Well, most of us do to some degree. There's a whole spectrum of challenges our children can express at different times.

If your child happens to be consistently more on the extreme side of the spectrum, he or she may have been given a label such as ADD/ADHD, ODD, PTSD, Attachment Disorder, etc. Labels like this have been created in order for health professionals to neatly define and treat a set of behaviors. If a child can be "diagnosed" with a disorder, then he or she can be treated with drugs or other therapies. That's all the meaning these labels have. These are NOT diseases and it does not mean your child is abnormal or damaged.

Your child is likely a normal, spirited child with a unique way of being, trying to function in a world that doesn't acknowledge or accept this type of expression. He or she may simply need help with some troubling physical symptoms or challenging behavior issues.

There is not any one particular pharmaceutical drug, herb, homeopathic remedy, or nutritional supplement that will "fix" your child. Each child is an individual with unique needs and can be nurtured and honored for their own uniqueness and abilities. Unraveling the symptoms and behaviors can be a little tricky, but there is a lot you can do to assist your child to be his or her greatest, happiest self.

Here are several good articles on ADHD:

http://www.healthychild.com/attention-deficit-adhd/

I recommend two excellent books on the subject:

Embracing Your Spirited Child: A Transformational Guide for Parents of Children with ADD/ADHD, ODD, PTSD and Attachment Disorder

I was moved to tears when I read this amazing book. I love this book because I can relate to being a spirited, sensitive, misunderstood child myself. Had I been born 30 years later, I would probably have been labeled ADD and ODD. Tami Gulland does an amazing service to both children and parents because she teaches you how to recognize the unique gifts of your child. To be seen, accepted and loved for being our unique selves is the greatest gift anyone can be given. It can be truly transformative. Tami also points out that there is a tremendous amount that spirited kids can teach us and parenting them can be an adventure in personal growth. You don't have to settle for constant stress and battles; you can have a deeper connection and increased harmony with your child. Tami Gulland shows you how to do this in this wonderful e-book.

The following link will take you to a page that tells you more about this e-book and also a Q & A Telegathering Call. Even though the live call already happened on 5/6, you will still get access to the recorded call if you buy the e-book. Click on the link that says "embrace your spirited child" to find out more:

Victory Over ADHD: a Holistic Approach for Helping Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

This excellent book is written by a truly courageous mom. Deborah Merlin took matters into her own hands when she was told the only answer to her twin boys' special needs was to drug them. She became a passionate researcher and devoted advocate for her children and helped them overcome their issues with non-invasive, drug-free treatments. She shares her story in her book, Victory Over ADHD: a Holistic Approach for Helping Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Her sons are now in college and living happy, healthy lives. She shares her insights on the factors that lead to their problems and goes into great detail on what helped them to recover. Experts have writtien some of the chapters in this book, and they go into detail on toxins in food, toxic metals, vaccines, EMFs, balancing the brain and body, and alternative approaches to healing. Deborah also shares the journey she had with recovering from her own health issues and attention problems with natural medicine. By addressing the root causes of her sons' and her own symptoms with the removal of toxic foods, detoxification, and quality nutritional supplements, their journey to healing was successful.

NOTE: Healthy Child receives a small commission when you use the above links to purchase the books. This helps to support the education freely provided on Healthy Child. Rest assured that I will never recommend a book or product unless I am absolutely confident of its value to you and your children. Thank you for your support.

Empowering Book for New Parents

Randall Neustaedter, OMD, an expert in holistic pediatrics, has written another excellent book for parents. If you are a new mom or dad wanting to know how to manage your baby's health problems without resorting to pharmaceutical drugs, you now have a great resource - The Holistic Baby Guide: Alternative Care for Common Health Problems. This well researched guide walks you through the most common ailments of babies, including colic, skin problems, fevers, ear problems, acute illnesses, immune system weaknesses, and asthma.

Utilizing over 30 years experience treating children with nutritional supplements, homeopathy and Chinese medicine, Dr. Neustaedter gives practical advice for home treatment with therapies that really do work. He provides a good overview of holistic pediatrics and lays out several possible approaches for dealing with each health issue so you can make an informed decision as to what path you want to take.

This book empowers you to give your baby a healthy start in life and helps take the worry out of common problems. If you want to avoid the mainstream medical path of antibiotics and toxic therapies, this book should definitely be included in your repertoire of parenting resources.

The Holistic Baby Guide is also a great reference for practitioners since it contains many protocols for treating pediatric medical conditions.

Kids are vitamin D Deficient, Not Vaccine Deficient

It's exciting to see scientific research confirming what I've believed all along - that our natural environment gives us everything we need to live healthy lives. We are meant to co-exist with the constant circulation of bacteria and viruses in our environment because our extraordinary bodies are designed with a powerful innate immune function. We don't need to mess with this perfection using synthetic drugs and vaccines; we just need to better understand it and take steps to optimize this phenomenal potential.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial of school children shows vitamin D prevents the flu. They also found that asthmatic children on placebo had six times more asthma attacks than did children on vitamin D.

