How To Increase Immunity in Kids: 10 Efficient Ways

When it comes to your children, there is very little you wouldn’t do to ensure they remain in the pink of health. Some parents go as far as being overly protective to ensure that their child sees a specialist, even with the slightest of symptoms. However, it is smart to keep in mind that falling ill and getting sick once in a while is quite common for a child. In fact, once your child starts preschool, it can be almost impossible to avoid illnesses due to germs and viruses as well as other triggers but knowing how to increase immunity in kids can help prevent these to a large extent. With a strong immune system, your child can fend off infections quicker and is also less susceptible to common ailments like the flu.  

As a first step, take the time to learn how to increase immunity in a child naturally. Doing so will instil good habits in both you as a parent and your child too. This is because simply taking the best immune booster for kids or building a diet around immune-boosting foods for toddlers isn’t enough. Other factors like sleeping well, staying active and exercising are also just as important. To help you attend to your children’s health in a more informed way here is how to improve immunity in kids both naturally and with immunity boosters for kids.  

Regulate your child’s sleep 

The first and arguably most important part of learning how to improve a child’s immunity is to realise the value of a good night’s rest. Sleep is important for optimal body function and sleep deprivation is linked to lowering the body’s ability to produce its natural killer cells. This applies to the immune system for kids too and is particularly important for their development. Studies have found that pre-schoolers require about 10 to 13 hours of sleep in a day, whereas infants and toddlers require around up to 16 and 14 hours respectively. 

This can be achieved by allotting nap times during the day and ensuring a strict and early bedtime in the nights. At the stage of preschool, it may become harder to get your child to sleep enough and you can substitute the missing nap hours into an early bedtime.  

Incorporate fruits and vegetables into the child’s daily diet 

When looking for foods to increase immunity in a child naturally, look no further than fruit and vegetables. Carrots, oranges, strawberries, green beans and many others are loaded with carotenoids, which also happen to be immunity-boosting phytonutrients. These increase the body’s ability to produce natural killer cells, white blood cells, and interferon. Getting a healthy serving of greens every day is an incredible immune booster for toddlers and older children alike. Other immunity-boosting foods for kids include nuts and seeds like almonds, walnut and pumpkin seeds, which can easily be mixed in smoothies, as well as eggs, spinach and oats. 

Do not deviate from your children’s immunity booster schedule 

Vaccination schedules are something you simply must not neglect. Ensure that your child gets all their shots on time. Vaccinations protect against chronic disease and aid the immune system in protecting your child against deadly ailments.  

While there are many immunity booster supplements you can buy for kids, such as the Cipla immunity booster, it is best to consult a paediatrician before giving your kids vitamin C, A and D supplementation.  

Keep your children in a smoke-free environment 

Smoking kills healthy cells and interferes with the immune system, which is why you shouldn’t smoke around your children. Second-hand smoke is just as harmful and children also breathe at a much fast rate than adults, meaning a larger amount of smoke is inhaled if they are around it.

Do not self-administer antibiotics unless recommended 

If your child is sick or showing symptoms of an illness you’ve dealt with before, do not resort to antibiotics right away. At no cost should you choose to give any antibiotics you have lying around as this can be harmful. Further, do not pressure your doctor to prescribe antibiotics either. Antibiotics wipe out the good bacteria along with the bad, and this affects a kid’s immunity.  

Exercise with your child 

Physical exercise is the easiest answer to the question of how to increase immunity in kids.  

Working out is known to increase the body’s ability to produce natural killer cells and this also applies to children. To boost their immunity, don’t simply urge them to play outside, but be a part of this activity. Go for a jog, ride a bike, go swimming or hiking and play sports with your child to strengthen the immune system for kids, do yourself some good and build a better bond with them too!

Breast-feed your new-born  

A mother’s milk is said to contain colostrum, which is an incredible baby immune booster. In fact, studies have backed this up and have proven that babies that were breastfed for at least 6 months had better immune systems. This protected them from allergies and made them less prone to infections.

Teach your children proper personal hygiene practices 

Good hygiene doesn’t directly improve your child’s immune system, but it reduces the stress exerted on it. In fact, good hygiene can protect against common viral, bacterial and parasitical infections. Simple practices like washing your hands before and after meals or after playing with animals or after using the toilet as well as brushing before sleeping can go a long way.

Improve gut health with probiotics 

A majority of infections in children arise from the digestive system and maintaining good gut health can prevent these. Foods like yoghurt are rich in probiotics and can be quite easily incorporated into daily meals to ensure the growth of good bacteria in the gut. This is an effective immune booster for kids.

Let your child play outdoors often 

Playing outside can help you child get the required amount of vitamin D, which is key for building a strong immune system. More importantly, playing outside exposes the body to germs and helps the body adapt to these for better protection. When the child is younger, set a time for playing outside in your garden, terrace or in a park. When the child is older, you can enroll them for outdoor tennis, track training and other sports. However, do ensure proper hygiene is maintained once they’re indoors. 

Incorporating immunity boosting foods for toddlers or kids and instilling good personal hygiene habits goes a long way in boosting a kid’s immunity. In fact, a key aspect of learning how to increase immunity in a child is to see the value in immunity food for kids. As mentioned, phytonutrients are crucial to a strong immunity and it all stems from good diet. In conjunction with this, you need to ensure you’re staying regular with vaccines and that you’re paying attention to the early signs of common illnesses.  

Being aware of outbreaks in preschool or any at home can help you tailor your approach to ensure your child stays healthy. In addition to that, you must ensure that you have a good doctor available for consults whenever needed. With the Bajaj Finserv Health App, finding the right child specialist is now easier than ever.  

This app is loaded with telemedicine provisions that make quality healthcare accessible through your smartphone. With it, you can scout for the best doctors in your area, book appointments at their clinics online and also consult with them virtually. As such, remote care is very real option you can turn to if a physical visit isn’t possible or warranted. What’s more, with the app you can track your child’s health, store patient records safely and also learn about health problems in detail. This can help you stay informed about possible symptoms, home remedies and potential complications that can be avoided with proper care. All in all, this digital tool brings healthcare to your fingertips with a convenience-first approach. To enjoy the perks and features it has to offer, download the app for free on the Apple App Store or on Google Play.