Building Immunity in Children (Winter Special)

Don’t let winter bugs take away winter fun from your child

The nip in the air gives out a message loud and clear – “Winters are here!!” Of course, it is now the season of celebrations and fun. But, it also spells doom for moms of little ones, who now have to keep their kids safe from cold, coughs, fevers and what not. Frequent visits to the doctor and timely doses of medications would now become a norm in homes with children.

Well, this winter, why not try and boost the immunity of the little munchkins so that they are less prone to illnesses and infections. What’s more an enhanced immunity would mean that they can make the most of their winter vacations.

Here are some tips that can help you in building the immunity of your children this winter.

1. Staying Hydrated is the Key: With the winters coming in, there is a significant drop in the amount of fluid consumed by kids. Though it may not be very apparent, this could leave the body dehydrated which is one of the major reasons for contracting infections.

Thus, it is important to ensure that your little ones consume enough water and other fluids during the day. Every now and then, you can replace water with fresh fruit juices and hot chocolate too.

2. It is all about a Healthy Diet: There is no denying the fact that little ones thrive on all things processed and unhealthy. While it might be okay to indulge them sometimes, a balanced and healthy diet is what will help in boosting their immunity during the winter months.

Opting for whole grains and other natural food items will provide the necessary nutrients to your children and prevent them from falling prey to the various winter related illnesses.

3. Stock up on Vitamin C: Time and again, health experts have stressed on the importance of vitamin C and how it helps in fighting various infections. Thus, including vitamin C rich food items in your kids’ diet is one of the best ways to boost their immunity.

Berries, oranges, kiwi, lemon, broccoli, bell peppers, green leafy vegetables etc are high in Vitamin C and help in fighting disease causing germs. Incorporating these in your child’s daily diet will help in boosting their immunity. Serve these in form of salads or smoothies or hide these in their favourite dishes.

4. Limiting Sugary Treats: Kids and all things sweet go hand in hand. Though it is not easy to steer kids away from their beloved sugary treats, this is something that needs to be done during the winters.

Intake of too much sugar and sugary delicacies can have an adverse effect on the immune system of the children and make them prone to sudden inflammations and infections. Instead of luring the children with sweetmeats, try to distract them with other delicious and healthy options like homemade pasta, soups etc.

5. Say Yes to Probiotics: One of the best ways to enhance the immunity of a child or a grown up is intake of probiotics. This especially holds true during winters when it is easier to contract infections.

Including probiotic rich food like yoghurt in your child’s daily diet will help in boosting the immunity. You can also buy probiotic supplement from the store.

6. Supplementing with Supplements: You might be planning the meals with a lot of care to ensure that your little one gets all the essential nutrients. However, according to experts there are prone to be some misses. In order to ensure that your child gets all the essential vitamins and minerals, include a supplement in his daily diet.

It would be advisable to consult the doctor and get a prescription for the supplement. This will not only help in making up for the essential nutrients but will also boost the immunity of the child.

7. Restful Snoozing is Essential: Believe it or not, but the wellbeing of a child largely depends on the amount of snooze time he or she gets in a day. Children should sleep for at least 8-10 hours in a day.

Failing to do so can lower the immune powers of the body and can make them prone to contract infections. So, go ahead and alter their time table and their routine such that your kids get enough sleep. This will give a boost to their immunity.

Conclusion

Kids might resist these sudden changes in their daily routine. However, be calm and patient but firm. They will come around slowly yet surely. After all, this is all for their good health and immunity. Following these tips is what will help you to steer your kids away from the regular visits to their doctor this winter.