact your PST: Through the Data File Management menu option in the File menu, you can compact your PSTs. As I mentioned, when you delete email, Outlook doesn’t free up space. You need to manually fire the command to compact it. Compacting not only frees up space, it can also help when you defragment the PSTs (next tip).
• Tip 6: Defragment your PST Files: This always gives a big boost to Outlook performance on my computer. You can either defragment the whole disk using the Disk Management Tools in Windows XP. Or you can defragment the individual PST files using the great tool from SysInternals that is mentioned at the article I linked to at the beginning of this post. Note: Outlook should be closed when you are doing this.
• Tip 7: Rules Maintenance: If you use rules to filter your emails and move them around, now is a good time to review them. There can be many old rules that probably are not relevant anymore, and you might want to change the rules to work with you new PST structure.
• Tip 8: Maintenance Mode Tip – Turn off Search Service: while carrying out the maintenance, turn off the Windows Search Service. As you move around large number of emails, it can slow things down as it will try to update the index (which you will rebuild anyway, if you follow my advice).
• Tip 9: Maintenance Mode Tip – Turn off Preview Pane: Since you will be clicking and selecting a lot of email, you don’t want to waste time for a preview being generated each time. This will help reduce overall time for the maintenance task.


http://blog.gadodia.net/taking-control-of-your-inbox-inbox-zero/

Good
http://www.connectedinternet.co.uk/2007/10/27/five-ways-to-speed-up-outlook-2007/


Problem #1: Downloading e-mails take forever because I have a bunch of rules that need to be processed.
Reason: Every rule gets processed on every e-mail. if you have a lot of rules, and get a lot of e-mails, you're guaranteed to have problems.
Solution #1: Add "Stop processing more rules" to the end of every rule.
Solution #2: Use Hosted Exchange. For anywhere between $7 and $15 a month, you can upgrade your POP3 e-mail account to a hosted Exchange account at your own domain name. This way, when you use Rules in Outlook, they run on the server, and not on the client. You also get a bunch of other benefits, like disaster recovery, syncing with your smartphone, push e-mail, and Outlook Web Access. I know that may not sound like an attractive option, but once you try it, you'll never go back.

Problem #2: Outlook takes *forever* to open.
Reason: Your Outlook file is way too big. You're probably not archiving your e-mail often enough.
Solution: Follow the "7-6-6" rule for AutoArchiving. Simply, every 7 days, archive anything older than 6 weeks to an archive folder, and create a new Archive file every 6 months. And whenever you see your AutoArchive folder open, close it. Finally, compact your PST & OST files often.

The simple tips help keep my Outlook performing well. Like everything else, it just requires a little maintenance. With these tips, my Outlook consistently opens in under 3 seconds.


http://msexchangeteam.com/archive/2007/12/17/447750.aspx

Optimizing Win XP

Speedup Folder Browsing

You may have noticed that everytime you open my computer to browse folders that there is a slight delay. This is because Windows XP automatically searches for network files and printers everytime you open Windows Explorer. To fix this and to increase browsing significantly:

Open My Computer
Click on Tools menu
Click on Folder Options
Click on the View tab.
Uncheck the Automatically search for network folders and printers check box
Click Apply
Click Ok
Reboot your computer

http://www.connectedinternet.co.uk/2005/12/03/10-simple-ways-to-speed-up-windows-xp/2/

Speed Up Boot Times I

This tweak works by creating a batch file to clear the temp and history folders everytime you shutdown so that your PC doesn’t waste time checking these folders the next time it boots. It’s quite simple to implement:

1. Open Notepad and create a new file with the following entries:
RD /S /q “C:\Documents and Settings”UserName without quotes”\Local Settings\History”
RD /S /q “C:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Local Settings\History”
RD /S /q “D:\Temp” <–”Deletes temp folder, type in the location of your temp folder”
2. Save the new as anything you like but it has to be a ‘.bat’ file e.g. fastboot.bat or deltemp.bat

3. Click ‘Start’ then ‘Run’

4. Type in ‘gpedit.msc’ and hit ‘ok’

5. Click on ‘Computer Configuration’ then ‘Windows Settings’

6. Double-click on ‘Scripts’ and then on ‘Shutdown’

7. Click ‘Add’ and find the batch file that you created and then press ‘Ok’


http://blog.gadodia.net/outlook-2007-freezing-minimized/
My earlier posts (here and here) on this topic mentioned the steps I have been taking to improve the responsiveness and performance of Outlook 2007. Well this one is to detail the relief that has come out of these steps. The patch I mentioned in the earlier posts has helped a lot. My Outlook is definitely less sluggish (to a point where it’s almost normal).

As for the problem with freezing of Outlook when the last email is being downloaded, after I reduced the size of my PST from over 2GB to a little below 1GB, the freezing has become a second as compared to a few seconds earlier.

I strongly recommend the following steps:

•Install the Microsoft Patch
•Reduce the size of your PST by archiving old emails, deleting non-important emails, dividing your emails into multiple archives.
•Compact the Size of your PST.
•Defragment your hard drive or at least the PST files (you can use contig from sysinternals to do that).
Do all this and I am sure that you will see an improvement in your Outlook performance. Oh yeah, as lots of people before me have said: DO NOT use RSS from within your Outlook. Turn it off. If you want a desktop aggregator use RSSBandit.

