Natural, Kids Health Tips for Winter

I am trying like the dickens to keep my kids healthy this winter. (Ambitious or crazy?) I met a very cool doctor at a regional kids emergency walk-in center. (Express Pediatrics) . This doctor was completely in support of my natural health practices with my children and gave me some great advice to help boost their immunity during the cold and flu season.

Children's Echinacea drops, Vitamin C and Vitamin D drops, were the top of her list of immune boosters. You should consult with your own health professional on age/how/when/how much.

I use Herb Pharm Children's Echinacea. It has a sweet orange flavor and the kids don't seem to mind taking it. For Vitamin C, I'm trying the Yummi Bears brand. At first my oldest was a little skeptical since he's had gummy bears candy. After a few days, he now looks forward to taking them. I am very cautious about using the Vitamin D drops. Our family natural health provider has informed us about the new, reduced, recommended levels so this is definitely something you should talk to your health professional about for a recommendation. Too much Vitamin D has been reported as unsafe or toxic. You can read more about recommended levels from the University of Michigan Health System. The Vitamin D council addresses some of the opinions and relays some facts. Be sure to do your homework if you choose to use Vitamin D. Natural sunshine exposure is best, but let's face it, not all of us live in the land of sunshine.

Biters in daycare

With my older child I never had to deal with biting, giving or receiving. He was home with Grammy and protected from biters. Now my 1 year old is in daycare and has been bitten by the same child more than a dozen times in four months, or so it seems. I have to count the incident reports.

Two months ago the daycare told me they were addressing the situation with the biter's parents. Well, it hasn't stopped and it has recently gotten worse. Now instead of my little one coming home with a little red mark that lasts a day or two, he's coming home with a mark that lasts a week or more. The biter is really getting a mouthful and he's only going to get bigger!

I'm standing on them with two feet to remedy the situation, quick! They have been very accomodating with my children's special dietary restrictions and many of the staff are outwardly mothering and lovely to my children. So, I don't want to start a war, but this has to stop. If you've dealt with any biters, I'd love to hear about your experience. Hurry, before my kid starts biting back!

Here's an interesting article on babycenter about a biter and some other mom comments on dealing with biting or biters in their childs lives.

Nalgene Sippy Cups - I love these things!

A cousin came to Thanksgiving dinner at my house with her almost-two-year-old. She had a Nalgene Grip n' Gulp kids' water bottle. It looked cool and the baby carried it with her all around the house. So, of course, the neat freak in me, wondered if it was like most other sippy cups that leak. Nope.  

On black Friday I came across these bottles for sale at a sporting goods store and bought a couple for my boys. They love them!  It's a great way to get them to stay hydrated. They even ask to use them!  They come in a handful of colors including green, blue, pink and purple, and they're BPA-free. 

The best feature of the Nalgene Grip 'n Gulp is that they are super easy to clean. You pull out the silicone valve from under the lid and a nipple bottle brush fits into the sipper spout to get thoroughly clean. Unfortunately the silicone valve stains easily...I put carrot/apple juice in one and the silicone valve is forever stained orange.  

Back to the looking cool comment I made above...they are translucent so you can see how much liquid is in them and the lid is color-coordinated. The lid feels like rubber and the sipper spout seems to be resistant to teeth marks, so it remains clean looking.  (Don't 'cha just cringe at a gnarly-looking chewed sipper cup?!? ) It looks like something an adult wouldn't be embarrassed to carry. Again, I love these bottles and am on the verge of recycling every other one we own.   Here are a couple retailers where you can find these: 

Dick's Sporting Goods 

Amazon