Homeopathy: Redefining Your "Comfort Zone"

Last year my son developed an acute illness which eventually became chronic and just wouldn’t go away despite trying several different remedies. In the previous three years since beginning homeopathy, the kids rarely required a doctor visit other than an annual checkup. But my son continued to have a fever and his cough just wouldn’t quit. One morning he woke up coughing so hard, he threw up mucus and a small bit of blood. His fever was 103. I called my husband and said, “I’m way past my comfort zone, we need to take him to urgent care.”

The doctor listened to his lungs, looked in his ears, and gave him a very thorough exam. Diagnosis: a no name virus not requiring antibiotics. I was both relieved and disappointed. Of course, I was relieved because my son’s condition wasn’t serious and also because I dread antibiotics given our history of chronic systemic yeast and spectrum issues. On the other hand, I was disappointed but not because I wanted antibiotics to eliminate my son’s health issue. I was disappointed in myself for reverting to allopathic medicine when the going got tough. At the time I rationalized my son was seriously ill and for whatever reason I thought allopathic medicine was most necessary in the face of serious illness.

I must preface this by saying even today if my children are very ill and not recovering the way they should, I will still take them in for a doctor visit. I may not ever fill the script if one is prescribed but I think maintaining my child’s health is far and away more important than maintaining my ego as a homeopath. But as time went on, I began to realize, perhaps when things become more serious is precisely the time I should be running to homeopathy, not allopathy.

History has shown us in serious epidemics such as the 1918 flu pandemic, homeopathy saved more patients than allopathy. In fact, the mortality rate for homeopathic patients was 1% while the rate for conventional medicine patients was over 30%. This realization simply meant I had to re-examine what exactly my “comfort zone” was and why when pushed past it I thought allopathy was the better choice.

I was given this opportunity later in the year when my oldest daughter developed a critical illness called Henoch Schonlein Purpura (HSP), possibly as a latent consequence of vaccine reaction. Starting as just a rash on her lower legs, she eventually became covered in bruises, was bleeding internally from the kidneys and intestines, and paralyzed from the neck down. We rushed her to the hospital when it became clear something was seriously wrong with her. In fact, she made 5 visits to the ER that week for IV fluids.

Unfortunately, (or perhaps fortunately) allopathic medicine offers no treatment for HSP. Steroids and chemotherapy are their best offerings and neither result in a quick or permanent cure. In many studies, steroids provided absolutely no benefit but doctors continue to prescribe them. The kidney specialist we saw told us it would take one to two years for the steroids to stop her kidneys from losing protein and bleeding. We were told without a biopsy and immediate steroids, my daughter’s kidneys would be permanently damaged. I’m not sure how a year or two of steroids would somehow prevent this if the need for treatment was so urgent. However, I do know the right homeopathic remedy stopped the protein within 3 days. She quickly regained her health and has never been better.

The list of side effects for steroids is a mile long. The specialist guaranteed my daughter would experience weight gain, fatigue, a swollen face, stomach pain, nausea, lowered resistance to infections, and mood swings. She spoke for 5 minutes about the various side effects, some of which can be permanent. Worst of all, there was no guarantee the steroids would even work.

Along with unpleasant and perhaps long lasting side effects, allopathic medicine can often make us sicker. Recent studies indicate acetaminophen can deplete glutathione levels decreasing immunity and the body’s ability to detoxify. Depleted glutathione levels have also been implicated in autistic spectrum disorder. Accidental acetaminophen overdose has been identified as the number one cause of acute liver failure in the United States. Ibuprofen has also been cited as creating serious adverse reactions in children who are mildly dehydrated, and can cause two rare but serious disorders. While many studies show the use of these two over-the-counter medicines as mostly safe, the very act of using them to suppress the illness or fever can have consequences. A series of studies show using acetaminophen during the flu can prolong the illness by up to 3.5 days. And giving these medicines to children to treat a fever, robs the body of its natural defense to fight off the illness at hand.