The study was published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition:
http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/ajcn.2009.29094v1

Vitamin D Triggers and Activates the Immune System

In addition, scientists have discovered that Vitamin D is crucial to activating the immune response. Without sufficient levels of vitamin D, the killer cells of the immune system - T cells - are not able to fight off serious infections.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/7379094/Vitamin-D-triggers-and-arms-the-immune-system.html

That vitamin D increases immune function is not a new discovery. The connection between vitamin D, infections, and immune function has been evident for many years. Here is some of the research:

http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/science/research/vitamin-d-in-innate-and-adaptive-immunity.shtml

http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/science/research/vitamin-d-and-influenza.shtml

Are Flu Vaccines as Safe and Effective as Vitamin D?

An independent analysis of worldwide flu vaccine studies published in the British Medical Journal concluded there is little scientific proof that flu vaccines are safe and effective. The report concluded that too few clinical trials have been conducted to prove vaccine safety and current evidence indicates that use of flu vaccine has only a modest or no effect on preventing influenza in the children and the elderly.

http://www.healthychild.com/flu-vaccine/studies-fail-to-demonstrate-safety-or-effectiveness-of-influenza-vaccine-in-children-and-adults/

http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/333/7574/912

Our children's bodies have no inherent physiological requirement for repeated injections of live or killed viruses or bacteria mixed with toxic preservatives and adjuvants. They can live remarkably healthy lives without vaccines. But they cannot be healthy without adequate levels of naturally-occurring vitamin D.

The body manufactures the perfect amount of natural vitamin D3 when exposed to sunlight. It's absorbed by our skin and then converted to a hormone that is needed for many different functions, including activating our natural immunity against disease. This happens with zero side effects since it's the way our body is designed to function. And it even has its own built-in mechanism to stop making vitamin D to prevent toxicity.

Compare this with a vaccine made of toxic synthetic substances that is injected directly into the muscle and then taken into the bloodstream. Our bodies were never meant to deal with this type of assault, especially small, developing infant bodies. No wonder there are so many adverse effects with vaccines. Vaccines are incompatible with our bodies' natural processes. Side effects or bad reactions may show up when synthetic substances not meant to be injected, absorbed, or ingested by the human body are forced into the system anyway. The body then has to deal with this.

Vitamin D has always been provided by the sun, but science is just now beginning to affirm the profound effects this has on our bodies. For many years, we've been told to block the sun with chemical sunscreens. It seems that we've been blocking our most effective means of preventing and healing disease.

It's estimated that over half the people in the US are vitamin D deficient. Kids are vitamin D deficient because of the very low government nutritional recommendations of 200-400 IUs, which are ridiculously low, and the insane practice of slathering sunscreen on them all day every day in the summer months. Many doctors are now in agreement that vitamin D levels should be above 50 ng/ml year-round, in both children and adults. You simply can't get there with the current recommendations.

See info about toxicity of sunscreens and how to get enough sun to produce vitamin D without burning.

When the body is nurtured and fed properly, its natural innate immunity is capable of producing a full, complete, powerful immune response. This is always better than simply creating an antibody response, which is all vaccines are meant to do. And now it seems that without adequate vitamin D to activate an immune response, a vaccine may be useless!

We Need a Change in Public Health Policy

There's no real health care reform until public health policy changes to recommend what works instead of what brings in more profits for the pharmaceutical industry.

If our government is serious about public health and well-being, they should reconsider the strategy of recommending an expensive pharmaceutical-based, questionable mode of prevention that has associated health risks when a natural, inexpensive, no-risk preventive has been proven effective.

In the meantime, we parents can implement our own health care reform and provide our babies and children with optimal vitamin D levels, extended breastfeeding, good whole foods nutrition, a positive emotional and non-toxic environment, as well as other natural immune enhancers to keep our kids safe and healthy.

Interview with Dr. Cannell about vitamin D deficiency in babies and children:
http://www.healthychild.com/immune-system-support/vitamin-d-deficiency-in-pregnancy-babies-children/

Vitamin D Levels and Supplementation:
http://www.healthychild.com/supplements-for-children/vitamin-d-levels/

Pregnancy and Vitamin D Deficiency:
http://www.healthychild.com/pregnancy/pregnancy-and-gestational-vitamin-d-deficiency/

Info on toxicity of Sunscreens
http://www.healthychild.com/sunscreen/sunburn-prevention-are-sunscreens-safe/

Special Diets Have Indeed Helped Many Autistic Children Improve

A recent article by the Associated Press contained this terribly misleading headline and incorrect reporting:

Panel: Special diets don't fight autism - A new report dismisses connections between the disorder and children's digestion.

This type of misleading headline and biased reporting can make us all crazy. If you read the actual report you'll find the panel did not dismiss or dispute anything. There was not any new scientific research done. A panel of top autism experts did a review of existing research and reported that "because of the absence, in general, of high-quality clinical research data, evidence-based recommendations are not possible at the present time."

The panel concluded that there is not enough evidence at this time to advocate GFCF diets or other "special diets" as a first line therapy for all kids with autism. They identified research objectives that need to be pursued and called for more rigorous research into the prevalence of digestive problems and whether special diets might help some children.

A lack of high-quality clinical scientific evidence is very different from disputing or dismissing a medical theory.

Many parents and doctors are reporting dramatic improvements in autistic children on special diets.

David Berger, MD, a board certified pediatrician in Tampa, FL, has changed the diets of well over 1,000 children with autism. It's been his experience that approximately half have significantly improved. Many other pediatricians and child health practitioners are helping autistic children to improve with diet.

