Is Baby Shampoo Dangerous?

If you've been following the news, then you've heard about the new study that reveals baby shampoo may contain dangerous chemicals linked to reproductive problems. While this particular study may be new, the issue certainly isn't. In fact, many studies have already shown several chemicals we use every day aren't safe over the long haul. (See my review of the book Exposed if you'd like to study up on this on your own.)

So what do we do when faced with facts like this? If you've read The Mommy Spot for very long, you'll know I advocate taking the natural route first. If you do that, you don't have to pay too much attention to news articles like this. My recommendations for a safe baby shampoo alternative are castile soap or a vegetable glycerin. While these are not pretty smelling (Dr. Bronner's castile soap does come with essential oils if you wish), they are all-natural and contain none of the chemicals you're reading about in the news.

Castile and glycerin soaps are not only great for shampoo, but they make a healthy alternative to regular soap as well. Use it in the bath, the kitchen, or at the sink. If you want, you can add a couple drops of your own essential oil to customize the scent. (For babies, stick with gentle fragrances like chamomile or one or two drops of rosemary.) Since they're so gentle, you don't have to be concerned with irritating baby's skin either.

Once you know the great, old-fashioned alternatives, you don't have to wonder if your baby shampoo, or any other product around the house, is dangerous or not. You already know - it's healthy, it's safe, it's natural.

Natural Remedies for Lowering a Fever

(Note: You can read this article on Lowering a Fever on my new blog, dkMommy Spot.)


I recently blogged about how to reduce a fever for your child after vaccinations, but what if your child has a fever due to a cold or flu? There are some great natural remedies to safely lower fevers in those cases too. One of the easiest ways is with herbal tea.

There are several you can try, but one of the most effective would be catnip tea. It's a little bitter, so if your baby is over a year old you can add a little honey. Or make the tea with catnip and lemon balm to make it more palatable. If you're nursing, you can drink the tea yourself and the benefits will pass through the breastmilk shortly after drinking it. I usually steep about a teaspoon of tea in a mug of hot but not boiling water for about 10 - 15 minutes. You can administer a dropperful every 15 minutes until the fever starts to come down, then increase the dosage to 1/4 cup every one to two hours. After the temperature is normal, continue giving 1/4 cup of tea 3 - 4 times a day for a few more days to help support recuperation.

Remember, though, that having a fever is not always a bad thing. It's the body's natural defense against viruses, so you don't always need to fight it. If the fever is 103 degrees or higher, call your doctor right away. But if it's 101 or less, it can often be managed with plenty of fluids. (Warm fluids help to encourage sweating, which also lowers a temperature. Older children may enjoy ginger tea, which although spicy, has a wonderful warming effect.) As always, if anything at all raises the alarm in your parental radar, call your doctor regardless. Don't be afraid of sounding silly or of asking too many questions. A good pediatrician will be more than willing to help you.

How to Calm a Fever After Vaccinations, and Other Hints

One of the worst parts of getting babies vaccinated is the knowing, or not knowing, what is to follow. Will there be crying? Sleeplessness? Crankiness? And those are just your own side effects! What about baby? Many babies end up feeling like they have a touch of the flu, and it's not uncommon for a baby to run a slight fever. There's one natural remedy that can help ease a baby's fever after vaccinations. Just a couple drops of peppermint or chamomile essential oil in a bath is not only soothing to the discomfort after those shots, but it can get baby through that feverish part a little quicker.

If you're like me and you obsess over the side effects and toxins that are sometimes present in vaccines, there is a homeopathic remedy that can be used called Thuja. Get the tablets at 6x strength and administer those two times daily for 2 - 3 weeks after the injections. It is said these tablets help remove the excess toxins from the body. A good health food store should be able to point you towards the correct tablets. Remember, homeopathic tablets just melt under the tongue, so it's nice and easy for little ones! They're usually sweet tasting too.

Ask your doctor what side effect to expect, and which ones are serious enough to come back into the office. When babies and young children get their vaccines, they'll sometimes feel achy and feverish for up to 24 hours. This might come across as crabbiness, tiredness, or fussiness. So be extra patient, give lots of cuddles, and plenty of kisses until it's all over. But if anything about your child's behavior raises those parental alarm bells, call your doctor, no matter how silly the concern. It's better to be safe than sorry; and that's one old adage that really stands true for parents.

(Note: Look for my up-and-coming review of Dr. Sears' new Vaccine Book.)

Natural Remedies for Clearing the Stuffy Nose

If there's one thing that will keep a child of any age awake, it's the stuffy nose. And if they're awake, you're awake! With over-the-counter medicines being called into question, you're probably wondering how to deal with things like a stuffy nose in a natural and safe way. I've got a few tricks to share with you - some perfect solutions for newborns, and some perfect even for you.