Contig v1.55
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb897428.aspx

Update for Outlook 2007 (KB933493)
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=C262BCFD-1E09-49B6-9003-C4C47539DF66&displaylang=en

Improving Windows XP Performance
http://www.pugetsystems.com/articles.php?id=32

IQ Test, IQ Games for Kids Toddler

Good samples
http://www.ixl.com/math/grades

http://www.syvum.com/iq/
http://www.syvum.com/cgi/online/serve.cgi/iq/ar_oddo1.html?question_hide

http://www.iq-test-for-kids.com/kids-iq-test.php

http://www.iqtest-center.com/questions.php

http://www.coolmath4kids.com/

http://www.seenandshared.com/leap-frog.html
ans : http://www.sonnyradio.com/leapfrogsolution.htm

Others :
http://www.learn-your-iq.com/

Parenting 101

A Discipline Questionnaire for Parents
http://www.drphil.com/articles/article/255

Parenting 101: Extreme Mistakes?
http://www.drphil.com/shows/show/310

Five Steps to Disciplining Your Kids
http://www.drphil.com/articles/article/248

Outlook 2007 Vista Problem - Mail Stuck at outbox

i always get error message when try to shut down outlook - "The data file 'personal folder' was not closed properly"

or A data file did not close properly the last time it was used and is being checked for problems

and also OUTLOOK.EXE continues running in the background after exit Outlook. Making it impossible to start outlook again.

Here is a good guide for solving the problem :

http://www.slipstick.com/problems/close.asp
http://www.howto-outlook.com/faq/outlookdoesntclose.htm

Problem: After closing Outlook, it continues to run. You need open the Task Manager and End Process.

Outlook can't close properly if another application is accessing Outlook's message store.

Symptoms which indicate that Outlook is not closing properly include receiving an alert telling you that Outlook is checking the data file when you open it. If you use two Outlook profiles, when you switch profiles you aren't presented the screen to select the profile and Outlook opens directly to the first profile.

Below is a list of software known to cause problems in all versions of Outlook. This list is intended to give you an idea of what types of programs will cause Outlook to remain running, most often Fax software, anti-spam or anti-virus software, or PDA sync software. However, the culprit on your computer may be a different program.

See Disable Add-in or uninstall the software.

Antivirus programs that support scanning email for viruses will tend to keep Outlook open. Disable email scanning and Outlook should close correctly. It's perfectly safe to disable this setting - it gives you advanced warning of viruses but as long as you can control your urge to open every attachment you receive, you'll be just as safe with it disabled. The antivirus programs that can affect Outlook include, but are not limited to, the following programs: Kaspersky Antivirus Pro version 5 Panda AntiVirus Outlook Plug-In (pavexcli.dll) Norton Antivirus with e-mail scanning and script blocking enabled. Once you identify the program that is causing Outlook to remain loaded, check their support site for updates and additional information, or diable or uninstall the add-in. Many spyware and adware programs hook into Outlook and other email clients. Removing them will usually correct the problem and allow Outlook to close properly.
Add-ins which may keep Outlook open	The following is a short list of add-ins which are reported to keep Outlook running after it's closed. WinFax Pro. Disable WinFax or remove the WinFax Fax log from the profile. Remove them by opening Tools, Options, Mail Setup tab, Data Files and delete if present. ActiveSync (especially when a PDA is cradled) Blackberry software Stamps.com (when using address from Outlook's Contacts) Outlook Express (when sharing Contacts with the Windows Address Book (WAB) Franklin Covey Plan Plus Mapilab's Messenger Journal utility Earthlink's Spamblocker (the installation file is ELSBSetup.exe) Outlook Attachment Sniffer TechSmith's SnagIt 7 with Outlook integration enabled. Cloudmark Spamnet OneNote 2003 (with Outlook 2000) Fourelle Venturi Client Internet Download Manager - uninstall iProtectYou TMAntispam - the antispam part of Trend Micro's PCCillin Internet Security 2005 suite Infuzer FSecure 2005 antispam add-in Prophet 2004 (by Avidian) - check for updates Intuit Quickbooks iTunes calendar sync add-in ABBYY FineReader 9.0
Disable Add-ins	Before uninstalling or disabling add-ins, check for an updated version. It may fix the problem. In Outlook 2003 and earlier, add-ins are found on the Tools, Options, Other tab. Click the Advanced Options button. Click COM Add-ins button and uncheck add-ins to disable. While most add-ins are listed under COM add-ins, some may be in Add-in manager. Return to Outlook. In Outlook 2007, you need to go to Tools, Trust Center, Add-ins. Select COM Add-ins from the dropdown at the bottom of the dialog Press Go. Uncheck the add-ins you suspect might be keeping Outlook open Close the dialog. Most add-ins will be listed in COM Add-ins, but a few may be listed under Exchange Client Extensions, which on the dropdown with COM Add-ins. I’m trying to disable some addins but I get the error; If you cannot disable addin “The connected state of Office Add-Ins registered in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE cannot be changed.” How can I disable the addin without uninstalling it? Sounds like you are using Outlook on Windows Vista. However you can also get this error on previous versions on Windows when you are logged on as user and not as an administrator. To disable the addin you must start Outlook with administrator privileges. Windows Vista Right click on the Outlook shortcut and choose “Run as administrator”. Then press Continue or provide administrator credentials when prompted. Once you’ve made the change, restart Outlook to run it under the user context again. Windows XP/2000 Logoff your user account and logon to the computer as an administrator. Once you’ve made the change, logon with your own user account again.
Other Causes	♦ Setting Outlook's "Empty deleted items when closing" option can also cause it. Disable it on the Tools, Options, Other tab. ♦ In sites where both Outlook 2000 and 2003 are in use, Outlook 2000 may not close properly due to conflicts between Outlook 2000 and 2003. This occurs when Outlook 2000 is used to open your mailbox after accessing it using Outlook 2003 or if another user viewed your shared Calendar with Outlook 2003. You can try opening Outlook 2000 using the /cleanfreebusy switch, but if that fails to correct the problem, you'll need to call Microsoft for the hotfix in Outlook 2000 Post-Service Pack 3 Hotfix Package: January 13, 2004. ♦ In addition, a corrupt *.SRS (send and receive profile file) appears to keep Outlook 2003 open. Find and rename the SRS for the profile. It's a hidden file found at C:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook. Use Windows Search to find the files (enable the advanced options to search all hidden files and folders) or paste this line into the Windows Explorer Address bar: %USERPROFILE%\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook To learn more about the files contained in this directory, see Outlook & Exchange/Windows Messaging Backup and Dual-Boot.
Tools	Close Outlook Close Outlook is a small utility that closes Outlook so you can back up the PST file. Just use the Windows Task Scheduler to run it before your automated backup starts. Free. KnockOut Free system tray application to monitor the state of Outlook (and Word) on your machine. Shows you when Outlook is running, even if you can't see any Outlook windows. Allows you to shut down Outlook or Word. Can turn off the "new mail" envelope icon. Very useful for developers. Outlook Shutdown Addin Outlook Shutdown Addin is a COM add-in which enables Outlook to shutdown completely when a user exits from the application, eliminating the need to open Task Manager to end OUTLOOK.EXE.
Developer Information	If you are a developer and your add-in is causing Outlook to remain open, get ItemsCB from the Resources page at www.microeye.com and use it to release all the Outlook objects and handle all errors. If you need additional assistance, visit the forums at OutlookCode.com or the Outlook programming newsgroups at news://msnews.microsoft.com. If you are unable to use a newsreader (such as Outlook Express) to access the newsgroups, you can use the web-based interface to the newsgroups.
More Information	Mail Issues with Microsoft Outlook

