6 Ways Parents to Improve Their Children's Immune System
Children are prone to illnesses, such as colds or coughs. For that, parents must be extra careful in maintaining personal hygiene and the environment around the child. Come on, see the following reviews to improve the child’s immune system so they don’t get sick easily.
Why are children often sick?
Children’s immune systems are not yet perfect and as strong as adults. Moreover, they don’t understand and don’t really care about the cleanliness of their surroundings. Yes, children still have difficulty distinguishing what is clean and what is dirty. As a result, they are also more susceptible to exposure to germs.
This is the reason why they get sick more easily because many are exposed to bacteria and the risk of getting sick is higher while their immune system is not strong enough.
Parents must improve the child’s immune system
“When a new baby is born, their immune system is not strong enough,” said dr. Charles Shubin, a child health specialist at the University of Maryland, quoted from Parents. A baby’s immune system must adapt first to become stronger.
Slowly, the child’s immune system fights against a series of germs and viruses, and continues until they are immune to these viruses and germs. This is why many doctors consider it normal for a child to fall ill, which is six to eight times a cold, flu, or ear infection. Therefore, parents must play a role in boosting the immune system so that they don’t get sick easily, here’s how:
1. Fulfill their nutritional needs
In newborns, breast milk is the main food as antibodies that increase the immune system in babies. This is done at least until the first two or three months, after which, you can give combination milk with formula milk.
According to research, other benefits of breast milk are to help increase brain power and prevent diseases, such as diabetes, allergies, or ear infections in the future.
When you get older, the combination of vegetables and fruit is very good for health and body development. Some vegetables and fruits contain phytonutrients that can boost the immune system because they increase the production of white blood cells and interferon to fight bacterial and viral infections. These foods also protect children from chronic diseases, such as heart disease and cancer as adults. Serve carrots, green beans, oranges, strawberries, and broccoli on the menu. For a snack, you can prepare yogurt, fruit salad, or nuts.
However, make sure that the food portions are appropriate for the age. Because eating too much can make babies prone to overweight.
2. Monitor sleep time
Studies show that sleep-deprived adults get sick easily because their immune systems fail to fight off viruses, bacteria, or cancer cells.
This also applies to children. As a baby, the time needed to sleep is 18 hours, then toddlers need 12 to 13 hours, and preschoolers need about 10 hours a day to sleep. If the child does not have time to take a nap, then try to sleep early.
3. Maintain personal hygiene and the environment
In addition to maintaining the cleanliness of the environment around the child, you must also monitor the cleanliness of the child’s body. For example, always routinely clean your hands with wet wipes or with water. Because children often put their hands in their mouths. Also make sure the toys are clean and keep the pet star and cage clean. Then, if there is a wound while playing, immediately clean it with water and treat it.
4. Ask him to exercise
Exercise increases the child’s immune system, especially if it is done regularly. Sport is a more useful activity than just playing in the park. Not only children’s health, your body will also be healthier and avoid diseases that can be transmitted to your children.
5. Keep away from cigarette smoke and vehicles
Secondhand smoke and vehicle fumes can irritate the respiratory organs of a child. Children are more susceptible to the negative effects of smoking, such as bronchitis or asthma, than adults when there is cigarette smoke around them. If your partner is a smoker, it is better if you smoke outside the house or it is better if you stop smoking, this will prevent your child from being directly exposed to cigarette smoke. Use a mask on your child when traveling outside to reduce exposure to air pollution.
6. Routinely check the child’s health to the doctor
Going to the doctor is not only when the child is sick, you need to check the child’s health regularly. This is done to check the possibility of a disease whose symptoms are often underestimated.
When the child is sick, you also should not force the doctor to give antibiotics or do imaging tests (CT scan or X-ray). Because, diseases that often occur in children are often caused by viruses. When given antibiotics, certain bacteria actually become resistant to drugs.
Hello Health Group and Hello Sehat do not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please check our editorial policy page for more detailed information.