One of the most helpful remedies for the stuffy nose is salt water. This can be used for any age, and it doesn't have to be uncomfortable. For older children and adults, a weak solution of about a cup of warm water and a teaspoon of sea salt can be gently sniffed from an eyedropper into each nostril. For infants and toddlers, you can try a product called Baby Simply Saline. As the name implies, it is simply water and salt in a container that makes it easy to spray into baby's nostrils. No preservatives, no stinging.

If you're nursing a newborn, an unusual but effective technique is to put a few drops of breastmilk into each nostril with an eyedropper. Sounds weird? Well, since the breastmilk has bacteria fighting properties, it's actually a great natural choice. And it's free! I've found this unique remedy in many books on natural baby care.

If you didn't get a chance to read my post Natural Remedy for Baby's Cough, hop on over to it. Using a humidifier with essential oil can also help a stuffy nose. I give instructions on that post to help you out.

Got any of your own remedies you find helpful? Raw onion slices near the bed? A special tea? Share them with us in the Comments section - I'd love to hear more!

Natural Remedy for Baby's Cough

(Note: You can now read Natural Remedy for Baby's Cough at the new dkMommy Spot!)

I'd like to try and share as many natural cold and flu remedies for babies and young children that I can this season. With parents becoming more reluctant to use over-the-counter medications, the search is on for natural alternatives, and I've got a slew of them up my all-natural sleeves!

If you have a baby, owning a humidifier is essential when living in the cooler climates. I'd suggest a humidifier with a small reservoir for inhalants. If you already own one and there isn't an inhalant reservoir, that's alright. I'll show you how to use essential oils in either case.

Probably the most common essential oil that comes to most minds for coughs and stuffy noses is eucalyptus, but that's pretty potent stuff for babies, in particular babies under a year old. If it's all you have, you can use a few drops in the humidifier, but stay in the room with your baby while the humidifier is running, and keep the door open a crack. An oil I prefer is rosemary. A good quality rosemary oil requires only a couple of drops in the inhalant reservoir, and the fragrance is calming and pleasant. If you plan on putting your baby to bed while using rosemary in the humidifier, try running the humidifier for a good 30 minutes before bedtime. That way you can check the room for vapor intensity. Keep in mind your baby's sense of smell is much more acute than yours; less is more. After you put your baby to bed, keep the door open a crack just for a little extra ventilation.

If your humidifier doesn't have the inhalant reservoir, put a few drops of the oil on a cotton ball and place the cotton ball near the steam vent. But make sure you don't block it, or no humidity will get through.

Always get the highest quality oils you can afford, because there is a difference between them. If you can, give a whiff of the oil before you buy it. It should definitely smell like what's written on the label!

One last piece of advice: I've seen humidifier cleaning solutions out there, as well as additives to put in the water tank to avoid mineral buildups. I'd definitely steer clear of these. We've used humidifiers in our home for years, and if you clean them regularly with water and vinegar, and if they're rinsed out very well, you'll have no problem with buildups. It's important to take apart the entire unit on a regular basis as well, scrubbing out any mineral buildup with an old toothbrush.

Check back for more cold and flu natural remedies for your babies and young children. The wonderful thing about natural remedies is you can use several at once without worries. And that's important because when your little one is sick, nothing is better for mom and dad than peace of mind about cold and flu care.

(Note: Two other possible oils to use would be thyme or lavender. Follow same precautions.)

Exodus from Eczema

Alright, maybe the title is a bit too much alliteration, even for me. But eczema is something we all want to keep far from our babies' complexions, as Glory from SAHM Queen can tell you. This morning I received an email from her, so with her permission I'm going to share it, along with my response.

From Glory:
Any advice on how to cure my 14-month-old of eczema? I use Arbonne cleansing gel to wash him (all natural). I also use All Free and Clear for my laundry detergent. My doctor wants me to use Aquaphor on him, but I don’t want to use mineral oil products. However, nothing has worked yet. Any advice?

My response:
Thanks for the question! It's good you use natural detergents and
cleansers. Scented stuff can irritate eczema, so the more natural and
the fewer ingredients, the better. I'd agree with you that it's best
to avoid the mineral oil products as well. My son occasionally has
eczema behind his ears, so I have tried a few different natural
remedies. My favorite one is a homemade calendula oil. You can
easily do this at home, and if you can't find dried calendula flowers
at a health food store, try www.mountainherbs.com. I've never
purchased from them, but they are quite reputable.

