Natural Super Kids Podcast Jessica Donovan

Today Jess is talking about immunity, and why it is important to support your child's immune system before winter.

Parents generally focus on building their children's immunity during winter. However, focusing on supporting your children's (and your) immune system in autumn gives you the best chance of fighting off colds, and flu when winter time approaches. 

In this episode, Jess will discuss:
How the immune system develops as a child ages; The different parts of the immune system; How innate immunity and adaptive immunity work together;The normal symptoms of illness and how often it is normal to be sick;How to determine if your child has a healthy immune system Stay tuned for next week's episode where Jess dives into antibiotics, the antibiotic cycle, and how we can avoid overuse of medications in our kids over the winter. 
Episode links:
Save your seat to our FREE on-demand Immunity Masterclass: 3 Simple Ways to Naturally Boost Your Kids Immunity to Avoid a Winter Full of Sickness. Click here to join us. 

In our last episode, I had an insightful discussion with Paediatric Neurologist Dr Steve Hodges from the United States. Dr. Hodges shared his unique approach to toileting issues, explaining how chronic constipation may be the underlying cause of toileting issues in your children. If you haven't listened to this episode yet, click here to listen.

Today we are diving into bedwetting - a challenging issue for many families. Bedwetting can be inconvenient, and embarrassing as children get older, with little information surrounding alternative treatments for bedwetting. 

Join me as I break down a topic that can be a struggle for many children. In this episode, I discuss:
How constipation can be an underlying cause of bedwetting;Imbalances in the gut microbiome and how this can contribute to bedwetting, chronic cystitis, and thrush;Symptoms of worms and how worms can be a cause of bedwetting; The link between allergies (food and environmental), and increased risk of bedwetting;How  controlling asthma can reduce the incidence of bedwetting;The role stress plays in bedwetting, and how wetting the bed can affect a child's mental health;The association between bedwetting and behavioural problems, and how bedwetting is more common in neurodiverse kids;The link between sleep-disordered breathing and bedwetting.
Episode Links:
Constipation in children - A Natural Approach The connection between the Bladder and the Brain-Gut Axis in treating Functional Bladder Disorders  Treating Worms in Children Allergic Rhinitis and the Associated Risk of Bedwetting  Study The association between Asthma and Bedwetting Study Behavioural Problems and Bedwetting Study The link between Sleep-Disordered Breathing and Bedwetting Study Assessment of oral function 

Today we have Dr. Steve Hodges on the podcast. Dr. Hodges is a Professor of Pediatric Urology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and is a leading authority on childhood toileting issues. In this episode, Dr Hodges and I discuss enuresis (bedtime and daytime wetting) and encopresis (poop accidents). Dr Hodges is dedicated to debunking common myths surrounding enuresis (bedtime and daytime wetting) and encopresis (poop accidents), emphasizing that these issues are never a child's fault.

Dr. Hodges has authored eight books for parents and children, including "The M.O.P. Anthology" and "Bedwetting and Accidents Aren't Your Fault."

In this episode, Dr. Hodges and I go over:
The common misconceptions he has encountered when it comes to enuresis and encopresis;Why it is important to emphasize that accidents are never a child's fault;The key differences between enuresis and encopresis;The motivation behind Dr Hodges's writing "The M.O.P. Anthology" and "Bedwetting and Accidents Aren’t Your Fault"? and what these books offer to parents and children;The main challenges parents face when dealing with bedwetting and accidents in their children, and how you can work to help them overcome these challenges;Plus Dr. Hodges shares his insights on the prevalence of bedwetting and daytime wetting issues in children.Episode Links:
For more information on Dr Hodges, plus access to his resources - click here. 

This week on the Natural Super Kids podcast we are talking about risk-taking, risky play, and risky activities in kids. Back in January, I shared some stories on Instagram about my children jetty jumping, and it led to a conversation about how parents feel about risky activities such as jetty jumping, most parents said risky activities made them very nervous.

So I thought I would touch on this topic of conversation further, and dive deeper on the benefits of risky play. In this episode, I share:
What is risky play;The big reason I prefer my children to take risks when I am around; I dive deeper into the 6 categories of risky play which include:Great heights;Rapid speeds;Dangerous tools;Dangerous elements;Rough and tumble;Disappearing or getting lost; The benefits of risky play;The teenage brain when it comes to seeking out risky behaviour.
Episode links:
Ellen Sandseter's 6 Categories of Risky Play

In our last episode we talked about sleep in general, the underlying causes of sleep issues in kids, diet and lifestyle factors that impact sleep and some practical tips to improve sleep for families. If you haven't listened to that episode yet - click here.  

Today we are zooming in to focus specifically on melatonin, its role in sleep, how we can support healthy melatonin production and using melatonin to support sleep in children.

Join me for this informative chat with our practising naturopath, Sarah Worboys as we discuss:
The circadian rhythm and melatonin’s role in the circadian rhythm;The reasons melatonin is important for children (besides sleep);The importance of light for natural melatonin production and what parents can do in their homes to reduce light and support melatonin production;The specific nutrients your child needs to produce melatonin;Sarah and I discuss melatonin supplements and when parents may want to consider trying melatonin;We also touch on synthetic vs natural melatonin, plus the safety around long-term use.Episode Links:
Book a consultation with our team to get your child's sleep sorted today;The short-term and long-term adverse effects of melatonin treatment in children and adolescents Study;Is Phytomelatonin Complex Better Than Synthetic Melatonin Study;Dietary Sources and Bioactivities of Melatonin Study.

Sleep is an essential component of overall good human health. Good sleep supports children's physiological and mental health, cognitive development, and behaviour.  At Natural Super Kids we see sleep issues in children frequently, and in this week's podcast episode, I sat down with our practising Naturopath, Sarah Worboys to discuss how naturopathy can support sleep issues in children. 
In this episode, you will discover:
Why sleep is important and how much sleep children require;The common causes of sleep issues in children;The importance of neurotransmitters when it comes to sleep and some of the signs these may be out of balance;The impact diet and lifestyle have on sleep;Plus Sarah shares some general tips for better sleep.Episode Links:
Is sleep an issue for your child? Book a consultation with our team here. The Effects of Dietary Nutrition on Sleep and Sleep Disorders Study.Plasma DHA Is Related to Sleep Timing and Duration Study.