alrighty moms. I have three questions about my 9 month old daughter.
1. My daughter has always been a horrible sleeper. Usually she is up 3-5 times a night. She has regular napping times and a bed time, but wakes up constantly until about 11 or 12 then finally sleeps for 2 or 3 hours at a time. This weekend her grandmother (who lives in Mexico) suggested that I use Anise seeds. So I bought some and brewed it up like tea, and have been putting 2 ounces of it in her bottle with another 4 ounces of water and mixed this with her formula. I did this for the last two nights and both nights she slept like a rock for 7 hours!!! This is a huge breakthrough for me. So my question is, have any of you other mothers used Anise before? Is it safe and if so, how much of it? I asked my doctor about it and she told me not to use it, because it is not regulated in anyway and i am not encouraging her to sleep well on her own. Even tho I've been trying for 9 months. My mother in law swears by it and she raised 7 healthy kids using it. So I would like to hear your advice in the mean time! I read up a little on Anise and read that it is used for colicky babies, but is not recommended by the FDA. I would like to know why though, because now I hate to give it up!
2. Come Christmas, my daughter will be 10 months. She's got lots of toys, but they are basically infant toys she can't do a lot with anymore. Now that she is crawling, standing, and very active, does anyone have any suggestions for toys that really kept your child of that age busy for a while that they seemed to really enjoy? It seems like it's getting harder and harder to entertain her!
3. Aleeya has been vaccinated since birth, but I know vaccinating is a very controversial issue. I know why you SHOULD, but I want to hear from those moms choosing NOT to vaccinate. I want to know why you made this choice, and any resources of information you might have. Those strongly FOR vaccinating need not reply. I can hear all that from her doctor.
I received so many great responses! I have so much information so I will be slowly making my way through all the websites I was given. Thank you moms!
If the issue with sleep is related to digestion, anise may be the answer, or there may be other answers. I would try the smallest amount possible at first and see if that works. If it does then you know you don't need more.
I spent numerous years working as a RN where one of my duties was encouraging vaccinations. When we were preparing to have our own kids I began to educate myself more and research vaccines. What I learned surprised me and made me decide that our kids would NOT be vaccinated. Not only do vaccines provide a different sort of immunity (stimulate TH2 immunity and not TH1) which does not provide life-long immunity, they are also filled with neurotoxins....even the non-thimerisol (mercury) vaccines have other neurotoxins including aluminum and formaldehyde. I second Miranda's dietary info, support of chiropractic adjustments and her recommended reading, but I also have a couple other things I could pass on to you if interested. I have a powerpoint presentation I could email you and a 2-part dvd presented by Mary Tocco you could borrow. I found the dvds very informative. (Here's a link for Mary Tocco's credentials. http://childhoodshots.com/Mary_Tocco_s_Bio.html) Send me a message if interested in either the powerpoint or dvds. Good luck on your decision!
1:) I've never heard of this but I would definitely look into a professionals opinion. (I'm NOT talking your doctor either....) All they know are prescription drugs that have MEGA side effects, yet they prescribe them like candy. Check with a chiropractor or a natural path doctor. They have a wealth of knoweledge about alternative medicines.
2:) Our kids really liked the learning tables. We have a Leap Frog and Fisher Price one. Different buttons make different sounds, words, or songs play.
+++++The must have toy for any child starting at that age is A COZY COUPE!!!! All toddlers LOVE them. Even at that age, they will sit in them and "drive" for HOURS!!!!!
3:) I commend you for going against the "norm" and researching this issue! We researched for about a year before coming to our final decision. Here are some good websites to check out:
www.909shot.com
www.thinktwice.com
www.healthyhealing.com
www.vamn.com
www.vaccinationnews.com
We use chiropractic care on a regular basis for our children. They have treated all our kids' ear infections, sore necks, coughs, colds, fevers, aches and pains.
Along with not vaccinating we do limit the amount of sugar our kids get. They get NO pop. No fast food. They both take Nordic Naturals Vitamin Berries and also Fish oils. God made our bodies able to fight diseases as long as we take care of and build them up to be able to.
Vaccinating is a very personal choice and after so many months of researching, we decided that we could not live with the fact that if our child was the one in a million that reacted to the vaccine. And autism is coming from somewhere! By building our bodies in a healthy way, we are doing more than any vaccine could do to protect ourselves. When our kids get sick, you can usually set your clock and 24 hours later they are better. First signs of anything and I get them adjusted immediately too!
