Cradle Cap Treatment

Cradle Cap explained

Cradle cap is quite common in babies and can appear within three months of birth. Sometimes cradle cap is referred to as seborrheic dermatitis. There are varying degrees of cradle cap and it can vary from a rash on the head to a crusty skin condition that can sometimes spread to the ears and eyebrows.

I have had my own varying experience with my children and cradle cap. My first born had a mild case, my second born had quite a severe case that required cradle cap treatment because it spread to his eyebrows and ears, and my third born also had a mild case. I used to get a few comments from people and also opinions on what they thought was the best cradle cap treatment.

There are many theories out there as to what causes cradle cap. Treatment advice also varies and it seems there is a lot of speculation as to the cause of cradle cap without any one united opinion. Many will tell you that it is overactive sebaceous glands that cause the problem. If this is the case then I believe you need to take a good look at what baby is being fed to cause this symptom.

Food intolerance symptoms or food problems can, in my opinion, be linked to cradle cap. What your baby is getting through breast milk or formula can be causing cradle cap. For this reason, it is important that a breast feeding mother be aware of what she is eating because food colors, food preservatives and food additives can be passed to the baby. For more information on food additives, we use this book at home. Formula might also be causing problems for baby. It could also be that your baby is already suffering food intolerance symptoms and cradle cap the body’s way of indicating a reaction.

I can share with you that my second child who had severe cradle cap also suffered badly from food intolerance symptoms as a toddler so I personally believe there is a link between the two. This was less evident with my other two children. This is obviously just  my opinion but it may assist you to know this when looking at a cradle cap treatment.

Cradle cap treatment

It is true that you do not need to treat cradle cap but it can become quite unsightly and smelly. It has also been said that it does not annoy the baby. Some babies do scratch it however and I know my second child did scratch at his scalp regularly.

There are many lotions and potions on offer as a cradle cap treatment. If you search the internet you will find that there are also many opinions on cradle cap treatment. If you are going to look at a lotion to put on your baby’s head as a cradle cap treatment then I recommend you take a good look at the ingredients. I tried a Jurlique product as a cradle cap treatment and found it made my baby’s head very red and irritated and we needed to discontinue use. The good thing was that they did take the product back with a smile.

What I found worked as a cradle cap treatment was a combination of cold pressed, extra virgin olive oil and bi-carbonate of soda. I used about 2 tablespoons of the oil and 2 teaspoons of the bicarb. Mix it together, put it on your baby’s head. Leave it there for 15 minutes and remove promptly. You will need to remove it gently using circular motions with your fingers, otherwise the bi-carb will cause a rubbing rash. If this cradle cap treatment is applied daily, you should see an improvement over time. Don’t force the crusts off; just let them come away gently as you remove the oil and bi-carb mix.

If you are not keen to use the bicarbonate with the Bragg’s Olive Oil Og Extra Virgin 16oz as a cradle cap treatment then you can just use the Bragg’s Olive Oil Og Extra Virgin 16oz on its own. Put some on the scalp of your baby, not too much so that it seeps off the scalp as it might get in baby’s eyes, and leave it on overnight.  Then gently rub with your fingertips and remove some of the cradle cap; without force or picking it off. This will probably require more than one treatment but it should work wonders as it loosens the crust. Keep in mind that not all oils are created equally and that is why I have recommended a good quality olive oil for your cradle cap treatment.

I did find that the cradle cap subsided over time. If left untreated, it may still remain on the scalp for some years. I found that my daughter had remnants of her mild case of cradle cap up to the age of five. This was less of an issue with my youngest child and signs of cradle cap had disappeared by the age of two. My other child who suffered from food intolerance symptoms did require cradle cap treatment and even so, the condition had disappeared by the age of about four.

My recommendation for cradle cap treatment, aside from the oil is to look at what baby is getting through the milk or formula. This may require a breast feeding mother to conduct a food elimination diet or just remove certain things from her diet to see what impact that has.

From my experience with cradle cap treatment I can honestly say that the olive oil is the best and safest way for baby. Try it and see!

Disclaimer:

I’m no medical expert and information contained on this blog is written through my own experience. Please consult an appropriate professional about your situation.