Listen to Dr. Berger's interview with his local CBS News affiliate to learn what significant dramatic improvements have been seen and what he suggests may be the reasons for the improvements of a dairy-free/gluten-free diet. Dr. Berger can be reached at http://wholisticpeds.com/

The report was published in Pediatrics:
Evaluation, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Disorders in Individuals With ASDs: A Consensus Report
Pediatrics 2010 125: S1-S18.

See Healthy Child's Advisory Board members who treat autism:

Stephen Cowan,MD

Maya Shetreat-Klein, MD

Autism Treatment Resources

http://www.autism.com/dan/danusdis.htm

http://nourishinghope.com/

http://www.talkaboutcuringautism.org/index.htm

The recent rash of fear-based media alerts may lead us to believe that half the people in the U.S. will get very sick from the bizarre and deadly swine flu. Government officials are estimating, or rather GUESSING, that huge numbers of people may become infected or die. Then after making these big scary headlines, they say it’s not a prediction, but merely a possibility.

Last week the CDC said that so far the swine flu virus is no more deadly than normal seasonal flu, and they’re urging people not to panic over previous estimates of large numbers of deaths from this flu.

Yet, they are moving forward at breakneck speed with a mass swine flu vaccination program. They have spent billions on these vaccines and are rushing production so they can be available this fall. One of their priorities is to vaccinate ALL school children.

It’s crucial that we remain calm as we wade through the contradictory and confusing reports. The truth is that swine flu has been producing mild symptoms in healthy adults and children, with much fewer cases requiring hospitalization than this year’s typical “seasonal” flu. That’s the current reality.

There is no reason to panic. Swine flu can easily be prevented and treated with natural holistic medicine:

http://www.healthychild.com/colds-and-flu/prevent-and-treat-flu-the-safe-and-natural-way/

Is the Swine Flu Vaccine Safe and Effective?

It’s an experimental vaccine being developed in a major, panicked, rush. No one can say that it’s safe or effective. There is also little scientific evidence that the typical seasonal flu vaccines are safe and effective.
http://www.healthychild.com/flu-vaccine/studies-fail-to-demonstrate-safety-or-effectiveness-of-influenza-vaccine-in-children-and-adults/

The British Medical Journal reports that there is a growing worldwide opposition to accepting the swine flu vaccine. Many doctors and nurses indicate they won’t accept the vaccine for themselves due to fear of side effects and questions about its efficacy. (BMJ 2009;339:b3461)

Since the U.S government is rushing the development of this vaccine, there will be limited data from clinical studies evaluating safety. It will only be tested for a short period of time on a small number of volunteers before giving it to millions of people. Even so, it’s reported that the CDC will recommend that children receive 2 doses of the swine flu vaccine in addition to the regular seasonal flu shots. There will be not be enough time to fully assess the safety of giving children two to four doses of multiple strains of flu vaccine. And no one will study the cumulative, long-term effects of adding these additional doses to the bodies of already over-vaccinated kids.

The most recent news is that they will make a portion of this fast-tracked vaccine available by mid-September to those at highest risk of flu complications, even though the correct dosages will not yet even be determined. Ironically, the people at highest risk of complications from the flu are also at highest risk for vaccine reactions. According to the National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC), “pregnant women and people of any age with compromised immune systems are potentially at much higher risk for complications from dangerous vaccines than they are from a mild influenza virus.”

Most Swine Flu Vaccines WILL Contain Mercury

The multi-dose vials of both the inactivated seasonal flu vaccine and the inactivated swine flu vaccine will contain thimerosal, which is a mercury-based preservative. Mercury is associated with brain and immune dysfunction and no amount of this toxin is safe. There may be a limited supply of single dose vials of inactivated swine flu vaccine that do not contain thimerosal. The live virus swine flu nasal spray will not contain thimerosal. But unless people specifically ask for a mercury-free shot, they’ll get mercury in their flu vaccines.

The Coalition for Mercury-free Drugs (CoMeD, Inc.) has filed a lawsuit against the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to stop pregnant women from being given mercury-preserved flu vaccines. The Court has granted a hearing on the CoMeD plaintiffs’ motion. http://mercury-freedrugs.org/

Swine Flu Vaccines MAY contain Unlicensed Adjuvants

Some of the swine flu vaccines may contain oil-in-water adjuvants (squalene) to hyper-stimulate the immune system to mount a stronger immune response. A concern regarding squalene is that it may induce autoimmune disease or hypersensitivity reactions. Squalene was included in some vaccines given to soldiers in the Gulf War and has been implicated in Gulf War Syndrome.

These adjuvants have not been licensed in the U.S. but the FDA may bypass normal licensing procedures to allow them in the vaccines.  The vaccines that are currently being tested here in the U.S. are said to not contain adjuvants. BUT the government has also said that if the current version of the vaccine does not work or they need to boost supply, they will use vaccines with the unlicensed adjuvants. At what point will they determine it’s time to start using vaccines with adjuvants? How will the public know if the vaccines they are being given contain adjuvants or not? These are unanswered questions.

The NVIC points out the following:

“Oil based adjuvants may increase the risk for vaccine-induced chronic inflammation and autoimmunity in some children and adults genetically predisposed to atypical inflammatory responses and autoimmunity. No published scientific studies have examined whether those already suffering with chronic inflammation associated with brain and immune system dysfunction may be at special risk.”

Will the Swine Flu Vaccine be Mandatory?

