Holistic First Aid, Outdoor Kids, and Confident Mothering with becca regnerus
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Raising active kids comes with bumps and bruises
If your kids spend a lot of time outside, chances are you’ve had your fair share of scrapes, bruises, questionable falls, and “do we need to go in?” moments.
In this episode of The My Outdoorsy Mom Podcast, I’m joined by my friend Becca Regnerus, the mom of six behind @becca.naturally on Instagram, to talk about holistic first aid and what it looks like to feel prepared without parenting from fear.
Becca opens the conversation with a story about one summer when her family ended up in the ER nine times. Stitches, sprains, broken bones, random childhood injuries — the works. But what stayed with her most was something an ER doctor told her: he would rather patch up “active” kids than see kids struggling because they were never outside moving, playing, and living.
That perspective sets the tone for this whole episode.
Prepared, not panicked
One of the biggest themes in this conversation is that moms need tools, knowledge, and confidence.
That doesn’t mean pretending we are doctors. It doesn’t mean avoiding medical care when it’s needed. It means learning what we can handle at home, knowing when something needs another set of eyes, and staying calm enough to help our kids when they are scared.
Becca talks about how important it is for moms to regulate their own nervous systems when a child is hurt. If we panic, our kids panic. If we can breathe, stay steady, and take the next right step, we help them feel safer too.
What to keep in a holistic first aid kit
Becca shares some of her favorite first aid tools, including non-toxic bandages, zip-tie stitches, and remedies she keeps on hand for bumps, bruises, cuts, and outdoor mishaps.
She also makes an important distinction: being holistic does not mean doing nothing.
There are times when stitches, imaging, antibiotics, emergency care, or professional support are absolutely appropriate. But there are also many everyday situations where moms can support their kids at home when they have the right tools and knowledge.
Homeopathy 101
We also get into a simple explanation of homeopathy, especially for moms who are curious but overwhelmed by all the little tubes and remedy names.
Becca explains how homeopathic remedies work differently than conventional medicine and why remedies are chosen based on symptoms, onset, emotional state, and the way the body is presenting.
We talk about common remedies like arnica for bruising and aconite, spongia, and hepar sulph for different stages of croup-like coughs.
This part of the conversation is especially helpful for moms who want to begin building a home remedy kit one item at a time.
Chiropractic care as a first stop
Becca and I also talk about chiropractic care and how both of our families use it regularly.
For our families, the chiropractor is often our first stop for things like earaches, congestion, falls, tension, and babies who seem uncomfortable. Becca explains how chiropractic care can help support the nervous system, lymphatic drainage, and structural alignment — especially after illness, injury, or birth.
We also talk about how not all chiropractic care looks the same, and that many families prefer gentle, instrument-based adjustments for kids and babies.
The nebulizer every family should know about
One of our shared favorite tools is a nebulizer with saline.
A lot of people hear “nebulizer” and immediately think asthma or prescription medication, but nebulizing saline can be a simple, non-toxic way to support the airways during coughs, congestion, allergies, wildfire smoke, and respiratory junk.
Becca explains how a nebulizer works and why saline can help keep mucus thin and moving so it doesn’t sit stagnant in the sinuses or lungs.
Red light therapy for the whole family
We could have talked for an entire episode about red light therapy alone.
Becca and I both use red light devices constantly in our homes for aches, pains, ear discomfort, inflammation, sleep, sunburns, injuries, bug bites, and more.
Becca shares how her older kids and even their friends ask to use the red light, and we talk about why it has become one of those wellness tools that gets used almost daily in both of our homes.
Ticks, summer, and staying calm
Because this episode is coming out as families head into warmer weather, we also talk about ticks.
Becca gives practical advice for removing ticks, what not to do, how to do tick checks, and what she keeps on hand after a tick bite. Her message is exactly what so many moms need to hear: do not let fear steal the joy of being outside.
Be prepared. Check your kids. Know what to do. Then go live your life.
Confidence grows with experience
What I appreciate so much about Becca’s approach is that she gives moms permission to learn.
You don’t become confident overnight. You become confident by getting through the first fever, the first earache, the first cough, the first scrape, and realizing your child’s body is wise — and that you can support it.
That kind of confidence changes the way you mother.
Want the full episode? 🎧 Listen to Episode 37
