Taking care of a toddler is not an easy task. They are at a curious age where they want to explore their surroundings by using their hands and their mouth. Of course, this means that they might come across things that will be harmful to their health.
Because of this, it is crucial to use some strategies to build the immune system of your toddler. It will benefit them at this age and later on in their life. Keep reading for a complete guide to boosting their immune system.
Key Notes
- Go for annual flu shots and vaccine shots for immunity
- Make the right nutritional choices to ensure a balanced diet
- Opt for lifestyle changes such as a consistent sleep schedule
- Teach toddlers how to stay free of germs
Strategy #1: Healthcare Strategies
There are various healthcare strategies you can choose to ensure a strong immune system in your child. Your first strategy should be to keep up with all the vaccinations.
This means that you get all the vaccine shots and follow the doctor’s recommendations on what vaccines your child needs.
Besides that, it is also crucial to opt for annual flu shots. These are usually given in the fall before the flu season. It will help curb flu issues so that your child doesn’t experience them frequently.
Finally, many doctors prescribe antibiotics for the common cold, but they are not really helpful. You should watch their use if you want to build your child’s immune system.
We recommend that you only use antibiotics when your child really needs them to ensure their effectiveness.
Strategy #2: Nutrition
You are what you eat, which is why you need to make smart choices when it comes to nutrition. Here are some sub-strategies under this topic that you must employ:
Balanced Diet
You must ensure that your toddler has a balanced diet by choosing smart foods. There are many foods that will prove to be your toddler’s immune system’s best friend. These include:
- Peanut butter
- Fortified cereals
- Strawberries and citrus fruits
- Eggs
- Lean meat
- Whole grains
- And much more
All of these foods are part of a well-balanced diet for your toddler.
Of course, you can also incorporate other foods that provide nutrients such as iron, folate, and much more. Such foods will boost the toddler’s immunity in no time.
Use The Power Of Yogurt
Yoghurt is one of the best foods to feed your toddler because of the live cultures that live in it. These can support immunity and ensure a healthy gut. Make sure that when you select yoghurt, you opt for a label that says active and live cultures.
Once you select such a yoghurt, you will notice a boost in immunity yourself. Even adults need to have yoghurt because of the good bacteria in it that feeds the gut.
Listen To The Pediatrician
Every toddler is unique and will have different needs based on weight, health, and many other factors. That is why you must listen to your paediatrician when they talk about nutrition for your child. Following their orders will guarantee that you are building healthy habits in your toddler.
In the long run, it will benefit your toddler’s health. As a result, they will lead happier and healthier lives for a long time to come.
Strategy #3: Lifestyle Changes
The lifestyle of a toddler reflects their health and how it will shape up. You have to create a healthy lifestyle and routine so that they can take this with them in their adulthood. For example, one important lifestyle strategy is to ensure that the toddler gets enough sleep every day.
Sleep is an important part of our life that keeps our brains and immune systems healthy. As a general rule of thumb, toddlers need between 11 and 14 hours of sleep each day.
You can encourage napping for this purpose so that they are fulfilling their daily sleep requirements.
Another important aspect of this strategy is to ensure activity in your child’s life. Movement is one of the most important things for the body, which is why you must include active play such as jumping, running, and much more.
In the long run, it will help your child say flexible, maintain a healthy weight, and keep their body moving.
Strategy #4: Keeping Toddlers Away From Germs
Germs are everywhere, which is why it is crucial to teach a toddler basic techniques that will keep them germ-free. The first one can be to teach them proper hand washing.
Here is how you can teach them:
- Provide a step stool for them to reach the skin
- Show how to build lather with soap and water
- Demonstrate washing palms, hands, and between the fingers
- Make sure they are doing this for at least 20 seconds
- Teach them to wash their hands before and after eating and playing outside
You can tell them to sing the alphabet song while they are washing their hands. It will allow them to stick with this task long enough for them to get rid of any germs.
On the other hand, you must also teach your toddler to keep their hands out of their nose.
Toddlers love to put their fingers in their noses and then put them in their mouths as they explore things through oral means too.
Of course, this can transfer germs from the nose to the mouth, which can lead to many health issues.
You must actively discourage this habit and make sure that they disinfect their hands each time they start picking their nose.
Final Thoughts
These are some of the most simple and effective strategies you can use to boost the immune system of your toddler.
You will have to be consistent with these strategies for them to be effective for a long time. Besides that, you can also ask your toddler’s paediatrician what you can do.
After all, they know your toddler and their health best, which is why you will get advice specific to your case.
However, these are general strategies that every parent should incorporate for their toddler’s immune system.
