Natural Home Remedies For Children
As a parent, when our children get sick, one of the first things we want to do is to run to the doctor, some people start dosing their children with everything in the medicine cabinet, needless to say ether of the two alternatives y the correct one. Even physicians agree lately that prescribing antibiotics and other drugs is not recommended for children, however doctors sometime feel pressure by the parents to prescribe something even though he knows that the condition will disappear en a few day without drug intervention.
In most children a middle ear infection clears up on its own with in a few months, yet 90% of doctors will prescribe an antibiotic for this condition just to make the parent feel that the visit was time and money well spend.
Most ailments that affect children can be treated with over the counter medicine but many professionals are questioning the long term effects of giving synthetic drugs to a child since a very early age . Besides if the condition is treatable with over the counter drugs, with no doubt herbs can do a better job and by using herbs you get peace of mind knowing that the problem is being taking care of, and that you are boosting his or her immune system without harming your child with side effects. In my case I feel very proud of myself every time my son gets better thanks to some herb preparation I made for him, and it makes me happy to know that I choose to keep my child chemical free as much as I can.
But lets face it, children will run away every time they need to take a medicine made of herbs, and soon you find yourself running around the table trying to catch the patient. There is a better way, herb preparation can be made in a way that children look forward to, by following the steps and instructions in this part of the our website you will learn how to make a sweet tasting cough syrup, a spray for sore throats , a delicious tea for indigestion, or if your baby is allergic to rash prevention products, we'll show you how to make your own totally natural baby powder, diaper rash cream, and baby oil. For more serious ailments, you'll learn how to make your own infection fighting antibiotic by mixing the right herbs. Also you'll find formulas to make laxatives for your child's constipation and ear drops.
DOSAGE
Kids come in all sizes so is very hard to know how much medicine is enough and how much is too much. So we will use a table that gives you exactly the amount of medicine you need to give to your child according with your child's weight. Although throughout the book we recommend a dose for each remedy, this is for children whose weight is between 36 and 65 pounds. For kids that are ether lighter or heavier follow the instructions below.
WEIGHT DOSAGE
Up to 5 pounds 1/16 cup or 1 tbs..
5 to 15 pounds 1/8 cup or 2 tbs..
16 to 35 pounds 1/4 cup or 4 tbs..
36 to 65 pounds 1/2 cup
66 to 80 pounds 3/4 cup
81 to 110 pounds 1 cup
mayo
Information to help you manage children's health, understand child development and explore parenting issues.
Child health awareness
How lifestyle affects children's health, from fitness and nutrition to parenting and child safety.
Fitness and nutrition
Parenting
Child safety
Immunizations and preventive care
The basics on childhood immunizations and well-child care.
Childhood immunizations
Well-child care
Childhood illnesses
Resources to help you manage childhood infections, chronic conditions and developmental problems.
Common infections and injuries
Children's chronic conditions
Mental health concerns
Developmental problems
Infections
Chickenpox
Children's illness: Top 5 causes of missed school
Common cold
Croup
Ear infection, middle ear
Hand-foot-and-mouth disease
Parvovirus infection
Respiratory syncytial virus
Rotavirus
Sick child? Plan ahead to reduce sick-day stress
Sore throat
Strep throat
Strep throat: For kids, risk increases with intact tonsils
Swimmer's ear
Thermometers: Taking your child's temperature
Tonsillitis
Injuries
Greenstick fractures
Growth plate fractures
Tools
Colds: Are kids more vulnerable?
Ear infection guide
Quiz: Ear infections
Slide show: Choosing a thermometer
Ask a children's health specialist
Chickenpox vaccination: Is it 100 percent effective?
Coxsackievirus infection in children: Is it serious?
Croup treatment: Does high humidity relieve symptoms?
Motion sickness: Tips for preventing it in kids?
Recurring strep throat: When is tonsillectomy useful?
Using an oral thermometer: How do I clean it?
Warm-mist vs. cool-mist humidifier: Which is better for a cold?
Children and sports: Choices for all ages
Children's sports promote fitness and prevent obesity, but not all children thrive in formal leagues. Help your child find the right sport and venue — school, recreation center or backyard.
Want to give your children a head start on lifelong fitness — and cut their risk of being overweight? One option may be to head to the town recreation center and sign them up for sports.
Of course, it's not always that simple. Many communities offer limited choices for children's sports and activities. And organized sports aren't right for every child — certainly not for every age.
If you encourage your child and set an example yourself, though, chances are a few sports will spark his or her interest. Fan the flame by taking your child to local sporting events and explaining how different games are played. Then, when the time is right, provide opportunitie
for your child to try out equipment and play informally with other children.
