6 Tips to Boost Your Child's Immunity

One of the most important jobs we have as parents is to keep our children safe and healthy. We teach them to cross the road safely and to not talk to strangers, but shielding our children from germs and illnesses is much more difficult. They are things that are, for the most part, out of our control. At the end of the day, there’s no way of avoiding every single stomach bug or flu. A good way to help keep them safe from catching infections or colds is through boosting their immunity and giving them the right nutrients and supplements to keep their immune systems strong.

1.Give them the right vitamins

rnVitamins are the best way to keep our bodies in top condition and our immune systems strong, and it should start in childhood. While in a perfect world we would get all of our nutrients from the food we eat, the reality is that many of us simply cannot access every vitamin and mineral that we need. When it comes to vitamins for children, you can tailor the vitamins they take to their specific needs or go for a multivitamin that covers all bases.

2.Encourage them to be active

Regular exercise is important for children to build strength, stamina and also to strengthen their immune systems. This is because doing some physical activity gets their blood pumping around their bodies and keeps their lungs and hearts strong too.

3.Make sure they have good sleeping habits

Sleep is absolutely essential for keeping healthy, and boosts your child’s immunity because it gives their bodies time to heal. When we sleep, our cells regenerate and our muscles have time to repair themselves. So try to get your children into good sleeping habits where they get from 8 - 10 hours of sleep a night, every night. Developing a healthy sleeping pattern also comes with consistency. So going to bed and waking up at similar times in the week also keeps them healthy - so try to limit late nights and sleep-ins.

4.Eat the rainbow

Whatever we put into our bodies either helps or hinders our immune systems, which is why a healthy diet is so vital. The food we eat needs to cover a range of different nutrients and vitamins, often found in fruit and vegetables. A good rule of thumb is to feed your children a rainbow when it comes to the colors of the fruits and vegetables that they eat. Different colored vegetables and fruits contain different vitamins and nutrients that will keep them fit and healthy.

5.Keep them away from bad chemicals>/h2> Being exposed to habits such as smoking can be hugely detrimental to your child’s immunity. Inhaling second hand smoke can cause respiratory problems for your child and therefore weaken their immune system. If you or your partner smokes, then it is best to quit, or if that isn’t possible, never smoke around your children or in the house.

6.Teach them good hygiene habits

The coronavirus pandemic has reminded us of how personal hygiene can keep us protected from germs, and this is a habit that all children should be taught from a young age. Try to encourage your children to wash their hands regularly and properly, and avoid touching their faces or mouths. This boosts their immune system by reducing the exposure they have to germs and infections, thereby reducing their chances of falling ill.