Natural Remedies for Babies

This blog ended up being longer than expected, but there is so much to be said about parenting! If you want the herbal portion, jump to the end, but you will miss some seriously good information in between.

If you have been following our social media or know us personally, you can see that we, the owners (Aaron and Paige), have recently become first-time parents. In addition to purchasing the business in February of 2024, we decided that now would be a perfect time/opportunity to expand our family! We’ve been practicing parenting on our Great Danes Scooch and Buttercup, but now it was time to expand our human family. Although it has been challenging learning how to run and operate this business while going through pregnancy, birth, and understanding a newborn’s needs, it has all been well worth the exciting journey this has become.

Part of parenting is understanding that our children are supposed to challenge us. When we become parents, we must accept the fact that we are going to see and face every aspect of ourselves, the good and the ugly, through our children and this goes for BOTH parents. This is exactly why it is so important to take care of ourselves prior to becoming parents so we don’t pass on the dis-ease of life, both physical and mental. Even if you are as perfect as you can be, you will still face challenges because we are supposed to teach our children as well as learn from them. If anybody has ever wondered, this is why we waited to have children until our early thirties, we wanted to take the time so we could be in the right place to not only create a healthy baby, but be able to enjoy being happy parents.

Going through pregnancy and breastfeeding, my wife and I needed to rethink how we understood Herbalism. Initially, it felt like Paige couldn’t take anything while pregnant because so many herbs are contraindicated for pregnancy (this means many herbs are moving and may cause a miscarriage). However, after deeply researching, we found some herbs and activities that helped with the constipation, nausea, heartburn, and several other changes that came with pregnancy. After birth, Paige has a much wider range of herbs she can take, but is still somewhat limited because of breastfeeding – anything that mom takes, the baby will receive too.

There are so many great herbs that can support mom and baby post-partum; just like any other situation, you must find the right herb that fits you and your needs. Here are some helpful thoughts to expand upon before choosing your herbs:

·       Children are simple. For some crazy reason, everybody likes to jump to the extreme and take highly cleansing, moving, stimulating, or other overwhelming herbs when it simply isn’t necessary. Think gentle when looking at herbs for mom or baby because they will work when you choose the right one.

·       Don’t be stubborn, be creative! This is a statement to be said for the general public, not just parents. Being stubborn is like trying to jam a square peg into a round hole – it isn’t going to work and we know it, so let’s try a few dozen more times (you know, in case something changes). Instead, try taking a step back and viewing the troubling situation with a different perspective, an outsider’s perspective.

·       When in doubt, reach out. When life gets crazy and you are overwhelmed, remember that you don’t have to do this alone. Raising a child takes a village and that means that we must be willing to allow others to help us in our times of need. Reach out to friends and family members to help with baby-sitting, house chores, or cooking meals. Also, when learning how to understand your baby’s needs, reach out to your Doctor or Herbalist or Mother/Father that has experience with raising children.

·       Don’t forget about yourself! Yes, your world has suddenly become all about the baby, as it should be, but don’t forget that you are part of this world still. In order to be a good caretaker, one must first take care of themselves. Mom and Dad need to remember to share the responsibilities of parenting and give each other some downtime. Take a nap, cook dinner while mom breastfeeds, shower while dad has tummy-time, call in Grandma to have a date-night, give each other 5 minute massages before bed (trust me, 5 minutes doesn’t sound like enough, but it does wonders)…just remember that simple things go very far when applied correctly.

Now, the part that we’ve all been waiting for, the herbs and methods that we have found to be helpful during pregnancy/breastfeeding! Many of these applications will be true for young children, up to the age of 3-5, depending on the herb and situation:

·         Topical applications and massage oils

o   Massage in general does wonders for supporting blood and lymph movement, delivering nutrients to all parts of the body, nothing strong but gentle rubbing will help to relax baby.

o   Lavender, catnip, chamomile, or rose infused olive oil works wonders for calming baby before bed and soothing the digestive system. Also, helpful for relieving gas.

o   Herbal baths (with the herbs listed above) can be applied during their time in the bubbles and be just as affective!