Usually, allopathic medicines don’t cure illness. They simply suppress symptoms. Antibiotics, steroids, even acetaminophen and ibuprofen can drive an illness deeper so eventually a more serious issue may develop. A prime example of this is children who develop asthma after using corticosteroid crèmes to treat eczema. Instead of using the skin to express dis-ease in the body, the lungs now become the target of this expression. Most of us were never taught the symptoms are not the illness itself, but manifest as the way our bodies attempt to restore health. Some medicines can even create the need for more medication.

This is often seen in the elderly who are put on one medication after the other when each new medication brings new side effects (symptoms). Thus each new “symptom” results in a new medication until they are on 5 or more different medications. In 2005, senior citizens averaged over 27 prescriptions annually!

This is not to say allopathic medicine does no good or there isn’t a need for certain medications. For many people, allopathic medicine is a true lifesaver. But for many others, it creates the ill health it endeavors to appease. I turned away from allopathic medicine for these very reasons. It failed me and it failed my children who experienced severe and long lasting ill effects as a result of their routine infant vaccinations.

As a homeopath, it is very frustrating that it is all too easy to turn away from homeopathy in times of illness and put our trust and faith back in allopathic medicine. As a parent, I completely understand this response and would never criticize another parent for choosing what they think is the best care for their child. In fact, I encourage parents to see a doctor to ensure their child is receiving timely care. Overtime though, my own “comfort zone” has shifted and I now believe homeopathy is the right choice for my children even in times of serious illness, actually, especially in times of serious illness.

The problem is all the moms and dads out there don’t have access to a skilled homeopath for acute treatment. What do they do? Homeopathy takes years of training and acutes are often especially difficult as so many remedies begin to look the same as we search through books with bleary eyes and a spouse in the background yelling at us to just give the kid some ibuprofen or the antibiotic so everyone can get some sleep. For some parents, the ideal situation is to treat our kids the easiest, fastest method possible and then use homeopathy to clean up the fallout. In times of serious illnesses, as a parent, it doesn't matter what kind of medicine makes our children better, it only matters that it does.

But are we trading the quick fix for more serious chronic illness? At what point will homeopathy not be able to address the suppression of allopathic meds? Many of the chronic illnesses experienced today are a result of suppressed symptoms/illness. Continued suppression makes the homeopathic case that much more complicated and difficult to cure.

Additionally, we are already seeing antibiotics fail and more and more virulent illnesses which don’t respond to any allopathic treatment. Thankfully, homeopathy can frequently treat that which allopathic medicine cannot.

Many come to homeopathy as a last resort because all else has failed. This has made many a believer in homeopathy. Perhaps it is wishful thinking for me to hope some day homeopathy will be the medicine of first choice, not a treatment of last resort.

Truly, Erica McPhee

Something is rotten in the state of Denmark...I mean Maryland.

Most by now have heard the State of Maryland has required children in Prince George's County be immunized or their parents will face a jail sentence and $50 fine every day they are out of compliance. The parents were directed to show up at the courthouse last Saturday and either have their child vaccinated on the spot or submit an exemption.

This has scared the you know what out of me! Not to mention enraged me and saddened me. But when I watched the State's Attorney talk about the situation, it became clear this was really a case of semantics. Unfortunately all the hoopla was really about making a decision and complying with the state law. It wasn't that the children weren't vaccinated per say but that they did not file the proper exemption forms if that was their choice.

I know many will think I am nuts for saying this but I can understand if that is really what it is about. They want to have their records straight - either the children are vaccinated or their parents have filed an exemption. With no exemption filed, these parents are not complying with state law. Believe me, I am the first one to advocate our rights to an exemption but to just not comply was the problem.

The enraging part is the forced compliance and the lack of informed consent regarding parents' legal rights. So basically the parents who were not in compliance were duped into vaccinating their children. But what would we expect? If the state law mandates all children be vaccinated for a specific disease, clearly they enacted this law because they believe it to be a good idea (or for more sinister reasons which are beyond my speculation). So, why would they then promote filing the exemptions? They wouldn't because this would go against their goal of having all children vaccinated. Come now - has *any* doctor, school nurse, or other "official" *ever* offered up - "oh by the way, you don't *have* to have these shots - you can file an exemption." Probably not! We, as parents, uncovered it on our own. I dare say the majority of doctors out there don't even know there are exemption laws!