Chronic Headaches

Chronic Headaches – the causes

There are various reasons for chronic headaches and it might surprise you to know that something as simple as an orange pictured here could cause chronic headaches for some people. I used to work with a guy that would suffer from headaches if he almost so much as sniffed anything citrus.

It has been stated that even babies and toddlers can experience chronic headaches but they are unable to express it in words. Some people may not suffer from chronic headaches with enough regularity to consider it a problem and hence, don’t take steps to improve their health. Instead, they tolerate their chronic headaches when they occur.

Chronic headaches can be the result of amines or salicylates; naturally occurring chemicals in food, dehydration, or a reaction to food colors including MSG – Mono-sodium Glutamate.  Cleaning products, including air fresheners or perfume, due to the chemical substances contained therein can also cause chronic headaches. Often, those suffering from food intolerance symptoms, leaky gut syndrome or food problems will find they are more prone to reactions.

It could also be a case that there is something more sinister going on such as a tumor or head problems. While I do believe you need a doctor to diagnose this, I also am of the strong belief that you can heal the problem through the correct foods.

There is also another reason why reactions could be exacerbated when it comes to food intolerance symptoms or health issues in general. Research into genomes indicate that what previous generations were exposed to can be passed down in the genes. For example, if you had a grandparent who worked in a chemical factory or was a smoker, then this may have caused a variation in the genes that are then passed down the generations, thereby increasing the severity of a reaction. This is fairly new research and you can read more about it by clicking on this link. I think it is fascinating.

Chronic Headaches – some solutions

You should not need to suffer from or tolerate chronic headaches even if they occur rarely. Illness is a mechanism of the body to tell you that something is not right within.

The good news for those who suffer chronic headaches due to dehydration is that you only need to drink about one litre or approx 34 Oz of water and wait half an hour. The brain is hydrated through the stomach and will be fed first, directly, to overcome the problem. There are some symptoms for chronic headaches linked to dehydration. You may start to feel sluggish, suffer from poor short term memory, you may get foggy brain or even feel dizzy. Regardless of whether your chronic headaches are linked to dehydration or not, water is an absolute must in your diet. You will be amazed at how much better you will start to feel if you incorporate more water into your diet.

According to the FDR books pictured, and my bible on food, salt helps to regulate the water content in the body along with the water you drink. Good salt like Celtic Ocean Int Flower of Ocean Celtic Sea Salt 1/2 lb helps to balance water in and out of the body’s cells. Optimally, you should drink 1 liter of water for every 22 kilograms of body weight.

To assist with symptoms of chronic headaches, you can use some pure peppermint essential oils such as Nature’s Alchemy’s Essential Oil Peppermint Pure 2oz but you need to be careful to keep it away from your eyes. Put one to two drops on your hands, go outside in the fresh air, cup your hands over your mouth and nose and take a couple of deep breaths. Put one drop behind each ear.

For those of you that think your chronic headaches could be a result of food intolerance symptoms then you need to conduct a food elimination diet to work out if naturally occurring chemicals are a problem.   Remove any food colors, food additives, including preservatives from your diet and look at environmental sensitivities. You can read the review of Friendly Food cookbook and purchase your own copy of Friendly Food for your food elimination diet. You should also consider purchasing The Failsafe Cookbook for your food elimination diet. Both books will assist you in the management of food intolerance symptoms and understanding of naturally occurring chemicals in foods; such as amines, salicylates and MSG.

For temporary relief, you can always have a good quality cup of coffee from freshly ground organic, fair trade beans. Caffeine tends to restrict the blood vessels and reduce the severity of chronic headaches. This should be viewed as a short term fix while you address chronic headaches on a deeper level.

Use cold pressed, virgin olive oil on the soles of the feet and the scalp and massage in. A shoulder / upper back massage can also help. Then take a nice warm shower.

One last recommendation is to start some healing meditation. Through my own experience I can say that drinking heaps of water and taking time out for some healing meditation will do you wonders. You will be healing your body with the water, lying down will put you in healing position, with your eyes closed and having the healing meditation will clear your mind.

The important thing is to recognize that your body is telling you through chronic headaches, that something needs fixing. Listen to your body, follow through with a solution and you will no longer need to suffer from chronic headaches.

Disclaimer:

I’m no medical expert and information contained on this blog is written through my own experience. Please consult an appropriate professional about your situation.

