Nursery infections
My 10-month-old nephew started nursery six months ago and ever since, has been plagued by colds, followed by ear infections. He has taken antibiotics and been treated with ear drops but these infections keep coming back. He has also now developed an upset tummy and skin rash.
You have probably already figured out that your nephew’s upset tummy is a direct result of having taken a course of antibiotics which, as you know, wipe out not only the bad bacteria causing an infection but also the good gut bacteria that we need to keep both the gut and the immune system healthy.
So, the very first thing the child’s mother needs to do is to start giving him a specially-formulated infant probiotic which you buy in powder form and then dissolve in half a teaspoon of warm water to give him every day. If you local health shop cannot supply this, you can mail order from the UK specialists Biocare on 0121 433 3727. To learn more about probiotics, children and age-related dosages, visit our Parents & Kids Zone.
If you are looking for a topical lotion to begin to tackle the eczema, I would recommend the new organic baby salve cream from Green People which cleverly combines hemp oil with calendula and lavender to soothe irritated and raw skin. I give a tube of this to all my friends who have small babies, most of whose infants develop eczema at some point in their first year. To order this cream direct, contact Green People on 01444 401444. It costs £8.69 for a 100ml tube of salve.
Finally, the child-specific remedy that works well to tackle repeated ear infections is a combined Echinacea and Plantago tincture formulated by the herbal specialists, Bioforce, whose range is widely on sale in good health stores. If you cannot find it, call 01294 277344 to mail order direct and administer as directed on the bottle when another infection takes hold to try and break this cycle. A 30ml bottle costs £4.79.