Parents understand that protecting children from becoming sick is an almost-impossible task. It is important for parents to know how to increase immunity in child. While we can’t prevent our children from falling ill, we can make sure that they remain healthy and free from serious ailments. Nowadays, it is very common for children to get a cold or flu. Although this is usually because of the weather, sometimes it is caused by a weak immune system. Immunization is a popular and effective method to protect children from illnesses and help them to lead healthy lives. However, injections are not the only option. There are many ways through which a child’s immune system can be strengthened and this article will explain exactly what some of them are.

10 Easy Ways to Increase Immunity in Child

Listed below are top 10 ways to increase immunity in child. See which one works best for you.

1. Breastfeed Your Baby

Breast milk is a great way to improve and increase immunity in children, because it contains antibodies and white blood cells, both of which boost the immune system and help the body to fight against diseases. Breast milk promises safety for the child against illnesses such as ear infections, allergies, colds and so on. Moreover, it also enhances the baby’s brain power. Many doctors recommend that mothers should breastfeed their children for at least the first year of their life.

2. Offer a Variety of Fruits & Vegetables 

Include carrots, beans, oranges and strawberries in your child’s diet–these are great for boosting a child’s immune system and they also provide plenty of vitamins. These fruits and vegetables increase the number of white blood cells and provide a sort of cell coating which acts as a barrier against viruses. If your children aren’t one for fruits and veggies, then whip up some fruit smoothies or vegetable pies for them to eat. Making food fun is also persuasive: get your kids to help you make fruit salads or reward good eating with extra playtime, a new book or a sticker on a chart.

There are also other foods that help to improve the immune system, for example, yoghurt, kefir, walnuts and lean meats.Yoghurts and kefir are probiotic, and studies have found that people who include yoghurt in their diet decrease their chances of colds, ear and throat infections by approximately 20%. Walnuts have omega fatty acids which help fight illnesses and lean meat has a lot of zinc which helps to make white blood cells stronger, so it is a good idea to give children about 250mg of zinc per day, whereas adults need double the dose.

3. Have Enough Sleep

Sleep deprivation has many disadvantages, one of which is increased vulnerability to illnesses. Parents should set a certain time of napping for their child; newborns need up to 18 hours of sleep per day and toddlers need about 12 hours of sleep. As a child keeps growing, the sleeping time does go down, but special care needs to be taken to make sure young children sleep for at least around 8 hours.

4. Increase Exercise Time

Exercise is a great way to keep yourself as well as your children free from diseases. If you take your children to weekly swimming classes, they’ll be getting incredible amounts of exercise while you can rest for a quiet hour or get other chores out of the way. Even a small game of cricket or baseball with the family before dinner is a great way to pump children up before they eatas well as a chance to spend some quality family time together. Exercise works best when parents encourage it, so you should take initiatives to keep it regular and your children will pick up the habit in no time.

5. Establish Good Hygiene Habits

If you teach your child about good hygiene habits, then they will remember them forever. Good hygiene does not promise a better immune system, but it does reduce pressure, allowing the immune system to focus on more major threatsinstead of dealing with everyday germs. Be a role model for your child and pay attention especially after they have played outside or come home after school. Teach them about brushing their teeth twice a day, washing their hands after using the bathroom and before eating meals, wearing clean clothes and having regular baths. Give them their own little bottle of hand sanitizer as a way to give them a feeling of responsibility–they’ll use it all the time!

6. Create a Healthy Home Environment

Smoking is not just bad for the smokers; it is also harmful for people around them. If you want your child to be healthy and happy, then it’s best to quit smoking. The smoke released from the cigarette kills and irritates important cells in our body. For people who find it difficult to quit smoking, make sure that smoking is done outside the house and away from the child.

Other elements can hinder the creation of a healthy home environment. A lot of pollutioncan seep into your house from the windows and doors. Also, there is a lot of toxic air surrounding us. You should also watch out for pests in the garden. All of these can affect the immune system more or less.

7. Love Your Child and Reduce Their Stress

Though this sounds like something obvious, unfortunately, it is something parents today are neglecting. Make sure that your child feels being loved, and help them deal with the stress and anxiety caused by their over-scheduled daily life. This will help them benefit in physical and psychological ways. If they feel better, chances are their immune system will respond better. Stress is one of the major factors contributing to the downfall of the immune system, so do not overlook it as something insignificant to children. Studies have actually shown that laughter and health have a positive correlation; the more one laughs, the better his health will be.

8. Fever Isn’t That Bad

Most people do not know why fevers appear so quickly, and when there is a rise in a child’s temperature, red flags shoot up in parents’ minds. A fever actually is the body’s response to an illness, but not an illness itself. The truth is that a high temperature shows that the immune system is working just fine to keep the body healthy. However, it doesn’t mean you should leave your child suffering; take him to a doctor when necessary.

9. Avoid Unnecessary Antibiotics and Vaccines

While antibiotics are essential and helpful in today’s world, people are relying too much on antibiotics. When you are dealing with these matters, you should remember the principle: a little does a lot.Taking too much antibiotics harms the immune system and the body may start resisting the medicine itself. The same goes for vaccinations; too many shots can put too much pressure on the immune system. Most shots are given while children are very young and their system is still developing. Although these shots are necessary, they can stunt the growth of the immune system.

10. Try Some Supplements and Herbs

Vitamin D and zinc are great at improving the immune system. There are so many herbs out there, like elderberry and astragalus, which can work wonders in healing respiratory infections.However, do remember to consult your doctor before buying or using anything in particular.

Watch this video to learn about foods that increase immunity in children: