This son of mine, he’s a joyful person. Truly, one would never know the discomfort and pain he’s had in the last year and a half (nearly), the doctor’s visits, the frustration at not feeling right. Deep inside, in his gut, where so much of our immune systems, not to mention digestion and toxin elimination (and so much more) is centered.

He’s learning, and we’re learning too, how to keep his gut happier, and his day-to-day life a lot more comfortable.

I’m sure many of you reading this have allergies, candida, eczema and gut trouble in your own families, and know just what I’m talking about.

I’ve wanted to distill the learnings in my mind on this topic for awhile, and here is a quick start:

- Colic just might be something else, and could very well be digestive-related. I asked our midwives to consider having a protocol to advise new parents of a baby treated with antibiotics at birth that they should be on the look-out for candida, possible allergy onset, etc. as a result of the antiobiotics as this is what happened with us and what lots of my research has shown is completely reasonable

- Listening to myself, to ourselves, was even more important than any medical (allopathic or naturopathic) advice we were given. We knew when things worked, and they didn’t. I listened to my own voice to go for prick allergy testing when we did, and I’m ever so glad. Listening to what you already know somewhere inside is hard – it takes quiet, and it takes courage. And then sharing what you have heard in yourself is a whole other story. But it’s critical.

- Lots of eczema is allergy-related. Seriously. His used to cover his body and is now largely gone since we’ve systematically and completely removed all of this known allergies – from his diet and completely from mine.

- Breastfeeding is wonderful for helping to protect little ones and yet another reason to continue as long as possible. It can help avoid asthma, lessen allergies, delay them, strengthen his immune system, and so, so, so much more.

- It’s OK to go against the grain and make up your own solid foods agenda. It’s OK to delay starting solids longer than other people. It’s OK to serve vegetables and meat first and save potentially allergenic (even gluten-free) grains for later. It’s OK (and even extremely helpful and healing) to make bone broths a huge part of a baby’s diet.

- There are great sources of nut-free products. Locally milled organic grains from farmers who don’t use nuts on their mills are perfect examples of thinking outside the box. But it’s important to consider all sources of contamination. For example, lots of organic spices are bottles in factories that may not wet clean between the lines and cross contamination with sesame (one of his allergens) could happen. Other, larger companies (who also have organic lines, like McCormick) have said they do wet clean.

- Shea butter (organic, fair trade) is amazing. Seriously, amazing as an emollient and healer.

- Time heals, and lots of holding and love heals too. And more time.

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