As of today, the government continues to say that the swine flu vaccination program will be voluntary, but this could change any day.

The Emergency Use Authorization in effect during a declared public health emergency allows the vaccine manufacturers to be protected from liability if people become injured by the experimental vaccines. The same applies to the health officials, doctors, health care workers, and anyone else giving the vaccines. No one has any liability for injuries from this vaccine.

The FDA has legal ability to approve unlicensed vaccines and drugs, and state governments have been given the ability to enforce mandatory vaccination if a public health emergency has been declared.

A public health emergency was already declared this past June.

It’s hard to believe that we could be forced to take an injection of an unproven, potentially dangerous substance with toxic components into our bodies and into the bodies of our children, but amazingly it’s become a possibility.  I think it’s more likely that parents will be pressured into getting the vaccine for their kids, rather than making it mandatory. But pressure to vaccinate can be hardnosed and relentless, especially when hyped-up media reports and fear is running rampant.

None of this makes sense. They’re spending all this money, a vast amount of resources, and creating immeasurable potential risk to human health over a mild flu? We have to start questioning what we’re being told.

It’s time to make a plan that makes sense for your family. Find out everything you can about this vaccine before you decide to take the risk. Discuss what you will do if the vaccine becomes mandatory. Pay close attention to whether vaccines will be administered at your children’s schools and how this will be done. If it becomes mandatory, philosophical, religious or medical exemptions will probably not be accepted. So if you have exemptions on file for other vaccines, these exemptions may not be enough. Mandatory quarantine may be the only option to refusing the vaccine.

Read an insightful article by Stephen Cowan, MD that explores the contradictions and misinformation about swine flu and discusses the doctor’s dilemma with mandates and public health policies:

http://www.healthychild.com/colds-and-flu/the-doctors-dilemma/

This is an important time for vaccine researchers, scientists, government health officials, health professionals and parents to come together to begin talking about vaccines, public health policies and mandates. Lawrence Palevsky, M.D. appeals to all of us in his letter encouraging people to attend the NVIC’s 4th International Public Conference on Vaccination:

“I am appealing to you to consider creating a different conversation about vaccines. One that allows for independent thought and analysis of contradictions and inconsistencies. One that acknowledges what is and is not known about vaccination, and considers the possibility that some of our current teaching and policy decisions about vaccines may be wrong, or even compromising the health of children and adults. And, one that opens our minds to a new way of thinking about wellness, illness and individual and public health.”

(I will be attending this conference and will post on this blog what I learn and experience there)

An Open Letter from Lawrence Palevsky, M.D.
http://www.nvic.org/NVIC-Vaccine-News/August-2009/An-Open-Letter-from-Lawrence-PalevskyMD.aspx

Read the National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC) information about the swine flu vaccine, including what you and your family can do to be prepared:
http://www.nvic.org/vaccines-and-diseases/h1n1-swine-flu.aspx

http://www.nvic.org/NVIC-Vaccine-News/July-2009/Swine-Flu-Vaccine-Should-Not-Be-Given-to-Children.aspx

It’s important to understand what happened in 1976, the last time the government instituted a swine flu vaccine program. CBS Documentary on 1976 Swine Flu Vaccine:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_9I1L_P370&feature=related

Medical Doctors Vaccine Webinar Series:
http://www.medicalvoices.org/en/events.html

Dr. Tenpenny’s Swine Flu Hype Center:
http://drtenpenny.com/swine_flu_hype.aspx

No Reason to Panic – Swine Flu can easily be prevented and treated with natural holistic medicine
http://www.healthychild.com/colds-and-flu/prevent-and-treat-flu-the-safe-and-natural-way/

Make your Vaccination Decisions from Your Core Values Instead of Fear

I just read Jeanne Ohm's editorial in the new Pathways issue and feel compelled to post it here. It's the wisest advice I've ever read about the vaccination issue. Pathways is a great magazine for parents, providing excellent articles and vital resources for family wellness. You can subscribe to Pathways at this link:
http://www.pathwaystofamilywellness.org

Lettter from the Editor: Pathways Issue 22

Jeanne Ohm, DC

Several weeks ago, a father in our practice said to me, "I'm afraid not to vaccinate, and I'm just as afraid to vaccinate." My response was not to address the list of pros and cons on either side of the vaccination issue. My response was to have him take two steps back, and understand that any choice made from fear is made from a skewed perspective and would be unproductive and unstable. Rather than building on this unstable foundation created by fear, it was more important that he define his core values in life-those essential values from which all of his decisions could be made. Once defined, he would be making a decision from a place of certainty and trust.

Essentially, there are two perspectives about healing. One is mechanistic-it defines life as a random series of events, devoid of an organized and intelligent purpose. Sickness is to be treated, symptoms are to be eliminated, and the body needs expert opinions based on human knowledge to help it heal. The other is vitalistic. It recognizes, respects, and trusts in the intelligence of life and the interconnectedness of this wisdom among all life. Processes of the body are to be trusted, not feared, and an underlying confidence for healing and proper function is emphasized. Hippocrates, the father of medicine summed up the heart of this perspective well, "Humans are created to be healthy as long as they are whole: body, mind, spirit." People are characterized by self-healing properties that come from within-an innate healing force. Perfect health and harmony is the normal state for all life.

