Last week, my toddler went to bed with no symptoms of illness and woke up in the middle of the night with a barking cough and tightness in his chest that kept both of us awake for hours.... CROUP. Croup isn't actually a disease, it is a term used to describe a cough caused by inflammation of the larynx, trachea and bronchial tubes. It is an inflammatory reaction to any number of common viral infections, including the common cold. Croup is a common occurrence in children between the ages of six months and six years old. Unlike other viral respiratory illnesses, which can cause a dry, wet, or a deep cough, croup causes a dry cough that sounds like a barking seal. Croup symptoms come on suddenly, often in...
If you're like most parents, trying to get everyone up, dressed, fed, and out the door on time can be chaotic. Your morning sets the tone for your entire day. If things starts off stressful and you already feel behind, it can feel impossible to catch up. There are, however, a number of ways you can make mornings go a little bit smoother. Here are our best tips for creating a stress-free start to the school day. Here are our tips for smoother, less stressful mornings: Prepare the night before.A great morning starts the evening before. Doing a few minutes of prep at night helps keep morning stress down. If your kids are old enough, they can be involved in a lot of this! Check tomorrow's schedule and weather. Set out...
Every parent knows that incorporating healthy food options into their child's diet can be challenging. Let's face it, broccoli has a hard time competing with the heavy fats, additives, starches and sugars that excite the brain in the standard American diet.In our office, we have a saying that we tell customers at least once a day: "You can't out-supplement a poor diet". Whether you're trying to improve your own eating habits or just trying to get your three-year-old to eat something other than chicken nuggets, here are some of our tried-and-true tips for increasing the overall nutrient value of your family's diet. First Things First. Keep plenty of healthy food options on hand, and offer them often. Kids rarely open the fridge...
Having your wisdom teeth removed is practically a rite of passage for most teenagers (and their parents). Last year my oldest had his teeth removed, and last week my second child had her turn in the oral surgeon's chair. I shared a small snippet of the recovery protocol we followed in our weekly newsletter, and I had so many clients call for more information that I thought I'd write it up in a blog post for our readers! **This protocol works well for most surgeries and dental procedures, in case you were wondering!** Before the procedure As a preventative measure before the procedure, I made sure my child's immune system was working at peak performance. This means that for the week leading up to the procedure,...
About twice a month we get a call from a customer who has just returned from a vacation only to come down with an illness. I'm sure many of our readers are aware of ways to prevent illness while traveling abroad: wash your hands frequently, eat well, don't drink the tap water, etc... But in our opinion, staying healthy should start at home, before you leave for the airport. Travel can be hard on your immune system, even if you love it; stress, jet lag, road food, exposure to sick people, and environmental toxins all take their toll as you take in the sights and visit your loved ones. I'm sure you've heard the phrase "the best offense is a good defense". While washing...
