Herbal teas are naturally caffeine and sugar free and a healthy drink for children at every age.

Most parents are aware what kind of food is healthy for their children and what is considered as not so good. Thinking about drinks, the options are not that clear.  Certainly water is the perfect choice but like adults, children love a bit of variety. So what kind of healthy alternatives do parents have?

Straight away you might think about fruit juices. But did you know that they are naturally very sweet? Some contain more sugar than even coke.

Have a look at this comparison chart:

330ml (1can) of ...	Coke	Orange Juice	Apple Juice	Grape Juice
Total carbohydrates	35g	33g	36g	54.5g
Carbs from Sugar	35g	33g	36g	54.5g
Sugar (teaspoons)	9 tsp	8 tsp	9 tsp	14 tsp
Calories	139	155	152	224

2 ounces of >>>>>>> 

For this comparison I used: Classic Coke, Tropicana Smooth Orange Juice, Tesco Organic Apple Juice, and Welchs Purple Grape Juice. The numbers in the chart were calculated from the nutrition labels on the containers.

Besides the high amount of sugar, juices contain also fruit acid; the perfect combination for acid erosion and a real threat for children’s tooth.

Are soft drinks the better option then? I personally do not think so. They have no health benefits at all and contain a long list of E numbers, flavourings and artificial sweeteners like aspartame.

Herbal teas are far better option for a number of reasons:

       They can be served warm or chilled.

       They have additional health benefits.

       They are naturally sugar and caffeine free

       Herbal teas are incredible good value for money

Which herbal teas can be given to babies and young children?

Some herbs, for example fennel and camomile have been used since generations to cure, heal and prevent illnesses. In mainland Europe it is common place to give herbal tea to newborns. A recent study at the pre-natal clinic in Zurich confirmed that fennel tea helps to relieve colic and wind in pre-mature babies. Of course the amount that can be given to young babies is very small. If you are a breastfeeding mother you can drink the herbal tea yourself as you will pass on the effect through your milk. Once your baby is starting on solids, herbal teas can be given in bigger amounts. Toddlers and older children can drink up to 3 - 4 cups a day.

 

Here is a small overview with popular herbs and their usage*):

*) please be aware that this chart is based on my personal experience and the knowledge which is passed on within my family since generations. I do not intend to give any medical advice. I strongly recommend that you see a healthcare professional if your child is ill.

Herb	What age	Usage
Fennel	1st week onwards	Indigestion Constipation Colic Flatulence Coughs and catarrhs of the upper respiratory tract
Camomile	1st week onwards	Teething Insomnia Colic Wind Aches and Pains due cold, flu or allergies
Aniseed	1st week onwards	Digestive problems Colic, especially in infants Pain relive Flatulence Bad breath Indigestion Nausea
Caraway	1st week onwards	Diarrhoea Indigestion Wind Colic in infants
Thyme	1st week onwards	Tummy pain Colic Flatulence Cold and bronchial ailments Whooping cough Eases a dry cough Sore throat Mouth and gum infections
Lemon Balm	1st week onwards	Anxiety Hysteria Insomnia Migraine headaches Indigestion Wind
Linden Flower	12 months	Fever Pain Bronchial ailments
Rose Hip	12 months	chest infections colds coughs influenza Vitamin C deficit
Peppermint*) *) Peppermint contains menthol and should not be used in combination with homoeopathic remedies.	12 months	Indigestion (not be used for gastroesophageal reflux disease) Constipation Loss of Appetite
Red Bush/Rooibos	12 months	Eczema Dermatitis Psoriasis Headache

Dr. Lind F. Palmer, natural infant health and nutrition consultant and book author says:

‘Herbal teas are a perfect drink choice for children. Juices are high in sugar and missing the healthful fibres of whole fruits. Drinks loaded with corn syrup or artificial sweeteners are certainly bad news and should never be started. Water is wonderful but can sometimes lose its excitement. Herbal teas provide wonderful antioxidant, anti-cancer, and antimicrobial benefits. There’s no reason to even start sweeter drinks when tea can be so satisfying, healthy, and prevent the development of sweeter desires.’

I believe that herbal teas are a perfect drink for babies, toddlers and even older children. My personal experiences have been so good that I want to share this knowledge. If you have any questions about this article or herbals teas for babies and children, please do not hesitate to contact me at Karin@immergruen.co.uk."

I am so proud and happy to announce that:

Neuner’s organic Nursing tea and Baby Stomach Ease have won 4 TIPS awards, including Best Breastfeeding Tea, Best of the Best, Best organic and Best Range.

