What vitamins, probiotics, etc. do you give your kids to build up immunity?

[yrdlyprincess]

I have my kids drink a small cup of green tea a day, try to make sure that they have a yogurt everyday and a danimals, get enough sleep and wash hands--to the point of being weird. I should have them on their vitamins too but ran out them in August, I will probably go get more today--since I have coupons for Target and they expire today.

 

[StrategicSaver]

My kids take the Shaklee vitamins. They are much more bioavailable than the kind that is available in stores so the kids absorb more of the nutrients. Since they've started taking them they only get sick half as often. And when they do, they are only half as sick. They also get one Vitamin C a day. If they start shwoing symptoms they get it 3X a day plus garlic if they can swallow it.

Laurie
owner, AnotherBlessing! Pregnancy & Ovulation Predictor Tests for Less

 

[Schmeck]

I have my kids drink a small cup of green tea a day, try to make sure that they have a yogurt everyday and a danimals, get enough sleep and wash hands--to the point of being weird. I should have them on their vitamins too but ran out them in August, I will probably go get more today--since I have coupons for Target and they expire today.

I thought green tea was ineffective until you had 4-6 cups of it?

 

[neuf08]

I do both a children's multi and a probiotic daily, and I swear by them both. I also add in a children's DHA, although I think this is more helpful for cognitive development that general immune system. Anyway, for the multi we love the Nordic Berries by Nordic Naturals. I love the Nordic Naturals brand, and also use it for fish oil for the entire family. It's a great quality multi with no additives or artificial sweeteners. I also use Jarrow brand for probiotics. I think the probiotic is also really important for the immune system. I get both from seacoastvitamins.com.

 

[princessmom29]

I WILL NOT give my child herbal supplements under any circumstances. They are not closely regulated enough, and can be very dangerous when taken in the wrong mix, or with perscription and non perscrition drugs. The content labeling in NOT FDA regulated and has been found to be off as much as 30% in what are commonly held to be "reputable" brands, and many of the supposed health benefits of some of these substances have NEVER been proven. I realize that medications are often derived from plants and I would have no problem using them after being advised by a doctor if I could be sure of what I was getting, but the reality is that since the producers of supplements are not regulated you really cannot be sure what you are getting, and in what actual quantity you are consuming it b/c the actual content can be very different from package labeling. Essentally what you are getting are drugs produced with none of the regualtions placed on actual drug companies requiring them to prove their product is safe.

 

[hsmamato2]

a good quality multi vitamin daily, not chemically created vitamin candies,but from REAL sources-
Elderberry supplements if something is coming on(studies have proven it's effective against viruses in the body)
echinacea for the same as above,( yes,it has been proven again and again in Europe as useful and effective)
A GOOD quality probiotic chewable for each of us
(proven in studies to enhance immunities,esp. viruses)
vit c supplements for overall health
vit. D in winter(again,studies are showing it's more effective than C at preventing illness)
I hope this doesn't devolve into an argument about supplement safety. Tylenol is deadly if used incorrectly. So is just about anything else. Supplements have a proven history throughout other countries. They work.
We don't get sick much in our house,maybe once a year,or even every 2 years. Literally.

 

[drenalin'junkie]

Go to pubmed.It is the NIH clearinghouse for publications.It includes all the studies they could find worldwide and includes traditional,homeopathic,Asian and just about everything up to witchdoctory.

Most of the stuff recommended in this thread so far have been proven incontrovertibly to be useless in multiple double blind studies.I rarely let others even get a word out about medical advice as I have been setting in a hospital before waiting for someone to recover from helpful"advice"

 

[princessmom29]

Go to pubmed.It is the NIH clearinghouse for publications.It includes all the studies they could find worldwide and includes traditional,homeopathic,Asian and just about everything up to witchdoctory.