Update (2) on China Banned Milk / Dairy Products

List of safe milk products - Health Ministry Malaysia

Mead Johnson
(Milk ingredient sourced from Australia, New Zealand, United States and Europe)
Enfalac A+
Enfalac Routine Infant Formula
Enfapro A+
Enfapro Routine Follow Up Formula
Enfagrow A+ Vanilla
Enfagrow A+ Original
Enfagrow A+ Honey
Enfakid A+ Original
Enfakid A+ Honey
Sustagen Junior Honey
Sustagen Junior Vanilla
Sustagen Junior Chocolate
Sustagen Kid Honey
Sustagen Kid Vanilla
Sustagen Kid Chocolate
Sustagen School Honey
Sustagen School Vanilla
Sustagen School Chocolate
Enfamama A+ Chocolate
Enfamama A+ Vanilla
Enfalac A+ AR
Enfalac A+ HA
Prosobee
Enfalac LF
Enfalac A+ Premature Powder

Dumex
(Milk ingredient sourced from Australia and New Zealand)
Mamex Gold Step 1
Dulac Infant Formula
Bebelac Step 1
Mamex Gold Step 2
Dupro Follow Up Formula
Bebelac Step 2
Mamil Gold Step 3
Mamil Gold Step 4
Dugro 1 Plus
Dugro 3 Plus
Dugro 6 Plus
Bebelac Kid Step 3
Bebelac Kid Step 4
Bebelac FL
Bebelac EC
Mamex LF
Nutrakids Cereals
Mamil Mama

Nestle
(Milk ingredient sourced from Australia, New Zealand, United States and Europe)
Nestle Yogurt Drinks
Nestle Bliss Zero Fat Yogurt Drink
Nestle Premium Fruit Yogurt
Nestle Natural Yogurt
Yoco range
Nespray Instant
Everyday Instant filled milk powder
Nestle Omega Acticol
Nespray Cergas
Nesvita High Cal Non Fat
Nespray 1+ Original
Nespray 1+ Honey
Nespray 3+ Original
Nespray 3+ Honey
Nespray 5+
Neslac 1+ Original
Neslac 1+ Honey
Neslac 3+ Original
Neslac 3+ Honey
Milo range of products
Kit Kat range of products
Nestle Potong red bean
Nestle Milky Bar and Crunch
Mat Kool range of products
Nestle Tropicana Lime/Vanilla
Nestle Crunch
Nestle Original Lime/Vanilla
Sundae cup KFC Vanilla
Nestle Sundae Cup Vanilla
KFC dessert orange sherbet
Nestle range of ice cream
Favorita range of products
Nestle Drumstick range of products
Maggi fixes and Maggi soup containing milk
Nestle Full Cream Milk, Low Fat Milk
Omega UHT
Nesvita UHT
Nesquik UHT
Nespray UHT
Nesvita Hi Cal UHT
Nescafe 3 in 1
Nescafe Mocha Freeze
Nestle Prebio 1 (infant cereals with milk)
Nestle Teh Tarik
Nescafe Body Partners
Nestum Sarapan Berkhasiat
Nestum Cereals 3 in 1
Nesvita 3 in 1
Nestle Cereals (premium infant cereals)
Nescafe range of can drink products
Cap Junjung sweetened beverage creamer
Ideal Full Cream Evaporated Milk
Carnation Evaporated Creamer

