Babies with persistent colds and coughs usually end with multiple allergies, which develop into asthma. It’s vital to support their immune systems so that they can withstand infections. Children (especially those who were born prematurely) and the elderly generally have weak immunity and can catch viral infections with the slightest chill. So keep them wrapped up when the weather is cold.
In my experience, there are two main reasons for babies becoming “chesty”:
- They have experienced trauma before, during or shortly after birth.
- Their nutrition is poor, either because of their own diet, or, if they are breast-fed, because of their mothers’ dietary habits.
Trauma during labour is the most frequent cause. As the baby passes through the birth canal, his or her head and neck experience tremendous pressure. The process becomes complicated if the delivery is rapid, extremely slow (over l5 hours) or awkward. The newborn may be bruised, have injuries or misalignment of the delicate skull, bones and fragile neck vertebrae.
The pituitary gland in the brain is the main controller of the immune system and the adrenal glands, which regulate all stress situations including bacterial or viral infections. My theory is that birth trauma impairs the circulation of blood through the vertebral arteries of the neck and also of cerebrospinal fluid, which bathes the brain surface and the pituitary. This diminishes the functions of the pituitary and affects the development of the immune system and also growth, as the pituitary produces growth hormones.
Mother’s milk is important for babies. If her diet is right, her milk provides everything her baby needs to grow, plus antibodies to fight infection. Her first milk is rich with nutrients that are easily absorbed by the gut Breast-feeding mothers should avoid alcohol, coffee, yeast products (which give the baby colic), spicy foods, canned foods, fungal products (including cheese, mushrooms and vinegar) and smoking.
To build up your babies’ immune systems, here are my recommendations:
- Breakfast: cottage cheese with a little honey, or porridge cooked in soya or goat’s milk. Add five finely crushed almonds, which have been soaked for 24 hours in room temperature water and then peeled.
- Mid-morning: a cup of fresh carrot and apple juice.
- Lunch/supper: prepare enough chicken or marrowbone stock for the week and store in the fridge. Boil a chopped baby chicken or some marrowbones for about two hours, cool, strain and skim. Use the stock to make your own baby foods: cook rice, vegetables, minced red meat or chicken in two cups of stock (one for each baby), adding more stock or water if necessary then puree in a blender.
- For a variation, use lentils. For two, soak three quarters of a cup of yellow lentils overnight. Take the same quantity of rice. Wash both thoroughly, then cover with stock and cool until soft Add vegetables and/or mince if you wish.
- Mid-afternoon: mashed banana or baked apple between the two, a kiwi or crushed plum each.
- Vitasorb multivitamins: five drops each daily for three months.
- Organic sesame or pure almond oil: one drop in each nostril, at bedtime for a month.
- Focus on the neck and shoulders, which are often tender and stiff. Use my Junior Massage Oil or make your own with one tablespoonful of grape seed, apricot or jojoba oil, and two drops each of eucalyptus and lavender.
- You should also massage your babies’ throat area with a little peppermint balm on a fingertip, at bedtime for a month.
Diet
Give them the most nutritious baby food. My Nutrition Bible (Vermilion, £20) will give you more information, but here are some general guidelines. Choose organic ingredients if possible. Follow this diet for four months, and always give them plenty of still room-temperature water.
Supplements
Massage