Chocolate Easter Eggs

It is not hard to get a person’s attention when you talk about chocolate Easter eggs. I thought it fitting that I talk about Chocolate Easter Eggs given that we are only one week away from Easter as I write this post. I’m amazed at just how many chocolate Easter eggs my children bring home when they break up for the holidays. Not only that, I actually dread it because I know that commercial chocolate will play havoc over the break. Aside from what is generously given out at school and kinder, we still have chocolate Easter eggs from family, Easter bunny and / or Easter Bilby. So, by now, we have enough chocolate Easter eggs to start up our own shop. Hah! I should add a shopping cart to this post and save my children from the depths of the evil chocolate Easter eggs.

Chocolate Easter Eggs – what is really in them

Chocolate Easter eggs come in all shapes, sizes and quality. The problem is usually in the quality of chocolate used and this can vary greatly from brand to brand. On the whole, commercial chocolate doesn’t have a lot of substance to it. In fact, it can have a nasty impact on children’s behavior. If you were to look at the main ingredient used in chocolate, in most cases you will see that the number one ingredient is processed sugar. Other ingredients include milk, cocoa butter, milk solids, lecithin,  flavors and other ingredients depending on the brand and type of chocolate. In some cases they even add food colors to the detriment of the consumer and particularly children.

For the chocolate connoisseur, there is a difference in taste between chocolate Easter eggs and in some cases the price tag fits the quality. As a consumer of chocolate Easter eggs or a parent, you should be concerned about what you are eating or what you are putting in your children’s mouths.

Of course, it is not all bad when it comes to chocolate. Easter eggs are something you can make yourself using organic ingredients. These are readily available to you through the banner below. You can choose to eat raw chocolate which is an experience on its own. The anti-oxidant content of raw chocolate surpasses anything you can buy in commercial chocolate Easter eggs. Raw chocolate is actually good for you and has some fantastic health benefits as opposed to commercially produced chocolate Easter eggs.

Chocolate Easter Eggs – health and children’s behavior

The sugar content alone should be enough to make you think twice about the amount of chocolate Easter eggs you and your family consume. If that isn’t bad enough, those who suffer from food intolerance symptoms will most likely react to the amine content in chocolate Easter eggs. Amines are a naturally occurring chemical in food, as are salicylates. Those who do suffer from food intolerance symptoms also have a greater chance of reacting to the food colors or additives, including preservatives added to some chocolate Easter eggs.

Additionally, you or your family may find yourself cranky, more aggressive than usual or tired / lethargic after eating chocolate Easter eggs. Oppositional defiance is not an uncommon food intolerance symptom for those who are amine responders. So, you may find the family bickering at Easter time or over the break and if you choose to eat chocolate Easter eggs that are not so good for you then you can expect that reaction.

Chocolate Easter Eggs – make your own

Making your own Chocolate Easter eggs can be fun and you are also aware of the ingredients you are using. If your children are old enough, they will also really enjoy being involved with making their very own chocolate Easter eggs. I’ve included some links below so you can get started.

I hope that you will give some thought to chocolate Easter Eggs before you either purchase your own to share or make your own. Eating good quality chocolate Easter eggs can make for a calmer, happier family at this time of year. Not only is it better for your body but your children will get along better over this holiday period. A happy Easter everyone and here’s to healthy chocolate Easter eggs!

Disclaimer:

I’m no medical expert and information contained on this blog is written through my own experience. Please consult an appropriate professional about your situation.

Salicylates – what are they?

If you are suffering from food intolerance symptoms, leaky gut syndrome or food problems then you best sit up and take notice. This post is sure to provide you with some home truths about food intolerance symptoms, your own state of health and the impact of salicylates.

For starters, just let me say that it is no easy feat trying to get the ‘i’ and the ‘y’ in the right order when spelling salicylates. To pronounce salicylates,  you say “sal-iss-i-lates”. The word salicylic acid is derived from the word “salix” meaning Willow. Salicylic acid is a plant hormone that plays a major part, among other things, in the metabolism of plants.

Salicylates are naturally occurring chemicals in food. They are a part of the make up of fruit, vegetables, herbs, spices, seeds, bark and flowers.  Salicylates are not added by a food manufacturer, they simply exist in nature in varying degrees.