Fonterra Brands
(Milk ingredient sourced New Zealand)
Anlene Gold Milk Powder
Anlene Regular milk powder (plain/chocolate)
Fernleaf Kuat milk powder
Fernleaf Instant milk powder
Anmum Materna milk powder
Anmum Lacta milk powder
Anlene Concentrate UHT
Anlene Yogurt
Fernleaf Calciyum yogurt
Fernleaf full cream milk powder
Fernleaf growing up milk powder 1+
Fernleaf growing up milk powder 3+
Anmum growing up milk powder 1+
Anmum growing up milk powder 3+
Anmum Infacare infant formula
Anmum Infacare follow on formula
Chesdale slice cheese
Anchor butter
Anchor cream cheese
Anchor mozzarella cheese
Anchor Colby Cheddar blend shred
Anchor processed cheddar cheese
Anchor whipping cream (UHT)
Anchor culinary cream (UHT)
Anchor full cream milk powder

Kilang Makanan Mamee
(Milk ingredient sourced from Australia)
Nutrigen Cultured Milk
Nutrigen IQ3 Cultured Milk
Nutrigen Liteyo Yogurt Drink
Nutrigen Liteyo Stirred Yogurt

Dutch Lady
(Milk ingredient sourced from Australia, Thailand, Indonesia and Netherlands)
Frisolac 1 Gold
Frisolac 2 Gold
Dutch Lady UHT
Frisolac Comfort
Completa Brand
Yes! Tutti Fruiti
Yes! Grape
Yes! Strawberry
Yes! Orange
Dutch Lady 2

Ace Canning Corporation
(Milk ingredient sourced from New Zealand)
Drinho Rose Bandung
Dutch Mill
Nugrow

Maestro Swiss Food Sdn Bhd
(Milk ingredient not sourced from China)
Vico
Vochelle
Darryʼs

Wyeth Malaysia
(Milk ingredient not sourced from China)
SMA
S26
S26 Gold
Nursoy
Promil
Promil Gold
Progress
Progress Gold
Promise
Promise Gold
Wyeth Mama
Enercal Plus
S26 LBW
S26 HMF
Malaysia Milk Sdn Bhd / Cotra Enterprise Sdn Bhd
(Milk ingredient sourced from Australia and New Zealand)
Vitagen cultured milk drink
Marigold HL Milk
Marigold Pasturised Milk
Marigold UHT Milk
Marigold Cream yogurt
Marigold Yogurt drink
Marigold sweetened condensed filled milk
Marigold sweetened creamer (from Singapore)
Vitagen Collagen cultured milk drink
Marigold sweetened creamer
Marigold evaporated filled milk
Marigold evaporated creamer


GlaxoSmithKline
(Milk ingredient sourced from UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand)
Horlicks Malt Food Drink
Horlicks Malties
Horlicks 3 in 1
Horlicks Instant cereal drink

Source : http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/9/23/nation/20080923192631&sec=nation

Update China Banned Dairy Products

Hi,

I just received an sms, asking everyone to be alert and stay away from M&M's Yoghurt, dove chocolate, oera wafer sticks, monmilk, dutchlady milk, wall's all natural mango, mini poppers ice cream, magnum ice cream, moo sanwich icecream, mini cornetto, youcan icecream.

AVA Singapore ordered Robinsons to remove those items. Any singapore readers can confirm if this is true or this is a prank??

Anyway, please be alert! Fwd to your loves one!

I used to eat and love to eat the White Rabbit candies! @_@

China Banned Dairy Products - Milk Caused Kidney Stones

2008 September Outbreak :
Scandal over melamine-tainted milk in China that's linked to four infant deaths and the hospitalization of 12,892 babies.

The scandal was brought to light on Sept. 11 when the Beijing-based Ministry of Health said it found melamine in baby formula made by Sanlu Group Co., 43 percent owned by Auckland, New Zealand-based Fonterra Cooperative Group Ltd.

Melamine-tainted dairy products have killed four children and sickened 12,892 others in China as of 8 p.m. Sunday, according to official reports by the Chinese Ministry of Health. In China, 39,965 children have visited clinics after falling ill from the powder

HongKong :
Recalls have been announced by Hong Kong authorities and by a major Japanese food company, Marudai Food Company, for products that may have been made with Chinese milk.
Hong Kong's two largest supermarket chains Wellcome and ParknShop withdrew Nestle SA's milk products after traces of melamine were found in a sample.

>>> Nestle said the amount was minute and wasn't considered harmful??!!!

Malaysia:
Imposed a "level six import ban" on all Chinese dairy products.

Singapore :
Banned milk from China.
Today 22Sept 2008, Singapore finds melamine in White Rabbit candies!!



The Straits Times reports: Singapore's Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) said samples of White Rabbit-brand Creamy Candy imported from China were contaminated with melamine, an industrial chemical that can cause kidney stones and lead to kidney failure.
Authorities on Friday suspended the sale and import of all Chinese milk and dairy products after finding melamine in samples of a Yili-brand yogurt bar and Dutch Lady-brand strawberry milk manufactured in China. The ban includes milk, ice cream, yogurt, chocolate, biscuits and candy, as well as any other products containing milk from China as an ingredient.

