Young children and babies often display symptoms of allergies, especially excess mucus production, itchy eyes, sneezing, digestive discomfort like bloating, loose stools or indigestion and skin rashes. There are many possible triggers for this. If there is a history of allergies in the family, and conditions like asthma, hayfever, sinus and eczema, little ones are inherently more at risk. Formula fed babies are more prone. Regular use of certain medications can be the trigger, as can the use of certain creams, cleansers and cosmetic products. Pets in the home may affect sensitive children and some are worse when homes are carpeted or covered in thatch, for example. Certain fabrics are common triggers, especially wool and the environment and climate will affect some children too. Many babies have nappy rashes as one of the first signs of allergy tendency and this is frequently related to the use of disposable nappies, due to synthetic materials and certain chemical preparations that are included. The general affect on the environment of some constituents of disposable nappies, as well as other environmental allergens, all contribute to susceptible babies, children and people becoming allergic. Too early introduction of solids, especially baby cereals is a common introductory factor and grains and dairy products remain a factor for a long time for many children and even adults. Some babies display allergy symptoms from after one or other of their immunizations and although most doctors dispute that this was the trigger, allergies are one recognized adverse effect and moms cannot pinpoint any other trigger. Early allergy tests commonly show up triggers that might disappear later.
Often it helps to avoid a few strong and common allergens, and even others like dust, pollen and grass then seem less troublesome. The way to do this is to adopt a very simple approach to life, especially the diet of the child. Preferably introduce solids only after 6 months. Make first foods yellow veg and uncooked, ripe, seasonal fruits. Avoid baby cereals and dairy products unless there is no hint of allergy-type symptoms (about 30% of little ones seem fine on these foods).
Sweet and savoury treats, highly processed and fast foods, and foods with added colourants and flavourants, have no place under 3 years and even then should be very limited. Meals should always be quite simple with variety taken over the course of a number of meals rather than all within one meal. Water is the best beverage and fruit juices should be fresh and homemade. This dietary approach generally reduces bloating substantially.

Excess mucus is often a sign of allergy and if a frequent problem can lead to infections like ear infection, tonsillitis and sinus infection. Treat the underlying mucus problem as follows: Clear mucus responds well to the tissue salt remedy Nat mur and the homoeopathic remedy Buso drops. If the mucus is thick, white to grey and sluggish, give the tissue salt remedy Kali mur and/or the homoeopathic remedy Cataro drops. For yellow to green, slimy or lumpy mucus, use the tissue salt remedies Kali sulph and Calc sulph. The homoeopathic nasal spray Nasenol is also excellent to relieve nasal congestion.

For skin rash symptoms like eczema, add a pot of organic rooibos tea (like Freshpak Baby Rooibos) to one's bathwater to soothe the affected areas and even dab cooled rooibos directly onto the area. Apply Natura Vitamin E cream, which also contains a few other ingredients that soothe and heal skin really well, 3x/day. Take the tissue salt remedy Kali sulph 3x/day for an extended period as this mineral helps guard against skin disease. If your little one is prone to rashes in or bordering on the buttock area, rather avoid disposable nappies. You can still achieve the same cute bum-shape by using a shaped cloth nappy like Stegi EcoNappies, which will benefit baby’s skin as well as the environment, helping to overall lower allergy and skin rash tendency. Contact them on 021 683 1592 or info@stegi.co.za to find out where you can purchase these nappies. You can also make your own all-purpose wash lotion and cream by adding a teaspoon of boiling water to each of two rooibos organic baby teabags and placing in a tub of good quality (no perfumes, colourants and minimal additives) aqueous cream, stirring up after a while to stain the cream with the rooibos essence. For severely affected areas, also place a moist teabag (take care that it first cools) on the affected spot and keep in place for an hour or two with a crepe bandage - obviously this is more applicable for extremities.

