Supplements for My Toddler
Toddler Supplements
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I have had so many request to detail out what I give my kiddos and myself so this is part 1 of 3. This post specifically focuses on what I give my sweet baby girl. I will be working on one highlighting what I give my son who is 6 and another for what my husband and I take so stay tuned!
Supplements - some people love’em and some people hate them. Regardless of which side you fall on, most people feel overwhelmed by all of the options and marketing, so I wanted to share my personal thoughts and the why behind what I give my toddler. This is no way medical advice and as with anything please discuss with your doctor before determining what is best for you and your family. I always speak with my daughter’s pediatrician. Our pediatrician is not like most. He is very advanced in his thinking and even provides a whole list of supplements to give my child before and after a vaccine to help offset the toxic load from them. He always looks for a natural remedy before prescribing anything. I can’t stress enough how important it is to find a doctor for you and your family that I aligns with your thinking and health goals! They do exist even though it feels like a lot of ups and downs to find the right one – the search is worth it!
I spend a lot of time analyzing and understanding my genetic makeup. I naturally have a scientific mind and every thought in my head is often developed into a hypothesis and a way to test it. After studying Dr. Lynch’s work and my personalized StrateGene report I know that my body is genetically wired to hold onto toxins. I also know that my body has a hard time breaking down food and thereby also a hard time absorbing nutrients. I know there are people out there that do not need to supplement as they are genetically able to extract plenty of nutrition from what they eat. They likely also have a lot less genetic mutations. Each of us is so unique that we really do have to listen to our bodies and do what is right for YOU! All of this to say when you understand you and your partner’s genetic makeup you can better understand your child.
One last bit before I jump into the daily run down of the specific supplements….let’s talk marketing!! Please be careful of the marketing in the supplemental world. As with anything, if it sounds to good to be true – it is!! Sadly, most companies are willing to do anything for an extra buck and a return to shareholders. There are very few brands that I trust and often those brands get snatched up by the big conglomerates and quickly change to lesser (aka cheaper) ingredients. Sadly, as a consumer we must continuously be evolving, learning and staying hyper alert of the ingredients as they do sometimes change. We also learn more every day about the human body and evolving scientific research.
Morning:
Garden of Life
1 mL
I typically only take a MV after eating breakfast. This helps to minimize side effects like a niacin flush. When I am 1st starting a new MV I will typically take it at night before bed. MVs can require a lot of energy as the body is trying to utilize all of the nutrients and the various genetic pathways start kicking up. Taking a MV before bed allows me to properly digest, absorb and utilize the nutrients waking up feeling like I am 19 again! I also don’t take a MV every day. Some days I will take them for 2 weeks straight and other times I will only take them when I have a big day ahead or need to wake up extra early. I listen to my body and adapt accordingly. In that same light, I watch my children, observing them like a hawk every move and mood and record it all as information on what they need and how to adjust their supplements. I often avoid taking any supplements while on vacation. Less hassle and less stress. Always remember that too much of a good thing IS. NOT. GOOD. If you are feeling great, it is likely that you can back off a little. If you start feeling bad right away then you know, you need to continue with the dosage for a little longer. If you back off and feel great without it then you know you only need to dose intermittently for strenuous, toxic days. Check out the book Dirty Genes by Dr. Ben Lynch for dosing using the Pulse Method.
If I am being 100% transparent, I don’t love Garden of Life brand, but it is easily accessible for most and they have a large selection of infant supplements. They also use a lot of the vitamin formulations that I prefer. The big down side is that they are owned by a publicly traded company that has made decisions in the past based on shareholders and not consumers. I am very picky about the formulation. Please, please, please if you take anything away from this please understand that each vitamin has many different forms. Those forms cause different side effects and adsorptions by each. What I do like about this MV:
· From Certified Organic Real Food
· 13 Essential Vitamins and Minerals
· No Artificial Ingredients
· Certified USDA Organic and Non-GMO Project Verified
· Certified Gluten Free and Certified Vegan
I also like that this MV doesn’t have Vitamin B12 and D so I can dose more specifically to my child’s needs.