'Retailers and importers have been instructed to recall these products and withhold them from sale,' the AVA said in a statement.

'Consumers who have bought the affected products are advised not to consume them.'

Myanmar:
To seize and destroy imported Chinese baby formula to safeguard against poisoning by the toxic chemical melamine

Brunei:
has ordered a blanket ban on all China-made milk products and dairy items.

Bangladesh:
has also started on a crackdown and ban on three brands of Chinese-made milk powder

Africa :
Tanzania and Gabon were the first to impose bans on Chinese dairy products and Burundi has just joined them in the ban.

USA :
U.S.-based Starbucks coffee chain has pulled all its products made with milk from its more than 300 stores in China.
"Baby formula from China is illegal in the United States and should not be used," U.S. food regulators warned after Chinese officials confirmed that the milk powder contamination led to the death of the infant.

China :
China's top food quality body released a report that said some milk sold by the country's three major dairy companies : Shanghai-based Bright Dairy GuangMing, Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial Group Co. and China Mengniu Dairy Co., was contaminated with the industrial chemical melamine.

KFC and Starbucks have confirmed usage of products from dairies involved by China's contaminated milk crisis. Both companies issued statements confirming their outlets used products provided by Mengniu, one of China’s largest dairy suppliers, after melamine was found in some of its milk products.

Taiwan :
King Car Food Industrial Co. recalled its instant chicken- corn soup, milk tea and Mr. Brown coffee drinks after the closely held Taiwan company found melamine traces during voluntary testing of products that had used ingredients imported from China

Should I give honey for my baby? Food to avoid for Babies

The Food Standards Agency say, "Don't give honey to your baby until he or she is a year old. This is because, very occasionally, honey can contain a type of bacteria that can produce toxins in a baby's intestines. This can cause serious illness (infant botulism). After a baby is a year old, the intestine has matured and the bacteria can't grow."

Link here : http://www.babyworld.co.uk/information/baby/ready_or_not_guide/baby_questions2.asp#eat

Although honey seems like a wholesome, natural food to feed your infant, don't do it until after he's at least 12 months old. It isn't safe to feed your baby honey or corn syrup — or even cooked foods sweetened with either one — until after his first birthday. Both products can contain spores of a toxic bacteria calledClostridium botulinum. Cooking and pasteurization don't always kill these hardy spores.

If adults or children over 1 year old eat these spores, it's harmless, because their bodies have built up an immunity to them. But they are harmful to babies, whose digestive and immune systems aren't fully developed:

The bacteria can grow in the intestines and cause infant botulism, a food-borne illness that is rare but can be fatal, says the American Academy of Pediatrics.

The symptoms of infant botulism include constipation followed by weakness, loss of appetite, irritability, and a weak cry. If you notice these symptoms in your baby, call his doctor right away.

http://www.babycenter.com/408_when-can-my-baby-eat-honey_1368490.bc

Honey is as harmful to teeth and gums as other types of sugar and should be viewed no differently.

Stick to Safer Alternatives

In relation to the avoidance of honey coated cereals, giving a baby is also best avoided due to the potential choking risks of babies eating small food items such as this.

If parents really want to offer something sweet but safe, the following foods are problem-free:

 Bananas
 Fruit purees (e.g. mango, apple, peach)
 Mashed sweet potato
 Baby rice
 Baby porridge (some are flavored with natural fruit)

Never take risks when introducing unfamiliar foods to a baby. If you are ever unsure, the safest thing to do is consult a pediatrician to be extra safe. Fortunately, food labelling is improving all the time, and foods that carry even the slightest degree of risk tend to be labelled with clear warnings.

http://baby.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Can_a_Baby_Eat_Honey

Foods that can be unsafe for your baby

Reviewed by the BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board

Highlights
Foods to avoid: Newborn to 4 to 6 months
Foods to avoid: 4 to 12 months
Foods to avoid: 12 to 36 months

Warning signs of an allergic reaction

As your baby grows, he'll become eager to sample food from your plate — and you'll be eager to introduce some variety to his diet. But not all foods are safe for your child. Some pose a choking hazard, a few aren't good for your baby's still-developing digestive system, and others are potential allergens. (Some families are more prone to allergies than others. If yours is one, read on for suggestions on how to approach certain foods.)

Here's an age-by-age look at which foods to avoid:

Foods to avoid: Newborn to 4 to 6 months

All solid food: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that you feed your baby only breast milk or formula for the first four to six months.

Foods to avoid: 4 to 12 months

Citrus:
Introducing citrus fruits and juices before age 1 may provoke an allergic reaction, especially if allergies run in your family.

Egg whites:
Your baby can eat egg yolks now, but wait a year on the protein-rich whites because he may be allergic to them. In fact, if you think your baby is at high risk for allergies, you may want to delay giving him egg whites until he's 2.

Honey:
Honey can harbor spores of Clostridium botulinum, which causes botulism. An adult's intestinal tract is able to prevent the growth of these spores, but in a baby the spores can grow and produce life-threatening toxins.

Peanut butter:
Peanuts are highly allergenic. Rather than risk a violent allergic reaction, wait until your child is at least a year old before introducing peanut butter. (If you or your mate has peanut allergies, wait until your child is at least 3.) Another reason to hold off on peanut butter is its sticky consistency, which can make it tough for a young child to swallow safely.