However, the bottom line was - either have your child vaccinated or file your exemption - just don't not comply. No one was saying you can't file an exemption, your child has to be vaccinated. Just like they weren't saying you can. They just weren't saying it! That's the dubious part. Of course I do not agree with their scare tactic method. But I can understand them wanting to have compliance - whether it be to be vaccinated or to file your exemption. And according to the state attorney (who seemed completely baffled that this was truly a big deal! - Duh!) they had tried several times to send messages home for compliance to no avail.

The conspiracy part of me believes this was a test run to see how far parents could be pushed. I also question if the school district would be as concerned if they weren't in jeopardy of losing funding for reaching a certain vaccination compliance rate. And for those whose records were supposedly lost requiring they be revaccinated - that's tragic as they were backed into a corner. Unfortunately the onus is on the parents to provide the documentation from medical records, not for the school to maintain those records (that's a completely different discussion on its own because as I parent I would be furious if they lost the records). But as we all know with paperwork - keep your copies! Don't just have your child vaccinated again because the school lost the records. Obtain copies of your child's medical records! If you can't get those, then file an exemption. (This would truly be a case where the parent is forced to either comply with the vaccine or file an erroneous exemption.)

Additionally, for those of us that put our guts up and filed our exemptions (in almost every case going against the grain), it is a cop out for those that just don't vaccinate and don't claim exemption. In my eyes, the more parents that file exemptions, the more it reinforces a larger consensus that vaccinating for some is not the best choice.

Yes Virginia, those Christmas lights are toxic!

Yes, it's true. Even our Christmas lights are toxic. They contain lead. And sadly, so does every other appliance which uses a UL approved cord. Some lights actually contain lead in the solder (in addition to the cord) and therefore have lead on the bulb. These lights are manufactured in China and make up the majority of light sets you can buy for a few bucks at any chain store.

We've been using these holiday lights for years and yes, they've always contained lead. But today, our environment is overrun with toxic substances and heavy metals - in our food, air, pj's, vaccines, and sadly, even in our Christmas lights.

Additionally, some artificial Christmas trees also contain lead on their plastic (PVC) branches and the plastic, once heated with either lights or sunshine, will form a lead powder. This powder can sprinkle down and decorate our Christmas presents waiting under the tree for tiny tikes to get their hands (and even baby's mouths) on! Do not be misled (pun intended) - lead is toxic and can cause brain damage.

It seems crazy that in order to be made "safe", the cord must contain lead. But that is the current status quo. The lead is actually in the PVC of the cord. And you will find this in any corded product (at least those approved by UL) such as hairdryers, electronics equipment, lamps, etc. Some Christmas lights (manufactured outside of the US) also have lead from the solder used.

The Children's Health Environmental Coalition states:

"Wire coating and cords are usually made of PVC plastic that may contain lead. Lead is used in PVC for several reasons. For wires and cords, lead makes the plastic more flexible and reduces the risk of fire. Lead is also used in many PVC products to stabilize the color. Lead in PVC products can disintegrate into lead-laced dust.

The amount of lead in the lights and other consumer products with warning labels may vary considerably. It is not clear if the amount of lead that is released poses a risk to human health. Some tests show that lead could come off in the hands. Note that nearly all appliance cords are covered with PVC that contains lead."

See Arkansas based Walmart's response to the light/lead concern:

"It is our understanding that the manufacturers' use of lead in these products is to improve the safety of the lights. We are told that the use of lead is required by Underwriters Laboratory, an organization that certifies the safety of lighting products in the United States. The amount of lead used is a tiny amount and does not exceed any applicable federal guidelines. Our holiday lights meet industry standards and are compliant with state and federal regulations governing their sale.

However, the State of California requires a warning label on any product that contains lead in amounts that exceed California's very low threshold for warning of the presence of lead. The warning doesn't indicate that the product is illegal to sell. It only indicates that the product contains a substance, which California considers to be hazardous. At the present time, no other state requires a similar warning. To avoid separate packaging, many manufacturers place the Californian-required label on product they ship to other states."

So, unfortunately, there are no completely lead free lights. Even lights manufactured in the U.S. contain lead (in the cord). It is one more thing that can be added to our never ending list of things to worry about.