It is imperative that we define our core values and consciously make our life and health choices from the perspective which resonates best with those values. It is also imperative that we choose practitioners who base their choices on the same foundation.

In Pathways, we offer the perspective of vitalism-the confidence of an inherent intelligence that sustains our very existence. Our articles introduce principles built on this foundation, in the hope that parents will recognize and resonate with it. Shifting to this paradigm is sometimes challenging, especially since the majority of health care, news media, laws, and regulations do not support this perspective. It is hard to go against what seems to be the grain, and we are often met with resistance, opposition, and outright criticism, laced with fear and even intimidation. That powerful emotion-fear-then becomes the motivating factor in our decisions. But fear is too unstable an emotion from which to make any good choices. I am reminded of the quote from Bertrand Russell: "Collective fear stimulates herd instinct, and tends to produce ferocity toward those who are not regarded as members of the herd."

In 30 years of making life and health choices for our family, my husband and I have heard all of the arguments used to challenge our vitalistic core beliefs. When we started having our family, there was little to no scientific evidence on natural birthing, co-sleeping, long-term breastfeeding, vaccination risks, and the refusal of drugs for symptomatic relief. We were labeled irresponsible at best. We were told our beliefs had no scientific validation.

To us, credibility did not come from this scientific perspective devoid of any recognition of vitalism. Our validation came along the lines of an emerging science-one less known, and only sparsely integrated into the healing arts. Max Planck, Nobel Prize-winning physicist and the father of quantum theory, acknowledged this new science well in a 1944 speech: "All matter originates and exists only by virtue of a force.... We must assume behind this force the existence of a conscious and intelligent mind. This mind is the matrix of all matter."

Since then, and now in the 21st century, the relationship between this emerging science and health is becoming more accepted. Although promoted over 100 years ago by the founder of chiropractic, D.D. Palmer, the recognition and practice of health care from an inherent trust of our amalgamation with a greater intelligence is finally emerging. Dr. Deepak Chopra sums up this perspective well: "There is an inner intelligence in your body, and that inner intelligence is consciousness. It's the ultimate in supreme genius, which mirrors the wisdom of the universe."

As for the father and what he chose for his child-I don't know for sure. I do know, however, that he understood the importance in parenting of connecting with his wife, going within, and embracing what they know to be true. My appeal to all parents when making life and health choices for their families is to do the same. First, gather the information available in regards to the decision at hand. Then, put all of it aside and recognize the core of your own beliefs. Once identified with these life principles, weigh your choices from this place of knowing. Choose from a state of trust and conviction consistent with these essential values. They are the connection to your strength. From this place of certainty, you will always choose correctly.

The Shocking Truth about How Food is Produced

I just watched the new documentary, Food, Inc. For me, it brought up strong emotion, but also a commitment to write about the positive side of the issue - what you can do to provide your family with healthy, safe, sustainable food and change the state of our nation's food production.

Our food has changed tremendously over the past 50 years with over 47,000 products in a typical supermarket, most of which are highly processed and nutritionally deficient with toxic chemicals and additives. Manipulative advertising is rampant in the food industry. They don't want you to know about the food you're eating. You probably wouldn't feed it to your families if you did.

Most of the food in the U.S. is controlled by a handful of corporations that only care about producing the most efficient food for profit, regardless of how deficient in nutrition or even dangerous it is to our health. The food industry lobbying is incredibly powerful and the FDA is known to cater more to the industry than public health.

Go see this very important movie. We all need to know about the food we buy and feed our families. I won't go into all the problems with industrial food production, but if you're eating processed, packaged food and typical grocery store meat, you need to find out how it's produced and what it's costing our planet and your family.

Check this website for more info and to see when it's coming to your area: http://www.foodincmovie.com/

Watch the movie, briefly feel the pain, then set your vision on a world where our food is healthy, nutrient-dense, sustainable and sacred.

We can do to a lot to change who is in control of our food by voting with our wallets and purses.

Here is what you can do:

Buy local, in-season, fresh produce

Shop at local farmers' markets

Find organic farms in your area that offer community supported agriculture (CSA) programs

Plant a garden and grow your own food. Even if you only have a tiny space, you can still grow some things in pots. Try growing a little extra than what you need and donate the extra to a local food bank.

Join a community garden

Cut fast food burger restaurants out of your life. These cheap meals are costing you and everyone else a lot more in the long run. Trust me, you won't miss it after awhile.

If at all possible, switch to grass-fed meats. If not possible, then cut way down on grain-fed meat consumption. Grain-fed is what you get in all typical grocery stores and restaurants. Even organic meat is usually grain-fed. If the animal doesn't eat the natural diet it's meant to eat - live fresh pasture (grass) - then reduce it or cut it out completely.

More info about grassfed meat:

http://www.healthychild.com/child-nutrition/why-grassfed-is-best/

http://www.healthychild.com/child-nutrition/the-health-benefits-of-grassfed-animal-products/

10 Simple Things You Can Do to Change Our Food System
http://www.foodincmovie.com/get-involved.php

10 Steps to Eating Sustainable
http://www.sustainabletable.org/getinvolved/materials/10steps.pdf

Sustainable Shopping Guides
http://www.sustainabletable.org/shop/guides/

Find farms, markets, and restaurants in your area:
http://www.eatwellguide.org/i.php?pd=Home

Here's an article I wrote about 10 years ago that is very relevant today:
http://www.healthychild.com/child-nutrition/processed-food-and-low-fat-diets/

Are Toxic Gases in Crib Mattresses Causing Crib Death - SIDS?

