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Molly Smith Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 08 2005 Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline Posts: 669
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Posted: Dec 07 2009 at 12:45pm | IP Logged
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I just can't seem to keep my 7 month old daughter healthy. She didn't/doesn't nurse, so she's primarily bottlefed with a tiny bit of baby food now and then.
She catches everything. She was hospitalized with the swine flu, she's had an ear infection and now it looks like she has the rotovirus--for which she has already received all three doses of vaccination!!
Over the weekend I suspected an ear infection and I applied garlic oil both Sat and Sun evenings. At the doc today she showed no sign of infection. I'm not sure if it's because the garlic oil cleared it up or if she never had one in the first place.
She's had diarrhea since her "well check" last Wednesday, so we're doing the nasty sample thing to check for the rotovirus.
What can I do? She does have six older siblings, but all in all we're not exposed to much. Surely there's not an immune boosting supplement for bottle-fed babies?
Please share any ideas you may have. I've never really had sick babies (and almost all the others nursed) and I'm at a loss. I don't want the poor dear to be sick all winter and I really don't want to spend the winter at the pediatrician's office!! Thanks so much for any advice you can offer us!
__________________ Molly Smith in VA
Mom to seven beautiful children, ages 1-14
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Lisbet Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2006 Location: Michigan
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Posted: Dec 07 2009 at 12:54pm | IP Logged
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Molly, Those 'well checks' were the culprit for all of the sickness my oldest endured his first two years. If baby is well, keep her away from the ped.
__________________ Lisa, wife to Tony,
Mama to:
Nick, 17
Abby, 15
Gabe, 13
Isaac, 11
Mary, 10
Sam, 9
Henry, 7
Molly, 6
Mark, 5
Greta, 3
Cecilia born 10.29.10
Josephine born 6.11.12
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JodieLyn Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 06 2006 Location: Oregon
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Posted: Dec 07 2009 at 1:22pm | IP Logged
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doctor's offices and hospitals are hot beds for getting infections.. I agree avoid them if baby is well.
And I would and have given elderberry to ones of that age (younger even).
Garlic oil can clear up an ear infection pretty quickly. You might look at what foods you can give her.. it's been a while since my guy was that little.. but whatever fruits would probably be good (banana?) fruits and veggies are supposed to be good for immune function, and once she's big enough chicken and chicken soups might be good.
Also epsom salt baths (don't let her drink the water) could help her immune function.
__________________ Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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CrunchyMom Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 03 2007
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Posted: Dec 07 2009 at 1:41pm | IP Logged
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I would give high quality cod liver oil as well as looking into supplements to improve gut flora. Gut flora is the first line of defense against infection and one of the chiefly noticeable differences between formula and breastfed babies. Fermented cod liver oil by Green Pastures would be a vitamin supplement as well as aid in gut flora, but I have no experience in giving it to so young a baby.
__________________ Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony
[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
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teachingmyown Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 20 2005 Location: Virginia
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Posted: Dec 07 2009 at 2:28pm | IP Logged
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Hyland's has a vitamin c homeopathic product, and one specifically for colds. I give this to my little people. How about the organic baby yogurt? I can't remember if you can give it to a baby under one. For some reason, I think it doesn't follow the same rule as other dairy. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to swine flu and other viruses. I know there are Vit D supplements for babies.
I agree with avoiding the well baby visits, especially during cold and flu season. I have had four December babies and refuse to take them in for check ups around their birthdays.
I am sorry you are having such a tough time. I will pray for your little one.
__________________ In Christ,
Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
Remembering Today
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JodieLyn Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 06 2006 Location: Oregon
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Posted: Dec 07 2009 at 2:36pm | IP Logged
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I think yogurt is a 9mo and up age range. I know it's before a year but not that much.
__________________ Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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CrunchyMom Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 03 2007
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Posted: Dec 07 2009 at 3:41pm | IP Logged
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JodieLyn wrote:
I think yogurt is a 9mo and up age range. I know it's before a year but not that much. |
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I think there might be actual liquid supplements for probiotics that people give to infants, but I haven't researched it myself.
__________________ Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony
[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
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CrunchyMom Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 03 2007
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Posted: Dec 07 2009 at 3:45pm | IP Logged
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I know I already said this, but I really would research using a high quality cod liver oil. I know that Weston A. Price Foundation adds it to their raw milk formula recipe. The fermented cod liver oil would give you the Vit. D as well as the probiotics in a natural form.
We, too, have used the Hyland's Vit. C supplement for little ones.
__________________ Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony
[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
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Gloria JMJ Forum All-Star
Joined: Sept 07 2008
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Posted: Dec 09 2009 at 1:05am | IP Logged
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Another thing might be to let her crawl on and play on the floor without scouring it first . I've heard many docs say that children need to be in contact with dirt on a somewhat regular basis in order for their immune system to build up defences gradually. It might be too cold to let her play in the dirt outside right now, (my son was scratching outside and eating rocks-a-plenty at 7-8mos)but the floor would probably have enough dirt to help anyway.
__________________ Smoothing Stones Holy Family Rosaries
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Bookswithtea Forum All-Star
Joined: July 07 2005
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Posted: Dec 09 2009 at 7:46am | IP Logged
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Sigh...this was us last year. After 5 babies with no problems, my 6th is always sick. I think its because he had RSV as a newborn.
My main line of defense last year was that I never took him anywhere. I didn't let him touch a cart, I didn't take him to the doc. unless it was a real necessity and then I made sure to go at a time when the office was almost empty. I worked hard to keep my other kids well (eating well, going to sleep on time) and I didn't let them anywhere near the baby if they were showing signs of coming down with something.
It was very very hard. I was so afraid he would contract RSV again and land in the hospital. He didn't. Now he's over 2. He still catches every little cold, but its better than it was.
__________________ Blessings,
~Books
mothering ds'93 dd'97 dd'99 dd'02 ds'05 ds'07 and due 9/10
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Bridget Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2005 Location: Michigan
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Posted: Dec 09 2009 at 9:08am | IP Logged
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Poor baby. I give good quality yogurt at 6 months. CLO is known to improve the immune system ( I am sure it has helped for my kids) but I would check a couple of sources before giving it to an infant. (CLO is the most absorbable form of Vit. D)
I also read the flu germs enter through the mouth and nose. Using a saline mist and gargling with salt water daily is thought to be very effective. For an infant you could use a saline mist or dab salt water around the nostrils with a cotton swab. I know a family that does this and they are incredibly healthy.
It is awful when your baby suffers.
__________________ God Bless,
Bridget, happily married to Kevin, mom to 8 on earth and a small army in heaven
Our Magnum Opus
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