Most of all, if you like playing particular sports, share your pleasure and skill with your children. Show them that effort and practice are their own rewards, and that you can get great satisfaction from playing without even wanting to be the best.
What are age-appropriate activities?
Regardless of your child's age, he or she will show some natural preferences. Some children love the water from the first splash, while others react with fear. Some get a charge out of rough-and-tumble games; others dislike the shoves and bumps. You may have been the star of your football team, but your child may prefer dancing, and that's just fine.
Children don't need organized athletics to develop athletic skills or to get physical activity. "A healthy lifestyle doesn't have to include sports," says Edward Laskowski, M.D., co-director of the Sports Medicine Clinic at Mayo Clinic, Rochester Minn. "It's more important that your child is involved in some sort of physical activity, whether it's hiking and biking with the family or playing pickup baseball or basketball with the neighborhood kids."
Every child develops at a different rate. It's best to work within your child's maturity and skill level.
Ages 2 to 3
Very young kids are beginning to master many basic movements — running, catching, jumping — and they're too young for most types of structured exercise. Try:
Running and walking, in a yard or playground
Swinging on a yard or playground set
Supervised water play
Toddler gymnastics classes led by professionals
Tumbling
Ages 4 to 6
Dancing
Games such as hopscotch or tag
Jumping rope
Playing catch with a lightweight ball
Riding a tricycle or a bike with training wheels
After age 6, children's motor skills and sense of safety improve. Your child may also be ready for team sports.
Ages 7 to 10
Baseball
Gymnastics
Soccer
Swimming
Tennis
Biking
Age 10 and up
Carefully supervised weight training
Organized team sports
Rowing
Running and track and field events
Softball
When it comes to organized sports, make sure your child really wants to play. Never force a child to participate or join a team. Also consider your child's schedule. Children who are already signed up for music lessons and the school play may feel overwhelmed if athletics are added to the mix.
Practical matters
If you want to get your child involved in sports, consider how sports differ, including the:
Amount and cost of equipment
Amount of physical contact
Emphasis on individual skill
Emphasis on team performance
Size of the team
Opportunity for each child to participate
If several sports are available in your community, allow your child to sample a range of activities. Younger children may benefit from exploring several options before settling on one or two.
"The more that children can try different sports and activities and find something they're good at doing, the more they'll enjoy the activity," says Dr. Laskowski.
Try team sports such as softball and soccer, as well as individual sports such as tennis, running and golf. Observe as you go. Is your child comfortable with contact sports? Does he or she have the hand-eye coordination to compete in certain sports that use a ball?
Assessing youth sports
To gauge whether your child is in good hands, consider these points.
Quality of coaching
Look first for an emphasis on safety and inclusive participation. Does the coach require that players follow the rules and use the proper safety equipment? Do only the best players play? Is the fitness or conditioning coach working with your child certified and sensitive to the fact that your child is not fully physically mature? Observe instructions. Children should be taught proper movement and body positioning to avoid injuries.
Also consider a coach's attitude toward the game. If a coach consistently yells at an umpire or the children or lets only the most skilled players into the game, your child may become discouraged. Get to know the coach and, if possible, talk to the coach's former team members about their experiences.
Once children get to be 11 or 12 years old, they may be ready for a greater emphasis on competition and winning. "But a win-at-all-costs attitude drives many children away from sports," says Dr. Laskowski.
Team assignments
Are the children in your child's sport grouped into teams simply by age, which can increase risk of injury? Or are they grouped according to physical maturity and skill? Do they take time to warm up and cool down before and after each practice or event? How the organization assigns teams and emphasizes warm-ups and cool-downs may serve as an indication of the organization's interest in injury prevention.
Your role: Sit back and watch
Overall, be positive and encouraging. Emphasize effort and improvement over winning or personal performance.
Attend events and practices as your schedule allows, and act as a good model of sportsmanship yourself. Above all, keep your child's sport in perspective.
If your child decides to quit a sport or specific activity, look for signs of stress that seem tied to sports or overtraining. Your child can take up the same or another sport later, or build fitness through other activities, such as martial arts or dance.
Whether your child swims, runs track or plays frisbee, keep your eye on the long-term goal — encouraging your child to be a fit, healthy and happy adult.
MORE ON THIS TOPIC
Fitness for kids: Getting your children off the couch
Strength training: OK for kids when done correctly
RELATED
'Cutting weight': An unsafe practice in wrestling?
Fitness for kids: Getting your children off the couch
Strength training: OK for kids when done correctly
Web Resources
National Youth Sports Safety Foundation (NYSSF)
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