Wheat or wheat products:
Most babies can handle wheat — found in many cereals and breads — when they're about 6 to 8 months old. Wheat is the most common grain allergen, though, so if you're concerned about allergies, it might be a good idea to wait until your baby is 1.

Shellfish:
Because it can be highly allergenic, experts recommend excluding shellfish from your baby's diet until his first birthday. (If you suspect he's susceptible to allergies, wait until he's between 3 and 4 years old.)

Tree nuts (like pecans and walnuts):
If you think your baby is at risk for allergies, you might want to wait until he's 3 or 4 before giving him nuts. Otherwise he can probably handle them when he's 1, as long as they're pureed in food or in nut butters. (Whole nuts and pieces of nuts pose a choking hazard.)

Other potential allergens:
If you're concerned that your baby may be prone to allergies because of your own allergies or your mate's, you might choose to delay the introduction of other commonly allergenic foods — like corn, soy, chocolate, or anything else you're allergic to — until your baby's at least 1. Depending on the severity of your allergy and other factors, you may want to wait even longer. For help making this decision, talk to your child's doctor.

If you're breastfeeding, avoiding all nuts and possibly eggs and milk in your own diet may help in delaying or preventing allergies in your baby.

Cow's milk:
Stick with breast milk or formula until your child's first birthday. Why? Your baby can't digest the protein in cow's milk for the first year, it doesn't have all the nutrients he needs, and it contains minerals in amounts that can damage his kidneys.

Large chunks:
Pea-size pieces of food are safest — they won't get stuck in your child's throat. Vegetables like carrots, celery, and green beans should be diced, shredded, or cooked and cut up. Fruits like grapes, cherry tomatoes, and melon balls should be cut into quarters before serving, and meats and cheeses should be cut into very small pieces or shredded.

Small, hard foods:
Nuts, popcorn, cough drops, hard candies, raisins, and other small dried fruit and seeds are potential choking hazards. Also avoid chewing gum and soft foods like marshmallows and jelly candies that might get lodged in your child's throat.

More choking prevention:


• Avoid letting your child eat in the car since it's hard to supervise while driving.

• If you're using a rub-on teething medication, keep an even closer eye on your baby as it can numb his throat and interfere with swallowing.

Foods to avoid: 12 to 36 months

Low-fat milk:
Your toddler needs the fat and calories of whole milk for growth and development. Once he turns 2 (and if he doesn't have any growth problems), you can start giving him lower-fat milk if you like.

Choking hazards:
Continue to avoid all the choking hazards listed above, as your child might still have trouble getting them down safely. Also be careful not to give him large dollops of peanut butter. Instead, spread it thinly on bread or crackers. You might want to try thinning it with some applesauce before spreading it.

Highly allergenic foods:
Most kids can handle common allergens by their first birthday. If you're concerned about allergies, experts suggest delaying the introduction of egg whites until age 2, and holding off on shellfish, tree nuts, and peanuts (including peanut butter) until your child is at least 3.

Warning signs of an allergic reaction

Signs of an allergic or bad reaction to food include vomiting, diarrhea, rash, swelling, abdominal pain, cough, crankiness, excessive gas, hives, itching, runny nose, shortness of breath, stomach bloating, and wheezing. Symptoms most often show up within a few hours of eating. Call your doctor right away if you think your child may be reacting badly to something he ate.

This article was reviewed by Stephen R. Daniels, chief of pediatrics at The Children's Hospital in Denver, Colorado.

http://www.babycenter.com/0_foods-that-can-be-unsafe-for-your-baby_9195.bc

Solid Food for Baby, Beware of Allergies

Please let us not be ignorant and be an educated parents

I am posting this to share my collection and studies from the net with all learning parents like myself.

Food Allergies

http://www.keepkidshealthy.com/infant/startingsolids.html

Preventing food allergies may be possible, especially if your child is at high risk of having a food allergy, including already having an allergy to aother food or formula, having other family members with food allergies, or having other 'allergic' type conditions or family members with these conditions, such as eczema, allergic rhinitis (hayfever) and/or asthma.

If your child is at high risk of having food allergies, you should also delay offering solids until he is at least six months old (and continue breastfeeding), and begin with an iron fortified infant cereal. It is best to start with rice and oat cereals and introduce wheat cereals later. Next you can introduce vegetables, but avoid legumes (foods in the bean and pea family) at first, and then non-citrus fruits and fruit juices. Meat and protein foods can be added once your child is 8-9 months old.

Foods to avoid until your infant is at least a year old include cow's milk, citrus fruits and juices, and wheat and egg whites until he is two. Also, avoid giving peanuts (as smooth peanut butter), fish and shellfish until your child is at least three years old. Whole peanuts and tree nuts should be avoided until your child is four because of the choke hazard.

When you do introduce new foods, do so slowly and only give one new food every four to five days. This way, if your child does have a reaction or allergy, then you will know which food caused it and you will be able to avoid giving it again.

Six to Seven Months

While continuing to give 4-5 feedings of breast milk or formula (24-32 ounces) and 4 or more tablespoons of cereal each day, you can now start to give well-cooked, strained, or mashed vegetables or commercially prepared baby foods. Start with one tablespoon of a mild tasting vegetable, such as green beans, peas, squash or carrots and gradually increase to 4-5 tablespoons one or two times each day.

