All About Supplements for Children

[hquek]

I get Childlife Colostrum powder from http://www.iherbs.com. It's about USD17.


Beauty of iherb is that they use US Postal service (I pay about USD4 for like 3/4 bottles each time).

Compare this with GNC - about S$70+ (no discount).

if anyone wants, they can use this code to get US$5 off their first purchase - just key in ILE293

[ml15]

For me, I think Vit C did help in some way. My 2nd boy used to fall sick every mth since he was a baby till ard 2yrs old. Then a doc mentioned to give them Vit C everyday. After taking Vit C, I really see the improvements. The 'well' period stretches fr 1mth to 2mths to 4mths... I'm so happy.


As for cod liver oil, I just started giving this yr, cos my 1st boy started to 'hate' steam fish But he is taking the cod liver oil happily

My #3, now 22mths, love the cod liver oil too :lol:

[JCase]

Fish Oils - Nordic Naturals

Vit C - can’t rember brand
Bio Strath (Vit B)

[arielgetz]

i’m giving childlife colostrum to my two kids and the gummy vitamin C from Lit critters. I get the colostrum from Iherb while the vitamin C from robinsons when they have a discount. Pretty good I would say.

[EstherTan]

Is there a specific brand/ Type of honey that you guys can recommend? Is it added to water and fed?


Thx!

[schellen]

[Editor's note: Topic selected and edited for http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/content/dangers-babies-taking-honey.]


Please note that honey is NOT safe for children under 1yo. This is because honey will sometimes still have some \"bad bacteria\" in it. If older children or adults take it, it's okay since our digestive systems are strong enough to deal with it. If babies, especially below 1yo, take it, there is a chance that the babies will suffer serious or fatal ailments.

Ailment is called Botulism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botulism

Botulism has a few causes and consuming honey when too young is one of them.
[quote]Infant botulism

Infant botulism (first recognized in 1976) is the most common form of the ailment in the United States. It affects about 100 infants per year in the United States. Infants less than 12 months of age are susceptible, with almost 90% of cases occurring between the ages of 3 weeks and 6 months of age at presentation. The mode of action of this form is through colonization by germinating spores in the gut of an infant. The first symptom is usually constipation, followed by generalized weakness, loss of head control and difficulty feeding. Like the other forms of botulism, the symptoms are caused by the absorption of botulinum toxin, and typically progress to a symmetric descending flaccid paralysis. Death is often the eventual outcome unless the infant receives artificial ventilation.

Sweeteners such as honey and aspartame are potentially dangerous for infants. This is partly because the digestive juices of an infant are less acidic than older children and adults, and may be less likely to destroy ingested spores. In addition, young infants do not yet have sufficient numbers of resident microflora in their intestines to competitively exclude C. botulinum. Unopposed in the small intestine, the warm body temperature creates a medium for botulinum spores to germinate, divide and produce toxin. Thus, C. botulinum is able to colonize the gut of an infant with relative ease, whereas older children and adults are not typically susceptible to ingested spores. C. botulinum spores are widely present in the environment, including honey. For this reason, it is advised that no sweetener be given to children until after 12 months. Nevertheless, the majority of infants with botulism have no dietary history, and the exact source of the offending spores is unclear about 85% of the time. Spores present in the soil are a leading candidate for most cases, and often a history of construction near the home of an affected infant may be obtained.

Complications

Botulism can result in death due to respiratory failure. However, in the past 50 years, the proportion of patients with botulism who die has fallen from about 50% to 8% due to improved supportive care. A patient with severe botulism may require a breathing machine as well as intensive medical and nursing care for several months. Patients who survive an episode of botulism poisoning may have fatigue and shortness of breath for years and long-term therapy may be needed to aid their recovery.

Infant botulism has no long-term side effects, but can be complicated by nosocomial adverse events. The case fatality rate is less than 1% for hospitalized infants with botulism.[/quote]ADD: Although honey is just one of many causes of botulism, it is always better to avoid till later. Although botulism can be cured nowadays with no long-term side effects if you have access to medical technology quickly, I'm sure you don't want to risk having your baby suffer through all that.

[EstherTan]

thanks for the information schellen!


My girl is 15 months old right now so I think we should be ‘safe’, but I’m not intending to start her now, probably only after 2 years old.

I’m in fact exploring options for the entire family to take this regularly as things like Vit C doesn’t seem to work for us.

[schellen]

You’re welcome. I posted this cos I didn’t know too but chanced upon it (luckily!) before my DD was born years ago. I think many parents may be like me and think that honey is okay since it has beneficial qualities and is natural. That was until I found out about Botulism.


I think we should not use 12 months as strict guideline, like you. Cos what if the child is premature or is weaker or already weakened by existing illness. So best is to play it safe. Can wait, should wait.

P.S. Vit C doesn’t work for us too. Cod liver oil, DHA, Olive Leaf Extract and Probiotics work instead but of course, at a higher cost. However, if you compare supplement costs to medical bills (and suffering) …

[mamii]

hi, i give sambocul to my 22 months boy since about 20 months, but not on daily basis, only a few times a week. though not obvious, but i think he would develop a slight rash after that. I asked the person at vitkids and she told me some customers have similar comments so she suggest to avoid with diary products. so i gave it with intervals to his milk but seems not to work.


Anyone with similar experience ? many thanks

[arielgetz]

I agree with schellen. Strictly vit c does not seem to build that much of an immunity. Have to top up with probiotics or other supplements.