There is a safer alternative (although all lights contain lead in the cord in order to be UL approved). LED lights do not contain lead in the solder or on the bulb. And American made Christmas trees are lead free.

This site sells American made, lead free Christmas trees: http://ww1.christmasdepot.com/index.php

This site manufactures lights which are lead-free (except for the cord): http://www.holidaycreations.com/

sources: http://www.holidaycreations.com/wheretobuy.html Some Ace Hardware, COSTCO, Hobby Lobby, Kroger, Long's, and Lowes stores may carry them as well.

NOTE: I have not used these and cannot attest to their performance! I have no connection with the sites linked and accept no responsibility for them.

These lights are also very energy conscious. Instead of burning the typical 350 watts for a 70 light set, the 100 light set burns only 3.6 watts. That means if a traditional wattage set is used 8 hours per day, for 7 days a week, at an $.08 electricity rate, you will save $33 every month!

If you already own an artificial tree, you can have it tested for lead. You can order a test kit from the Environmental Quality Institute at the University of North Carolina. Mail a check for $15, made out to the University of North Carolina-Asheville, to:

Foundation Earth

UNC-A Environmental Quality Institute

CPO 2331

1 University Heights

Asheville, N.C., 28804

There are several things you can do to minimize the risk.

• Do not allow children to touch the branches.
• Do not allow children to touch or handle the lights.
• If you touch the tree, wash your hands thoroughly with soap.
• Do not vacuum dust from under the tree which could then spread lead dust throughout your home.
• Use a tree skirt which you can remove and wash weekly.
• Avoid lights made in China or other foreign countries which do not restrict the use of lead.
• Wearing gloves, gently wipe down all presents under the tree with a moist cloth on Christmas Eve.

While this is something to be considered seriously, for our family it falls under the "minimum exposure, minimum risk" category. We will still have Christmas lights at our home. But I'm on my way out to purchase a lead-free tree and LED lights.

However, if your child is seriously heavy metal toxic and/or has a known toxicity level of lead, you might think twice about using traditional Christmas lights. Wishing you a safe and happy holiday!

Student of the Month...AGAIN! ... the good with the bad

Kaiden is thrilled to be voted student of the month for the second time this year! His school has 1600 kids and 100 are chosen as student of the month so he is quite proud of himself - as are we, of course! Both times Kaiden was selected for his kindness to others and his positive attitude. His teacher said it doesn't matter who it is, he is very good to all the children. She said he is just a delight to have in class and he has a way even with kids who can be "not so nice" (her words).

Speaking of which, last month another child punched Kaiden in the stomach at the bus stop for no apparent reason. Kaiden was taken by surprise and extremely upset. I decided not to say anything at the school as I realize at some point he will need to start sticking up for himself and he is going to encounter bullies his whole life. Although this was extremely difficult for me - it's hard to let go of the parent advocate role - I also realized this is "normal." Kids fight, kids get bullied. It is not about where he came from or what he's been through. No one here knows that. It's about being just a kid. So we talked about the best ways to deal with issues like this, what bullying is, what *not* to do, and when it is appropriate to "tattle", etc.

While his father and I had a few carefully selected, "choice" words about this child and had to stuff the defensive parent instinct, Kaiden took a different approach.

A few days later he says at dinner time, "Hey you know the kid ... the one who punched me in the stomach?"

"Yes..." we all said hesitantly.

"Well, we're friends now."

"Really?!" I said very surprised. "How did that happen?"

Kaiden responded, "I just asked him. We were riding on the bus and I said, 'Hey, do you want to just forget all this and be friends instead?' and the kid said, 'Sure.' So now we're friends."

That's Kaiden! I suppose "the kid" could have just as easily clocked his block as said, "sure" but he didn't and the situation was nicely diffused. I was so proud of Kaiden! Nice kid - 1; Bully - 0

On another note, while socially Kaiden is flourishing, academically he's faltering. Just a few years ago Kaiden was reading dinosaur encyclopedias and naming states on the map. But we said goodbye to most of his "super" learning when we said goodbye to autism. Now in first grade, his teacher just informed me at his parent/teacher conference that Kaiden is behind in reading skills.