Start fruits about a month after starting vegetables and again, gradually increase to 4-5 tablespoons one or two times each day. You can use peeled, cooked, or canned fruits (but only those packed in light syrup or water) that have been blenderized or strained

You can also begin to offer 2-4 ounces of 100% fruit juices. Start by mixing one part juice with two parts of water and offer it in a cup.

Solid Food : Best Delayed

http://www.breastfeed-essentials.com/solidfood.html

The younger the baby, the more likely it is that any foods other than human milk will cause food allergies.

At about six months of age, the baby begins producing enough antibodies to prevent such allergic reactions. This benefit is especially important for a baby whose family has a history of allergies.

Because a young baby's digestive system is immature, he may not be able to digest other foods as well, perhaps making spitting up, constipation, and diarrhea more common.

Early introduction of solids puts the baby at risk for premature weaning.

Introducing Solid Foods To Your Baby

http://www.modernstork.com/content/002460.shtml

Cereals First
Stage 1 foods begin with rice cereal, which contains the highest levels of iron, a basic necessity for fast-growing infants.

Mix one teaspoon of rice cereal for every 4 to 5 teaspoons breastmilk to make it easier to digest. Do not place food in the bottle - learning to eat from a spoon is just as important in baby's development as eating the food itself.

Since rice cereal is constipating, if your infant is already having constipation problems, try oatmeal instead.

Introduce Solid Food in This Order:

• Rice cereal/oatmeal
• Other cereals
• Fruits, one at a time
• Yellow vegetables
• Green vegetables

Avoid

• Foods easy to choke on, like raisins, nuts, popcorn, berries, and grapes.
• Hot dogs, unless you split them in half lengthwise before cutting them up
• Honey (wait until after baby's first year), because it may develop into botulism.

What Should Babies Eat?

http://www.indianchild.com/parenting/babies/what_should_babies_eat.htm

• What is good for adults is not always good for babies.
• For the first two years babies need full cream milk and cheese otherwise their bodies cannot absorb important vitamins and minerals.
• Cow's milk can cause allergies so try goat's milk. Other foods can cause allergies too such as egg whites, peanut butter, soybeans, fish, pears, beans and some spices.
• Introduce one food at a time so you know which, if any, food is causing an allergy.
• Baby's stomachs are not big so if they are filled with fibre the baby won't get all the vitamins and minerals needed.
• Babies can be vegetarian but they must have eggs and milk as well.
• If your baby is eating fruit and vegetables, it should not need juice as well to get Vitamin C. Too much juice can cause diarrhoea.
• Babies should not be given nuts (especially peanuts) as they can choke.
• You can make your family meal suit your baby by:
• pureeing and mashing vegetables and meats you are eating - remember introduce only one food at a time
• mashing food less finely as baby gets older
• giving cubes of fruit, cheese, tofu, bread, toast, crackers and squares of cooked potatoes once a baby is over a year old.
• Don't give your baby sugary and salty snacks.

When Should My Baby Eat Solids?

http://www.babyslumber.com/articles/feeding/when-should-my-baby-eat-solids/

The best things to try to feed a young baby are vegetables and fruits, which are easy to digest and have pleasant flavors while not containing additives. Mashed potato is an excellent starter, as is mashed banana and cooked apple and pear. Pureed soup, the consistency of thick cream, also usually goes down well.

When first feeding your baby solids, his tongue-thrusting reflex may have him spitting food out as quickly as you can spoon it in. This doesn’t necessarily mean he doesn’t like the food; it’s just an instinctive reaction. If he screws his nose up, however, that might be a sign that he’s not too thrilled, but again, don’t be perturbed. Tastes are new sensations to little babies. Keep food bland. Babies have a much higher sense of taste than adults so a great deal of flavor is not needed.

Always introduce one kind of food at a time, to gauge for reactions. You might find that a particular food causes tummy ache or a rash, in which case, your child might have an allergy to it. If so, discontinue it and try again in a few weeks time. Otherwise, once you’re confident that a food is ok, you can try something new.

Some foods should be avoided until after a child’s first birthday. They include honey, eggs, nuts, dairy and citrus fruits. Honey contains a bacteria that can be detrimental in a baby’s diet, eggs and nuts can cause allergic reactions, dairy products are not able to be processed by underdeveloped digestive systems and citrus fruits are too acidic to be included in a high milk diet.

American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI)

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,206158,00.html

The ACAAI food allergy committee also specifically recommends that -- when there is evidence of an increased risk for food allergies -- cow’s milk and other dairy products should be avoided for the first year of life; eggs should not be given until at least age 2; and peanuts, tree nuts, fish, and other seafood should be avoided until at least age 3.

Staple foods, such as fruits, vegetables, meats, soy, and cereal be introduced “individually and gradually” to lessen allergy risk. Mixed foods containing a variety of potentially allergenic foods should be avoided until the baby’s tolerance to each ingredient is known. Beef, vegetables, and fruits should initially be given in the form of prepared baby foods that are cooked and homogenized. Studies suggest these processed foods are less likely to cause allergies than their fresh counterparts.

Top 8 Allergenic Foods that account for 90% of all Food Allergies

http://www.foodallergy.org/allergens.html

· Milk

· Egg

· Peanut

· Tree nut (walnut, cashew, etc.)