·         Herbs for breastfeeding

o   This category of herbs is referred to as galactagogues – herbs that help to improve the creation or let-down of breast milk. Many herbs in this category are also digestive-supporting herbs for mom and baby.

o   It is important to remember that foods and herbs taken while breast-feeding will be passed on to baby through the breastmilk. Sometimes, babies can be upset by what mom eats, but at the same time, moms that eat a wide variety of foods while breastfeeding can have children with less picky palettes!

o   Herbs to try that are generally recommended for all constitutions: Hops, Fennel, Blessed Thistle, and Fenugreek (caution, with Fenugreek, this herb has been known to change testosterone levels)

·         Teas split with milk

o   Tea of any herb can be steeped and split with breastmilk. Tea can also be the base liquid used to mix up formula. Tea can also be given to baby in addition to breastmilk. If doing so, use small doses in addition to the baby’s normal breastfeeding schedule to make sure baby is receiving proper nutrition through breastmilk.

o   Make a tea (~1 tablespoon herb per 8 oz water), nothing too strong, and store in the refrigerator to dose over time. Mark the container with a steeped date and use within 3-4 days.

o   Chamomile, catnip, or Fennel would be great for calming digestion and relieving gas.

·         Fussy baby

o   Sometimes it’s digestion, sometimes it’s being tired, sometimes it’s growing pains/teething, sometimes it’s overstimulation or under-stimulation. The truth is, it can be hard to tell what your baby needs until you have time to bond with the little one. The trick is to just keep trying and one of them will be the solution.

o   Use your knuckle, small finger, or pacifier to see if baby is hungry by dabbing this on the baby’s lip or cheek. If baby is hungry, baby will eagerly suck on one of these, if not perhaps try something else.

o   If baby is gassy, try rubbing its tummy, feet, hands, head, back, or legs to get things moving. You can also “pump” your baby’s legs in a bicycling motion to help get gas moving. If this doesn’t work, try something else.

o   Our baby likes to be active and involved, we will show her what we are doing and do it with her (when possible). Try introducing toys, tummy time, or other demonstrative activities to challenge the development of your child’s skills.  If this doesn’t work, try something else.

o   Like adults, babies can be overwhelmed by too much stimulation, causing them to be upset. This is not to take extreme caution and be silent around your baby, but we want to slowly introduce them to stimulus so they can adjust and understand what these new sounds and sights are. Sometimes, when overwhelmed, the solution is alone time. We will set our baby on the floor or in her crib and let her be by herself (while keeping a watchful eye, of course). Alone time helps them to figure it out on their own while developing a sense of confidence and independence. If this doesn’t work, try something else.

o   Try having some outside time and fresh air, it can do wonders for mom, dad, and baby to help everyone take a long nap. There are plenty of options for baby front-packs and wraps to make carrying your baby easier. The gentle bobbing from a walk, along with the sound and warmth from mom or dad, is similar to being in the womb, thus comforting the baby. If this doesn’t work, try something else.

o   If none of these solutions work, try something else! Each of us will go through something different and unique to our needs, you would be surprised at what may help you in your time of need.

·         Herbs for sleep

o   Think simple! Catnip, Chamomile, Linden, Rose, Milky Oat, or Passionflower will go a long ways. For the most part, babies will sleep when they are sleepy, these are more a recommendation for parents and young children.

·         Herbs for mom and dad

o   Astragalus and Anise Hyssop have been helpful for heart burn (and safe during pregnancy with caution to Astragalus as it is an energy builder). Anise Hyssop can also help during pregnancy with lymphatic stagnation and fluid distribution issues.  Sometimes bitter herbs are helpful if the problem is needing more digestive enzymes.

o   Wood Betony, St John’s Wort, or Milky Oat can be helpful nervines for the parents to reduce reactivity to stressors.

o   Rose, Linden, Reishi, or Albizia can be helpful for bringing back the spark of joy when the weight of responsibility or lack of support becomes too much.

·         Herbs for teething

o   Our biggest secret for teething is Marshmallow Root. Chewing on the dried herb, sips of a tea, or the extract applied to the gums, has helped the best for reducing gum irritation.

o   Other herbs to try are Chamomile, Catnip, Fennel, and other digestive herbs. I’ve also heard that Blackberry can soothe the gums, but caution as this herb is an Astringent and can be too drying if used improperly.

When life becomes challenging, we must remember that we decided to make life changes and accept the exciting new adventure that we have begun! In the end, it is well worth the struggles, stress, and crazy moments!! Pictured below, Ruby helping Dad at work