I have two really healthy girls. I contribute this to several things. Number one, God has blessed my family with health at this time. Two, I breast fed them both for a year each. I have nothing but encouraging words to say about nursing. It’s a sacrifice but the peace of mind is worth it. I was lucky my body cooperated. Number three, they get their fair share of sugar and junk but I only give them water to drink and I cram them full of organic veggies! Number four, I avoid antibiotics like the plague. If we get something that might need an antibiotic, a clove of garlic crushed in a spoonful of honey has always avoided a doctor’s visit. Number five, I have them on supplements.
My girls take Vitamin D in their water every morning and fish oil, probiotic and a multivitamin each morning after breakfast. The probiotic and multivitamin are by Garden of Life (I take their multivitamin for women). The vitamin D is by D Drops and the fish oil is by Nordic Naturals. You can find all of them on Amazon!
My Suggested Supplements for Kids:
- Raw Multivitamin (find them HERE)
- Fish Oils (omega 3’s) (find them HERE)
- Vitamin D (find them HERE)
- Probiotics (find them HERE)
I chose these 4 supplements because I believe they promote a strong immune system. Vitamin D is one of the top vitamins that fight against the flu and illness. The probiotic keeps their digestive system on the right track. By the way, my probiotic of choice also comes in powder form which is great for babies. Find it HERE. The multivitamin is raw and fills in the holes I might miss with their diet. The Omega 3’s are great for brain function and overall development.
Our children’s health is in our hands. I want to raise the girls in a healthy environment where they know what is healthy and what is not and exercise is not an option it’s just something they do. This being said I constantly wrestle with myself on making good decisions with exercise and food. I’m definitely a work in progress, but it’s truly about striving to make healthy decisions each and every day then finding balance.
Research is key to the health of ourselves and our children-the pharmaceutical business is out to make money. I often refer to www.drmercola.com. He is a doctor but believes our bodies can be healed by a healthy lifestyle, not drugs. Check him out-I’ve run to his site many a time!!
xx, Jenni
Hi Jenni,
I was wondering if you could help me out. My kids were both breastfeed but they have been on antibiotics, vaccinations and have had ear infections, upper respiratory infections, and one has had eczema since birth. I want to build up their immune systems and get their gut health in order. I have tried using doterra essential oils when they are sick but they don’t seem to get any better. Where would you start? =)
Erika-Hi! You are right on in wanting to get their gut in order to build up their immune system. The gut has everything to do with immune health and antibiotics compromise our gut terribly. The easiest thing you can do is get them on a daily probiotic. A probiotic will replace the good bacteria in the gut that the antibiotics took away. I would drastically limit their sugar intake. No sugary drinks and very little sweets, even go easy on fruit. Sugar feeds yeast in the gut. Vitamin D drops are said to have a major role in preventing illness, especially flu. I put their probiotic and D drops in a green smoothie every morning-it took a while for them to not argue about drinking it but now it’s just what we do, no questions asked. Next time they get sick and it seems like antibiotics are in order I would give their bodies a chance to heal themselves first. Be slow to react if they aren’t in a lot of discomfort. I have been lucky with my children’s illnesses-they either get super fast bugs or they don’t get hit hard enough that I feel like they are suffering and I need to get a quick fix. My daughter had strep this summer and I fed her honey and garlic and Shield (sparknaturals.com) essential oils and we were able to kick it before she got too uncomfortable. I hope this helps! I’m not qualified to give medical advice but hopefully with a good probiotic you can get their immune system in good shape!
Thanks Jenni. Do you have any thoughts on cows milk vs. goats milk vs and alternative to both? My kids are 12 months and 32 months. Pediatricians recommend kids go to cow’s milk after 12 months but I have also heard that cow’s milk is not good for you.
Erika, we don’t drink cow milk. If I had a raw milk source we would. I am pretty controversial with milk-we don’t do goat’s milk either-when my youngest was 1 and off breast milk I did give her goats milk for almost a year in a morning bottle. You can get calcium through dark leafy greens. We eat a lot of spinach. I am looking into a powdered calcium supplement to add into their smoothie in the morning as well.
Hi Jenni!
I have just recently found your blog and I love it! I cannot wait to make some of your skin care products. I have a 14 month old daughter, exclusively breastfed and we eat paleo. She gets her vit d drops and probiotics every morning, at what age should I start the multivitamins and fish oil? You are absolutely right about healthy immune systems, my daughter has only caught a cold once, and had one case of rosacea her whole life! Most other kids her age have been sick at least 7 or more times than her.
What would you recommend for eczema for my daughter? I know that eating heat (onions garlic spicy things) can inflame eczema but what about topically? I hate putting hydrocortizone cream on her precious skin.
Thank you so much!!
Elese
Thanks Elese!!! Good work on nursing and supplements! It really does make a difference! You could make a salve for your daughter’s eczema. You could melt 1/4 cup of coconut oil with 1 tbsp. of beeswax. Once you have poured the mixture into a container (4 ounces) you can add Lavender (anti inflammatory and healing) and Peppermint (itching). Other oils that help with eczema are Rosemary, Frankincense, and Rose.
I started multis and fish oils as soon as they could chew.
I hope this helps!!
I have three kids 1, 3 and 11. Can they all benefit from the same dosage? also, can you recommend some supplements that aren’t gummies?
Katrina, Hi! The dosages are on the bottles for each age usually-I know a 1 year old will have less than the 3 and 11 year old. The multivitamin I suggest isn’t a gummy, but the fish oil is. I have not found a fish oil for kids that isn’t. I will keep my eyes open though. The probiotic is a powder that you can put in their drink and the Vitamin D is a drop you put in their drink. Thanks!
what is a good veggie smoothie for 6 yr olds & a 2 yr old?
Thank You
Pam-spinach is so mild, adding coconut milk and oil, greek yogurt and fruits is what I like to do for my 5 and 2 year old! Oh, and I like to add chia seeds. Honey would be good too!