Comments on: Can You Prevent A Cold?

By: Well being

Well being — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 18:44:37 +0000

How can I link to this site on my blog?

By: Starting Solids | A Child Grows in Brooklyn

Starting Solids | A Child Grows in Brooklyn — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 06:44:22 +0000

[...] Can You Prevent A Cold? Archives [...]

By: Lilly

Lilly — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 22:05:37 +0000

Thanks Laura, this is great advice.

By: Laura Fischer-Harbage

Laura Fischer-Harbage — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 19:22:11 +0000

oh no! well certainly don’t push it, especially if its ruining a food she really likes. Unfortunately there are not any “chewables” for the fish oils. The pills I give my son are the caplets and are not truly chewable like a vitamin, though they are fine to chew up. I would recommend going with the flax oil as the flavor is nutty and pleasant. Try putting some in a smoothy. The real best source of fish oils is from the fish itself. These days the safest and best choice it wild salmon. Perhaps your daughter would be more willing to eat fish instead of a fishy tasting yogurt. The other tack is just give it a rest, keep your fishoils in the frig and revisit them in another few months. I definitely have had the best reponse from my son just giving them to him straight up, not in something else. Good luck!

By: amanda

amanda — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 18:31:05 +0000

I am hugely frustrated with this… really having a hard time getting my toddler to take fish oil. I have tried a couple of brands including Nordic Naturals and the flavoring just doesn’t hide the fishi-ness. It’s beginning to make her hate yogurt and that fake cherry-taste.
Are the pills chewable? Maybe those will work.

By: Susu

Susu — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 16:41:38 +0000

Thanks Laura. I have almost all of those ingredients laying around — the ones you suggested for the soup. Will try it tomorrow!

By: Laura Fischer-Harbage

Laura Fischer-Harbage — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 14:46:53 +0000

Glad this was helpful! I do actually have a favorite brand–Nordic Naturals. Easy to find, whole foods or any health food stores. My son who is 2 LOVES the strawberry flavored pills. He just chews them right up. The other option is the non-encapsulated liquid oil which you can add to yogurt or a smoothy. Many children will also just take this by the spoonful (my son calls it his “special water”). The key as always is enthusiasm. We have always recognized both of these as treats in our house. You can start them as early as 1 year (even 9 months if you see that your baby is having colds, cough or runny nose often).

As for flax oil, it is also very good. It has to be further processed by the body to become the form of Omega-3 that is usuable by our bodies, unlike the fish oils which are all ready to be used. There is much debate out there about how efficiently our bodies can do this processing, so my advice is to choose the fish oils or do a mix of both.

On an added note about coughs, pear juice can be a magical elixir for many people. If you or your child tends towards coughs, try adding it to your diet.

By: Rowena

Rowena — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 17:59:32 +0000

Great advice…I particularly paid attention since we have been dealing with a whooping cold.

Is flax seed oil the same as fish oil?

Thanks again for the info…very helpful particularly for the challenged chef that I am.

By: admin

admin — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 14:51:32 +0000

At what age can you give fish oil? Do you recommend pill or liquid and do you have a favorite brand?
thanks!

By: Alice Kaltman

Alice Kaltman — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 12:18:06 +0000

I wish someone had told me about fish oil when my (now 16 year old) daughter was younger.
Great clear, simple and easy to follow advice, Laura. My favorite kind. Thanks!