Allergy tests for certain types of allergens are quite reliable and can be used from early on but intolerances or ‘sensitivities’ are not accurately diagnosed by tests and so the results may seem misleading. In any event, one should first try excluding the most common and likely allergens, as this so frequently gives relief from symptoms – this I must stress, because dealing with allergies is actually easier than one thinks if you are prepared to make lifestyle changes. If symptoms persist, do see a doctor who specializes in allergies. From a homoeopathic point of view, one can also use a desensitizing remedy like Natura’s Mixed Allergin to help lessen allergy to a wide range of common allergens – this is safe but needs treatment over about 3 months.

Natura homoeopathic laboratories make an excellent allergy product designed to help desensitize to a wide range of allergens that lead to the common symptoms of allergy, called Mixed Allergen. This will be available in most pharmacies and health stores and would be a good idea to include in treatment for little ones who have persistent or recurrent problems.

You will find plenty of information and advice about pregnancy and birth in my book ‘Sister Lilian’s Pregnancy and Birth Companion’ or baby-, childcare and parenting advice in the follow-on book called ‘Sister Lilian’s Babycare Companion’, both of which are available from most bookstores, or from the Sister Lilian™ Centre. You can visit our website on www.sisterlilian.co.za and are also welcome to call the Sister Lilian™ Careline (Monday to Friday, 08h00 – 16h00) on 012 348 4992, should you need a personal chat about any pregnancy, birth or childcare issue. Appointments can be made to visit the Sister Lilian™ Centre in Pretoria or enrol for any of our courses by calling this number too.

The best way to avoid nappy rash (and so-called 'brand boudjies' - almost raw and burning patches in the nappy area) is to thoroughly wash baby's buttocks in a basin of water at each nappy change, not just wiping down with a cloth, using cotton wool and oil or using pre-soaped cleansing wipes. If a rash has already developed, add a cup of rooibos organic baby tea to the water, air the area for 10 minutes after washing and sun for 5-10 minutes twice daily (avoid midday sun). Apply All Heal homoeopathic ointment to bad nappy rash to heal more rapidly and Calendula Plus cream inbetween. Thrush infections often occur if the nappy rash has been present for a prolonged time or baby has had an oral thrush infection which moves through the digestive system. The tissue salt remedy Kali mur and the homoeopathic remedy Buso drops (both taken orally) are very useful for this. You can also get an anti-fungal cream from the pharmacy or on script from your doctor.

A frequent trigger of nappy rash is the use of disposables. Preferably invest in terry nappies, the cute shaped Stegi EcoNappies providing a very pleasant and healthy alternative. Some of the chemicals used in disposable nappies are quite an irritant to sensitive skin, and of course the environment also suffers from use of disposables as the everyday nappy choice.

You can find out more about availability and benefit of Stegi EcoNappies on 021 683 1592 or info@stegi.co.za. If baby is already taking cereal, rather cut this out as this quite commonly contributes to the problem. Introducing solids earlier than 6 months can generally be problematic and rather give fresh seasonal fruit (not bottled or cooked) and yellow veggies as first foods. Dairy and soy based formula milk and breastfeeding moms with a diet high in dairy and grains can be associated with chronic nappy rash too. If using terry nappies, a change in detergents might be necessary. Sometimes even placing a nappy liner in disposable nappies or changing brands can also alleviate rashes in the buttock area.

You will find plenty of information and advice about pregnancy and birth in my book 'Sister Lilian's Pregnancy and Birth Companion' or baby-, childcare and parenting advice in the follow-on book called 'Sister Lilian's Babycare Companion', both of which are available from most bookstores, or from the Sister LilianT Centre. You can visit our website on www.sisterlilian.co.za and are also welcome to call the Sister LilianT Careline (Monday to Friday, 08h00 - 16h00) on 012 348 4992, should you need a personal chat about any pregnancy, birth or childcare issue. Appointments can be made to visit the Sister LilianT Centre in Pretoria or enrol for any of our courses by calling this number too.