Take about a cup of the dried calendula flowers and place them in a
clean glass jar that has a tight-fitting lid. Cover the flowers with
a good olive oil, and let the mixture sit for one to two weeks. Every
day flip the jar upside down and back to help mix it. I like to let
my jar sit in a sunny window so the sun can help the fusion process.
(Just don't let it get too hot.) After a week or two, strain the oil
through some cheesecloth or a strainer into another clean jar. You
can rub this oil right on the eczema or put some in his bathwater.
The oil can be used for diaper rash too. It's good for adult dry skin
as well, and this one jar should last your family a long time.

While you're waiting for that oil to be ready, you can try a pure aloe
gel. (Read the ingredients - some of them have alcohol, of all
things, which could really sting!) Or some oatmeal in the bath can be
soothing. I haven't found these remedies to be a long-term solution
like the calendula oil, but they can provide some comfort until your
oil is ready for use.

If anyone else ever has a question about taking care of your baby naturally, please feel free to ask in the comments or email me at themommyspot@gmail.com. I'd be happy to look into it for you, because if you're wondering about it, chances are you're not the only one. If I don't have the answer, I'll definitely try and find it!

Chamomile, Baby's Little Wonder Herb

Chamomile. A little flowery herb you drink as tea when you need help getting sleepy. That's all I thought it did too, once upon a time. But now I'm never without a jar of dried chamomile. That stuff is a whole medicine cabinet in a mug, and yet this misunderstood member of the sunflower family goes along in life being viewed as a dainty little flower whose only power is making you go night-night. As far as I'm concerned, though, it's the best and most versatile herb for babies and young children.

Chamomile tea is gentle and effective as an astringent for things like diaper rash and heat rash when applied directly to the skin. As a drink, it soothes a queasy or sore tummy and it helps halt diarrhea. Cradle cap bugging you? A little rinse in chamomile can help soothe the itch and scratch. It's also good for a cough, bronchitis, staving off nightmares, and easing ulcers (for the nervous parent). But one of my favorite uses is for that crankity thing that happens to babies and toddlers when they teethe. If your child gets all squirrely and restless from teething like my son does, a little warm chamomile tea does amazing things. I give my son just a couple of ounces of warm tea when he's all wound up from the discomfort of a new tooth, and I usually see a calmer, happier baby in about 30 minutes. Yes, the Chamomile Fairy comes and replaces my child with a quiet one. Okay, not really. But the transformation is often quite remarkable.

No matter how you use this magical herb, preparation is pretty much the same. Take two teaspoons of dried herb and using a tea strainer or tea ball, steep it in a mug of very hot water for about 10 - 15 minutes. Strain the tea well, and of course make sure it isn't too hot to drink. For younger babies, I'd try using only small quantities, although I've not heard of any dangers. The only precautions would be these: Chamomile can have a binding effect, so if your baby is constipated, you may want to steer clear until her plumbing is back to normal. Also, any tea is diuretic so try not to give too much before bedtime or your sleepyhead will just wake up with a wet diaper. Lastly, I have heard of one child having an allergic reaction to chamomile, so no matter the age, try a small amount first to make sure there are no side effects. A swabbing of tea applied to the skin can be a good way to test - watch for redness or irritation. Other than these few small cautions, chamomile is by far one of the safest herbs. It's definitely one of the most versatile!

So there you have it! A wonderful herb you can keep on hand as a replacement to several over-the-counter medications for children. Certainly one of my favorites. There's been more than one tough day that has ended with the sight of me slumped on the couch with a mug of this in hand, waiting for its calming relief - and a sighting of the Chamomile Fairy.

Calming Bath Time

One of the ways moms have depended upon to help their baby get a good night's sleep is the evening bath. The warm water is relaxing, and there's nothing like putting a clean baby into clean jammies to really get him cozy!

I've learned a little trick recently to add to the comforting experience. We've talked before about adding a little essential oil to the bath, but how about making the whole tub one big cup of tea? All that needs to be done is to get a little bag with drawstrings or one of those socks whose partner has long gone to wherever those other socks go. Add a small amount of herbs such as chamomile, lavender, or lemon balm and tie off the bag or sock. After the warm bath is drawn, swirl the sock or bag around in the bath. You can leave it right in the bathwater, unless your little darling thinks it's a snack.

The herbs not only offer a calming scent to the water, they actually soak into the skin giving baby a gentle dose of relaxation. And you don't have to buy one of those expensive bottles of chemical-laden bath potions either! This is the real deal at a tiny fraction of the cost. (Try and buy herbs bulk as opposed to already in tea bags. You'll be amazed at how much you save. Grow your own and save even more!)

