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BR: Two unrelated questions
1.) G and I are both sick, for the hundredth time this year. I just started her on probiotics again (she couldn't take them before because they were cultured in milk). My boss at the Y swears by this product;
http://www.youngliving.com/thieves-essential-oil/Thieves-Oil
by Young Living. She rubs it on her children's feet before bed and she had they haven't been sick in forever. She also uses a diffuser at her house. I'm thinking about trying this-especially because she gets a discount that she'll share with me. At what age is it safe to use the Thieves diffuser at our house and/or oils on G's feet?
(I'm sure some of you think I'm in sane-but we need to do something. I clean and antibaterialize like crazy-but someone in our house is always sick).
2.) Since it's started to get nice we spend alot of time outside. G still wears long sleeves but I worry about her face. Can you put sunscreen on babies faces? We bought the off-brand/compare to Neutragina Pure & Free Baby Sunscreen. I tried getting her to wear a hat-but she rips and pulls at it too much.
Re: BR: Two unrelated questions
I'm not sure about oils and we stay away from any diffusers in our house so I can't help with that.
Yes you can/should put sunscreen on their face and her head as well since she's a blondie. I use the california baby or burts bees sunscreen in the liquid form because I don't get good, fast coverage with a stick. It drags too much on the skin if it's just a zinc (non chemically) based product so I can do it faster with cream. Some people use sprays for the hair and like the ease of it. I haven't found one with natural ingredients. Otherwise I'd do that. Not for the face though obviously. lol!
1) I have heard of this before, but not sure about it's affects on kiddos
2). I think you can put sunblock on small kids and sunscreen on babies 6 months and older, but maybe someone else has better info?
I feel ya- we have someone sick in our house at all times too. I don't think I can clean anymore!
GL
I'm sure you'd be fine to use the oils now. I know nothing about the diffuser. We're hardly ever sick in our house and I only clean with vinegar and thyme oil. Maybe germs are helping us. :-) Or, you could opt to just let G play in the dirt, http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/01/31/earlyshow/health/main4766105.shtml -- I actually found this to be very insightful.
Neena Mae. 1/7/10
"A baby nursing at a mother's breast is an undeniable affirmation of our rootedness in nature." - David Suzuki
ditto what Jennrs said! I only use baking soda, vinegar and tee trea oil to clean our house and Cole has only been sick a few times. I would have to read more about the diffuser since i don't use scented plug ins in our house (is it even similar?).
definitely use that sunscreen, the benefits far outweigh the risks of any chemicals in sunscreen! We really like Burt's Bees too.
The diffuser is something that you only use 15-30 minutes a day. It basically cleanses the air and removes airborne bacteria. You can also put drops of scent oils in it to make the air smell good.
I think one reason we are so sick it because of the Y. There are alot of germs floating around there even when we sanitize. :-(
I don't think it's the Y, you want to be exposed to germs to build up immunities, sometimes people just get a cold more often than others. IMO, maybe it's actually allergies? I have allergies all year round, and it sucks.
I'm not trying to be snarky or anything, just a thought too.
(1) My sister uses essential oils and has found them to be really helpful on numerous occasions -- for herself, her kids & even her DH when he'll try them, I think. Don't know if it's related, but her kids (ages 6 & 3) have never been sick enough to be prescribed antibiotics -- so something seems to be working for them. They also live on a farm & get plenty of outdoor play & time in the dirt, too.
(2) I'd agree with PP about for sure using sunscreen after the age of 6 months. ThinkBaby sunscreen was on Babysteals a while back, so I bought a couple of bottles. I had read good things about their product.
I hear you about the hat... Z has some cute hats that I wish she would leave on, but she keeps yanking them off... Guess we can keep trying!
I would look a little more into the young living products...
http://www.scumtasticly.com/reviews/young-living-essential-oils/
I guess I have to differ a little than some. I am not a believer in oils, etc. to cure medical illnesses (which I'm sure comes as a surprise to no one). I think that using natural products to clean your home, like vinegar, etc. are great, but that is a totally different idea. Also, there is a big difference between dirt and germs. I am all about our girls getting down and dirty outside, but I am a huge anti-germ freak. Exposure to outside dirt, etc. has been linked to less serious illnesses (asthma, etc.) later in life.
As far as exposure to germs, I am going to put my thesis out there - Ir eally don't think it does your kid any good to be sick a lot to build immunities. There are thousands (millions?) of viruses out there, I guess I'd rather my kid just avoid them than be exposed and thus not get that 1 single virus again in the future. I know that is somewhat obvious, and it is easier said than down to avoid exposure, but I just think some people think it is almost doing their kid a service to be sick often as a young child. Also, it is far harder for a baby to be sick than a school aged child (on both the kid and the parents). Not that one should live under a rock of course, but I just think that being as clean as possible and avoiding germy situations when possible (much harder w/ more kids) is a good thing.
In the end though, BP, don't blame yourself. Kids are just sick a lot b/c they put everything in their mouth. Once she grows out of that stage it will get a lot easier to keep her healthy (especially since you'll be able to avoid other sick kids hopefully). Heck, I am obsessed w/ avoiding germs and my kids were both on antibiotics from age 5 months until tube time b/c they have poor ear anatomy. So, sometimes even when you are as clean as possible, things just stack up against you.
I'm late, but I'll be quick
I'm not interested in holistic options for healthcare. I'd go so far to say that they kind of bother me. I'm not saying that there aren't great benefits from certain things, perhaps there are. But perhaps there AREN'T too.
I'm so sorry you and G are sick again, that's such a bummer. But maybe the fresh air will be good for both of you!
Hang in there, momma! The end of the 'sick season' is near.
Married 10.11.08
Baby LJ 05.21.10
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