by Sophie Ellison
As a parent, you've probably faced those moments of doubt when a fever spikes, a rash appears, or your child has their fifth cold of the season. In How to Raise a Healthy Child in Spite of Your Doctor, Dr. Robert Mendelsohn reminds us that you are your child's best advocate, and most common childhood illnesses do not require panic (or prescriptions).
This book has acted as a practical and informative guide for the way we approach our family’s health. It resonates with our belief in food as medicine and the power of natural living as Dr. Mendelsohn instills confidence and promotes true health.
Who is Dr. Mendelsohn?
Dr. Robert S. Mendelsohn (1926–1988) was an American pediatrician, educator, and medical icon who practiced for over thirty years. As a professor at the University of Illinois Medical School and a practicing pediatric MD, he was deeply embedded in the medical establishment— until he began to notice what he called “institutionalized foolishness” from within.
Over the years, Dr. Mendelsohn became increasingly critical of what he saw as the overuse of medical interventions, especially in pediatrics. He believed that many common treatments, vaccines, prescription drugs, and other doctor office procedures caused more harm than good, and that parents were too often pressured into unnecessary action out of fear instead of facts.
His core message was simple yet controversial: most children are healthier with less medical intervention, not more. With fiery darts coming from every direction, he affirmed that parents should be empowered to trust their instincts, ask questions, and not feel intimidated by medical authority. His legacy lives on through his bestselling book How to Raise a Healthy Child in Spite of Your Doctor, published in 1987. His written work continues to inspire curious families to take a more informed approach to healthcare. He believed parents often know what’s best for their children and boldly encouraged them to believe the same.
"One of the biggest tragedies of organized medicine is that it has taught people to distrust their own instincts." - Dr. Mendelsohn
Some key takeaways I gleaned from his work:
Most childhood illnesses are self-limiting. The inevitable colds, flus, fevers, headaches, earaches, etc. usually don't require antibiotics or even a doctor's visit.
Fevers are not the enemy. Dr. Mendelsohn reframes fevers as the body's defense against disease, not something to fear.
Parents know best. He encourages trusting your intuition and learning basic home health skills, many of which he so informatively shares.
Flee the overuse of medication and testing. In the first chapter titled "Most Things Get Better By Morning" his advice is to “avoid your doctor whenever you can”.
Use nutrition and lifestyle as prevention. The foundation of your family’s health is good food, good sleep, fresh air, and emotional connection.
Whether you're a new parent or welcoming your seventh baby, How to Raise a Healthy Child in Spite of Your Doctor is a timeless guide to raising resilient, vibrant, robust children. It’s amazing to me how Dr. Mendelsohn was so ahead of his time. I can only imagine what he would say today given how much more extreme things have become. Today, many of us are laden with Google overload, conflicting advice, and our own over-medicalized childhood. Hence why this book is such a breath of fresh air. It’s a balanced, concise resource for cutting out the doubt. It’s not about being anti-doctor, it’s about informed consent and personal vitality for your family.