I felt just like Kaiden did at the bus stop - sucker punched in the stomach. It seems in all our worry about how Kaiden would do socially, we forgot about keeping up with his academic skills. He is so bright and verbally is on par with most adults we know! I guess we just let the reading thing slip. Math is clearly a strong point and comes very easy for him.

There is also a part of me that thinks we lost the first few years and forget that he's now a 1st grader. This was a huge wake up call for me as a parent - the job is never done! So we've stepped up the reading at home and put Kaiden back on a new chronic remedy. The teacher said she saw a huge leap in just two weeks.

Do I think the reading issue is related to his previous autism? Maybe... I have always suspected he is dyslexic. He still has problems with letter reversal but I have been assured up until now this is "normal" learning behavior. I've noticed when he reads he sometimes makes the "M" sound when he sees "W" or the "D" sound when he sees "B." Is this normal? I don't know! Is it relevant to his past? I ask myself that all the time.

I have decided it isn't really. What matters now is that he's a 1st grader who is behind in reading - for whatever reason - not that he is recovered from autism and now having reading problems. It is in some ways, so hard to let go of that past but I cannot let it haunt our future. It clearly is not who he is now.

So what's the plan? We'll keep working on the reading and we'll step up the cod liver oil. We'll continue to thank God daily for his recovery. We'll watch out for sucker punches to the stomach. And most importantly, we'll celebrate our two-time student of the month!

Homeopathy: Miracle, Magic, or Medicine

There have been many times in our family when a homeopathic remedy has brought such rapid healing we have uttered the same words time and again, "It's a miracle!" My husband informed me I am no longer allowed to say, "that's amazing" when describing a response to a remedy because I have said it so frequently. He joked, 'when you keep seeing such wonderful responses, it's no longer amazing but just homeopathy at its best!' Despite what he says, I still say it's "like a miracle" sometimes how quickly someone heals or recovers from an illness after taking a remedy.

But, homeopathy really isn't a miracle. A miracle by definition is an effect or extraordinary event inexplicable by the laws of nature and ascribed to a supernatural cause or act of God. Homeopathy, on the other hand, works precisely by a strict set of guidelines - based on the natural laws of physics. And it is not directly an act of God, but God's given gifts of nature that allow us to make remedies.

Though it may sometimes seem like we magically get better, homeopathy is far from magic. Magic is an illusion (something presenting a false impression of reality). Unlike in allopathic medicine where (toxic) drugs are used to suppress symptoms and give the illusion of wellness, homeopathy cures symptoms and allows true health and healing.

Now that we live in the Bible Belt, I'm saddened by the realization there are some people completely opposed to homeopathy as they believe it to be "the work of the devil" or occultist in nature. This is simply not true. There is much confusion in the general population about what homeopathy is and what it is not.

Religion is a personal issue - one I have no desire to debate. What I do want is to help people understand what homeopathy really is (and isn't) so that those who follow a strict religious code can decide whether homeopathy is a good choice for them and their family. There is so much misinformation out there about homeopathy, many people may miss out on true healing because of misconceptions and false information.

Homeopathy is not "New Age." In fact, it is over 200 years old and based on physical and scientific principles realized more than two thousand years ago during the time of Hippocrates, a Greek physician known as the Father of Medicine. Though remedies are made from natural elements of the earth (plant, mineral, or animal - usually milk - in origin), homeopathy is NOT herbs or crystals. True classical homeopathy does NOT employ muscle testing, kinetic energy, altered states of conscious, or any other astrological, or psychic healing techniques.

Homeopathy is a science-based medicine following a strict set of rules and principles layed out by its founder, Samuel Hahnemann (a medical doctor who became dissatisfied with the effects allopathic medicine was having on his patients). While religion has no role in homeopathic medicine (training or practice), I have heard from many who receive homeopathic medicine talk of their "spiritual awakening" meaning, they have found a stronger connection to God and their religion. This is healing, not spiritualism or occultist influence.

Homeopathy does not diagnose illness nor should a good homeopathic practitioner ever direct someone away from their medical physician. Homeopathy is a treatment - a medicine - a tool used in healing. It is as much art as science in its method of restoring good health. Although all homeopaths should follow the aphorisms of The Organon, (the guidelines to practice layed out by Hahnemann), the quality of homeopaths varies just as no two doctors practice exactly alike. If you've ever seen a different physician for a second opinion, you can get two completely different answers and recommendations from two different physicians for the same illness. This is where the finesse of practice distinguishes one from another but does not take away from the science of the medicine.

