Managing thyroid disease in children
Has your child received a thyroid disease diagnosis? This can be stressful for parents and the child – particularly if there have been no known thyroid issues previously.
Parents often feed powerless to begin with, as they learn new concepts and work with specialists to control the disease. But the good news is that there are also natural ways that you can help to manage your child’s condition. These can be used alongside their care plan, so you know your child is getting the best of both worlds!
What is the best approach when it comes to thyroid conditions in children?
Naturally, we need to think about what type of condition they have - whether it's autoimmune in nature, what has contributed to its development, and the symptoms it causes for them. These will be covered in future articles as I look at different thyroid conditions and how they affect children.
But one of the most overlooked considerations? Their age & stage of life!
When working with kids, I look at things such as:
Are they likely to experience any growth spurts soon based on their age? During growth spurts, more thyroid hormone is needed to support the process.
Kids vs teens - it's much easier to have a say in a child's diet & lifestyle compared to a teen's! So you need to have conversations around food choices and their effects when it comes to teenagers (although you might want to start this early if you have a younger child with thyroid disease!
When is puberty likely to kick in? This can be guesstimated based on the parent's experience + watching for early signs. Once fluctuating sex hormones get thrown into the mix, it can take a bit of extra work to keep the thyroid happy - particularly when it comes to menstruation.
Steps for naturally managing thyroid conditions in kids
So once the condition, age and stage of life are considered – what can you do? Even before you understand the ins and outs of their condition, there are general thyroid support steps you can take.
Increase the nutrient density of their diet
Add in more nutritious wholefoods wherever you can! This can depend on their age and whether they are fussy eaters. But you’d be surprised at how easy it is to sneak veggies into tasty treats like brownies or everyday meals like pasta.
Support good sleep habits
Rest is critical for the thyroid. So make sure you’re teaching good sleep hygiene, including:
Screens off for at least 30 minutes before bedtime
Using low-level lights such as lamps rather than overhead lamps
Having a wind-down routine which could include a warm drink, a shower or bath, reading
For teens, you might need to negotiate and utilise tools such as a blue light blocking app for their electronics.
Introduce stress management
As parents, it’s easy for us to say that our kids have nothing to worry about! But unfortunately, what seems easy for us can be overwhelming for kids. That’s why it’s essential to introduce stress management techniques to children early and often.
There are plenty of apps and free videos available that will walk you and your child through yoga, stretching, deep breathing and meditations. Encourage them to use these tools whenever they feel worried or aren’t coping.
Minimise environmental drivers
There are many everyday items that contribute to thyroid issues. But we don’t really pay attention to them until it becomes a problem!
It’s not about being perfect or feeling guilty. The key here is to reduce exposure one step at a time, depending on your family’s lifestyle. Some starting steps can include:
Filtering your water
Switching plastic containers for glass or Pyrex
Replacing family personal care products with non-toxic alternatives (this is easiest to do when you run out of them!)
Introducing your teen to natural and non-toxic makeup, nail polish, deodorants and skincare products
Switching your cleaning products to non-toxic options
These little changes can add up over time and help your child to better manage their thyroid concerns.
Only use supplements & herbs under supervision!
Don’t get me wrong – nutrients and herbs can make a big difference for your child. But the incorrect dose could make things worse rather than better.
That’s why I strongly recommend working with a practitioner to ensure the dosages are appropriate for your child’s age, size and condition.
LOOKING TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR CHILD’S THYROID CONDITION?
Make sure you grab a copy of one of my ebooks for plenty of actionable content and helpful advice! If they have hyperthyroidism or Graves’, check out this ebook here. If they have hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s, this is the ebook for you.