5 Immune Boosting Tips for Children
Pediatrician in Bakersfield
Everyone wants the best for their children. This is even more true when it comes to their health. As responsible parents, nothing worries you more than the thought of them getting sick. So it’s no wonder why parents are willing to take every precaution and boosting their immune system is a great way to ensure your child’s long-term health. Here are 5 tips on how you can boost the immune system of your child.
Keep to the immunization schedule
Ensuring that your child is fully up to date with their immunizations is perhaps the best thing that you can do to ensure that your child’s immune system is in top shape. While parents may know about the most basic vaccines such as MMR protection, the reality is that there are a huge number of viruses and diseases that vaccines can protect against.
Check out the CDC Immunization Schedule to learn more
Follow a healthy sleep schedule
Everyone knows how important a good night’s sleep is to their ability to function normally throughout the day, but it actually goes a lot further when it comes to the health of your child. Sleep deprivation can lead to many kinds of health problems and makes children more susceptible to illness. That’s why it’s so important to give your children a good, consistent bedtime.
Plenty of fruits and vegetables
Kids can be fussy eaters but it’s important to encourage them to eat a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. Each individual fruit or vegetable is packed with wonderful vitamins and minerals but your kids will only enjoy the benefits if they eat a varied diet. A good way to think of it (and make it fun) is to “eat the rainbow” and try fruits and veggies of all different colors.
Breastfeed
For babies, you want to try and breastfeed as much as possible. While many mothers may find it to be uncomfortable and even difficult, breast milk has such a huge array of nutritional benefits for your baby. Nursing guards against ear infections, allergies, diarrhea, pneumonia, meningitis, urinary tract infections, and sudden infant death syndrome. Studies have also shown that there is a strong connection with breastfeeding and positive cognitive development.
Avoid second hand smoke
Everyone knows that smoking is harmful and the threats of second hand smoke are now clear. It contains over 7,000 deadly chemicals that can harm or even kill cells. And while it’s already bad for adults, for children these effects are compounded. It can be responsible for bronchitis, ear infections, and asthma while also damaging your child’s development. So if you or any member of the household is a smoker, it’s very important to keep smoke away from the home.
Summary
It’s never easy being a parent that worries about their child. Those early developmental years are so crucial to the long-term health of your child that it’s easy to panic about every cold, scrape, or tummy bug. But with these tips, you can help give your kids’ immune system the best possible chance.
If you’re looking for a Pediatrician in Bakersfield, check out Kern Pediatrics!
