Natural Pediatrics

Most new parents are familiar with “child-proofing” and make an effort to keep rooms safe for young children to explore. We worry about choking hazards, things that can fall and hurt them, toxic chemicals in household cleaning products, and electrical sockets. But what about the very place your child sleeps at night? Did you know that many of the chemicals used in flame retardants on conventional crib and bed mattresses and even in children’s pajamas can be toxic to some children? Did you know that there are safer nontoxic alternatives?

While I am not completely opposed to the use of over the counter pain relievers in certain situations, I have many parents ask me for suitable alternatives for pain relief for their young child. Here are a few suggestions, but keep in mind that if you do not know what is causing your child’s pain or efforts to relieve pain do not seem to help, you should take them to a qualified healthcare provider for evaluation.

Many parents question the use of chemical-laden sunscreens on their infants and young children. Even though sunscreens formulated for infants are technically “safe” to use, they may not be the most desirable option. Up until a few years ago, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended against the use of any sunscreen on infants under 6 months of age due to unknown safety risks. They revised their statement in 2004, since damage from sunburn can certainly outweigh the risks of using small amounts of sunscreen when shade or protective clothing is unavailable. As a Naturopath, my advice to parents of young infants and children is to avoid the use of sunscreen and instead, make sure their child is wearing light weight protective clothing and a sunhat to avoid sunburn. Young infants should also be kept out of the heat since they are more susceptible to heat stroke due to their inability to regulate body temperature effectively.

Anxiety is becoming more prevalent in our children. There are several reasons for this, including faster paced lifestyles, busy schedules, and lack of good health habits, such as a healthy diet, exercise, and good sleep. While temperament can play a role and predispose certain children to developing an anxiety disorder, lifestyle factors may have a larger influence, meaning most anxiety disorders can be treated successfully without medications. It is important to understand that anxiety in children can present in many different ways. It can range from extreme shyness, to aggressive behavior. It can manifest as physical symptoms, such as headaches, stomachaches, and even asthma. Children with anxiety may have difficulty sleeping due to worry, or they may have anxiety because they aren’t getting enough sleep to begin with. Untreated anxiety can lead to severe consequences, such as drug and alcohol abuse, eating disorders, and may also be associated with other mental health disorders. Anxiety disorders an estimated 13% of children ages 9-17 and are becoming almost as prevalent in younger children as well. If you suspect your child suffers from anxiety, you should discuss the issue with his or her healthcare provider. You may also request the assistance of the school counselor or psychologist in having your child properly evaluated and diagnosed. If you know your child suffers from anxiety, here are a few Natural things to try:

In these financially strapping times, many parents are looking closely at their budgets and wondering where to make cuts without doing harm to their family. This begs the question “is it really worth spending the extra money on organic food, or can we get by on the cheap stuff?” A tough question for some parents, since there is not a lot of published information on the benefits of organic food over commercially farmed food. Even more discouraging, are some of the studies published lately that seem to contradict what we thought were the health benefits of diets high in fresh fruits and vegetables. While some “organic” foods have been shown to be healthier and safer than their non-organic counterparts, there are plenty of researchers in the field (AKA cynics) who view the “organic” trend as simply a lifestyle choice rather than a movement towards better health. There was even a report published in the UK last year indicating no difference in the health benefits of organic vs. conventionally grown foods, so why, then, spend the extra money on organic foods?

As a Naturopathic Doctor, I frequently counsel parents of young children on the pros and cons of vaccines. I am writing this blog post for readers who are especially skeptical and/or fearful of vaccines in general. Hopefully this basic information will prompt you to discuss this topic further with your child’s healthcare provider, especially if your child is not already vaccinated.

Probiotiocs are “good” bacteria that normally colonize the digestive tract. Lack of these bacteria can lead to digestive disruption and symptoms such as chronic diarrhea and/or constipation. The “good” bacteria also happen to play a large role in our overall health, since the digestive tract contains over 40% of our body’s immune system.

With all the hype about the flu this past fall and winter, you may have been misled to think that flu is a leading cause of death in infants and children. While influenza may be the leading cause of death due to infectious disease in the U.S., it is far from the leading cause of death of infants and children. The leading cause of death for the age groups of 1-4 years, 5-14 years, and 15-24 years in the U.S. is accidents, and of these tragedies, automobile accidents make up the majority.

Many parents have observed a correlation between over-tiredness and hyperactivity in their young children. What I recently learned and may come as a surprise to many parents out there is how significant an impact poor sleep can have on a child’s behavior and ability to function in school.

Many parents have experienced challenges with bedtime at least once during parenthood. In this day and age, there are many “experts” out there willing to share their advice (some for free, and some for a price) on how to get your children to sleep. It should go without saying that what works for one family, doesn’t necessarily work for another; however, with the availability of information and pressure to do things the “right” way, many parents have lost the ability to tap into their intuition and do what is best for their own child and family situation.