Fish Oil

Omega 3 fatty acids are essential in the transport system for serotonin, the neurotransmitter responsible for mood regulation. Many people are deficient in it. Dr. Sears, noted pediatrician, recommends it for all kids. I have been able to avoid medication for my son with OCD (an SSRI), by giving him a daily suppliment of Omega 3-6-9. It's a gummy, chewable available at HiHeath.

From www.askdrsears.com

FISH OIL SUPPLEMENTS AND
"Before my baby can eat salmon herself would be it advisable for her to take fish oil supplement? Likewise, would you recommend that moms take such supplement?"

After one year of age it is okay to start eating fish - wild salmon being one of the best. No need to start a fish oil supplement before this - he gets all the healthy fat he needs from breastmilk. If mom doesn't eat fish regularly, then it would be good to take some sort of Omega-3 supplement, like flax seed oil, or DHA.

Dr. Jim

Expecta is a non-fish source of DHA and Omega 3's. I don't have any idea of how much to give a toddler (and I would really like to know this before I did), but if you were concerned about contaminated fish, that is a non-fish source.

I'm not sure about the benefits of a non-fish Omega 3 supplement. I take a fish oil supplement and also give it to my kids because I know we don't eat enough fish. I always buy supplements that come from the smallest fish, because if you stay low on the food chain, you'll avoid the bigger fish that can have mercury and other contaminants in their diets.
I buy the brand Spectrum at Sprouts and think that the quality (third party tested, etc.) is very high and the price isn't too high compared to others.

DesertMom
http://ppdsurvivor.blogspot.com

The brain is 60% structural fat, which universally uses Arachidonic acid and Docosahexaenoic acid for growth, function, and integrity. Both fatty acids are components of human milk. DHA is found in fish oil. I recommend Nordic Naturals. They have a children's liquid fish oil and also chewable DHA capsules for children older than 2.

http://www.nordicnaturals.com/en/General_Public/What_are_EFAs_/164/

The Vitamin Shoppe carries their products and so does Healthy Habits on 7th Street North of Bethany Home Road.

Jan Katzen-Luchenta AMI CFP
www.nutritionforlearning.com
www.iluminahealing.com

If you use oils such as safflower, sesame seed, and corn you will be providing your child with Linoleic acid (omega-6) which converts to AA. Just make sure you purchase cold-pressed, unprocessed. AA (arachidonic acid) is also found in meat.
We need these on a daily basis as well. The ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids eaten daily should be approximately 2:1 which is consistent with our evolutionary heritage.

The rest of our daily fat intake should consist of Omega-9 fatty acids which are abundant in olive oil.

Weaning and young children require fat distribution similar to breast milk including 10+ percent of daily fat intake from saturated fat.

Jan Katzen-Luchenta
Author - Nutrition for Learning:Feeding the Starving Brain - Foresight nutritional counselor- Montessori educator - www.nutritionforlearning.com

Thanks for all the suggestions. I think I'm going to try this too. I know it can't hurt.

Brooke Romney is an unbalanced mom of three young boys who constantly has too much to do, and too little time. She writes the Mom Beat column for The Gilbert Republic.