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What can you do to protect your child from the endless array of germs and viruses they encounter? Unfortunately, in some ways, getting sick is simply part of the child job description. We all want to protect our kids whether it be from falls, bumps and bruises — or avoidable infections and diseases. To help your child avoid illness, it’s important to encourage good habits and take steps to boost their immune system from an early age.
Some healthy habits can serve as an immune booster for kids, such as eating more vegetables, getting enough sleep, and washing your hands regularly. Here are ways to kick your kid’s immune system into high gear.
- Serve more fruits and vegetables – Carrots, green beans, oranges and strawberries or probiotics for kids >>CLICK HERE<< that contain carotenoids which can boost immunity and restoring beneficial flora for optimum nutrient absorption and digestion.
- Exercise as a family – Research shows that exercise increases the number of natural killer cells in adults and regular activity can benefit kids in the same way.
- Get sufficient sleep – Sleep deprivation in adults or children are more susceptible to illness by reducing natural killer cells, immune-system weapons that attack microbes and cancer cells.
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Sleep requirements for each night vary by age:
Babies (0-3 months) – 14 to 17 hours
Babies (4-12 months) – 12 to 16 hours
Children (1-2 years old) – 11 to 14 hours
Kids (3-5 years old) – 10 to 13 hours
Kids (6-12 years old) – 9 to 12 hours
Teens (13-18 years old) – 8 to 10 hours
Hygiene is also one of ways to boost immunity. It is most important to wash hands before preparing meals, or after going to the toilet. The immune system includes the skin and its oil, so washing the hands helps to reduce the spread of pathogens. Very young infants should avoid contact with sick people, and not be exposed to smoking in the home, chemicals (choose organic food where possible) and pollutants in the air.