Most of the stuff recommended in this thread so far have been proven incontrovertibly to be useless in multiple double blind studies.I rarely let others even get a word out about medical advice as I have been setting in a hospital before waiting for someone to recover from helpful"advice"

thanks for posting that site. Everything I had read was from so many different sources. It is nice to see it in one place. I hear you about the supposedly helpful advice. If I can keep even one person from compromising the health of their child it is worth it to get the word out.

 

[princessmom29]

a good quality multi vitamin daily, not chemically created vitamin candies,but from REAL sources-
Elderberry supplements if something is coming on(studies have proven it's effective against viruses in the body)
echinacea for the same as above,( yes,it has been proven again and again in Europe as useful and effective)
A GOOD quality probiotic chewable for each of us
(proven in studies to enhance immunities,esp. viruses)
vit c supplements for overall health
vit. D in winter(again,studies are showing it's more effective than C at preventing illness)
I hope this doesn't devolve into an argument about supplement safety. Tylenol is deadly if used incorrectly. So is just about anything else. Supplements have a proven history throughout other countries. They work.
We don't get sick much in our house,maybe once a year,or even every 2 years. Literally.

Last thing I am going to say. Tylenol is not deadly when used a s directed. Some of these supplements can be deadly when used exactly according tothe package directions. They do not give any info about interactions between supplements or between supplements and drugs. I see it as playing roulette with your health and the health of your child. Nothing may happen this time, but what about the next??

 

[bear_mom]

Thanks - today she has a rash all over her arms, trunk, part of her neck and back of things. I just called my doc at home, so I'm waiting for a call back. I am perplexed - not sure if it's just the virus? If she had strep or scarlet fever, her swab would have been positive. She doesn't have blisters on feet, so no hand/foot/mouth. She has had blister looking things on her tonsils and her tonsils are huge, but a negative swab? We are very perplexed...

She is resting now, as she is tired, does not have a fever, rash does not itch, and no other symptoms besides her cough.

Tiger

Two summers ago, I got really, really sick. Fever, aches, sore throat...... A fews days after I got better I got a rash all over my body. Went to the doctor and he said there are several different viruses that can cause a rash.

Emily

 

[MaryKLady]

I just skimmed through so forgive me if this has been said already but...

What antibiotics have you been using? Is it possible it is a penicillin allergy? The first time DD6 took a penicillin antibiotic it was in the summer. It was an ear drop and the Dr. assured me it was just heat rash. I discontinued the Rx. and it went away, hummmm. A few years later, another Rx for penicillin produced a slightly larger rash. Dr. thought I was nuts but I took her in and the group consulted and decided it was an allergy after all.

On a side note...This past March, DD got sick with either strep or staph (every test came up negative, and it is not so unusual). She ended up with toxic shock which also can produce a rash. Unlike your child, my DD went for a while without antibiotics because Dr. was sure it was just a virus. Since then, I have heard more stories of this happening.

As far as supplements, I use a refigerated probiotic capsule. I open it and mix it in with some yogurt. DD loves it. Also a children's wheat grass vitamin. Of course she gets a multi with flouride. And never underestimate the power of Airborne. I think the stuff is great.

Good luck to you. I know having a sick kid is no fun.

 

[Tiger926]

Last thing I am going to say. Tylenol is not deadly when used a s directed. Some of these supplements can be deadly when used exactly according tothe package directions. They do not give any info about interactions between supplements or between supplements and drugs. I see it as playing roulette with your health and the health of your child. Nothing may happen this time, but what about the next??

Unfortunately, you are incorrect. I can't remember if it's CDC or other very reputable site, but the amount of allergic reactions each year to Tylenol is very high. It is a serious drug - I was born with a liver dysfunction, so I know lots about how things affect the liver. You should Google to find out more - these are cases in which the drug was used correctly. I am not at home, and so I can't access my link, but it's very interesting to see just how common over the counter drugs, even when used correctly, pose many problems.

