When you are trying to treat your new baby as naturally as possible, it's not surprising that you would consider using herbs. Herbal remedies provide a number of benefits, and they do not have the same side effects of regular drugs. However, just because it's good for your baby does not mean that your baby will like it.

The following herbal remedies are typically ones that babies dislike, despite the health benefits that they offer. You will want to make sure that you prepare them appropriately, and that may mean that you need to add stevia or other natural sugars to make them more palatable. Just make sure that you don't use honey in them if your baby is less than one year old.

Chamomile

Chamomile tea provides a host of benefits, and it is one of the gentlest herbal remedies available. You can use it for everything from a soothing agent in bubble bath to reduce diaper rash to a remedy for colic. It helps to reduce inflammation as well as irritation, but one of its most popular uses is as a teething remedy. A strong chamomile tea can be applied liberally to your baby's gums to help reduce the pain as well as the overall fussiness. However, if you want to give it to your baby to drink to help reduce upset stomach, lower fevers, and calm bowel problems, then you will want to make the tea weak. You should start off administering one to two drops at a time every 15-20 minutes until you see your baby starting to improve. If your baby has not had any problems with chamomile before, you can give your baby up to two or three ounces at a time.

Dandelion

Those beautiful little yellow flowers aren't just for looking pretty or filling up your garden. They help to cleanse the blood and toxins. Unlike vinegar and other common detoxifier, dandelion is far gentler. Once your baby is six months old, you can prepare a weak tea and give it to your baby to help relieve food allergy symptoms, lethargy, and colic. The leaf is the mildest part of the dandelion if you decide that you want to make your own fresh. However, it's best to purchase food grade dandelions, as you never know what pesticides your local dandelions may have been exposed to.

Blue Vervain

Blue vervain is one of the bitterer herbal remedies, but “Herbal Medicine for Infants” describes it as a cure all. When brewed into a tea and administered a few drops at a time, it can help to reduce pain, lower fevers, cure insomnia, reduce swelling, and cure jaundice. Because of its potency, you should not administer more than a few drops at a time, even if your baby has had it before.

Using herbal remedies for your baby can be a good way to improve his health. However, not all herbal remedies are ones that your baby will like. Chamomile, dandelion, and blue vervain are good remedies, but they need to be administered appropriately. You'll also have to add some sweeteners to convince your baby to take them.