2. B12
Why Not Natural
1-3 drops
As I mention above, the specific formulation is important, especially with B12. B12 is not just B12. I ALWAYS AVOID B12 in the form of cyanocobalamin as it is made with cyanide. YUCK! I like the methylcobalamin form of B12. I also like hydroxocobalamin and adenosylcobalamin.
I like that this B12 is in the right form, comes in a liquid so easy for children to consume and to absorb. I also like that it is organic and contains no potassium sorbate or benzoate. It also comes in a glass bottle which I always choose over plastic.
B12 is
- The train that allows your body to use folate
- Supports energy, metabolism, nervous system and heart health
- Protects against anemia and provides healthy central nervous system by maintaining nerve cells and red blood cells to make DNA
BOTH DAY AND NIGHT:
Seeking Health
1-2 drops a day
If you want a happy kiddo – Vitamin D3 is so important and I prefer it with K2 as D3 increases the body’s ability to absorb more calcium. K2 ensures that the calcium gets to the bones where it is needed!
- Studies show that low levels of Vitamin D are linked to lower immune.
- Love that this is in only olive oil – super clean and supportive since Vitamin D is fat soluble.
- Liquid form makes it easy to absorb and dose to little ones
ChildLife
10 mL twice a day
I am actually not a fan of calcium supplements unless you specifically need them, but since my daughter doesn’t get any calcium from her nut milk our pediatrician recommended a supplement. I will be stopping this supplement once she turns two as I feel calcium is most critical in the first two years. I do like that this one comes with magnesium which is a mineral that many are deficient in – it is estimated that nearly 90% of the population is deficient. Magnesium has a calming effect so that is a little added bonus 😉 It also has Zinc and Vitamin D3 so if we have a lot of sun on certain days, I skip the extra Vitamin D3 above.
I do not like that it has potassium sorbate in it but I haven’t been able to find a liquid one without it.
NIGHT TIME:
Seeking Health
1 scoop
90% of our immunity is in our gut! A probiotic is a great way to add in good gut bugs. It is key to take frequently as studies show when you stop taking a probiotic the good bugs can quickly be overcome by the bad bugs. Then you are left back at square one trying to rebuild the gut’mosphere! I like that this form is powder so it can easily be mixed with milk, juice, yogurt, etc. and it is specifically designed for infants.
Seeking Health
1 capsule, powder removed and capsule tossed
A healthy yeast/ fungus. Great for combating yeast overgrowth (rash, thrush, yeast infections, etc.) A must take ANYTIME anyone in the family is on antibiotics. I simply put the powder from the capsule in my daughter’s milk at night so the good bugs can work their magic while she sleeps and aren’t distributed with food throughout the day. I simply toss the capsule.
3. Fish Oil
Thorne
5mL
I love that this is a liquid so it is easy to dose and both kids love the flavor which is saying a lot! I also like that it has high enough levels of DHA and EPA to make an impact. It also may help to maintain a healthy cytokine balance while supporting the heart, brain, nerve, skin, and eye health.
AS NEEDED:
I like to add in Vitamin C (extra immunity), Glutathione (remove toxins from a vaccine), Zinc (immunity), and Iron as needed. I use these sparingly such as, during cold and flu season a few days a week or when she hasn’t had a lot of fruit that day. Vitamin C also helps with iron absorption which is a mineral that can be challenging to absorb and get enough of especially for littles ones. Zinc is extra powerful when taken with blueberries!
Again, this is what I do for my daughter after discussing with her pediatrician and understanding her genetics. Some days I don’t give her anything at all. It is all based on her mood, behavior, our daily schedule of activities, travel and food consumed.
Some simple tips:
Always speak with a trained medical professional before adding in any supplements or vitamins.
More of as good thing is not better. Practice the pulse method.
I take breaks often when dosing, skip days.
I listen and observe to determine what is needed for support each day.