Digestion in My 4 Year Old

Hi B.,

I agree with Karen. A probiotic is almost always necessary these days with the types of foods we eat and after a bout of tummy issues it is most certainly needed. If he was taking ANY medicine during his sickness (even over the counter) the balance in the digestive system will be off. Any type of chemical will throw the system out of balance, even preservatives in fast foods and processed foods will do it.

A half/teaspoon of vinegar before meals for a week or two will get his stomach acid working again so it will digest food appropriately. My family also uses a probiotic/prebiotic daily and avoids all processed foods. Besides helping the digestive problems, the immune system will benefit as well!

God bless,

M.
www.squidoo.com/ifyourbabycouldtalk

I would suggest a pre and pro biotic. You could certaily find some foods with the piotics in them...chese and yogurt are now available that way. Since it ihanging on though I think I owuld try a supplement. We us a pre biotic that is the size of a very small pearl and can be snuck into a spoonful of applesause or such and goes right down even the little guys. We also use a pro biotic powder that can be added to just about anything and this product feeds the good bacteria(pre biotic). I use Shaklee and am not familiar with the size and dosage of other products but these are once a day and easy to get down the younger ones. I know how hard it is to have something hang on such a long time in our sweet little ones!

Sincerely,
K. B

www.shaklee.net/takecontrol

You may try adding proibotics 2XD to see if it helps level out the stomach acids. You could also add a food enzyme to help with digestion (Zyme prime chewables are really tasty, get online at www.ourkidsasd.com or other places). Whole foods has good proibotics or a natural food store near you. J.

thoughts - my older sister has always burped alot after eating, she has acid reflux.

other possibilities -
hiatal hernia (stress from the stomach virus)
lactose intolerance
he likes to burp

Yeah, I agree. Pre- and pro-biotics are for all of us and especially after something like you have experienced with your children. Also consider preparing some nutritious broths that will give him good nutrition that will go easy on the digestion as the enzymes and flora are restored.

Simmer some lean meat with lots of vegetables and some grains like barley, some onions and fresh garlic in lots of filtered water. Cover and simmer or slow cook until all is done. Then strain out maybe a cup of vegetables and six cups of broth. Puree the cup of veggies and grain and stir back into the broth. Don't season it; just give it to the boys to sip from a bowl or in a sipper type cup or insulated travel mug with a straw. Make sure it is comfortably warm. When they eat the broth or any meals you may prepare, make sure that they do not drink anything chilled or iced. This will "put out the fire" that the stomach needs to digest properly and will help prevent gas and indigestion. Let them have something warm or room temperature. The apple cider vinegar idea is a good one. I would put a teaspoon (based on their age) of apple cider vinegar (get Braggs or one that is unfiltered with the mother in it) with one or two teaspoons of honey and mix it with either water or some natural apple juice that is unsweetened. Warm it a bit and it will taste like hot apple cider. It is very good and will help aid digestion rather than hinder digestion.

A rice congee is good after diarrhea and vomiting. Put a sup of whole grain rice in a lot of filtered water, Bring to a boil and ten reduce and simmer all day in a slow cooker of stove top covered. Stain off the rice water and let them drink it. It’s very nutritious and the starch help settle the stomach and sooth the lining of the intestines.

Hope all this helps. I raised my babies in a third world country where diarrhea is the leading cause of death so I learned much of this there. The treatment is the same for adults.

Hope this helps.

The probiotics are needed and will help but to get to the source of the problem, your going to have to fix the cause. Please consider taking your child to a Chiropractor. Remember that your spinal cord and its nerves control EVERYTHING we do; from blinking to potting, simply everything. When our nerves or blocked they cannot get to our organs to make them function properly. When your child was vomiting so much in Feb. it put a lot of strain on his spine. If not corrected, you will continue to see results of the same. Medication will only mute it and if continued over the years as a cover up, they may lead to life long problems. Getting him checked by a Chiropractor is the least invasive treatment he will ever have. My 4 yr old has been getting checked since she was 5hrs old as is a mint reflection of health. It is very gentle and safe and he will feel so much better for it. Think of trying to water your flowers with a brick on the hose, not much water going to get thru is it? Your body responds the same way when our nerves not get the adequet flow they need. Good luck to you!

I know this question is from a year ago, but I think I just stumbled upon wise advice. It is a FREE replay of an interview with Donna Gates, who wrote "The Body Ecology Diet."
http://www.theawareshow.com/connect/gates/

My youngest daughter went through something similar about a year ago. The natural doctor we see said she had developed stomach gastritis. She was put on a good aloe vera based drink 2 to 3 times a day and was well within a week. I kept it up for a couple of more weeks every once in awhile just to make sure. And probiotics are a must for any gut health issues.