Good luck on your decision.
ADDITION: After reading another response I wanted to add. I did daycare for 5 years. Our daughter was raised in that daycare for almost the first year of her life. She was only breastfed for 6 months before my milk completely dried up. Our son was STRICTLY breastfed for 9 months. Weaned at 18 months. Both of our children have been on vacations with us. Our daughter was 9 months old when we took a cruise to the Bahamas and Florida with her. Our son was 7 months old when we took a cruise to Mexico and California with both our kids. We are going on another trip soon. I HIGHLY encourage breastfeeding but don't thing that if you don't/can't and if you travel that you should automatically vaccinate. There are other ways of protection!
And daycares and schools MAY tell you that it is REQUIRED. Most states have exceptions. In MN, all you need to do for daycare is check the line that says you are against them and sign your name. For schools, you again need to sign a line but it has to be notorized. Very easy. BUT I know our local district does NOT tell you these things!
H.,
Hello. I just want to let you know that I have vaccinated my children in the past but I choose not to anymore. I have 2 living children and 1 angel (Zachariah). Zachariah passed away at 4 months 9 days due to SIDS. He recieved his vaccinations 5 days before he passed away and no one knows if his vaccines played a role in his death. I did have a child after him and he has recieved NO Vaccinations. If you are interested there is a great book out there, "What your doctor will not tell you about childhood vaccinations." After reading that I will not do shots. Thanks for listening and asking others for their opionions.
J. Recifo-Smith
My husband and I choose not to vaccinate our daughter. We did our research on the subject to make the right decision. We are both Chiropractors and adjust our daughter regularly, she is now 13 months old and hasn't had an ear infection. She did have the flu a couple months ago but it was less than 24 hours. The human body has an amazing immune system if you let it function at its optimal ability. That is why we have it, so lets use it, there are so many side effects to the vaccines than benefits. Some of them are just out right ridiculous! My daughter is two months younger than her nephew and he has had all of his vaccinations, he has been sick a lot, with ear infections, long standing colds and flu. He has gotten the flu vaccine and still got the flu and the mom was confused as to why he still got it! The amount of vaccines they give to your child is too much for their little systems to handle! I just wanted to let you know why I didn't give her the vaccines, it was an educated decision, I'm glad that you are wanting to think outside of the box and ask questions! There needs to be more mothers out there like you who question this! I could go on and on, as you can tell! lol
Also, about the sleeping issue, I don't know much about herbal remedies but if it works then that's great just keep an eye on it! Another great thing would be to go and see your chiropractor there maybe something in your child's body that is not in line that is causing the sleep disturbances! I know that each time my daughter wasn't getting a full night sleep I would check her out and adjust her and then she would sleep through the night. If your child isn't sleeping though the night there body is telling you something isn't quite right. Go visit a Chiropractor and they will help to remove the interference in their body and allows for them to relax and thus they are allowed to have a deeper sleep! Also, make sure they have a full tummy before they go to bed, and they will sleep great! Hopefully this helps!
Hi H.,
My little one is two and a half now and it was around 9 months that sleep havoc started. We're only now getting a handle on the frequent wakening and difficulty going to sleep. I wish I would have read the Sleep Lady's book earlier. Her method works for us. I don't know anything about anise but I've tried melatonin. While it does help her sleep, I feel like I'm drugging her so I rarely use it. And it has her waking up earlier that she already does. There's a number of opinions on melatonin and people respond differently to it. Generally though the medical community doesn't recommend it for children. Our pediatrician had said it was worth trying.
Toys for 10+ months - hmmm, little sit-on cars with handles that she can push around as she's gaining confidence walking. My little girl still uses hers. Anything with buttons is loads of fun. Balls to push around. Music to dance to. just some ideas.
Regarding vaccinations, I totally recommend Dr. Sears' "Vaccine Book". It totally informs you and leaves it up to you to decide. It was helpful to know which vaccines she could skip, which to delay, and which vaccines would be really helpful for little ones. Check out his website http://www.askdrsears.com/
Good luck!