Afterwards, save the spent herbs as compost for your garden, or you can dump them into some houseplants as compost there too. Now, isn't everyone feeling happy and well-rested?

Ginger - Not Just for Cats

What's with the cat, you ask? As I prepared to do a post on ginger root as a nice natural remedy, I scoped my usual haunts for freebie photos. Turns out lots of photographers have cats named Ginger, but do not take pictures of ugly herbal roots. So be it. Ginger stays. She's kinda cute, anyway, don't you think?

Onto the ginger that does not have to be let out nights -

I love using ginger root as a home remedy because it's so safe, and it fixes so many problems. If you're nursing or pregnant, or if you have a young one who's feeling not so good, ginger may be the cure. For pregnant women, ginger can be used for morning sickness. I discovered this quite by accident when feeling rather queasy in my first trimester. A coworker had some ginger candy that no one else would touch because it's funny looking and tastes pretty strong. But I've always loved ginger, so I ate a piece. In about 5 minutes, my queasiness was gone! I used it off and on through the rest of that first three months of pregnancy, and every time it worked. (You don't have to use ginger candy - tea or even a small piece of fresh ginger, chewed for a minute or two, can do the trick as well.)

If you are nursing or pregnant, you know your choices of cold and flu medications are limited. Have a cough, a fever, a headache? Nausea, vomiting, body aches? Making up a batch of ginger tea is safe and effective for all these symptoms. You can purchase ginger tea at the health food store. (Make sure it's ginger tea without other herbs, unless you are 100% certain the other herbs are completely safe for pregnant and nursing moms.) Or if you really want to be natural, you can buy ginger root at your grocery store or an Asian food store. Peel the ginger, chop it very fine or grate it, and boil it in water. I usually use about an inch of ginger per three to four cups of water. Boil the ginger for about 20 minutes, or until it's about half the water you started with. Strain it and drink. If it tastes too strong for you, add a little water.

So there you have it - a few ways to use one of my favorite remedies. And unlike our feline friend, this Ginger doesn't get hairballs.

Heat Rash Solution: Keeping Baby Cool as a Cucumber

I've been slowly working my way through a book on Chinese Medicine for children. I say slowly because so much of the information in the book is geared more towards parents who actually have access to a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner, which I do not, so I haven't been delving into it like I thought I would. There are some do-it-yourself solutions in there, however. One in particular struck my attention, since the weather is warming up.

The book, Keeping Your Child Healthy with Chinese Medicine by Bob Flaws, refers to this condition as "prickly heat". I always called it heat rash - those tiny little bumps or red blotches that babies often get on their faces and bodies when it's hot outside. My son got heat rash pretty regularly throughout his first summer. I tried cool washcloths damp with water or chamomile tea, which seemed to alleviate things a little, but I wish I would have heard of this solution: cucumber.

Bob Flaws recommends rubbing some fresh cucumber slices on baby's skin to eliminate the rash. I think this sounds like a wonderful idea. My son hasn't had any heat rash yet this season, and I'm hoping he won't. But if he does, I'll give the cucumber a try. Heck, I may try it on myself if the day is hot enough! Sounds refreshing! In the meantime, if any of you try it out, let me know how it works. If nothing else, you'll have a baby with delicious smelling skin!

I Take Mine with Lemon - Home Remedies Instead of Deodorant

When I was pregnant, I suddenly became accutely aware of the food I ate, and also the products I used on my body. For instance, deodorant became more of a concern. Knowing things like aluminum and talc were present and bad for not only me but my baby as well, I began eliminating certain products. And after I gave birth and began breast feeding, the same concerns lingered. I learned that what you use on your pits travels nicely to the breast milk. I'd already tried using an interesting solution in place of deodorant, and I've also come across some other alternatives; some of them more - ahem - unusual than others.

I'll start with my favorite, one that was told to me by a coworker. It's simple, portable, and it sure smells nice! Lemon. Yes, folks, plain old lemon. You can squeeze a little of the juice on your hand and rub it under your arms. It's a deodorant and a surprisingly effective antiperspirant. I've even taken slices of lemon to work with me. (During certain parts of pregnancy, a little extra protection is good to carry around.) I prefer an actual lemon to the little plastic bottles shaped like lemon, as those have additives. And since the point is to eliminate that sort of thing, it's good to go straight to the source.

I've tried baking soda, and although that works okay, it can sting after shaving. It also irritates some people's skin. But if you mix it with water and wash with it, I'm told it works nicely.

For persistant body odor, you may be magnesium deficient. Try taking magnesium tablets and see if that helps over time. Some swear by it.