Have you heard about toxic gases in crib mattresses causing SIDS or crib death? Basically, the theory is that toxic gases are generated from chemicals in a baby's crib mattress. If a baby breathes or absorbs a lethal dose of the gases, the central nervous system shuts down, stopping breathing and then heart function. These gases can fatally poison a baby, without waking the sleeping baby.

There is a cot (crib) death prevention campaign in New Zealand to wrap crib mattresses in a cover that blocks the gases from getting to the babies. This has been going on for the past 11 years

I was shocked when I first heard about it 10 years ago and did a lot of checking to find out what was really going on. I contacted Dr. James Sprott, one of the main scientists publishing this theory, and I have been in touch with him and other environmental scientists and continue to follow the results of the NZ crib death (SIDS) prevention campaign.

If you haven't yet heard about the toxic gas explanation for crib death or SIDS, the following article explains more:

Has the Cause of Crib Death - SIDS been Found?

Has this been scientifically proven? No, it has not. Nor has it been disproven. We definitely need more research. But when you look at the evidence we do have, it's very compelling and it makes complete sense. It even logically explains every factor already known about crib death.

What is so compelling to me is that there have been no SIDS deaths among the large number of babies in New Zealand who have slept on correctly wrapped mattresses designed to block the gases. This is quite a crucial piece of information for parents. It's the only crib death prevention advice that has ever been 100% successful! If you've read elsewhere that some babies have been found to die on wrapped mattresses, this has never been substantiated and is just not true.

Why haven't you heard about this in the news or from your doctor? Is there more research being done on this issue? No, there is not, because our government and most SIDS organizations have essentially closed the book on the toxic gas explanation. Several SIDS organizations came up with a position paper on the issue in 2004 and that's what most doctors and media go by. This position paper says there is insufficient evidence to support the claims and that parents should disregard the toxic gas information. So don't hold your breath on additional research on this issue.

What do these SIDS organizations mostly base their conclusions on? A faulty report published in 1998 that was commissioned by the British government, under Lady Limerick. But the 1998 UK Limerick Report did not disprove the toxic gas theory for cot death (crib death). In fact, Dr. Sprott says the Limerick Committee's research proved the gas generation on which the toxic gas theory is based. For information on fallacies contained in the Limerick Report, visit http://www.cotlife2000.com and click on the side heading "Limerick Report".

In addition, they focused on antimony and ignored the other numerous chemicals in mattresses that can be toxic to babies. Worse yet, in this position paper, First Candle/SIDS Alliance tells parents to continue to use vinyl covered crib mattresses! This is terrible advice - we know that vinyl (PVC) is dangerous for babies. I do understand their concern that parents trying to avoid exposure may put their babies to sleep on surfaces other than a firm, flat mattress. But there are now non-toxic, safe, firm, flat organic baby crib mattresses available that are much safer than vinyl.

So with little hope of further research, we're left on our own to figure out if we should take action or not.

What Can We Do?

Here's my take on this issue after paying close attention and following this for over 10 years:

I believe some babies are dying from toxic poisoning in their cribs. I don't think it's the only cause of SIDS since it's also known that vaccinations have caused baby deaths that have been labeled as SIDS. Most likely, in my opinion, it's a combination of the two. There could be other causes, but I do believe it's mostly a toxicity issue. There may even be some underlying medical condition, as some studies suggest, that is triggered by an environmental toxic assault.

The toxic gas issue may not be exactly as explained by Dr. Sprott. But even if it turns out that the toxic gases generated from antimony, arsenic and phosphorus are not an issue in crib death, the fact remains that typical crib mattresses do contain poisons and babies should not be sleeping on polyurethane foam covered in vinyl and loaded with fire retardants, chemical plasticizers and biocides. It's a known fact that chemical plasticizers, such as phthalates, leach out of vinyl mattress covers. Additionally, toxic fire retardants can leach out into the air. We also know for a fact that cribs are off-gassing formaldehyde and other VOCs. Toxic crib and mattress materials are known to cause neurological, respiratory, reproductive or immune problems in infants. Small, developing babies should not be breathing in these chemicals and gases as they sleep!

The bottom line is that babies should not be sleeping on crib mattresses that contain any toxic materials during their most vulnerable period of brain and immune development. Especially when non-toxic, organic baby mattresses are readily available!

In the New Zealand crib death prevention campaign, they are wrapping the baby mattresses with polyethylene, which is a gas impermeable plastic that does not do any off-gassing itself. We know that a polyethylene cover is non-toxic and safe and will block gases and chemicals from getting to the baby. So even if you don't believe the toxic gas theory of crib death, it still may make sense for you to get a non-toxic organic crib mattress to avoid exposures to the other issues I mention above.

The good news is that there are things you can do. The best action to take is to buy a non-toxic, firm, flat, organic crib mattress that does not contain any toxic materials in the first place. That way you won't have to worry about wrapping a toxic mattress incorrectly or getting rips or tears in the mattress cover. But if you simply can't afford to buy an organic mattress, then mattress wrapping with a BabeSafe mattress cover is the next best thing.