Salicylates – reactions

According to Friendly Food written by experts at the RPA Allergy Unit in Sydney, the common food intolerance symptoms, or more directly, symptoms related to naturally occurring chemicals such as salicylates, MSG and amines are hives and swelling, chronic headaches, mouth ulcers, stomach pains, IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), nausea, sinus problems and a general feeling of being unwell. Reactions to salicylates can be just as debilitating as an allergy even though they are not considered the same thing.

Depending on how sensitive you are to naturally occurring chemicals such as salicylates, mono-sodium glutamate (MSG) and amines, your reaction can vary. It can depend on your threshold, dose consumed of food high in salicylates and how regularly you have consumed food with moderate to high salicylates.

It might be comforting to know that as children get older their systems generally get better at handling naturally occurring chemicals such as salicylates and amines. As food intolerance symptoms are linked to an irritation of the nervous system, we generally tend to grow out of the food problems. For adults, it can be a gradual build up along with what food we have previously put in our body that can cause food intolerance symptoms linked to salicylates, amines and MSG.

Salicylates – what steps to take

If you would like to work out if you are suffering from food intolerance symptoms linked to salicylates then you will need to conduct a food elimination diet. This food challenge should be conducted over a two to three week time frame.

Food colors, food additives and preservatives are usually also a problem for those who are sensitive to naturally occurring chemicals in foods.

To reduce the impact of salicylates you best look at what is in your pantry as well as products you are using personally and around the home. Here are some steps to take:

• Eat fruit that is moderate to low in salicylates most of the time.
• Remember that you can be dose affected so be aware of those foods that are high to very high in salicylates.
• Eat fruit when it is ripe as unripened fruit is higher in salicylates.
• Stop using herbs and change your oil to safflower or sunflower oil, until you have finished your food elimination diet.
• Flavors easily go undetected. Avoid flavors such as spearmint and peppermint.
• Look at your laundry detergents as these can be scented. Same with air fresheners and cleaning goods.
• Stop wearing perfume, aftershave or deodorant that has scents that may irritate you.
• Be aware that some medications such as Asprin contain salicylates.
• Peel fruit and vegetables as salicylates can be higher just under the skin.
• Make a list of alternative products before you go shopping to make it easier to avoid things with salicylates.

Friendly Food is one of the most comprehensive books covering food intolerance symptoms and naturally occurring chemicals such as salicylates, amines, MSG and allergies. It will assist you with a food elimination diet along with The Failsafe Cookbook.

I’ll be talking more about naturally occurring chemicals, covering Amines and Mono-sodium Glutamate (MSG) in future posts. I’m interested to hear your story on food intolerance symptoms or feel free to add a comment if you would like me to reply directly.

Disclaimer:

I’m no medical expert and information contained on this blog is written through my own experience. Please consult an appropriate professional about your situation.

Children’s behavior and food intolerance symptoms

Is your child throwing tantrums? Are they having trouble concentrating in school? Is your toddler irritable or not settling to sleep? Are they simply driving you nuts?  These are all possible signs of food intolerance symptoms and they are displayed through children’s behavior and their health.

Often times parents can feel confused and think that children’s behavior is a result of the child just wanting attention, that they have psychological hang ups or that they are just tired. Children suffering from food intolerance symptoms or food problems are not trying to gain the attention of the parent or displaying irritating behavior on purpose, they are simply impacted by food and it is playing havoc on their system. Sometimes, children’s behavior does indicate that they are just plain tired.

When children’s behavior is linked to food intolerance symptoms, and it is constant, it can be emotionally and physically draining.  From the child’s perspective they may feel constantly irritated because of their food intolerance symptoms.  Hence, what you need as a parent or carer are some positive tips to deal with children’s behavior.

Children’s behavior and positive parenting

Before I begin just let me say that the following comments are not a criticism of those of you that use specific language to raise your children. I was taught that we can only do the best we can until we learn of a better way of doing something. What is important though is that we do take action when we have been shown better alternatives. I hope my message in this post will help you to change the way you choose to deal with children’s behavior.