So while some may dabble in other modalities, true classical homeopathy does not. It follows the tried and true guiding principles resulting in repeatable cures when the remedy is matched to the person's unique symptoms. It is safe and effective. It's goal is the speedy, gentle, permanent return to good health. Homeopathic medicine *is* an amazing alternative in today's world where many are searching for a miracle.

Thank you Jenny McCarthy and Oprah!

Wow ... I just finished watching Oprah with Jenny McCarthy and Holly Robinson Peete. My head is spinning so I'm going to ramble. It was surreal at times as watching Jenny tell her story was like watching me tell mine. So many of her details were so much like my son's story.

My heart goes out to both of these amazing women for sharing with the world. It isn't easy. I struggle every day with whether I should continue sharing my son's journey and I am small potatoes compared to these two women. I'm no one from no where and don't make my career based on the media and people's opinions of me.

Since moving to Florida I have wondered whether we are doing Kaiden a disservice by continuing to share his story. But then I hear from another mom who says our story has helped their child and I know God has shown me our purpose in this life. Kaiden does attend traditional school with no mention of autism. He is doing fantastic and has many friends. No one here knows he "used to have" autism.

The thing that makes my heart race when I watch these moms on Oprah... if only they knew about homeopathy. What more could be done for their sons? I feel it's my personal responsibility to tell them and everyone about homeopathy because it is the one thing that will not only address the current issues but address the weakness that made our kids vulnerable in the first place. Without that, they are still susceptible to the same toxicity somewhere down the line.

Vaccines are not the only impetus to autism. It is the biggest, by far, but I know from watching my 3rd child - now almost 2 and completely unvaccinated that the underlying predisposition is sometimes so strong, it won't take a vaccine to cause autism. I do believe my son's autism was triggered by his first and only round of immunizations. But I saw my beautiful, unvaccinated daughter at 6 months old when we introduced food start walking on her toes and stop sleeping. I even saw a headbang here and there which, believe me, sent me into a state of post traumatic stress so bad I was nearly paralyzed. Within a month of starting her on a constitutional remedy, she began sleeping through the night again, stopped her funky behaviors, and stopped her chronic runny nose.

But even now at 2years, 1 month, she is slightly speech delayed. She's never been vaccinated but she was predisposed. I believe most likely from my disastrous MMR revax in college. "Science" shows no correlation between vaccines and autism... well, maybe not. But who is to say, these children aren't predisposed because *their* parents were vaccinated. Where are the studies showing how vaccines effect our immune system in the long run or even how they effect our DNA.

The late Dr. Edward Yazbak dedicated much time and effort studying the correlation between mothers who were revaccinated with the MMR vaccine as adults and then going on to have a child with autism. So even though my son never had the MMR vaccine, the MMR revax I received years before I even had him may have contributed to his susceptibility. And of course, my own mercury toxicity certainly contributed to all three of my children's developmental "issues."

So we can target this or that as the "one" thing that caused our children's autism. But in the end, it is really our own genetic weaknesses which leave us vulnerable. We cannot escape it. Only homeopathy can help us heal it.

Autism Spectrum Disorder Warning Signs Checklist

Parents frequently ask if there is a way to detect spectrum issues early on. We saw symptoms in my son which suggested problems as early as 4 months old. It is now clear babies show symptoms which can be early warning signs for autism.

In and of themselves, these symptoms are sometimes just that - a single incident or issue with no further indications. However, historically, it is easy to notice symptoms children on the spectrum had in common during infancy and early childhood.

The following checklist is available as a PDF file in an actual checklist format. Please email me if you would like the PDF file: info@recoveredfromautism.com.

It is also available for download on the site www.recoveredfromautism.com. Please share with friends or family who are having a baby or have small children. Any one symptom is usually not of concern but a combination of symptoms, repeated frequently, can be an early warning sign.