For the past 10 years, I have been thoroughly investigating all aspects of the safety and toxicity of crib mattresses. There is a tremendous amount of confusing claims and misleading information on websites about organic crib mattresses. I wrote the following report to help you distinguish facts from deception or misinformation. Click here to Learn Which Organic Crib Mattresses are Safe and Non-Toxic for Your Baby

I'm not a doctor or scientist and this is NOT crib death prevention advice or medical advice. This is simply my informed opinion after investigating this for many years. And I've spent a lot of time doing research on the toxicity of materials in baby and children's products.

I don't want to spread fear and the last thing a new mom needs is something to worry about. But when you are empowered with information and choices, you can take action to do what you can and then relax and let go of the worry. Then you can fully be there to nurture your baby.

See my free report: Protect Your Baby from Toxic Exposures

Empowered Moms Shine the Light on Corporate Deception

It may be quite astonishing to learn what's currently going on in the bisphenol A (BPA) industry. BPA is a chemical that disrupts the development of the reproductive system and the brain, among other health problems. Babies and fetuses, of course, are the most vulnerable. There's so much evidence about the harmful effects of BPA that the government is finally acting to ban it from products meant for children under age 3.

BPA is found in polycarbonate plastic food and drink bottles, including baby bottles and sippy cups. It's also in most dental sealants and in the lining of aluminum food and beverage cans, including baby formula.

If you haven't yet heard, representatives from several big companies in the canned food and beverage industry recently held an emergency meeting to strategize how to stop a government ban on BPA and manipulate public opinion with fear tactics, specifically targeting young mothers. These companies are creating friends in the government and a running a major lobbying campaign to block the ban on the use of BPA in baby bottles, toddler cups, baby food and formula containers.

In this meeting, they discussed ways to persuade the public against choosing BPA-free packaging, including threatening consumers with limited access to affordable baby food. One of the strategies they discussed in this meeting was to get a young pregnant mother to be a spokesperson to talk about the benefits of eating from food cans lined with BPA as well as the benefits of feeding babies from BPA-tainted bottles!

Really now, how stupid do they think we are?

It's truly disturbing, but not at all surprising to me. Sadly, this is business as usual in a world where the corporate bottom line and pleasing stockholders is the #1 goal. I've been following this stuff for decades and I fully know how industry manipulates the public and the government. Corporate greed will do anything to keep toxic products on the market, regardless of the harmful effects on human health. There's nothing new about tainted research and multi-million dollar PR campaigns touting the benefits of dangerous products to keep them on the market. It happens all the time, especially in the food, pharmaceutical and chemical industries.

But the simple truth is - We moms have all the power!

Yes, we moms are the ones who do a lot of the spending that drives corporate profits. Since we are the consumers, we can decide which companies to support. Deceptive strategies fall flat on their face without consumer participation.

In a very short time after the BPA industry email was leaked to the press, mom bloggers were all over it, spreading the news rapidly through Twitter, Facebook and other social networks. The good news is that if you stay connected to sites like this, you can keep aware of issues affecting your families. The old systems of secrecy and manipulation are crumbling in this new open, aware culture.

We've entered a new age of corporate transparency that sheds the light on deception. As parents we are becoming aware of issues affecting the well-being of our children, and we can make empowered decisions. The internet is a tremendous tool and the social web is having a profound change on our society and culture.

Back when my daughter was little, there was not a lot of info out there and few alternatives available. Many times I felt like I was struggling against mainstream acceptance of mass-marketed parenting and my natural parenting ideas seemed radical. Now I'm thrilled to see a greater acceptance of natural alternatives, innovative ideas, and life-giving solutions coming from everywhere! I believe our planet is in a fast-moving shift into restoring a natural, sustainable, ecological balance and we as moms and consumers are playing a big part in this.

There are alternatives to toxic food, bottles, cans, toys, mattresses, skin care products, and every unhealthy product that's marketed to us. Many of the new alternatives are currently expensive since quality, natural materials are not mass-produced the way the cheap toxics are. But there are also plenty of ways to maintain a natural, healthy lifestyle on a small budget. I'm happy to continue to find new alternatives and will continue to write about healthy products and materials and get this info out to as many parents as possible. Even if we don't have it here at Healthy Child, we'll tell you where to get it or how to make it yourself.

We live in an extraordinary time, and we now have an incredible opportunity to remake our society into a truly sustainable, compassionate and health-conscious culture that makes our children's well-being a priority over corporate profits. Let's shop responsibly with awareness and create a new future for our kids.

Read more about the BPA industry deception

Read report on Alternatives to BPA in baby bottles and infant formula

Read about EWG's Tips to Avoid BPA Exposure

Sign EWG's Petition on Facebook to tell the U.S. Congress that industrial pollution shouldn't start in the womb.

Call Coke and Del Monte now to demand no more BPA in their products: http://bit.ly/wPz8L

I have one thing to say about this swine flu craziness.

There is nothing to worry about!! So stop worrying, get out in the sun and enjoy your life!

There is absolutely nothing to worry about for these reasons:

• All cases of this flu in the U.S. have so far been mild and easily treatable. Scientists studying the new strain of influenza A (H1N1) say it may not be any more dangerous than the usual flu outbreaks that occur each winter.
  
• Let's put this all in perspective. Between 5% and 20% of the U.S. population gets a typical flu virus each year and it is reported that 36,000 people die each year from typical flu. Compare this with the numbers of this current scare.
  
