Healing Our Children: Because Your New Baby Matters! Sacred Wisdom for Preconception, Pregnancy, Birth and Parenting (Ages 0-6)

I enjoyed reading this book. I am interested in traditional pre-conceptual diets, as well as continued good nutrition for children. The role our diets play in skeletal formation is particularly fascinating for me. I do not agree one hundred percent with this author's ideas, but I definitely appreciate his zeal. He sees how many of America's children are suffering from chronic low grade problems that could easily be eradicated by simple nutritional changes. ( Simple and easy are not necessarily the same thing, here...) Yes he is a little strange, and I wonder if he will re-think some of his parenting strategies as his kids get older, but he has some valid points, as well as good ideas. I like that he actually touches on the fact that daycares and other people will never be as "In tune" to your child than YOU. And how babies need to be with their mothers constantly...brave to come out and say that these days!

I enjoy this book so much! Over this past summer, I purchased several copies to give my lady-friends as part of their wedding present. The book recommends that you and your partner can start on your preconception diet 5 years before conception--so to me it seemed like the perfect wedding gift! A few of the brides have not even mentioned the other parts of their present because they were so excited to share what they have learned from this book!I initially purchased it for myself to learn about what I can do to prepare for pregnancy as well as to gain an understanding of alternative pregnancy options. I generally don't trust a lot of western medicine because of the experience I've had with reliance on synthetics and surgery; I prefer to understand things holistically. This book is great for that, and goes in-depth about getting all the vitamins and others things you need as well as the many ways your partner can offer support to you. I do enjoy the parenting advice, the photos showing the difference between those babies and mamas fed on a healthy traditional diet and those on the modern diet. I also enjoy the poetry throughout the book.I have other books on my shelf that claim to be about your "whole pregnancy," but I have found them to be fairly conventional and they tend to substitute herbs for synthetic drugs--still failing to take a holistic view. I enjoy having those books as reference so I know what to expect when I go to the doctor, but Healing Our Children is a lot more interesting and useful to me. This book soothes my desire to become pregnant because I have a lot of ideas of things I able to do to actively prepare.

I ( the wife of S.Morris) was drawn to this book when I began researching preconception health to become pregnant. I've read over 12 books on this topic and this is my number one book to the extent that it's become my bible, in that I've read it over 5 times and my husband has also read it.It's an easy read and extremely informative into why nutrition before pregnancy, during and after can make such a huge difference for your baby to be or child's health, disposition, intelligence and well being. I now feel confident that my Husband and I are looking after ourselves really well and preparing the best we can for pregnancy, birth and life with a content, healthy baby. I also feel that by following Ramiel's health and lifestyle guidelines, that we are both giving our child the best start in life possible.The recommended foods, based on Weston A. Price's anthropological research, are exceptionally yummy and satisfying. After years of eating conventional food, we are now eating large amounts organic and grass fed foods, especially raw butter, raw milk, organic cream and grass fed organic meat with the fat...always with copious amounts of organic vegetables too.I personally haven't put on any weight and feel a lot happier as my period and hormones have normalized. My husband and I have also started eating fish and organ meats (which are mainly hidden in mince meat, but have lots of chicken liver pate bleneded with herbs and spices and raw butter). Ramiel's book really helped us along this journey and I can't recommend this book enough. It's truly is life changing!!If you are going to buy a diet / nutritional / lifestyle book for pre-pregnancy, pregnancy or for children, this book would be my number one choice.

I have to admit, this book grew on me... It is certainly not for everyone, as is true for most parenting books- not everyone will ever agree on one philosophy- but even the parts I wasn't sure I agreed with at first still stirred my mind and eventually got me thinking about options I hadn't originally considered. I love it and continue to re-read portions. He is definitely at the extreme end of the spectrum in terms of fiercely protecting the innate pureness of his children, but he is so enthusiastic about sharing this passion and I think he does a very thorough job of supporting his arguments. Again, it is not for everyone, so if you are not looking to be swayed in any sort of a natural direction, or are not open to some of the more natural options (declining circumcision, vaccinations, public school, etc.) just steer clear... But for those looking to explore these topics, you might really enjoy this- just keep in mind not to take it too personally- it is one man's opinion and you don't have to feel like you're in trouble if you don't agree with him! No one is looking over your shoulder as you read or holding you accountable for agreeing with him.

I bought this book because I truly believe that you are what you eat and what you manifest for your children in your behaviour. The book has some interesting statements and case studies, but no real empirical data to back it up. They use traditional ways as ones to emulate and advocate we return to an agrarian society, essentially. Though it has the right motive, it's a little different in the ideas it promotes.

As a qualified Nutritionist, I really wanted to like this book, and indeed there is a lot of good information in here relating to preconception, pregnancy and post pregnancy dietary recommendations. However, much of the information is not really new, and there is nothing in this book that cannot be found on the Weston Price website – in fact much of the information (and photographs of people who ate a traditional diet versus those who ate a ‘modern’ diet) seems just to have been reproduced from this source.The chapters on babies do contain some useful perspectives on how babies view the world, as opposed to what we as adults think and feel, and he does challenge the way we view parenting in general, which could encourage some to re-evaluate their role as a parent in order to better respond to their child’s needs. Also, there is some useful information contained in the chapter on vaccines as the Author has researched his subject very well here.However, what I do take issue with is that the author seems intent on imposing his ‘spirituality’ on the reader and tries to draw the reader into what some might view as his slightly bizarre beliefs – for example, encouraging the reader to call up ‘Deva spirits’ in order to make things happen in their lives, (as he reports he and his wife did), also telling the reader that the book is imbibed with its own ‘Deva Spirit’ which he hopes we will embrace as we read, and it will enlighten us and make our reading experience altogether better. Hmmmm.As someone who respects the principles of Weston Price traditional nutritional practices, I feel bringing his own spiritual beliefs into things undermines the sound scientific evidence that the Author is trying present on the other hand in an informative and educational way. There is no place for personal beliefs in any book on nutrition that wishes to be taken seriously. Some readers may also find the spiritual references insulting towards their own beliefs and feel uncomfortable when being instructed by the Author to do something 'spiritual' which they don’t feel happy with.As the chapter on rearing children progresses, it becomes very tiresome constantly hearing about ‘Michelle and I’, and ‘Michelle says….’ Michelle is, (according to the Author) apparently the perfect mother who has no trouble breastfeeding and carries her baby around with her day and night - a luxury few of us with busy lives have - and you get the impression that they think they are both the perfect parents in every way, shape and form, setting no boundaries and letting their children do whatever they want - positively encouraging their child to have tantrums as a means of free expression. What about if the child is in the Supermarket? In a hospital where there are sick people trying to rest? At a funeral? Would the tantrum still be encouraged and indeed positively approved of by the parent?What is also sad is that the Author also comes down hard on women who do not chose to stay at home and rear their children, making any mother reading the book feel positively guilty if they have chosen to return to work. While in an ideal world, no woman would have to return to work after childbirth if they didn’t wish to, but unfortunately sometimes the harsh reality is that some women have no choice. The Author’s suggestions regarding how to live on a smaller income are simply not practical (such as to move in with parents, or into some sort of basic hovel, or simply ‘make do’ with less).If you are able to sift through the airy-fairy stuff to the hard facts then there is some useful information in here - but be prepared to have your way of thinking and behaving challenged.

Outstanding book with practical advice,