Natural Pediatrics

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.

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.

Teething can be a challenging time for infants and their parents. Here are a few Natural remedies to help with many of the unpleasant symptoms associated with teething.