Regarding toys: My youngest is 14 months. Her current favorite toys include the following by Fisher Price: Piggy Bank, Mailbox, shape sorter box, Little People "lego" type blocks, "See n Say" (the one with animals). She got them for her first birthday, and I kid you not, she will seriously sit and play with those for minutes on end (5-10) BY HERSELF!!! Unusual for this age, but I think she has seen her sister (5 years old) play by herself??? I swear by most of the Fisher Price toys. For Christmas she is getting the Clock, Camera, Purse, and "push n go" train from the catalog. Hope that helps. Also, Fisher Price holds up VERY well over time and they are easy to wipe down/clean and still encourage some imaginative play. Happy shopping!
I found a website that lists a lot of interesting facts about anise http://www.innvista.com/health/herbs/anise.htm
The only thing that might possibly explain why your dr. advised against it is this: "Do not take the essential oil, except under professional supervision. Full strength anise seed oil can cause vomiting and seizures". But it doesn't sound like you are doing that anyway! More likely, your dr. is just not familiar with it. I'd check with an herbalist if you really want answers. If it were my child, I would stick with it for at least a few days/weeks, because it's a plant (what's more "natural" than that?), and it's working! Eventually, you can start giving less and less until she is sleeping on her own without it. (It worked on your husband and he turned out fine... right?) :) I have also read on other websites about placing the seeds in a sachet to "promote sleep and prevent nightmares." You could see if that works, then you don't have to worry about the side effects of her ingesting something.
Toys at 10 months: We have 3 boys, and our youngest is 15 months at the moment. He has just started walking, and he is currently very interested in things that light up (e.g. balls that light up when they bounce; fake (and real) cell phones and remotes that make noise and have lights). He likes to steal his brothers' cars and trains, too. Some toy manufacturers are right on about their age guidelines for toys, so all you need to do is ask for things recommended for 12-18 months. I have to add...for all my kids, something cheap that has kept them busy for HOURS is an empty box or laundry basket!
I really don't have any advice for you, but I did want to commend you for choosing to think "outside the box." It's funny - based on the recommendations/rules we have today, its a wonder we all lived past our 1st birthdays! While I think doctors are a wonderful source of information, it seems like society today doesn't allow us to seek out other resources like grandparents and alternative medicines. Don't get me wrong, I am not advocating that we simply ignore medical advice, but not that long ago, doctors recommended Thalidomide for morning sickness . . .
Good luck no matter what YOU decide :)
Hi there!
1) I've never heard of using Anise so I can't speak to the possible effects it may have on a baby. The reason why the FDA doesn't approve it is because they do not regulate ANY herbs or vitamins... hence some people having an issue w/ using them esp. on children.
2) re: toys... my twins turned 12 mos last Christmas and the toys that they have played w/ the most are the stand and grove table (I think that's the name!). Its an activity table that has music and counting, etc. ; they also loved and play w/ all the time a little cart that assists them w/ walking that was sent from L.L. Bean. It has a storage section so once they are walking they can then move their toys around, etc.; the one piece Kitchen set w/ sink and fridge; little baby dolls w/ carriage; pots and pans were also a big hit. DO NOT waste your money on the animal that they sit on and bounce up and down on (it makes music as they bounce). It was a big seller last year but never lived up to the hype. Good luck!!
Dear H.,
I'm pregnant with my 5th child. We vaccinated our first two children, then with our 3rd we were picky about which ones were necessary and with the 4th ( who is now 2 1/2 yrs old) we have chosen not to vaccinate (at least for now). Our own personal reasons come from doing a lot of research about vaccines and what is really necessary and a possible threat to our child. I would like to point out that I breastfeed our children and I don't put them in daycare. Those are two factors that put my child in the low risk category and because of this our pediatrican respects our decision.
I recently purchased an excellent book called the Vaccine Book by Dr. Sears. It is a very middle of the ground approach that gives the pros and cons of vaccines and when it is necessary. In the book he doesn't tell you what to do, just tells you the facts so you can make the best decision for your child. I do know that in all the chapters he mentions that if you're breastfeeding and don't use daycares, then your child is a low risk baby for contracting the diseases.
For us, this time it really was about autism and I've met a family in my church that clearly their son became autistic after the vaccines he recieved. In the Vaccine Book there is a section on the MMR and the links to Autism; however, they won't say it CAUSES autism - it just simply coorilates it to the vaccine. I personally don't think there is enough knowledge about DNA structures and what child is going to be more at risk than any other child. The drug companies and the CDC still have a lot to learn and research and in the meantime, if we can avoid it, we will.
