Depression and anxiety are extremely common conditions that affect millions of children in the United States. The CDC estimates 9.4% of children have clinically significant anxiety, and 4.4% of
What is PANDAS? PANDAS stands for Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal infection. This condition is characterized by a sudden onset of psychiatric sympto
Have you ever seen a child in your clinic who presents as “a little autistic, but not quite”? Perhaps nine-year-old Anna* makes good eye contact, speaks eloquently, and greets you like a talkative
This article is the second in a three-part series on the prevention tick-borne diseases in children and families. Part I reviews the timing of tick activity, types of ticks, diseases involved, a
This article is the second in a three-part series on the prevention tick-borne diseases in children and families. Part I reviews the timing of tick activity, types of ticks, diseases involved, a
This article is the first in a three-part series on the prevention tick-borne diseases in children and families. This article, part I, goes over the timing of tick activity, types of tick
Could your child have an iron deficiency? Iron deficiency is very common in kids, especially in infants and teen girls. Read on for the signs of iron deficiency, how to test for it, and what you can d
I was in disbelief when I found myself being wheeled on a stretcher into the OR for an unplanned c-section. After 2 days of going in and out of prodromal labor, 20 hours of intervention-free natural labor including over 12 hours of active pushing, it was determined that my baby and I needed help...
Are you a parent or provider looking for some good resources to help an anxious child? Are you wondering when worry is considered abnormal? Are you needing some tips for how to encourage your own anxious child? You’ve come to the right place! This blog post will share with you the BEST websites and books this naturopathic doctor has found to help calm your anxious child. Dr. Erika's introduction Anxiety in kids is common. Very common! Research shows that up to 12% of children will have problematic anxiety by the age of 18. By problematic we mean that the child doesn't just...
My colleagues, naturopathic doctor moms enthusiastically recommend The Whole Brain Child to any caregiver who is experiencing difficulty with behavior and communicating with their toddlers and children. The book was SO GOOD that I read it twice and wrote this “book report” post for parents who were interested but not yet committed to reading it (because we have very tight schedules!) These tools help caregivers support their children in navigating difficult experiences using techniques that build emotional intelligence and logical problem solving skills while considering their feelings and the feelings of others. #1 Our children’s brains are “under construction” for 21 years! Not...
A note from your editor: here at Naturopathic Pediatrics we strongly support breastfeeding as the optimal way to nourish infants. When breastfeeding is not possible and donor milk is not available we want to give families accurate information to help them choose the right breastmilk substitute. This article below is a Sponsored Post by Kabrita USA. Ashley Weber, ND shares some commonly asked questions and corrects some misinformation about formula ingredients. This article is intended for naturopathic doctors. Every parent’s feeding journey with his or her baby is unique. Breast milk is the optimal source of nutrition for babies and breastfeeding...
As a naturopathic doctor specializing in pediatrics, I run a lot of food panels that test for food sensitivities. Why? Because I know that health starts with food, first and foremost, and more times than not, the symptoms I see most commonly arise because of an imbalance in the gut. Kids are notorious for having positive results show on their food sensitivity panels for dairy and eggs. I see both dairy and eggs come up elevated for sensitivity in as many as 7 out of every 10 symptomatic kiddos I run panels on. What symptoms, you ask? It can vary,...
Benjamin* is the baby who was always scratching himself. This little guy had to wear baby mittens because otherwise he would scratch his skin until it bled. Poor little guy! I diagnosed him with eczema around 4 months of age during one of his well-visits. His eczema was relatively mild at that point, but he went through a few eczema flares as we tried many therapies to heal his skin. (*Benjamin is not his real name, and this is not a real photo of him, to protect his privacy.) What is eczema? Eczema is a rash where the skin becomes rough and inflamed....
It sounds weird, it feels strange, but of all the options for severe eczema treatment my favorite is wet wraps! Do you know how to do wet wraps for your child with eczema? What is eczema? Eczema is also called atopic dermatitis. It is a red, scaly rash that is intensely itchy. Most kids who develop eczema get their first rash under the age of 5. (Often kids get eczema when they are still babies.) In my office I usually see kids develop eczema somewhere around 4 months of age, with it progressively worsening in the first year of life. By age...
Could you imagine your child begging to drizzle their medicine over oats or pancakes, or even eat it right off the spoon? Well, if you haven’t heard of elderberry syrup, elderberry gummies, or elderberry lollipops and lozenges, you can start getting excited now! In this article you will learn why elderberry is so powerful, how to choose between its many different forms, and how to use this yummy medicine to prevent and treat illness for your kiddo(s). As a bonus, a recipe can be found at the end of the article teaching you how to make a simple, useful, and...
The first part of this series talked about WHY EATING BREAKFAST IS SO IMPORTANT FOR KIDS. Eating the most important meal not only improves concentration and academic performance, it reduces the risk of weight gain, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. If you have a child struggling with ADHD you may also want to check out Healing your child from ADHD What to Eat: Ditch the Carbs and go for Protein! In America, we tend to reach for breakfast foods that are high in carbohydrates, such as cereal, toast, bagels, pancakes, pastries, etc. While carbs raise one’s blood sugar quickly, this increase is only...
For a lot of my patients, eating breakfast can be a real challenge. Many people say they aren’t hungry until later in the day. Others say they don’t have time to fit in breakfast on top of getting ready, packing lunches, feeding pets, and getting out the door. Kids – teens especially – are also swept up in the crazy-hectic pace of the morning. Some families can’t afford breakfast for their kids, adding an extra challenge. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, approximately 8-12% of school-aged kids and 20-30% of adolescents and teens skip breakfast (1). But this is...