Tiger

 

[loveysbydesign]

We love the DanActiv probiotic yogurts...my 2y.o. loves the vanilla ones and asks for his every morning. Last year we were all sick alot! This year neither of my kids has even missed 1 day of school! My 2 y.o. just started with a nasty cold...3 days after we ran out of DanActiv. It may be a coincidence who knows? We also take Esberitox and it works wonders when you actually do start to come down with comething. Hope she feels better soon.

 

[princessmom29]

Unfortunately, you are incorrect. I can't remember if it's CDC or other very reputable site, but the amount of allergic reactions each year to Tylenol is very high. It is a serious drug - I was born with a liver dysfunction, so I know lots about how things affect the liver. You should Google to find out more - these are cases in which the drug was used correctly. I am not at home, and so I can't access my link, but it's very interesting to see just how common over the counter drugs, even when used correctly, pose many problems.

Tiger

I should have been more clear. For people with normal systems and no allergy to it tylenol is rarely if ever deadly or seriously problematic when used according to the directions. Can't say the same for lots of herbal supplements. I do not consider less than 1% of users a "very high" rate of allergic reaction.

 

[drenalin'junkie]

At least the OTCs and prescription drugs are regulated as to strength,prity,interactions etc..

Homeopathic,herbal etc remedies face no such hurdles nor do most laymen have the ability to discern their effectiveness.They ought to be regulated as the drugs they actually are.

PT Barnum's famous saying applies to any medicine taken and not thoroughly researched.

 

[dr&momto2boys]

My kids never get sick...
We all get regular upper cervical chiropractic check-ups to keep our nervous systems functioning well. I also give my kids a Shaklee multi-vitamin/mineral once a day and we eat whole foods mostly.

When cold symptoms start to come up I would also start taking Vit C 1000mg every 2 hours and Vit D3 50,000IU/day for 3 days. (5000IU/day for maintenance dose.) Those are both adult doses, not sure sbout kid doses since...my kids never get sick. I credit the upper cervical chiropractic care for that mostly.

 

[disfan07]

Thsi is just my opinion and what ive been told by talking to my doctors but...

I'm against the use of any supplements WITHOUT doctors recommendations.

I dont see anythign wrong with it if a doctor has advised you to take it adn given you the correct dosage.
I am on immunosuppresents, I have asthma adn heart disease and I have had this discussion with all of my doctors becasue i always want to knwo if theres anythign more i can do to prevent gettign sick since i am so susceptible to everything adn none of them have ever recommended vitamins or supplements. They all say that for healthy children adn adults, theres really no point to them at all.

One of my doctors who is a pediatric allergist/immunologist adn infectious disease physician says that unless a child or adult has a vitamin defficiency, she would never recommend supplements. Washing your hands, eating right adn gettign enough sleep works better than any supplement you could take.

Kids get sick. Adults get sick. Its part of life. Its how you develop a healthy immune system. Unless you are severely immunocompromised (chemo, autoimmune disease, etc) getting sick occasionally is not a bad thing. Yes it really really stinks to get sick but IMO you should just let it take its course.

 

[DisneyDoc5]

I believe the original poster was interested in what, if any, vitamins, probiotics, etc. you give your kids to build up immunity, not if you don't believe in them or find them unnecessary. Thank you to those of you that shared what you give your kids and why, I found it very informative.

 

[fortheluvofpooh]

Thanks to all for your advice - I just realized I forgot that being in Canada, we don't have many of the products you are listing. I am going to look out for some of them tomorrow though!

Thanks, Tiger

Our kids get a multivitamin, Vitamin C and Vitamin D, all of them are from a natural store. They still get sick, but not as bad as they used to and for not as long.

 

[MaryKLady]

I believe the original poster was interested in what, if any, vitamins, probiotics, etc. you give your kids to build up immunity, not if you don't believe in them or find them unnecessary. Thank you to those of you that shared what you give your kids and why, I found it very informative.

It's always good to get back to topic.