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Did you know that children under the age of 6 get an average of six to eight colds a year?
Other issues such as ear infections, bouts of diarrhoea and other illnesses also occur rather regularly when your child is still an infant. On top of that, some also have allergies, asthma and eczema.
While falling sick once in a while is normal and highly inevitable, there are tips that you can learn and steps that you can take to help reduce the frequency in which your infant falls ill.
Today, we discuss the tips to boost your infant’s health and immune system.
So, get your pen and notebook ready to jot down the healthy habits you can adopt that will give your child's immune system a boost.
Tip # 1: Load up on fruits and vegetables
This is definitely not new to you.
Vegetables and fruits are important sources of vitamins, minerals, fibre, and antioxidants, all of which are important to the health and development of your infant.
However, not many of us as parents, know the specific fruits and vegetables that can help to boost your infant’s immune system.
Fruits and vegetables like carrots, green beans, oranges, and strawberries contain carotenoids, which are immunity-boosting phytonutrients.
Phytonutrients help to increase the body's production of infection-fighting white blood cells and interferon, an antibody that coats cell surfaces, blocking out viruses.
In addition, diets that are rich in phytonutrients not only boost your infant’s immune system. It can also protect against such chronic diseases such as heart diseases and cancer all through to adulthood!
To get all these wonderful benefits of fruits and vegetables, try to get your infant to eat at least 10 tablespoons of fruits and vegetable a day!
At our childcare at Tampines, nutritious meals are specially planned according to the dietary recommendations for infants!
Tip # 2: Sleep is for the strong
As we know, as adults, we often are more susceptible to illnesses when we work overtime for too many days, or when we lack sleep.
This fact holds true for infants and children too! So, don’t believe those who say that sleep is for the week.
On the contrary, sleep is for the strong!
Sleep deprivation will weaken your child’s immune system, causing them to fall sick more often. Moreover, studies have shown that kids who regularly get an adequate amount of sleep have improved attention, behaviour, learning, memory, and overall mental and physical health!
Children need different amounts of sleep, depending on their age. Understanding your child's sleeping needs and unique sleep patterns is important for you to put them to bed.
As a guide, follow:
· 1 to 4 weeks old: New-borns sleep approximately 16 to 17 hours a day. They have not developed a night/day sleep cycle.
· 1 to 4 months old: Babies of this age still tend to sleep about the same number of hours, but their night/day sleep cycles begin to kick in, allowing them to sleep longer at night.
· 4 months to 1 year: Babies of this age still require between 14 to 15 hours of sleep daily. Most of them are able to sleep through most of the night. During this period, it is important to establish healthy sleep habits for your child.
· 1 to 3 years: Most toddlers need about 12 to 14 hours of sleep.
· 3 to 7 years- Approximately 11 to 12 hours of sleep.
At Nurture Infant’s Tampines Preschool, we have designated areas for sleep and play in a double-storey building. So, you can rest assured that you child will have quality sleep!
Tip # 3: Prevent germ spread
To reduce stress on your child’s immune system, it is essential that you prevent the spread of germs in your surroundings.
To do so, make sure your infant’s hands are clean.
Wash their hands with soap, or if you really are unable to find soap, sanitize their hands and the surfaces that they often have contact with.
If your child is older and you want to encourage them to wash their hands with soap, buy brightly coloured and attractive looking soap bars or brightly coloured hand towels to help them get into this good habit.
You should also have a bag of disposable wet wipes with you all the time so that you can readily do a quick clean up, wipe their hands after playing, or blow their nose.
Tip # 4: Quit smoking
This tip is mostly directed to parents who smoke! Second hand smoke increases a child's risk of bronchitis, ear infections, and asthma.
It may also affect intelligence and neurological development. So, if you or your partner smokes, try your best to quit for the benefit of your infant.
The Bottom-line
Falling sick is inevitable, whether it is for infants or adults.
While you are unable to completely prevent your child from falling sick, there are steps you can take to reduce the frequency that that happens! With these tips to boost your infant’s immunity that you can take, your infant is well on his or her way to better health!
Nurture Infant House (Tampines) At Nurture Infant House, our passion is to love and care for each infant and to provide a safe and interactive environment for infants to learn and grow in body and in mind independently. If you are looking for infant care in Tampines or in East, do visit Nurture Infant House. We have over 30 years of experience in nurturing thousands of infants, toddlers and pre-schoolers.
If you are looking for a preschool for toddlers and older children in Tampines or in East,
do visit Genesis Childcare 1989.
Feel free to book an appointment through WhatsApp.
You can visit us at the following venues:
Nurture Infant House (Tampines) (2 to 18 months Infants) Blk 433 Tampines Street 43 #01-61 Singapore 520433
Tel: 96664141
Genesis Childcare 1989 (Tampines)
Blk 433 Tampines Street 43 #01-63/65 Singapore 520433
Tel: 96664141