There are literally thousands of household products that contain fragrances. Common household products that contain fragrances include laundry detergents, fabric softeners, dryer sheets, air fresheners, cleaning supplies, perfumes, lotions, hand soap, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, perfumes, colognes, bodycare products, and scented candles. Many of my patients are surprised to learn that the body absorbs the chemicals in fragrances when they’re applied to the skin. When you smell a fragrance, such as those in air fresheners, you are essentially breathing in chemicals, which are easily absorbed by the lungs and reach the bloodstream within a few minutes. What are the concerns with fragranced...
Could your child have a B vitamin deficiency? This article is the second in a series all about nutritional deficiencies. In these articles I will discuss some of the most common vitamin and mineral deficiencies seen in children and adolescents. I will also explain the lab tests that can be used to comprehensively assess your child’s nutritional status. If you missed it, here is Part 1: Vitamin D. First, let’s recap why vitamin and mineral deficiencies happen. Common Causes of Nutrient Deficiencies: Lack of adequate intake of vitamins or minerals Increased need for nutrients Health conditions may affect the ability to absorb nutrients from...
Lead can negatively effect people of all ages, but young children are the most susceptible to the effects of lead due to the vulnerability of their developing central nervous system. Exposure to lead can cause permanent central nervous system damage, lowered IQ, developmental delays and anemia among a host of other chronic issues in children. What are the symptoms of lead poisoning/chronic lead toxicity? For a full overview of lead, lead toxicity and symptoms of chronic lead exposure check out our article What You Need to Know About Lead Exposure in Children Most parents and pediatricians are aware of the potential for lead exposure...
Before becoming a mother, I thought people exaggerated just how much babies can cry. Ha! I know now that a minute of infant crying feels like an hour, especially when you’re a new parent. When my son was an infant, babywearing was the only thing that would calm him during what felt like never-ending crying spells. Just as his Dad was getting home from a long day, he would often cry inconsolably unless we held and rocked him continuously. He was well-fed with a clean diaper and wasn’t in any pain, he just wanted desperately to be held and cuddled. It...
A healthy summertime treat your kids will LOVE! Blueberry lemon popsicles make a cool treat for hot summer days, plus they're full of Vitamin C and antioxidants! To make, combine the following ingredients in your blender: 1 cup blueberries fresh juice from 5 lemons, be sure to strain out the seeds 1/4 cup maple syrup or honey (you can use more or less to taste to adjust the tartness) 3 cups of water Blend thoroughly until the blueberries liquefied. Freeze in popsicle trays or BPA-free popsicle bags for 4-6 hours until frozen. Tips: For younger children, the juice can be strained to remove the blueberry...
Summer is here and many families (mine included) will pack up the car and hit the road for fun and adventure. What I've learned from 10 years of traveling with kids is that you MUST plan for food and the inevitable moments of boredom that come with travel. And while finding and making food can be a challenge on the road, these travel-ready snacks will keep everyone happy. Also, check out Dr. Krumbeck's blog post from a few years ago Tips for Eating Healthy on the Road FOODMuffins Muffins are hands-down my go-to for travel friendly snacks. They can be made ahead of...
Exposure to poison ivy, oak, and sumac causes an estimated 10 – 50 million cases of contact dermatitis per year. This itchy, blistering, hot rash can be especially unpleasant for children. Kids may not be able to stop themselves from scratching the rash, and may not understand the idea that it’s only temporary and will pass. Reassure them that while it feels like the rash is lasting forever, it will probably be gone within a week or so. This post talks about some ways you can protect...
For my kids, there's nothing better in the world than camping with their buddies. I've always brought a first aid kit with me on hikes and camping trips, but the kit seems to get bigger every year. A lot of these things are not "natural" but are on the list because you never know when you'd need them in an emergency! Here's what I bring with me. My "essentials" first aid kit: In my day pack, for any excursion away from home base Water - You never know...
Is your child snoring? Perhaps waking unrefreshed? Maybe even gasping for air in the night? Any of these problems may be met with a prescription for a tonsillectomy. Other indications for the surgery include difficulty swallowing, chronic or recurrent infection of the tonsils, tonsillar swelling that may be cancerous, and others. You may be wondering - "is there a natural alternative to surgery?" What is a tonsillectomy? Tonsillectomy is a surgery that removes the tonsils. It is sometimes called a Tonsillectomy Adenoidectomy (or T&A for short) since the adenoid is generally removed at the same time, though the adenoid is really just...
3 Herbs for Kids with Anxiety (and their parents) Our modern life is so stressful, isn't it? It’s no wonder that our sweet and sensitive kids can become overwhelmed by the world’s many pressures and expectations. Our blog has several great articles about the naturopathic approach to treating anxiety in children that I encourage you to check out. Today I’ll talk about 3 herbs that are known all over the world to help soothe anxiety, improve sleep, reduce stress, and restore a frazzled nervous system. They are 3 of my favorite herbs - Chamomile, Passionflower, and Ashwagandha - and I can't...
Editors note: A big thanks to Dr. Cori Burke for tackling the incredibly broad topic of nutritional deficiencies in children. This is a huge topic, and she has wisely split it into multiple sections. Stay tuned for more in this series! A quick note and comment: Naturopathic Physicians are sometimes criticized for over-diagnosing "nutritional deficiencies," or for excessively prescribing vitamins and supplements. It is always very important for physicians to have a conversation about why we are prescribing certain nutrients. In the case of vitamin D it is to prevent true vitamin D deficiency. In the case of some other vitamins and minerals we...