· Fish

· Shellfish

· Soy

· Wheat

How to Spot a Potential Allergic Reaction

http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/allergy.htm

Here are several things you might note that may indicate baby has a potential allergic reaction or intolerance to a food.

· Sudden loose, diarrhea stools and/or vomiting

· Sudden rashes on the skin and bottom

· Runny Nose

· Hives

· Irritability and/or gassiness after a new food/meal

· Breathing or other respiratory troubles after a new food/meal

· Swelling of the Face, Lips and/or Tongue

· Closure or tightening of the throat

The "4 Day Wait Rule and Allergies:

It is very important to follow the "four day wait" rule when introducing your baby to new solid foods. When you introduce a new food over the course of several days, you are better able to determine exactly how your baby is reacting to that food. This is most important if you and/or your family members have a history of food allergies.

Following the four day wait rule and introducing new foods one at a time will also enable you to easily begin an "elimination diet". If you suspect your infant has had an adverse reaction to a new food, you will have just a few foods to look to as the culprit.

Introduce new foods during the morning or early afternoon. This will enable you to deal with any adverse reactions when your pediatrician is in office. Should an adverse reaction occur during the morning/early afternoon, it will cause the least amount of disruption in baby's fragile routine.

Many commercial baby foods as well as foods targeted to babies and toddlers contain allergenic ingredients!

If your baby has a food allergy or your family has a serious history of food allergies - read the labels when purchasing commercial baby food!

A few examples:

• Cheerios (wheat, soy protein)
• Instant Infant Cereals (soy)
• Stage "2", "3" and Toddler Meals (wheat, soy, casein (milk protein), albumin (egg)
• Gerber "Puffs" (wheat, soy)

Baby Feeding Schedule for 6-8 Month Old

http://www.easybabylife.com/feeding-schedule.html

Baby Feeding Schedule For The 8-12-Month Old Baby

http://www.easybabylife.com/baby-feeding-schedule.html

Eight to Nine Months

http://www.keepkidshealthy.com/infant/startingsolids.html

While continuing to give 3-4 feedings of breast milk or formula (24-32 ounces) and 4 or more tablespoons of cereal, vegetables and fruit one or two times each day, you can now start to give more protein containing foods. These include well-cooked, strained or ground plain meats (chicken, beef, turkey, veal, lamb, boneless fish, or liver), mild cheese, peanutbutter (this is controversial though), or egg yolks (no egg whites as there is a high chance of allergic reactions in infants less than 12 months old). If using commercially prepared jars of baby food, do not use vegetables with meat as they have little meat and less protein and iron than jars with plain meat.

Start with 1-2 tablespoons and increase to 3-4 tablespoons once each day. If your baby doesn't seem to like to eat plain meat, then you can mix it with a vegetable that they already like as you offer it.

You can also start to offer soft table foods and finger foods at this age. Give soft, bite-size pieces of food, such as soft fruit and vegetable pieces, pastas, graham or saltine crackers, and dry cheerios, but do not give these foods if the child is going to be unattended in case of choking.

You can also begin to offer 3-4 ounces of formula or 100% fruit juice in a cup at this time.

Ten to Twelve Months

Your baby's diet will begin to resemble that of the rest of the families, with 3 meals and 2 snacks each day and will include 3-4 feedings of breast milk or formula, iron fortified cereal (1/4 – 1/2 cup at breakfast), vegetables and fruits (1/2 cup/jar at lunch and dinner), protein foods (2-4 tablespoons each day), 100% fruit juice (2-6 ounces in a cup each day), and some finger foods.

It is important to offer a variety of foods to encourage good eating habits later.

Weaning

There is no set age at which you should wean your baby. The current recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics is to continue to breast feed until your child is at least age one. It is also an age when most children can successfully drink from a cup and is therefore a good time to wean. You can gradually wean your child from breast feeding by stopping one feeding every four or five days and then gradually reducing the amount of nursing when you are down to one feeding each day.

If you wean before the age of one, then you should introduce an infant formula and not cow's milk.

Twelve Months and Beyond

You may now give your baby homogenized whole cow's milk. Do not use 2%, low fat, or skim milk until your child is 2-3 years old.

If using soy milk after your child is a year old, keep in mind that it is low fat. A toddler soy formula may be a better alternative, or try to make up for the reduced fat intake from milk in other areas of your child's diet.

Your child should now want to feed himself with his fingers and a spoon or fork and should be able to drink out of a cup. The next few months will be time to stop using a bottle. As with weaning from breastfeeding, you can wean from a bottle by stopping one bottle feeding every four or five days and then gradually reducing the amount in the bottle when you are down to one each day.

Remember that your baby's appetite may decrease and become pickier over the next few years as his growth rate slows.

Until your child is at least 4 years old, you should avoid foods that can cause choking, including chewing gum, nuts, raisins, popcorn, chunks of peanut butter, hard candy, or hard, round foods (such as chunks of raw carrots, celery, grapes, or hot dogs).

Large amounts of sweet desserts, soft drinks, fruit-flavored drinks, sugarcoated cereals, chips or candy, should be avoided, as they have little nutritional value.

Also avoid overfeeding. Do not encourage your child to eat after he is full, as this can lead to a habit of overeating.

Following these guidelines will help you give your baby the good nutrition he or she needs to grow up to his or her full potential and a healthy life.