By Dr. Susan Frame, Licensed Naturopathic Physician • AltaVie Health
Childhood is a time of growth, exploration, and constant physiological change. It is also a time when many families encounter health concerns that can feel overwhelming—eczema that disrupts sleep, constipation that causes discomfort and tears, or allergies that seem to flare without warning. These issues are common, but they are not trivial. They affect a child’s comfort and development and often leave parents searching for answers beyond symptom management.
Naturopathic medicine offers a whole-child, relationship-centered approach that recognizes how interconnected a child’s systems truly are. Rather than treating symptoms in isolation, I look at the gut, immune system, nervous system, and environment to understand the ‘why’ behind what a child is experiencing.
A thorough health history and an hour-long initial visit allow us to explore patterns, contributing factors, and the story behind your child’s symptoms. This perspective is especially valuable for concerns like eczema, constipation, and allergies—conditions that often overlap and share common underlying drivers.
As a naturopathic doctor caring for children of all ages, I work with families to uncover root causes so their children can feel more comfortable, supported, and able to thrive.
A Naturopathic Approach to Eczema
Eczema is one of the most common pediatric concerns I see in practice, affecting up to 20% of children worldwide. Often beginning in infancy, it can be extremely itchy and disruptive, impacting sleep, appetite, and overall well-being.
While eczema presents on the skin, it is often connected to immune function, the skin barrier, and the gut. Many children with eczema also experience digestive symptoms such as constipation, reflux, gassiness, or colic, suggesting that inflammation may be occurring internally as well as externally.
To take a whole-body approach, I assess factors such as food sensitivities, microbiome imbalances, gastrointestinal inflammation, environmental exposures, and genetic contributions. Diet and nutrient status are also key considerations.
Food sensitivities can play a significant role. Unlike immediate allergies, they are delayed immune responses that may occur hours after eating. Identifying these triggers can help guide temporary dietary changes while we focus on restoring gut health and strengthening both the gut and skin barriers. My goal is always to remove trigger foods for the shortest time possible and reintroduce them once healing has occurred.
For infants who have not yet started solids, I assess feeding patterns and often support breastfeeding parents with dietary adjustments that may influence their baby’s symptoms. Evaluating nutrients such as iron, vitamin B12, and vitamin D is also important to ensure proper development of the skin, immune system, and digestion.
In some cases, additional testing—such as thyroid function or celiac screening—may be appropriate. Parents often notice that flare-ups align with illness, stress, or seasonal changes. Identifying these patterns allows us to create a plan that supports the child through predictable challenges.
Constipation in Children: Key Insights for Parents
Constipation is another frequent concern in pediatric care. For some children, it is short-term and related to hydration or diet. For others, it becomes chronic and begins to affect appetite, sleep, mood, and even skin health.
Many families come in after being prescribed laxatives without a clear understanding of why constipation is happening. My role is to look deeper and identify what is driving the issue.
Contributing factors may include:
• Low fibre or fluid intake
• Gut dysbiosis
• Food sensitivities
• Withholding behaviour during toilet training
• Pelvic floor dysfunction
• Underlying conditions such as thyroid dysfunction or celiac disease
In my experience, constipation is rarely ‘just constipation’. It often signals the need to assess gut health, nutrient status, nervous system regulation, and daily routines.
Allergies
Allergies are increasingly common in children, and I continue to see a growing number of patients affected. They occur when the immune system becomes hypersensitive to otherwise harmless substances. Children with eczema are at higher risk of developing allergies and asthma—a progression known as the ‘atopic triad’.
Factors that influence allergic tendencies include:
• Early microbiome development
• Mode of delivery (vaginal vs. caesarean)
• Feeding patterns
• Environmental exposures
• Family history
Supporting immune balance early in life can help reduce both the frequency and intensity of allergic responses. I also work alongside allergists to guide safe elimination and reintroduction of allergens when appropriate. As with all pediatric concerns, an individualized, whole-body approach is essential.
How Naturopathic Medicine Approaches These Conditions
Naturopathic care is grounded in individualized assessment and gentle, evidence-informed therapies. The goal is not only to relieve symptoms, but to understand and address their underlying contributors.
This approach is guided by core principles:
• First, do no harm
• Support the body’s natural healing ability
• Identify and treat the root cause
• Doctor as teacher
• Treat the whole person
• Focus on prevention
A naturopathic treatment plan may include:
• Identifying food triggers through elimination and reintroduction
• Supporting the microbiome with probiotics or gentle gut-healing strategies
• Assessing key nutrients such as iron, vitamin B12, and vitamin D
• Ruling out contributing conditions such as thyroid dysfunction or celiac disease
• Supporting breastfeeding parents with dietary guidance
• Addressing feeding challenges that impact digestion
• Guiding formula choices for infants with sensitivities
• Providing individualized nutrition advice based on age and development
• Supporting sleep and nervous system regulation
When Collaborative Care Enhances Outcomes
Many pediatric concerns benefit from a collaborative approach. Knowing when to involve other practitioners is essential to providing comprehensive care.
At AltaVie, families have access to pediatric chiropractors, massage therapists, a lactation consultant, and a dietitian. I often recommend working with one or more of these professionals to ensure care is coordinated and complete.
Pediatric Chiropractic Care
Pediatric chiropractors use gentle, age-appropriate techniques to address tension that may affect feeding, digestion, sleep, or comfort.
Referral may be helpful when:
• An infant has a head preference or torticollis
• Feeding challenges relate to tension in the jaw, neck, or body
• Constipation may be influenced by pelvic or spinal alignment
• A child shows discomfort with movement or asymmetry
Infant Massage
Infant massage supports bonding, relaxation, and digestion. It can help ease colic, gas, and constipation while regulating the nervous system.
It is especially helpful when:
• Parents want hands-on soothing techniques
• A baby has tension affecting sleep or feeding
• Constipation is linked to abdominal tightness
• A child is highly sensitive and benefits from calming touch
Lactation Support
Feeding plays a critical role in digestion and immune development. When needed, I refer families to a lactation consultant for support with latch, milk transfer, and feeding efficiency.
Referral is important when:
• Feeding is painful or inefficient
• An infant is gassy, colicky, or struggling with reflux
• Weight gain is inconsistent
• Parents feel uncertain about feeding
Improving feeding mechanics can positively impact digestion and the developing microbiome.
Collaboration Across Healthcare
Working alongside family physicians, pediatricians, and allergists is an important part of this approach. Coordinated care ensures that children receive appropriate testing and medical support when needed, while still benefiting from the root-focused strategies of naturopathic medicine.
This integrated model helps families feel supported rather than navigating multiple systems on their own.
Empowering Parents Through Understanding
When parents understand the ‘why’ behind their child’s symptoms, everything begins to shift. What once felt overwhelming becomes more manageable, and decisions feel clearer and more confident.
With the right support, children can move through common health challenges with greater comfort and resilience. Parents, in turn, feel empowered knowing they are addressing not just symptoms, but the bigger picture of their child’s long-term health.
Dr. Susan Frame is a fully licensed naturopathic physician specializing in women’s health and pediatric care. As a mother of three, she understands the complexity of raising young children. She supports families with compassion and practicality, meeting them where they are and offering a whole-body, natural approach to lifelong wellness.