The granddaddy of them all, however, is an old Peruvian remedy. You only need to do this 4 times a year, thank God. Here are the ingredients if you are truly desperate: 1 cup syrup, 2 tbs. lemon, and 10 crushed fireflies. (Or for you Southerners, lightning bugs.) Apparently if you apply this mixture to the ol' pits and wrap it in Saran wrap for 30 minutes, you shower yourself to fresher underarms. They do suggest stocking up on the bugs for the winter months as they are hard to come by. This gets the gold medal in the gross category. Or shall I say "cate-GORY".

Whatever your preference, there is something satisfying in finding the natural way to solve life's little problems, no matter the odor! Overall, I suggest the lemon minus the lightnin' bugs. Unless you like glow-in-the-dark pits.

Feelin' Kinda Crummy - Natural Fever Reducing for Baby

Looking for safe and natural ways to reduce your baby's fever? There are a few good remedies, but first remember: A fever isn't necessarily cause to worry. Fevers are nature's way of fighting off infection and illness. If your baby is over three months old and the fever is below 102 degrees, it's not always cause for concern. However, any baby under three months with a fever should see a pediatrician right away, just to be safe. Or if a baby of any age exhibits lethargy, vomiting, or irritability, call your pediatrician.

Bath Time
Try a warm bath to bring down that fever. They're actually better than a cool bath, as cool water can reduce the fever too quickly. Allow your baby to sit in the tub until the water starts too cool, and then towel him off thoroughly.

The Wipedown
Using warm water, wet a washcloth and wipe down your baby gently. Not only will this ease the fever, the gentle interaction can soothe some fussiness. For some extra calming, use a warm, mild chamomile tea instead of plain water.

Fluid Intake
Make sure your baby is getting plenty of fluids. Offer formula or breastmilk more often than normal. If your baby is breastfed, offering water isn't necessary, but formula-fed babies may benefit from a little water in a bottle. Just make sure it doesn't replace a regular formula feeding.

So what's a normal temperature, and what's not? I got this handy list from Ask Dr. Sears, and I'll share it here:

Normal: 97 - 99F (36 - 37.2C)
Low-Grade: 99 - 100.9F (37.3 - 38.3C)
Common Fever: 101 - 103.5 (38.4 - 39.7C)
High Fever: over 103.6F (over 39.8C)

Most importantly: Follow your gut instincts, moms and dads. If something just plain doesn't feel right, call your pediatrician immediately.

Under-the-Weather - Natural Cough Remedies for Babies

The searched-for info on the net related to baby health tends to be on cough and cold remedies, and no wonder - over-the-counter medication and its negative effects on babies is all over the news lately. So I've gathered a few more natural remedies for you.

The first one I touched on before - the humidifier. Vicks makes a humidifier that has a tiny reservoir for their Vicks drops. But for a baby, that might be a bit too intense. There are several essential oils that can be used instead; with just one or two drops of a high-quality oil, you can really help clear up those little lungs. The oils to try would be: eucalyptus, thyme, sage, peppermint, or rosemary. As I said, just one or two drops should do it. Also, make sure you don't use it in a totally enclosed room. Run the humidifier with a bedroom door open, and check periodically to make sure the vapors aren't too intense.

Steam is a great way to help congested lungs. Take your baby into the bathroom with a hot shower running. This time, shut the door and just sit together in the room so baby can breathe the steam for a good 10 or 15 minutes. Or you can sit baby in a nice warm bath for a similar effect. Adding a cup of chamomile tea to the bathwater can give a little more comfort and relax your baby.

And speaking of tea, you can make a mild tea of sage and thyme for baby to drink. Make sure you don't steep it too long - just a couple minutes - and taste test it yourself to check the potency. If your baby is under 6 months, it's a good idea to check with your pediatrician before trying this one. Only a little tea is necessary, and make sure it isn't replacing a regular formula or breastmilk feeding.

If your baby has a productive cough, mix 1/2 teaspoon powdered ginger with 1 teaspoon olive oil and rub it on your baby's chest. This will help clear things up.

For breastfeeding moms, make sure you're keeping up on your vitamins, and eat lots of foods rich in vitamin C. Lemon water is a great way to get an extra boost. By eating extra healthy yourself, you'll be passing on those benefits to your baby.

If you've got any cough remedies of your own, please add them to the Comments. I'd love to hear them.

The Well-Oiled Tushy - A Recipe for Baby's Bum

My son had been experiencing a slight case of diaper rash - nothing major. It seemed to be a run-of-the-mill case; red and irritated, sometimes sensitive to a wet diaper. But for some reason, I had quite a time of getting rid of it. I wanted to pass on to you some natural remedies I've uncovered. I started to see improvements, and it's great knowing there are ways to do it naturally, without any chemical-laden diaper rash treatments.

