I love treating children as they respond so readily to natural medicine. I try to educate women before they are pregnant to prime their bodies to produce the healthiest children possible. Folic acid is now recommended routinely to prevent spina bifida in newborns, however this needs to be taken well before pregnancy to be of much use, especially for those women who have a history of taking birth control pills as they deplete the body of folic acid. Before pregnancy is also a good time to cleanse the body of accumulated toxins, as I don't recommend any cleansing while pregnant or breast-feeding. During pregnancy a prenatal vitamin is recommended that contains sufficient levels of calcium and iron along with essential fats in the form of flaxoil or fish oils. These are continued during breast-feeding. In the last trimester extra calcium is often prescribed for the mineralization requirements of the baby which pull calcium from the mom and give her more abdominal and leg cramps. A safe and gentle herbal tonic is prescribed in the last month, which prepares the uterus for easier delivery. Homeopathic remedies including arnica and hypericum hasten the healing of both mom and babe after delivery and once breast-feeding is established both are well on their way to a full recovery!

The first complaints I see in newborns include colic and ear infections. Colic usually arises in the breast fed baby from food allergens that the mom is ingesting and passing through the breast milk. The most common allergen being milk. Fortified soy and rice milk, foods high in calcium and good supplementation easily replace milk and other dairy products in the diet. Other gassy foods which contribute to colic include chocolate and the brassicaceae family (cabbage, brussel sprouts and broccoli). If the baby is formula fed I recommend trying non-dairy formulas including soy and goats’ milk. The homeopathic remedy colocynthis and chamomile and the herbal combination glyconda can be very effective for this.

The number one cause of ear infections is dairy products so along with eliminating these in the diet, I recommend garlic oil dropped into the ear canal and homeopathic remedies such as pulsatilla and belladonna taken orally. Teething is next for which homeopathic chamomilla works wonders in addition to having the babe chew on a cloth soaked in chamomile tea.

Breast-feeding gives the baby the best immunization and no vitamin supplementation is required until the baby is weaned. The biggest challenge is to keep mom healthy, as breast-feeding is more demanding on the body than the pregnancy. She must maintain her nutrition and fluid intake and take care of her chemical exposure. I believe many babes wean themselves early because the breast milk contains toxins.

Food introduction is very important in preventing future allergies and allergy related complaints including learning disabilities and behavior problems. Rice pablum is the worst food to introduce first. This shouldn't be introduced until 12 months. Instead start with puréed vegetables such as yams and carrots, and fruits such as pears and apples. Making sure these foods are organic lessens pesticide reactions. Organic baby foods are available on the market. Food introduction should not be forced before 6 months of age unless the baby needs supplementation to formula feeds. Fruits and vegetables should be given several hours apart and emphasize vegetables over fruits.

Every household should have the following in their medicine cabinet: a small homeopathic first aid kit that you can learn to use from the book: Everybody's Guide to Homeopathic Medicines by Ullman and Cummings; glyconda a nice digestive tonic, and garlic oil for those ear infections that rear up in the middle of the night! This will lessen the use of immune suppressing antibiotics, which are all too prevalent today!