I’ve never been one to endorse using the word naughty and in fact, every time I hear the word naughty, it makes me cringe on the inside. My belief is that children do not learn anything by being called naughty or any other label related to the child or their behavior. Labeling doesn’t guide children as to what they have done wrong or provide a more appropriate action.  All it does is damage their self-esteem because you are basically calling them a name that is linked to negative connotations. I know that sounds very blunt but that quite simply is what is happening when children are labeled rather than taking action to guide children’s behavior.

I have also taught my children from a very young age that when someone calls a child ‘naughty’, what they actually mean is that the child in question just needs guidance to do the right thing. The problem is that the word ‘naughty’ is rampant on TV, in books, used by well meaning parents and the community. So, sometimes my own children have used the word ‘naughty’ because it seems the rest of society feels it is ok to label children and not use guidance with  children’s behavior. Even so, I have heard my children correcting each other or themselves on occasion if they have used the word naughty. Remember, what we teach our children is what they will pass on through to the next generation and how they will deal with their own children’s behavior. So please give some thought to how you speak to your children or grand children.

The word ‘no’ is also used indiscriminately. ‘No’ is a word that does have a place, especially if a child is in danger. If ‘no’ was used appropriately then more children would listen when it was spoken.

Positive parenting involves guiding children’s behavior using appropriate language about the behavior, not the child. This might also involve showing the child through your own actions.

5 Tips for dealing with children’s behavior

Some ideas for changing your parenting style and having a positive impact on children’s behavior are listed below:

1. Always guide children’s behavior and stop labeling the child.

Behavior:

Little Mary is throwing toys around.

Parenting tip:

“Mary, can we play with that together on the floor?” (encourage positive play using the toy by showing the child how to use it).

Or

“Mary, throwing your toys could hurt someone so I will need to take that from you for now until you can use it safely”.

If this behavior persists then you will need to sit with the child until they have calmed down enough to cease the behavior. After all, it is not acceptable to be throwing things around and potentially harm others or themselves. Talk about a positive action or change what you are saying to let the child know what they should be doing; not what they shouldn’t be doing.

The second statement to this parenting tip is not punishment but guidance. Punishment, for example, would be to send the child to their room to be there on their own or telling them that if they continue to throw toys then they will not be able to read their favorite book or play their favorite game (no immediate link to the current behavior). You can always remove a toy they are throwing and redirect them to another activity. This should be done in a calm and inviting manner.

2. Using time out appropriately for children’s behavior

Behavior:

You are out shopping and Little Sam has decided he doesn’t want to continue shopping and starts to throw a tantrum. You are unable to contain him and he is trying to run away.

Parenting tip:

If possible, pick the child up, take them to a quiet spot and stay with them even if they are on the floor thrashing about. Don’t try and negotiate with them as they are out of control of their emotions and are not able to listen when this is the case. Remember, as adults, we can sometimes feel out of control of our own emotions and unable to listen. Children are no different.

If the child is trying to hurt you then sit them on the ground then sit behind them, put your arms around them and your legs around their legs and stay in this position until they are calm. The only thing you can say is ,”I will stay with you and wait until you are calm”. Then just wait until they calm down because they eventually will. If they stop trying to hurt you or themselves then you can just sit with them. This is not rewarding children’s behavior but simply showing them that you are there when they are having trouble with their emotions. Tantrum times can vary but tend to lessen as time goes on so persistence does pay off. If your partner is around, do a tag team if you are finding this difficult.

OR

Just go home if it is too hard. When the child has calmed down, talk to them about their behavior. Sometimes the child might need some quiet play time before you can speak with them as this gives them some emotional space. Remember, if you were feeling out of control of your emotions, would you want someone to sit you in a naughty corner or in a solitary space with the door closed so you could deal with your emotions on your own?

Then, next time you want to venture out shopping, give the child advanced warning about where you will be going and what you will be doing. Ask them what they might be able to help with. i.e. pushing the trolley, helping put groceries into the shopping trolley or holding the shopping list. Children”s behavior will improve if you can get them involved.

3. Use acknowledgment and not praise for children’s behavior.

Behavior:

It is bedtime and Little Sheree wants to keep playing rather than get ready for bed.