One thing that seems to offer an immediate feel-better solution is a simple oatmeal bath. Sprinkle a couple tablespoons of uncooked oats right into baby's bathwater to ease skin irritations of all kinds, including diaper rash. I noticed this quick fix reduced the redness immediately. A few moments of splashing in the tub, and baby's backside is relieved.

Some parents swear by the hairdryer. Set at the lowest heat setting, it can be used to air out baby before putting on that new diaper. Airing out is a necessity for a healthy bottom, and the warm air is especially soothing this time of year.

I just made my own diaper ointment. It seems to work well for daily use. Simple, really. 1/2 cup olive or sweet almond oil, 3 drops lavender oil, 3 drops tea tree oil, 4 Tbs. water. Whisk it all together until it becomes opaque. Apply a small amount to baby; no double-dipping! It will ensure the oil remainds clean. Also, keep the oil covered when not in use. (This one smells really nice, too.)

There are several natural remedies out there for diaper rash, but these are just a few suggestions. If you have any of your own, add them to the comments box - I'd love to hear them and even try them out, because nothin's cuter than a baby butt!

Taking the Bite Out of Teething

Most babies cut their first tooth between the ages of 4 and 7 months. Some babies breeze through the experience with not even a whimper to announce the new teeth. But others - well, let's just say others let us know with every ounce of their lung power. It can be a frustrating time for parents who want to ease that discomfort as quickly as possible. I told you in an earlier entry about teething tablets (see "When Teething Becomes a Pain..."), but it's two teeth later in my baby experience, so I have a few more ideas for you.

Fortunately, my son is between teeth right now. Although I can feel those little bumps on the top gums, there's no sign they're imminent. The bottom two look great, and silence has prevailed (as best as an 8-month-old can muster) once again. But he still has the great desire to chew, and the drooling is excessive to say the least.

There have been a lot of studies surrounding those baby teething rings with the funky smell. You know the ones - they are usually a clear soft plastic with colorful figures on them. The verdict is not clearly out as to whether or not these are safe, so we've decided to steer clear of them. But there are some nice alternatives to try.

The first one is the carrot. Yes, the carrot. (This requires some close supervision, because as baby sprouts some teeth, he or she can scrape little bits off.) What I recommend is to peel a nice organic carrot and cut it in half. Give the fatter end as the teething toy. This has been such a success in our house that if my son needs a diaper change or is even getting fed his lunch, he often refuses to let go of it! We keep a dish in the fridge so it's chilled. It really seems to ease the discomfort. (If you are using organic carrots, beware of giving them to a baby wearing white - the beta carotene content seems to be higher in these; even I experience orange hands after peeling some.)

A second idea is a small amount of chamomile tea. If a teething baby seems to be having difficulty sitting still, is restless and won't sleep because of teething, this works quite well. I prepare it weak and give my son no more than an ounce in a cup or a bottle. Not everyone feels confident giving their baby tea, but as far as herbs go, chamomile is definitely on the mild side. Just don't overdo it - it does have constipating properties if too much is taken. On the upside of chamomile, it has mild cleansing properties that will eliminate the bacteria from baby's mouth - another cause of teething pain, according to my dentist.

And speaking of my dentist, he recommends giving baby a cool damp washcloth to chew on (also closely supervised) to help remove bacteria from gums. Or you can cleanse the gums yourself by gently rubbing them with the cloth, but actually chewing the cloth seems to be more enjoyable; and it sops up an awful lot of drool!

Teething is tough on parents and babies alike, but keep in mind - there are moments of peace between the new teeth! They won't just sprout one after the other without letting up, and usually the first few teeth are the toughest to get through. Once those are out, they're so cute and pearly, you may not even mind the chomp marks on your furniture!

got milk? Foods from Chinese Medicine to Promote Lactation

I've been tinkering with some Traditional Chinese Medicine techniques lately. My husband has come home to things like black fungus soup and sesame tea, and even stranger things have shown up in his stir fry - all so I can see what it does to us when we eat it. A major part of Chinese Medicine is food that cures and heals. When you're nursing or pregnant, you have to watch those medications. But if it's healthy food used to heal you, it's no worries, mate!

If your problem is lactation, Traditional Chinese Medicine has that one covered. I decided to write about this after an experience I had last week. I've been nursing our son for 8 months now, and I never feel the need to pump if hours have not gone by without a feeding. But last week in the middle of the day, my son eating regularly, I needed to pump. If you nurse, you know that's a little weird. What the heck did I eat?