“Normal” is extremely varied. These are general guidelines to consider as your child develops. In and of themselves, many of these characteristics or traits are part of normal development. The warning signs build by developmental stages but can appear at any age. Please note this is solely a suggestive list – it is not to be construed as medical or expert advice.

If your child exhibits several warning signs, please talk to your pediatrician or a child development expert specializing in autistic spectrum disorder.

If your child shows several warning signs or does not have mostly checked boxes under the blue headings (things your baby should be doing), do not let your doctor put you off. The earlier your child receives intervention, the better the outcome. I have tried to make this list as inclusive as possible.

If anything is missing, please e-mail me: info@recoveredfromautism.com

Age: 2 Months
Things your baby should be doing:

• Follow you with his/her eyes
• Startle at loud noises
• Gaining weight appropriately

Warning signs:

• Rashes all over or persistent yeast rash
• Reflux (lengthy crying spells, frequent spitting up, choking while feeding, aspirating)
• Excessive gas
• Begins chronic constipation or (explosive) diarrhea [after vaccinations]
  

Age: 4 Months
Things your baby should be doing:

• Smiling back at you when you laugh or smile
• Making babbling sounds
• Interested in looking at your face
• Gaining weight appropriately
• Typically can roll over
• No apparent weakness on either side
• Head is straight – not always tilted to one side
• Eyes should now be straight
• Having regular bowel movements

Warning signs:

• Staring without following you or an object
• No change in facial expression
• Limited eye contact
• Stops babbling after a period of babbling sounds
• Food intolerances
• Preoccupation with spinning objects (fans, wheels, etc.)
• Begins repeat ear infections or chronic illnesses
• Develops asthma or frequent upper respiratory infections
• Frequent “colic” or extensive crying
• Unusually “easy” baby, never fussing, never crying
• Shows reaction to any vaccinations

Age 6 Months
Things your baby should be doing:

• Sit with assistance for a short time
• Interested in activities of those around them
• Beginning to show interest in food
• Cooing and or babbling
• Rolling over
• Supporting weight on both legs with help
• Waking only once per night if at all
• Napping twice per day on a regular schedule

Warning signs:

• No verbal sounds
• Does not roll from side to side
• If sitting and falls over, does not reach out with arms to catch her/himself
• Has crossed eyes or other visual disturbance
• Cries frequently for no reason

9 Months
Things your baby should be doing:

• Showing interest in food
• Crawling
• Able to sit unassisted
• Beginning to gesture or point
• Express whether happy or sad by smiling or crying appropriately
• Sleeping through most nights on a regular basis
• Beginning to show signs of separation anxiety

Warning signs:

• Headbanging on walls or floors or headbutting people
• High tolerance to pain
• Extreme sensitivity
• Pushing head on carpet or along the wall
• Wounded soldier crawl
• Obsessed with a single toy or item (i.e. telephone, remote control) in place of toys
• Not much interested in toys
• Low muscle tone (hypotonia) or extreme (hyper-) flexibility
• Hypertonia – extremely tense, rigid muscles
• Not babbling with “baba,” “dada” sounds
• Does not smile or laugh interactively
• Appears to have hearing impairment
• Frequent night waking
• Chronic resistance to naps
• Unconcerned with mother’s or father’s presence or lack there of
• Chronically congested or chronic upper respiratory infections or ear infections

12 Months
Things your baby should be doing:

• Able to understand most of what is said to him/her
• Starting to stand unassisted, some even walking
• Saying at least one word
• Looking at your eyes when you speak to him/her
• Able to understand yes and no
• Pointing to objects
• Making desires known
• Beginning to eat or regularly eating solid foods
• Waving hi and bye
• Play peek-a-boo or patty-cake

Warning signs:

• Obviously large head size in comparison to body
• Does not point or otherwise gesture for objects
• Avoids eye contact
• Does not notice other children or siblings
• Difficulty with transitions and/or new things
• Excessive tantrums or aggressive behaviors
• Unhealthy attachments to inanimate objects
• Shows no interest in table food
• Frequently gags, chokes, or shows sensory issues to texture
• Easily and/or excessively irritated by tags on clothing or socks and shoes
• Does not brace him/herself when falling
• Afraid of the bathtub or water
• Head seems excessively large

18 Months

Things your baby should be doing:

• Walking steadily unassisted
• Eating a varied diet of table food
• Saying at least five or more recognizable words consistently
• Understanding what you are saying
• Making good eye contact
• Laughing and smiling interactively
• Playing with toys
• Beginning to pretend play
• Climbing over furniture, obstacles, etc., climbing up on things

Warning signs:

• Frequently spinning in circles
• Frequently walking on tiptoes
• Licking the air or objects
• Frequent self-stimulatory (stimming* or stim) behavior
• Looks at things out of the corners of the eyes
• Frequent uncontrollable and/or violent tantrums
• Pinching, hitting, biting, or scratching repeatedly and/or frequently
• Slamming (crashing) into furniture or people
• Extremely sensitive
• Extreme difficulty with transitions
• Unusually long attention span (like for movies or TV)
• Does not respond to name after repeated efforts
• Fixated on television, computer, or other objects such as telephone or remote control
• Self selected diet to gluten and casein or single foods
• Consistently red ears and/or red cheeks
• Afraid of loud noises
• Covers ears
• Does not allow you to brush his/her teeth
• Fights having nails clipped
• Easy gag reflex
• Plays with same toy repetitively for extended amounts of time
• Does not acknowledge other people or children
• Refuses to get into car seat, arches back, tantrums
• Hyperactive behavior
• Excessive fascination and/or obsession with dinosaurs or trains (particularly Thomas the Tank engine)
• Frequent sighing
• Does not like fingers or toes touched
• Delayed dentition (teeth)

24 Months
Things your baby should be doing:

• Using at least 50+ words
• Putting 2 - 3 words together
• Interacting with other children
• Eating a varied diet
• Doing pretend play with sounds
• Beginning to show interest in toilet training

Warning signs:

• Limited diet of mac&cheese, chicken nuggets, and other wheat and dairy products
• Echolalia – repeating words back sometimes seeming like they are answering you and then upset if it is not what they want (ex. You ask, “Do you want to go outside?” Child says, “Go outside.” You think this means they want to go outside so you take them outside. Toddler says, “No.” or has tantrum because s/he was not really answering but was repeating back what you said.
• Scripting – repeating movie or TV lines – even in context
• Obsessive compulsive behaviors – hand washing, checking things, shuffling feet, rituals
• Underweight or height for age group (only in conjuction with other signs)
• Insists on sameness or resistant to change
• Difficulty expressing wants or needs
• Repeats words or phrases
• Excessive anxiety or irritable behaviors
• Aloof
• Overwhelmed in noisy, bright environments (like Jokers)
• Frequently covers ears
• Averse to singing or being sung to
• Excessive laughing for no apparent reason
• Excessive fear of strangers or relatives or
• No fear of strangers
• Chronic constipation or diarrhea
• Continued resistance to toilet training
• Feces smearing
• Intolerance to clothing or removes clothing frequently
• Hyper-sexual – excessive masturbation
• Makes frequent loud noises or shrills and chirps
• Wringing of hands or rocking behavior
• Arm flapping
• Maintains tilted head
• Cannot jump
• Cannot follow directions
• Cannot express wants
• Appears to be deaf at times
• Hyperactive or inattentive
• Oppositional and/or defiant (more so than usual for toddlers)
• Lost words s/he used to say
• Does not use inflection - monotone
• Prefers to play alone
• Does not play with toys
• Does not smile back when smiled at
• Does not like to cuddle or be touched
• Does not like to have fingers, ears, or toes touched
• Extreme independence
• No regard for consequence (not upset by reprimand)
• Precocious – developing or learning way ahead of peers with other warning signs
• Showing signs of genius coupled with other warning signs
• Unusual obsession with certain objects, subjects, or routines (ex. Must hold certain object at all times.)
• In older children – trouble interpreting sarcasm – very literal
• Delayed dexterity (uncoordinated, fine motor skills)
• Apraxia – inability to make purposeful movements
• Development of Tourette’s syndrome (facial and other tics, spontaneous noises)

*Stimming or stims are behaviors engaged in to self-sooth. They can be anything such as headbanging, spinning, rolling eyes, looking at things from the corners of the eyes, flapping arms, making noises, lining things up, shuffling feet, tapping, etc.