Immunity – kiddenz-admin

6 Ways to Boost your Toddler’s Immune System

Once the babies are weaned, they are prone to health issues like runny noses, gastrointestinal problems, colds, coughs, etc. How often have we attributed these symptoms to changes in the weather or allergies? Is it fair to just accept that your toddler is more susceptible to infections than other kids? Instead, why not boost your child’s immunity against common diseases?

Here are some useful tips for better immunity in children

Breast milk

Breastfeeding is the best immunity-boosting method for babies. According to an article published by the National Health Scheme, U.K. breast milk boosts immunity and protects babies from various diseases. Breast milk contains powerful white blood cells and natural antibodies. The nutrients will protect your child from respiratory diseases, urinary tract infections, tummy bugs, meningitis, and others. If you are a stay-at-home mommy and get plenty of breast-milk, then try to breast-feed the baby at least for a year. This will strengthen the immunity of the child much more than supplements do.

Eating right

Some foods have powerful phytonutrients that enhance the production of white blood cells that fight diseases. Add 2 tablespoons of fresh fruit and/or vegetable pulp in the daily diet of your pre-schooler. Green beans, berries, carrots, oranges, kiwi, etc. contain diseases-fighting nutrients like vitamin C, beta-carotene, etc. Other foods that improve immunity in toddlers are oily fish (containing Omega-3), almonds (vitamin B), garlic (sulphur), mushrooms (zinc), yam (vitamin A), and others.

Healthy hygienic habits

Teaching clean habits is one of the most important ways of improving your child’s immunity. There are many situations when toddlers are exposed to disease-carrying germs. They may be handling pets, not washing hands before meals, using shared soaps and towels, etc. Teach your child clean habits at a very early age so that they become second nature.

Adequate sleep

Toddlers need 11 to 15 hours of sleep per day depending on age. Adequate sleep and regular sleep cycles are good for toddlers. Kids with low immunity can be affected by Sleep Deprivation. You need to ensure that your child gets deep sleep in order to remain healthy and happy. On the other hand, Ingestion of the right foods will also help to counteract the side-effects of sleep deprivation to some extent.

Physical activity

You do not want your toddler to grow up into a couch-potato! But formal exercises will be boring for your delightful little toddler. Whereas, music and dance, cycling, follow-the-leader game (which involves walking), racing, ball games, etc. will be fun.

Avoid passive smoking

The parents’ habit of cigarette smoking in the presence of children is the most common reason for respiratory problems in kids. Second-hand smoking or passive smoking will cause low immunity in the child. This will make your kid more susceptible to chronic/recurring diseases like colds, coughs, bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma, or worse!

Your toddler’s well-being is entirely in your hands. The more you know how to improve your child’s immunity the easier life will be for your toddler. Good health and stamina will ensure that your little darling is always active and happy.

Negative Habits That Lower Your Child’s Immunity

Inertia and lack of fresh air, sunlight, etc. are some of the major reasons for low immunity in children. Some habits in pre-schoolers should be discouraged so that they grow up to be healthy and active individuals. Here are the most common habits that reduce immunity in children:

Inertia

Lack of activity leads to poor blood circulation. Less movement means that the child does not perspire. Perspiration is essential to get rid of toxins from the body. Hence, lack of activity is considered a primary negative habit in kids that should be stopped as soon as it is observed.

Solution: Encourage your toddler to walk, run, jump, climb staircases, and play vigorous games.

No outdoor activities

Playing outdoors for an hour a day exposes your child to sunlight, a natural source of vitamin D. This is essential for calcium absorption which strengthens the bones. Staying indoors for most of the hours can lead to vitamin deficiency and weaken the bones. Secondly, the bone marrow produces the vital white blood cells which are disease-fighters.

Solution: A visit to a children’s park in the morning sunlight is all it takes!

Bad food/water/sleep cycles

Breaking bad habits in toddlers is far more difficult than encouraging good habits. Foodstuff filled with artificial preservatives, additives, sugars, and other chemicals is harmful to your child’s overall development. Also, according to the National Health Service, U.K. a child needs 11 to 15 hours of sleep per day depending on the age. Lack of sleep can cause several health problems, including low immunity.

Solution: Make sure your child consumes freshly cooked home food, vegetables, fruits, and plenty of liquids. Encourage a proper sleep cycle by keeping technical gadgets like computers, tablets, smartphones, etc. away during their bedtime.

Overusing medicines

Another bad habit that several toddler-parents resort to is the overuse of antibiotics. Regular administration of these medicines will reduce the toddler’s natural resistance to diseases.

Solution: Try home remedies and/or alternative treatments for minor colds, coughs, and upset tummies. Visit a doctor in case of recurring or prolonged health problems.

Lack of hygiene

A weak immune system in a toddler can also be due to a lack of hygiene. If you do not wash the child’s hands before every meal, leave fingernails untrimmed, or let your kid play in filthy areas the immune system is bombarded with germs resulting in reduced immunity.

Solution: Teach your toddler at a very early age to wash hands before each meal. Keep the fingernails trimmed so that no dirt accumulates.

Stress

Can stress cause a weakened immune system? The answer to that is a definite “yes”! Just like in adults, the stress in toddlers can lower immunity.

Solution: Communicate with your child and listen to his or her worries so that you can sort out the emotional problems.

Passive smoking

Toddlers and even older children are more susceptible to the ravages of passive smoking than adults. Second-hand smoking can cause chronic problems like asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, and even cancer.

Solution: Avoid smoking at home and keep your child far away from public smoking areas.

Keep your child happy and healthy!