As I said we've been eating some different things lately. So naturally, I knew in my case, it had to be something I'd eaten in the last 24 hours. I looked up the foods in a book I've been devouring, Chinese Natural Cures by Henry C. Lu, PhD. I narrowed it down. For me, it had been the tofu. But I learned a lot more about foods for lactation in the process.

Normally, a woman's lactation will be up and running three or four days after she gives birth. But if it isn't, Dr. Lu suggests(in another book, Traditional Chinese Medicine)several foods that can help. He explains that there are two different types of lactation problems. In the first case, a woman may experience little or no milk secretion or clear, diluted milk. This woman would have no swelling or pain in the breasts, pale complexion, poor appetite, and fatigue. For her, some foods recommended would be: beef, chicken, lettuce, peanuts, red date, and tofu.

If a woman is experiencing a total absence of milk or only a little bit, swelling and painful breasts or hardness, and if she has concentrated and sticky milk, Dr. Lu suggests different foods, including: beef, button mushrooms, sweet potatoes, and sweet rice.

Of course you don't have to have those issues to reap the benefits of these milk-producing foods. As I stated earlier, tofu really did it for me. I had it in stir fry and some soup. (If you're not into tofu, try scrambling some eggs and then adding tofu cubes at the end. Fry it all just until the tofu is warmed through. You'll hardly notice it's in there.) If one of the items doesn't seem to work for you, try another one, or combine them. Imagine a beef stir fry with peanuts and tofu. That would have to be good!

On the technical side of things, if you want to listen to some great advice online on breastfeeding, I've found a wonderful podcast called Mommy's Milk and More. It's a font of information on nursing, pregnancy, and newborns. To listen, go to my new "Podcasts Perfect for Mommies" section in the sidebar and click the link. It'll take you to their website where you'll find this and another podcast called "Pregtastic," geared towards pregnancy topics.

If you've found something that really helps you out, write a comment here or email me at themommyspot@gmail.com. I'd love to hear about it! I have readers around the globe, so I'm sure the variety of remedies would be very interesting to us all.

More on Cradle Cap

Not too long ago, I posted an article on cradle cap. I had indicated that I started using pure liquid glycerin soap for my son's hair and that it was working very well. To update you, it's still impressing me as the best natural solution to washing baby's hair. Although it doesn't have a pretty perfume smell, the results are wonderful. Even better, the cradle cap is gone!

I was noticing no new buildup on my son's scalp, but the old buildup was still there. Afraid to scrape at it because it might hurt or make things worse, I was sort of hoping it would start coming out on its own during washings and combings. That didn't happen - until I found a finer baby comb. (Note: I didn't try to remove what was still attached to his scalp - only what was caught at the base of his hairs. Picking it off the scalp is not advised.)

The comb I'm using now has small closely-spaced teeth that, when I comb his hair, simply lifts off the old cradle cap buildup. I couldn't believe how much came up from his scalp from one combing. I washed his hair first to soften the scalp, towel dried until his hair stuck up like a baby orangutan, then gently combed his hair. I repeated that the next day, and to my surprise, his scalp is beautifully clean with nary a scalp crud to be found!

I just wanted to share this small victory with you, in the hopes that it will help any of you along who might be battling the same scaly little issue.

Note: I am sorry to say liquid glycerin does not work so well on adult hair. Imagining my own locks to resemble my son's gleaming tresses, I dumped some on my head and scrubbed away. When my husband returned from work, he took one look at my new do and asked, "What happened to you? You look like a shrub." I think I'll stick to Burt's Bees.

Infants, Toddlers, and Cold Medications - a Dangerous Combination?

Recently, news stories have been popping up about the dangers of cold and cough medications when administered to toddlers and infants. It's rather alarming to read the statistics: over 1,500 infants and toddlers were taken to emergency rooms and three died over a two-year period. The thing they had in common: They were all given cough or cold medications.

When our children get sick, we want to do whatever we can to see their discomfort end. It's especially hard when our children are too small to understand why they feel so bad. This is the time we should be extra-vigilant in how we treat what ails our little ones. That means reading all the warnings, indications, and instructions on any medication we may be considering. It may also mean we can't give them the quick fix we so desperately want to give them.

Most cold, flu, and cough medications are not suitable for any children under the age of two. That can be frustrating to a parent looking for a solution. The best thing to do is to call your doctor, even on off-hours and weekends, or talk to the local pharmacist if you have medication concerns. Ask what you can do to alleviate discomfort safely.