The TIPS Awards Scheme carries out independent tests for the baby and toddler market in the UK. Six herbal teas were selected for the trial ‘Tea4Mums’ and tested within three categories: 4 breastfeeding teas, 3 maternity teas and 1 postnatal tea. 60 samples, supplied by 3 manufacturers were sent to 30 mums-to-be and breastfeeding mums. The aim was to set up a standard TIPS trial for breastfeeding teas and of teas suitable for using during pregnancy. Details of the test can be found on the TIPS Limited website:

 

http://www.tipslimited.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=184&Itemid=432

 

Sharon Trotter, founder of TIPS, about this trial:

 

“When setting up this trial, I tried to source what I believed to be the best breastfeeding and pregnancy teas, but ultimately these are my own personal favourites. My criteria for this trial were to include teas that are:

 

• caffeine free
• made using natural ingredients, preferably organic
• blended to provide a tasty and refreshing alternative to tea and coffee
• are safe to use during pregnancy or while breastfeeding
• help with some minor ailments of pregnancy  or boost your milk supply while breastfeeding

 

Neuner’s organic Nursing tea was the clear winner in the category breastfeeding tea. Parent Testers were particularly impressed by the delicate taste and smell, the clear images, information on the packing and online, and by the organic ingredients. Parent Testers noticed a definite improvement to their milk supply. They also mentioned that their baby was less windy.

As a result of this positive feedback Neuner’s Organic Nursing Tea won not one but two awards, including ‘Best of the Best’ and ‘Best Breastfeeding Tea’!

Neuner’ Baby Stomach Ease was tested in two categories: breastfeeding tea and tea for pregnant mothers and was voted Best Organic in both categories. Parent tester appreciated the fact that it was also suitable for babies. This is what one of the testing mothers said: ‘It felt very pleasant to drink with a nice calm feel to it’. When asked if this tea helped with their baby’s digestive symptoms 75 per cent of Parent Testers agreed it did. 

Because of the outstanding results both teas were voted ‘Best Range’ as well.

With five generations’ worth of experience blending organic herbs and tried and tested family recipes, Neuner’s had the edge over their competition.  Neuner’s is based in the stunning countryside amid the mountains of Tyrol, Austria. Their philosophy that prevention is better than cure fits well with the hands-on approach of this family.  When Stephanie Neuner, Director of Neuner, hear about the results she told me how happy she was about it. As you can imagine I am very delighted and proud as well that Immergruen supports so many mothers with these premium quality herbal teas in the UK.

Let me know what you think about Neuner's teas. Every feedback is very much welcome!

The first trimester is a crucial one when the baby’s organs are developing. It is a time when many women experience morning sickness and nausea.A cup of camomile or fennel tea with honey and a dry biscuit before getting out of bed can be helpful. With respect to ginger tea, recommended by some, I personally would steer away from it because it is a potent herb with the possibility of inducing labour. If you have had a miscarriage before then I would avoid ginger tea completely. Take it easy at this stage of the pregnancy as you may feel tired and if your body tells you to rest, do so if you can. Drink herbal teas like red bush, full of antioxidants and natural iron. This tea is also naturally caffeine free and can be taken with milk and so to the English taste. Red bush tea is widely available but stick to the organic version which is free of pesticides.

After the first 3 months of your pregnancy you should start to feel better. It is important now that you eat well and drink enough fluids.

You might find a cup of nettle tea helpful to avoid fluid retention but don’t drink more than one cup a day. For colds, take a cup of thyme tea and an infusion of linden blossom will ease flu symptoms. Fennel tea counteracts stomach bloating, tummy ache and constipation.

After week 34 you can start to drink herbal teas that stimulate the uterus and so hopefully make it easier to give birth.

For example raspberry tea often recommended by midwives, can be mixed with fennel, aniseed and caraway. This blend is also helpful if you suffer from constipation in the last trimester. Lemon balm (melissa) is a good choice too because it is calming and will help you to relax before the big day.

What if you are overdue and you actually want to induce labour? Try cinnamon tea: A whole stick of cinnamon boiled in hot water for a few minutes, let it cool and try one or two cups of it but no more. Together with a spicy curry it may be even more effective.

Avoid infusions that contain: rosemary, sage, vermouth, mugwort, common yarrow, juniper and parsley and throughout pregnancy, as well as green tea (unless it is organic) and cinnamon for the first 6 months.