There is a website called nvic.org. My OB sent me to this website to do some research before we had our last child. I will warn you that it's heavily against vaccines; however, they have a lot of documented personal stories of children who've been harmed and died from vaccines.
I think you really need to do a lot of research and know exactly why you don't want to vaccinate. Our pediatrican respected us because we came in there educated on the issues and he liked our solution of protecting our baby with breastfeeding.
Also, you need to consider your lifestyle too. If you travel by plane a lot with your baby then maybe it would be wise to vaccinate. If you're going to be putting your baby in daycare or if your baby ends up having any underlying diseases then maybe you should vaccinate.
I know this is a very tough decision and there isn't one best decision for every person. You need to find what works for you and your family.
Good Luck!
'
For your toys question:
Toys that we like that our kids got around that age are blocks, toddler Legos and Duplos, a ride-on car, balls, toddler-friendly toy cars, books, any toy by Leap Frog, any interactive toy that lights up and/or plays music, and Little People with compatible cars and a bus.
I think one reason the FDA doesn't approve a lot of herbals is because dosage is a dicey issue. With chemical drugs, the FDA can say EXACTLY what is in one pill, and they can (sorta) take responsibility for that particular dosage...or, at minimum, can recall it when it doesn't work.
That said, an herbal is grown, obviously, and depending on soil conditions, fertilizers, and all sorts of things, the strength of those things can vary dramatically. Because the FDA cannot monitor the active ingredients, they also cannot recommend them. I don't think "they don't recommend" should be interpreted as "we don't think you should take it" but rather as "we can't say for sure what we think of it, so don't take our word for it"--and I totally agree with other posters; definitely talk to people more knowledgeable--they can advise you much better than your doc, who is very much attuned to the FDA and things that are approved--as, in my opinion, she should be--but that does NOT mean that we should not seek out other options and other professionals.
I just want to say, good for you for thinking about the vaccine issue and wanting to be educated before making a decision.
I personally have chosen a middle of the road approach in regards to my son. I gave him no vaccines until after he turned 2, since then I have been picking and choosing the ones I will allow him to have. I will probably NEVER give him the MMR shot, as it seems to have the most adverse affects and negative stories connected to it. I have vaccinated for polio and hepatitis B, plus the tetanus shot that is ONLY tetanus, not a combo vaccine. I also only allow 1 shot per Dr. visit so if there is some effect, I know what caused it. That is all my son is vaccinated for at 4 1/2 years old.
When I was a child there were about 15 required shots by 1st grade, now there are almost 40! This seems ridiculous to me personally. As another mother said, the increase in autism is coming from somewhere! It may NOT be vaccines, but at this time, that seems the most likely source. Tough call as a mom. Definitely read "The Vaccine Book" by Dr. Sears as it stays pretty neutral while still giving good facts.
Vaccinating or not is a very personal decision and knowing the facts to back up whatever decision you make is a good idea. There will always be those who disagree, either way you choose. Both my sisters chose NO vaccinations at all, and still argue with me occasionally since I have chosen a few vaccines for my son. Luckily, I have a great, open minded family Dr. who respects and understands my decisions.
Follow your gut and be educated and strong, no matter what decision you make!
Good Luck!
Hi H.,
What do you do when she wakes up in the middle of the night? Do you feed her, hold her, just soothe her in her crib? I have a 9 month old right now as well and she was a terrible sleeper until about a month ago. It was the exact same scenario you described (up a lot at the same time, then only sleeping 2-3 hours at a time). I didn't want to make her cry it out, but I also didn't think she still needed to eat at night. So instead of feeding her, I started choosing one of the wake up times to hold and rock her. If she fought it, I put her in bed and she usually fell asleep right away. It was almost like she just wanted her 'mommy fix' and then could fall asleep on her own. Now she goes to bed at 8 every night and doesn't wake up again until 7. Occasionally she will wake up and cry for mommy or her pacifier - I find it helps her to put my shirt in the crib with her so she can have my scent. I've also given her a minute or two to try to self-soothe herself back to sleep. Good luck to you both!
I feel for you on the sleep issue. My second baby was horrible. There are some basic sleep training things I did that may have helped, but am not sure what the problem always was. He had a milk allergy that bothered him a lot at night, so that is a possibility that may escape notice.
Here is a great website about the vaccine issue. There are really good statistics and information on it. I don't know that I can sum up not vaccinating very well. I think there is great support for delaying or deciding not to. Good luck in your research and decision making.