If you're dissatisfied with the lack of products safe for small children, turn to natural cures. When your children are healthy, spend some time preparing for when they're not. Do a little research on things like homeopathic medications, safe herbs, or home remedies. Talk to the staff at a local health food store, or get a book such as "The Doctors Book of Home Remedies." Then make sure you're stocked up on whatever you'll need, so if a cold or flu hits, you're prepared - not scared. You'll be amazed at how much easier it will be to soothe and care for your baby or toddler if you feel confident about the remedies you are able to offer.

Always remember the most important thing is to use caution when treating colds and flu in your children. If you are prepared to battle those nasty viruses in the most natural, safest way possible, you'll never have to look back with regret. Instead, you'll feel good about your decision to treat your children with nature's cures. What's more, the only side-effect will be smiling, healthy kids and relieved parents!

Cradle Cap Cures

Around here, I lovingly refer to this scaly issue as "cradle crap". Those little flaky, crusty pieces of skin clinging to your baby's otherwise perfect head can be really annoying. It usually shows up by three month of age and can occasionally last into the toddler years. What the heck is that stuff, anyway?

No one seems to agree on what causes it. Hormones from mommy, reactions to an immature digestive system - the list goes on. One thing experts agree on is it's not due to bad hygiene. My pediatrician assures me it's not dangerous. It rarely gets to be an extreme case. Mostly it's just an annoyance to parents who are constantly flicking little flakes out of baby hair. (Never peel them off, by the way. That can cause infection.)

There are some natural and safe ways to deal with cradle cap if you are tired of waiting it out. One way is to rub olive or vegetable oil onto your baby's scalp and put a hat on baby. Wait a few hours or overnight, then take a soft brush and gently brush the scalp. I tried olive oil with a couple drops of tea tree oil, and it did help. But washing it out is pretty tough.

Aloe gel is another solution. That too can be rubbed into the scalp and left on, same as the oil. It washes out cleaner. Although I haven't tried it, chamomile tea is said to work too. Just make up a cup, let it cool thoroughly, and use it as a rinse.

I mentioned in the last posting that I'd purchased pure glycerin soap. I washed my baby's hair with this mild liquid, and to my great surprise, his hair looked wonderful. It actually laid flat and didn't float away like the feathery hair of a Muppet puppet, as I am accustomed. It's so shiny and soft too. And although there are still signs of cradle cap, it looks much better. I plan on mixing a small bottle of the glycerin with a drop or two of the tea tree oil to use on cradle cappy days.

On the "don't" side of things, make sure you don't use dandruff shampoo or adult shampoo on your baby. Those are too harsh and can irritate the scalp rather than soothe it. Most of all, don't fret. It is a condition that usually clears up with time. If it looks like it's getting worse instead of better, though, do check with your pediatrician.

Do you have anything special you do for cradle cap? Let us know! Leave a comment or email me at themommyspot@gmail.com.

The Bottom Line on Homemade Wipes

I've been really curious about trying homemade baby wipes. I currently use the Kirkland brand from Costco, and although they're unscented with limited chemicals, it still bothers me that I don't really know what's in there. Not to mention the waste of throwing all those little pieces of paper away every day. I did a little research online, and all I was coming up with was slightly different versions of the same recipe. I considered just using water, but my son's bum is a wee bit red lately (probably from teething), and I felt he could use a little extra healing power. So, as I do with cooking recipes, I just altered it.

The original recipe calls for about 2 cups distilled water, 1/4 cup baby shampoo, and 1/4 cup baby oil. Most baby shampoos are also full of a lot of unnatural ingredients, and since my natural shampoo is in bar form, that ingredient was out the window. Most baby oils are mineral oils with a powder scent of some sort. Mineral oil, according to Wikipedia, is "a by-product in the distillation of petroleum to produce gasoline." No thanks there.

My improvisation was this: 2 cups distilled water, 1/4 cup Baby Bee Apricot Oil (from Burt's Bees), 1/4 cup liquid pure glycerin soap. I got the glycerin soap from my health food store. The way the recipes read, you're to cut a roll of good paper towel in half, take out the tube in the middle, and put the paper towel into one of your old baby wipes containers. (I found only about half the roll can fit in those at a time.) Then you pour the mixture over the paper towel, close the lid, and give it a shake. If you're into reducing waste and don't want to use the paper, you can invest in a few packs of plain cotton baby washcloths. I tried it with the paper towel this time, and if it works well for me, I'll invest in the cloths. It seems it will be worth it, as this one box of wipes cost me less than 30 cents!

My son's bum is already looking much better. I might cut down a little on the oil next time, but otherwise it seems fine. If anyone else has some homemade baby wipe tricks or recipes, let me know here, or email me at themommyspot@gmail.com. I'd love to hear more ideas!