• Since we're now into spring and heading into the summer months when sunshine abounds, it is likely that this flu will die out very soon. Influenza just doesn't survive during the summer.
  
• You have total control over your own health. Nothing outside of you can harm you when you know this. Disease is created by stress and fear.

Have you wondered why the flu is seasonal and disappears in the summer months? One of the reasons is that our vitamin D levels go up in the spring and summer from more frequent sun exposure. Vitamin D is known to prevent respiratory infections such as colds and flu.

Try to get out in the sun for 20 minutes to a half hour each day without sunscreen to build up your vitamin D levels. Sunscreen blocks vitamin D so it's important to get out there without sunscreen for this short period of time. The key is not to burn so if you need to be out for longer periods and know you will burn, use a safe sunscreen.

See my article on safe, non-toxic sunscreen.

If you're still worried about the swine flu, read Dr. Neustaedter's book Flu: Alternative Treatments and Prevention.

Articles on treating flu:

Treating Children's Flu

Homeopathy and the Flu

This flu, like any other, is easily treated with homeopathy, Chinese medicine, good nutrition, and sunshine!

See Vitamin D Articles:

Vitamin D Newsletter

Epidemic Influenza and Vitamin D

Research on Vitamin D and Pediatrics

So what's all the fuss about?

It's a brilliant marketing plan since fear sells lots of viral medications and primes the public to accept the mandatory flu vaccines now in the works. As Dr. Mercola says in the following article, "Your fear will make some people very rich in today's crumbling economy".

Critical Alert: The Swine Flu Pandemic – Fact or Fiction?

Barbara Loe Fisher, from the National Vaccine Information Center, writes "the global alliance between Big Pharma and Big Public Health is a prescription for disaster that could extend far beyond a bout with the flu."

Politics, Profits & Pandemic Fear Mongering

Most people are worried about the quality of their tap water, with good reason. Tap water is contaminated with chlorine and many other toxins. Because of this, the bottled water industry has seen tremendous growth in recent years. But bottled water is really no better than tap water. The regulations that govern bottled water only require it to be "as good as" tap water. There are no assurances or requirements for bottled water to be of any higher quality than tap, and some are even lower quality.

A good in-home water filtration system is by far the best way to get healthy and pure water. It's also the most economical and convenient. I've checked out a lot of water filters and came to the conclusion that the Aquasana water filters are the most effective. The Aquasana Counter Top Water Filter was voted Best Buy for water filter, Consumers Digest 6 years in a row, 2003-2008.

The Aquasana dual filter system uses a combination of carbon filtration, ion exchange and sub micron filtration to filter out chlorine, lead, prescription drugs, pharmaceuticals, VOCs, MTBE and cysts (chlorine-resistant parasites) and leaves in the natural trace minerals. It costs less than 10 cents a gallon for the whole family to drink this great tasting healthy water.

Check out the Home Water Filter Comparison Chart

Babies, children, and pregnant or breastfeeding mothers should not be drinking tap or bottled water. Pure water is vital to our children's health and development and must be a priority. Check out the Aquasana line of water filters. We have them here on Healthy Child at the lowest price possible.

Best Water Filter - Aquasana

It's a good sign that our government is finally attempting to take steps to protect our babies from toxic chemicals. However, the new laws fall short of giving us any reassurance that children's products are safe, at least for now. Keeping toxic chemicals out of baby products is not an easy task and will be an ongoing challenge for quite awhile.

Two laws go into effect this year regarding a ban on certain phthalates in children's products. One is the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). This is a federal law so it applies throughout the entire U.S. The other is a law that applies only to the state of California.

Many toys and other baby and children's products currently contain phthalates. Phthalates are endocrine disruptive chemicals and are associated with reproductive harm, premature birth, asthma, early onset of puberty, cancer, and kidney and liver damage. Practically all conventional baby mattresses have a vinyl cover, and nearly all vinyl contains phthalates (usually about 30% of vinyl is phthalates).

Here are important things to know about these laws:

Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA)

The CPSIA allows manufacturing with phthalates to continue until 2/9/09, plus they permit all stock manufactured through 2/9/09 to be sold indefinitely, until such stock is depleted.

Not all phthalates are banned. It appears that only three forms of phthalates are currently banned for mattresses, so it may be legal for manufacturers to substitute with the non-banned phthalates.

California's New Law

California law does not permit the sale of products containing the banned phthalates as of Jan. 1, 2009. It is now illegal for companies to sell mattresses or any other products for children that contain the banned phthalates, to anyone in California. All stores in California are required to remove all such unsold mattresses, toys, etc.

So if you live in California, you should not be able to buy a baby mattress with a vinyl covering that contains any of the banned phthalates. However, in California there is one type of phthalate (DnHP) that has not been included at all in the phthalate ban. This chemical is listed as a reproductive toxicant under Proposition 65. But it is still legal for manufacturers to continue using at least that form of toxic phthalate.

When it comes to mattresses, phthalates are only one piece of the toxic issue. Most mattresses continue to be made with polyurethane foam, chemical fire retardants, and other toxic components.

It's obvious that we as parents still need to be diligent in finding baby products that really are safe. That's what we do here at Healthy Child. None of our crib mattresses have ever contained any phthalates whatsoever, or polyurethane foam, chemical fire retardants, or any other toxic components.

Read more about how we've chosen our baby mattresses.