Supplements and Vitamins for Our Kids

I want to start off by saying that this topic is personal, and that our choices for supplements and vitamins for our kids have been specifically directed by our doctor. I have received so many questions about it, though, that I said I would share on my blog. Please do not automatically go and do what we do without consulting your pediatrician first. There are so many moms who reach out via instagram with the same conditions that we have been healing in Ridge, and they were curious about this. I have decided to share the supplements and vitamins that our kids take daily.

Before I get into the details, please read this post I have about healing Ridge’s leaky gut. That will give some explanation as to why we focus so heavily on these supplements. 

Some of these supplements would be safe for any child, but some are taken to directly target yeast overgrowth and are very strong and can have major effects. I will list out what our kids take, and why, and the benefits of each supplement and vitamin.

We have learned so much through Integrative Health Carolinas. Dr. Temple is a wonderful resource and help for healing Ridge. If you’re in the Charlotte area and have a child with skin issues, mood and behavior issues, or if you just feel like something isn’t quite right – and you truly want to get to the root of the problem – I highly recommend reaching out to her practice. (No this is not sponsored by her. Just the opinion of a mom who appreciates the healing my son has received). We also loved our previous doctor’s office, but they are just not allowed to spend tons of time with their patients – it’s how healthcare works these days, unfortunately.

I am not claiming to do this perfectly, and it is still a learning process for me. As I was working on this post I realized that the probiotic that Davis takes also contains vitamin D, so now I’m going to research whether or not he needs to be taking a vitamin D drop as well. Also, probiotics are a hot topic these days, and some question the efficacy. It is especially important to at least buy one from a reliable source. I never buy any of our supplements from Target or a regular grocery store.

Besides Ridge’s leaky gut, we have been extremely blessed to have two healthy boys. I just want to say that, because we realize we are fortunate, and do our best to not take that for granted. 

Ridge in a nutshell – always just a little bit mischievous 😉 

Be Your Own Health Advocate

If your pediatrician is not open to your child taking supplements, I would suggest doing some of your own research as well, and presenting it to your doctor for him or her to read, and then decide. I fully believe we have to be our own health advocate, and the health advocate for our children. Supplements and vitamins do help our family, and I believe that if taken correctly, they can be very beneficial for our health.

Diet and Habits Matter Most

Ideally we would receive all of our vitamins and nutrients through our diet. And we would receive ample amounts of vitamin D through sun exposure. However, that is not always possible, especially with kids who are picky eaters. We do our best to expose our kids to plenty of healthy foods, and even make them at least try foods like salmon. Vegetables are a staple in our home, but our boys will only eat certain ones.

Also, the state of your gut affects how well any of these vitamins and supplements can be absorbed. If Ridge’s gut hadn’t been healing from his gluten free dairy free lower sugar diet, then these supplements would probably not have much impact on helping him.

Supplements and Vitamins for Our Kids

The boys take these every night:

• Chewable Multivitamin. I always buy their supplements from Whole Foods or Earth Fare if I’m not sure which brand to order from Amazon. And some I get directly from Ridge’s doctor. But I am not thrilled with the one they have been taking, only because there are better brands available. I would recommend looking into one by Klaire Labs, Pure Encapsulations, or Mega Food (that brand can be found at a health food store). Taking a multivitamin may not be necessary, but it’s a good way to fill in nutritional gaps, especially with things like vitamin C during cold season.
• Vitamin D drops with K2. Just one per night, and we use the brand Ortho Molecular Products as recommended by our pediatrician. Vitamin D helps us absorb calcium and phosphorous that we ingest, to be used to build strong bones. Vitamin D also helps strengthen immunity and helps prevent autoimmune disease.
• Bio-Botanical Research, Inc. Biocidin. This product, specifically, is incredible, but may not be for everyone. Biocidin in particular would be something to ask your doctor about. We did a test to check Ridge’s gut’s ability to absorb certain medicines, etc, and found out that this treatment could help the yeast overgrowth in his gut. It is made from all natural ingredients and promotes gut health by killing bad bacteria, but you must start with very small doses – as in 1 drop once a day for a month. Ridge’s doctor prescribes exactly how many drops, so we follow her leading. The symptoms from bacteria die-off in your gut can cause reactions such as upset stomach and irritability. Again, please do your research and consult your doctor.
• Pure Encapsulations Zinc Liquid 15 mg. Zinc deficiency can lead to a compromised immune system and cause people to be more prone to disease and sickness. The body needs zinc to activate T cells which help regulate immune response and attack infected cells. Zinc can also help learning and memory, reduce diarrhea, and treat colds.
• Garden of Life Dr. Formulated Probiotics Organic Kids+ 5 billion chewable (Davis). This is the probiotic that Davis takes, and so far so good. We have used this brand for him for about a year. You can also find it in the refrigerated section of health food stores.
• Nordic Naturals Cod Liver Oil 340 EPA/510 DHA. I trust this brand because it was recommended by Dr. Temple. Cod liver oil is a powerful source of anti-inflammatory fatty acids. It is also a natural source of vitamin D. It also has high levels of vitamin A to help fight free radicals and reduce inflammation. Inflammation from yeast overgrowth, leaky gut, and foods like gluten and dairy were the main reasons Ridge’s face flared up so much.
• Klaire Labs Ther-Biotic Children’s Chewable 25 billion CFU. This is Ridge’s  regular, daily probiotic, and once we finish the bottle that Davis currently takes, we may switch him to this one as well.
• Klaire Labs Saccharomyces Boulardii 3 billion CFU probiotic. This probiotic contains a strain that specifically attacks the yeast in his gut. Again, not necessary for everyone, and one that was specifically prescribed by Dr. Temple.
• Elderberry. I’m sure most of you have heard the hype around elderberry, and I fully believe in it’s germ-fighting abilities. There are recipes for making your own (my cousin actually made us some!!), but we are also big fans of Sweets Syrup based out of Charlotte.

Essential Oils

We do not use these essential oils every day. But I keep several Young Living oils on hand, which are especially useful if anyone is getting sick. I buy them through my cousin, and always ask her questions about how to use them. We have many more than this, but our current favorites are:

• Peace and Calming. It is so great to help calm little ones, reduce anxiety – even in adults, help get children to sleep, and it just smells really great when you diffuse it.
• Eucalyptus. There are multiple kinds, but someone proficient in oils knowledge, like Sarah, could direct you to the right one. This helps reduce chest congestion and facilitate better breathing when your little one has a cough or cold.
• R.C. I use this one any time the boys have a sniffly nose. I diffuse that and Thieves near their beds while they’re asleep, and I also mix it with a carrier oil and rub it on their chests.
• Lavender. For calm and sleep. And it is just a great one to have on hand for a burn, bug bite, scrape, razor burn, etc.
• Thieves. I use the oil and the cleaner. The oil naturally contains antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, which is why it is so great to clean with. If the stomach bug hits your house, clean everything with this! It is also great to diffuse or to apply on the skin during cold and flu season.

I hope that was a helpful post! Thank you all for reading!