Download My Top 5 Sleep Tips!

This free downloadable guide will give you 5 simple and easy tools to help you get your baby sleeping better! Set the foundation for healthy sleep habits today!

I WANT IT!

Does your child always seem to have a cold? The sniffles and runny noses never seem to end? Well, you aren’t alone as the average baby and toddler can have 8-10 colds a year before their second birthday. Preschoolers average 9 colds per year and kindergarteners can have up to 12 a year! So yes, it really can seem like as soon as they get over a one cold, they pick another one up! Keep reading below as I share my TOP 5 easy and natural ways to help keep your kids healthy!

As a nurse and a mom of 2 using natural ways to keep my kids healthy is something I’ve found incredibly important! Boosting their immune systems naturally can help prevent illnesses as well as help their little bodies fight them off faster!

So here are my 5 Easy and Natural Ways to Keep Your Kids Healthy:

#1 Elderberry

Elderberry (Sambucus nigra) comes from the berries of the European elder tree and is my first tip for keeping kids healthy. It’s been used for centuries to boost the immune system and is a natural treatment for the common cold, flu, constipation, hay fever and sinus infections. In recent years it has been shown in 2 different studies to shorten symptoms of the flu by an average of 4! Pretty impressive right? There are lots of syrups and gummies on the market today. You can even make your own, but if your looking for a place to start, my kids like the Garden of Life Mykind Organics Plant Based Elderberry Immune Syrup here.

#2 Probiotics

Replenishing your child’s gut with probiotics (good bacteria) can help maintain the right balance to aid in digestion, absorbing nutrients and fighting off illness. If your child is already on antibiotics, then probiotics can be extra helpful because antibiotics kill both our good and bad (illness-causing) bacteria. This leaves the gut wide open for bad organisms to multiply and take over leading to secondary infections. Taking a probiotic with your antibiotics can help restore that balance again.

Science on Probiotics

A 2015 study found that probiotics not only reduced the incidence of upper respiratory infections, but also reduced the need for antibiotics and found a reduction in school days missed. So talk with your healthcare provider, typically as long as your child doesn’t have an immunocompromised condition, adding probiotics into your child’s daily routine can naturally help keep your kids healthy. Check out this chewable option from NOW Supplements for ages 2 years and up or this gummy option by Digestive Advantage Kids.

#3 Hand Washing

It’s so simple I almost didn’t want to put it down, but I couldn’t in good conscience leave it out as both a nurse and mama when I’m talking about ways to keep our kids healthy! Having our kids wash properly is an easy, inexpensive and effective way to prevent the spread of germs and keep them from making our children sick!

“Handwashing can prevent 1 in 3 diarrhea-related sicknesses and 1 in 5 respiratory infections, such as a cold or the flu.” -CDC

Teach kids the 5 easy steps of:

Wet
Lather
Scrub
Rinse
Dry

Kids need frequent reminders! Lead by example! If soap is unavailable you can opt for an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that has at least 60% alcohol, and wash your hands as soon as possible.

#4 Reducing Toxic Chemicals in Our Homes

Our children are smaller in size and therefore more likely to be affected by toxic chemicals. As they eat, drink, and breathe in these toxic chemicals from their environment the amount is greater in relation to their small size than adults. This puts them at a greater risk of illness, disease and complications.

Here are some steps we can take to prevent toxic exposures.

Keep indoor air heathy
- Smoke-free
- Remove dust
- Keep mold away
- Fresh air to dilute out contaminants
Keep Food and Water Healthy
- Wash fruits and vegetables to remove dirt and chemical residues.
- Avoid high mercury foods like swordfish, shark and King Mackerel
- Use cold water as hot water may contain high levels of lead from pipes
Household Products
- The EWG found more than 2,000 cleaning supplies on the American market to contain substances that can lead to serious health problems like asthma, cancer, allergies, birth defects, chemical burns, and poisonings.
- Check out your own household products here https://www.ewg.org/guides/cleaners/
- Swap out toxic household cleaners for mechanical cleaning products like quality microfiber from Norwex
Use Plastics Wisely

Bisphenol A, or BPA, is a chemical used to make plastics and has shown to affect a child’s brain development, behavior and prostate gland.

Use baby bottles, pacifiers and toys that are BPA-free
Don’t use a microwave to heat foods or pour hot liquid in polycarbonate baby bottles or food containers
Don’t place polycarbonate plastics in the dishwasher
Restrict the amount of canned foods and opt for fresh or frozen when possible
Swap plastics for glass or porcelain
Avoid cooking or storing food and liquids in plastics marked with recycles codes #3,6, and 7.

#5 Sleep Sleep Sleep

Lack of sleep has been shown that once exposed to a virus, a person is more likely to get sick and recover more slowly! It’s so interesting the link between sleep and a well functioning immune system. If a child is consistently not getting enough sleep, they are three times more likely to get sick. If our immune system is compromised then we don’t have the tools we need to fight off a cold or flu. Getting better sleep starts with healthy sleep hygiene. We at the Mama Coach can help you and your child find better sleep. We look extensively at feeding, development, weight gain, and your child’s circadian rhythm to determine the best way for you to reclaim sleep. Each child is so different and we bring our knowledge as nurses to bring you quality care and support to help you reach your goals.