J.17/ Treating Little Ones
Have you ever had trouble giving your child supplements? Or do you what supplements are safe to give to children? There’s a lot to consider when constructing a treatment for little ones.
Treating children can be somewhat of a challenge, it’s hard to persuade them that taking supplements or eating differently will be beneficial for them. Seeking professional help is always important before giving your child supplements as some can be dangerous for them. When I treat children I have their needs in mind, I try to combine as much as I can in one supplement so it’s less for them to take, in addition I work out exactly how much of each supplement your little one will need. I also keep in mind the flavour of the supplements so they’re more palatable for them.
Some reasons why a child may have to take supplements are, gut dysfunction, to help with sleep or behaviour, to boost their immune system or to help with allergies. Natural medicine can be really helpful for children but it is important to not take matters into your own hands and see a qualified Naturopath to assess your child and prescribe an appropriate treatment plan. There are a lot of supplements on the market for children on the shelf, these usually contain a fair amount of sugar or are artificially sweetened, both are not ideal for children. These supplements usually aren’t at a therapeutic level either therefore they won’t be strong enough to treat the symptoms. Using practitioner only supplements also means they’ll be good quality which is important for children as their bodies aren’t fully developed.
I do have some tips to help your child take supplements, I find it is easier to not prescribe a liquid herbal mix to a child as it has such a strong flavour that is hard to mask. Usually I’ll prescribe a powder or two, with powders they usually have multiple ingredients which is ideal for prescribing less products, these powders can be flavoured or unflavoured. Powders can be mixed into a smoothie, added to plain water or juice, you can make gummies or ice blocks, or even use soda water so it’s more like a special treat. The best advice is to be a role model, try the supplements too and show your children they’re okay to take.
In addition to prescribing supplements or herbs I usually give out diet adjustments and life style advice, depending of course on the age of the child. Again the best way to help the change happen smoothly will be to do it with them, if I suggest more movement then join them outside and go play in the park. Or if I suggest eating less bread or less processed foods then it would be great if you could stop buying those items and try doing the diet adjustments too. There is always resistance against change, it’s natural, and for children it can be even harder as they might not be able to comprehend why the changes are happening. I keep all these factors in the forefront of my mind when treating children to make it a smooth transition for all of you.
