HOW DO YOU BOOST YOUR KID’S IMMUNE SYSTEM NATURALLY?

Written by Liza John 

It is safe to say that most parents fight the urge to place their kids in a bubble before sending them out into the world. Much to everyone’s displeasure, occasional sniffles and common colds are necessary parts of being a child. Even then, there is much you can do as a parent in order to equip your child against the other, more potent, diseases.  

The best time to start boosting your child’s immunity is right after birth. You can get a head start by consuming sufficient fruits and vegetables during pregnancy and staying hydrated during the time. Experts recommend breastfeeding to aid in building the baby’s immune system because breast milk contains HMOs and Colostrum which helps the body produce probiotics and antibodies. Parents who choose formula over breast milk should take care to use ones that include benefits of breastmilk.  

More than emotional bonding, skin-to-skin contact with the parent in the first few hours after birth has other health benefits. This way, parents can pass on some microbes from their bodies into the baby’s budding microbiome. If your child is past the newborn stage, there are other ways to naturally boost their immune system.  

The role of gut health is unavoidable in immunity. The billions of microbes residing in the human gastrointestinal tract, to an extent, can determine the strength of an individual’s immunity. It is necessary to maintain a balance between the ‘good’ and the ‘bad’ microbes so that the body is prepared for anything thrown at it.  

Food And Immunity  

The adage ‘you are what you eat’ holds true when it comes to boosting your child’s immune system. Once the junior starts on solid food, feeding them whole foods, raw, cooked, or pureed, can strengthen their growing immune system.  

Foods like bananas and asparagus are rich in prebiotics which promote the growth of probiotics. Remember to include more greens in the kid’s meals. Vegetables like broccoli and kale are loaded with B-vitamins and they help in detoxifying the body even from pollution and second-hand smoking.  

Regulating the amount of sugar consumed by children ensures the reduction of pathogenic bacteria in the gut. You can swap unhealthy sugars in your child’s diet with fruits and fermented foods like yogurt to help their microbiome.  

Keep It Moving  

Regular exercise from childhood ensures that the individual develops a fitness habit. Exercise increases the natural killer cells in the system which enables the body to fight infections. This benefit is not restricted to the young ones, an hour of physical activity is beneficial to adults as well.  

If you have a pet, letting the child play with them from an early age guarantees that their microbiome is diverse. This can also be done by allowing the kids to play outdoors as much as possible. Vitamin D is critical to a child’s growing immune system.     

Catch More Shuteye  

Sleep is when the body restores and repairs itself. Children need a minimum of 8-10 hours of uninterrupted sleep-in order to stay healthy. Well-rested kids remain energized and are more likely to fight off oncoming sickness. Thus, sleep hygiene has a significant role in boosting immunity.  

Preventing kids from getting screen time right before bed can enhance their sleep schedule. Also, stress and anxiety in children during the day can mess up their quality of sleep. Parents should always try to pay attention to such details in their children to ensure their health.    

Think Twice Before Antibiotics  

There is no harm in getting expert medical advice when the kids fall sick but using antibiotics for every possible ailment is unadvised. Statistics show that almost 30% of the antibiotic prescriptions made annually are unnecessary. Antibiotics are designed to destroy the harmful bacteria in the body and as they work, they also kill off the microbes needed by the system.  

This can seriously damper the kid’s immune system slowly. Therefore, always inquire with your doctor before utilizing the antibiotics. Chances are that the immune system may get rid of the disease on its own, or you may find alternatives to antibiotics and preserve the child’s microbiome.     

Bottom Line  

Since prevention is always better than cure, it is only wise to strengthen your child’s immune response. It is best to familiarize the kids with such practices as early as possible to carry them into their adult life. Proper personal hygiene combined with a strong immune system can help your little one fight off most of the germs that come their way.