Articles

Adding Herbs to a Pediatric ADHD Protocol

January 31, 2020

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common mental disorders affecting children. According to the American Psychiatric Association, an estimated 8.4 percent of children in the U.S. have been diagnosed with ADHD. Memory, concentration and ‘appropriate behavior’ are key in a child’s ability to learn and be successful in school. The 3 subtypes of ADHD include inattentive, hyperactive/impulsive or mixed. It can be challenging to tease out the subtypes with younger children but usually the reports from parents and teachers will eventually bring clarity. Screening tools such as the Vanderbilt ADHD assessment can be helpful for diagnosing ADHD accurately. Ruling out other...

A “Stork Bite” is NOT a sign of MTHFR

November 22, 2019

Babies 0-2, Providers

Social media is weird sometimes! Dr. K here. For the last several years I have seen this picture spread all over social media (Pinterest, Facebook and even IG). The heading shows “this is a sign of MTHFR” and shows pictures of a “stork bite” in many different locations. One version also shows a blue vein on the bridge of the nose and says this is also an indicator of MTHFR (this one calls it a Sugar Bug). Sorry folks, this is straight up not true. What is a “Stork Bite?” It is called a nevus simplex and is present in 30-40% of all...

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A naturopathic approach to preventing tick-borne diseases in kids. Part III – Building a Tick-Kit

June 18, 2019

Adolescents 13-18, Children 5-12, Naturopathic, Toddlers 2-4

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, and region where most problematic ticks are found. Part II, includes information on clothing choices, yard protection and tick repellents, including natural and conventional options. This article, Part III, includes information on how to built a tick-prevention kit! Why be concerned about outdoor time? As we reviewed in part I, we know from research that children and adults experience significant health benefits from being outside including healthy blood pressure, improved immunity,...

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A naturopathic approach to preventing tick-borne diseases in kids. Part II – preventing tick bites.

June 12, 2019

Adolescents 13-18, Children 5-12, Naturopathic, Toddlers 2-4

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, and region where most problematic ticks are found. This article, Part II, includes information on clothing choices, yard protection and tick repellents, including natural and conventional options. Part III includes information on how to built a tick-prevention kit! Why be concerned about outdoor time? As we reviewed in part I, we know from research that children and adults experience significant health benefits from being outside including healthy blood pressure, improved immunity,...

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A naturopathic approach to preventing tick-borne diseases in kids. Part I – Types of Ticks, Timing, and Geography

June 4, 2019

Adolescents 13-18, Children 5-12, Naturopathic

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 ticks, diseases involved, and region where most problematic ticks are found. Part II includes information on clothing choices, yard protection and tick repellents, including natural and conventional options. Part III includes information on how to built a tick-prevention kit! The upsides and downsides of spending time in nature As naturopathic doctors we want kids to be outside. We know from research that children and adults experience significant health benefits from being...

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Pediatric Dental Decay: Prevention and the Use of Silver Diamine Fluoride

May 3, 2019

Children 5-12, Providers, Toddlers 2-4

Editor's note: Here at Naturopathic Pediatrics it is our goal to provide pediatric health information in an unbiased format. Our articles include well-researched information about both conventional and naturopathic medicine. At Naturopathic Pediatrics we feel strongly that parents are best informed when they have ALL options presented to them in an unbiased, guilt and fear-free format. For some reason the use of fluoride is a subject that has garnered almost as much vitriol in social media as abortion, circumcisions and vaccinations. We urge all our readers to take a step back and read objectively. Fluoride is not religion. A big thank-you...

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Is Your Child Getting Enough Vitamins and Minerals? A Guide to Testing for Nutritional Deficiencies (Part 3 – Iron)

April 23, 2019

Adolescents 13-18, Children 5-12, General Health Tips, Naturopathic, Toddlers 2-4

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 do to prevent it. This article is the third in a series all about nutritional deficiencies, which are fairly common, even in developed countries like the United States. Nutritional deficiencies occur when a person isn’t consuming or absorbing enough of one or more necessary nutrients. Nutritional deficiencies can refer to lack of macronutrients like a protein deficiency, or insufficient blood levels of specific vitamins and...

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How To Get Your Child To Eat “Adult” Food!

January 10, 2019

Nutrition, Parenting

The "Standard American Diet" The classic American kids’ menu is generally the same at all restaurants: grilled cheese sandwich, chicken nuggets and fries, macaroni and cheese, or pizza, and a juice box. In far fewer restaurants, kids’ menus may provide apple slices or carrots. This is now becoming more common even of international cuisine where these typical Americanized “kid foods” are showing up on menus simply due to the the demand of what children are eating. Moderation is a key nutritional tenet that holds true in almost all situations, and in this scenario we can say that yes, it is fine for...

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Naturopathic C-Section Recovery (and my own Cesarean story!)

November 30, 2018

Postpartum

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...

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Doctor recommended BEST books & resources to help anxious kids

November 16, 2018

Adolescents 13-18, Children 5-12

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...

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#1 Parenting Book Endorsed by Naturopathic Mothers

November 9, 2018

Parenting

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...

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Formula Fundamentals for Naturopathic Doctors

November 1, 2018

Babies 0-2, Nutrition, Providers

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...

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Quick and Easy Egg-Free Dairy-Free Breakfast Ideas!

October 19, 2018

Nutrition

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,...

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When this naturopathic doctor recommends topical steroids for eczema (!) – The case of baby Benjamin

October 5, 2018

Babies 0-2, Children 5-12, Toddlers 2-4

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....

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How to do wet wraps for eczema. #Naturopathic #Pediatrics

How to do wet wraps for eczema (atopic dermatitis)

September 28, 2018

Babies 0-2, Children 5-12, Toddlers 2-4

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...

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The Tastiest Anti-Viral Medicine Your Child Will Love: Elderberry!

September 18, 2018

Adolescents 13-18, Children 5-12, Toddlers 2-4

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...

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PART 2: Naturopathic Healthy Breakfast Ideas for Kids!

September 14, 2018

Adolescents 13-18, Children 5-12, General Health Tips, Nutrition

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...

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PART 1: Why eating breakfast is so important for kids!

September 6, 2018

Adolescents 13-18, Children 5-12, Nutrition

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...

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The hidden dangers of toxic scented products. (And how to keep your kids safe!)

August 23, 2018

Adolescents 13-18, Babies 0-2, Children 5-12, Toddlers 2-4

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...

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Is your child getting enough vitamins and minerals? Check out this guide to testing B vitamins, and make sure your kiddo has adequate amounts! #Naturopathic #Pediatrics

Is Your Child Getting Enough Vitamins and Minerals? A Guide to Testing for Nutritional Deficiencies (Part 2 – B Vitamins!)

August 10, 2018

Adolescents 13-18, Children 5-12, Nutrition, Toddlers 2-4

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...

B vitamins healthy kids nutrition prevention vitamins

4 sneaky sources of hidden toxic lead in your home

August 1, 2018

Adolescents 13-18, Children 5-12

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...

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