Parenting tip:

It is always a good idea to use ‘when’ statements rather than ‘if’ because ‘if’ is based on bribery or a controlling style of parenting. In this situation I recommend you use words to the effect of;  “Sheree, when you have your pj’s on, we can have a short play and then book and bed’. If she still continues to play then you may need to assist her by getting down on her level, getting her attention (eye contact) and guiding her with the steps. Once she has been able to assist in the process, it is a good idea to provide some acknowledgment. An example off this is, “thank you Sheree, your help with getting ready for bed is appreciated. Now, we have time for a quick play before a book and bed”.

Sometimes it is just a case of letting the child finish up what they were doing and often times they will indicate to you that they are about to finish up an activity. Sometimes this approach is better because it shows you trust what they are saying and it gives them the chance to complete a fun task.

There is a fine line between praise and acknowledgment but it can have such a different impact on children’s behavior, just by selecting words that are acknowledgment based and not reward or praise based. Children need guidance and acknowledgment provides the best form of guidance and feedback.

I always found it useful to keep a chart on the wall as a reminder of the best ways to acknowledge children’s behavior so I could change my own behavior which was once based on providing praise. We are raised to believe that saying “good girl” , “good boy”, “you’re clever”, “you’re great for helping”  is great for children when in fact, it isn’t. A great alternative to this is to say such things as “I appreciate your help” or “You look happy with your work”. Our own behavior can be changed through habit. There are a few useful charts on self concept, self esteem and children’s behavior,  along with other fantastic information to help you as a parent, in the book called Children are people too.

4. Using guidance, not reward and punishment for childrens behavior

Behavior:

Little Albert is drawing on the walls with crayon.

Parenting tip:

Grab a piece of art paper and direct the child to a table (removing the writing instrument if necessary) and tell them that paper is for drawing on, not walls. If they continue to ignore you then remove the writing instrument and either get a cloth so the child can clean up their mess or if they refuse and are throwing a tantrum, go to the lounge and sit with them until they are calm. When they are calm, ask them to clean up the mess so that they can go back to drawing on the paper you have provided. You may need to assist them to clean up.

Star charts, stickers and the like are all again linked to extrinsic reward and do not encourage positive self-esteem. Children should be taught to be happy with their own achievements and not compared to other children or seeking approval of an adult. It is important to let the child know your opinion but it is preferable that you ask their own opinion.

Giving them a reward if they do what you want them to do is teaching them that they do not have to behave in any particular manner unless it is approved by a parent or care giver. The sad fact is that, according to the book Children are people too,  when child abusers were asked by researchers how they got away with molesting children for so long, the researchers were told by the child abuse offenders that children are taught to ‘do as they are told’ by adults. This is a very powerful message and we should stand up and take notice of how we are raising our children.

5. Encourage autonomy, independence and risk taking and not control of childrens behavior

Behavior:

Your child is standing at the wardrobe getting lots of clothes out so they can get themselves dressed and now is not a good time because you are in a hurry so you just want to assist in the process.

Parenting tip:

Children need to feel empowered so one of the best things you can do in this situation is to pick two items that you think the child might like to wear (i.e. two tops, two skirts) and ask them to choose. Trust their motives rather than look upon the situation as one where the child is just “out to get at you” or “doing this to gain attention”.

The approach of giving children choice helps them feel in control of their world. It teaches them to trust themselves to make their own decisions, right or wrong. When they do make errors in their judgment we should encourage them to try again and continue to take more risks. This is the best way for them to learn more about the world. On the other hand, if we continue to make choices on behalf of children, that they must listen to an adult, giving them stickers for work we think is of a certain standard, we are controlling them and interfering with positive development of their concept of self.

I know it is not easy to deal with children’s behavior, especially when food intolerance symptoms are at the fore. You do need skills to deal with children’s behavior and at the same time to be aware that under all that behavior, there is a child just wanting to blossom. Once you manage to sort the food problems, you will find that children’s behavior is much easier to manage.  Keep in mind that it is the body that needs healing in order for the behavioral reactions to be less severe. Children are likely to be out of control of themselves because of the impact that food is having on their system.

Provide guidance, not reward or punishment, provide opportunity, not control for children’s behavior. Encourage, and recognize emotions and self expression. You will set your child up with life skills and strengthen your bond with them for years ahead. For more information on positive parenting, children’s behavior and raising happy children I highly recommend two books listed below. From the reading I have personally done, these two books are exceptional and stand out above many of the rest.