8 Ways to Improve your Toddler’s Immunity

You’ve just stopped your child from putting a crayon in her mouth, and you turn around to see her chewing on her doll’s hand. No, you tell her, and put it away and she promptly sticks her fist in her mouth, giving you a triumphant grin.

For a toddler, the entire world’s a giant lollipop. Everything needs to be explored through touch and taste, but these early explorations also leave our children exposed to germs, viruses and bacteria, and consequently, sickness and infection.

So how can we ensure they remain healthy and free from serious ailments?

Here are eight ways to help strengthen and support our child’s immune system:

1. Proper nutrition for you and your child

The foundation for a good immune system starts in the womb. So, if you’re pregnant, ensure you’re eating a balanced, nutritious diet. Post-delivery, breast-feeding improves and increases the baby’s immunity. As a child grows, she needs a balanced diet that contains all the nutrients needed to support a strong immune system.

2. Avoid unnecessary antibiotics

Over reliance on antibiotics harms the immune system and children are more likely to get sick, with longer, more stubborn infections caused by more resistant bacteria.

3. Create a healthy home environment

Secondhand smoke increases a child's risk of SIDS, bronchitis, ear infections, and asthma. So, make sure you keep your child away from smoking areas.

4. Get enough sleep

Body rest is very important to activate the immune system and promote growth. In fact, the human growth hormone works best when our children get 8-10 hours of sleep a night.

5. Have a healthy diet

Give your child a wide variety of fruits and vegetables to build his immune system. Make sure to supplement his diet with Prebiotics and Probiotics, which can help prevent tummy aches, diarrhoea, food poisoning, food allergies, eczema, sinus infections, bronchitis, pneumonia and colds.

You could always make a smoothie or find creative ways to include them in their favourite foods.Also, make sure your child drinks enough water, which will help support his immune system.

6. Get fresh air and exercise

Go for a walk, play in the park, let your children climb, jump, run and dance. Mother Nature has an excellent stimulation effect on immune system.

7. Establish good hygiene

Washing hands before eating, covering their mouth when they cough, brushing teeth twice daily, having a bath – all these are habits we need to inculcate in children from a young age.

8. Spend quality time and reduce their anxiety

It might seem obvious, but our children need our undivided love and attention to be happy and healthy. When children feel secure in our love, it helps them deal with the stress and anxiety, which is a part of modern living.