How to boost children's immunity in winter

Breastfeed your baby, eat nutritious food, maintain hygiene and exercise regularly to improve resistance and prevent illness in cold weather.

A healthy immune system protects children from disease-causing bacteria and viruses. Children need to strengthen their resistance in cold weather because they are susceptible to colds and flu. Parents can practice and guide their children in the following healthy habits.

Breastfeed your baby often.

Newborns need to be breastfed for at least the first 6 months of life. Breast milk not only provides nutrition to help children grow but also increases resistance, fighting against gastrointestinal and respiratory infections. Children who cannot be breastfed completely can combine with formula milk.

Healthy nutrition

A healthy diet helps keep the body warm, provides many nutrients and stimulates the immune system to work better. Parents should encourage their children to eat a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables.

Immune-boosting fruits include oranges, grapefruit, blueberries, apples, pears, etc. Yogurt contains many beneficial bacteria for digestion.

Keep clean

Children should wash their hands after coming home from outside, sneezing or coughing. Washing hands with soap and water helps remove bacteria and viruses, reducing infection.

Parents should remind their children not to touch their eyes, nose, mouth or suck their fingers. Covering their mouth when coughing and sneezing, using tissues to wipe their noses, and disposing of them in a covered trash can also prevents the spread of infection to family members.

Washing hands regularly helps protect the body from the penetration of germs and disease-causing bacteria. Photo: Freepik — Washing hands regularly helps protect the body from viruses and bacteria that cause disease. Photo: *Freepik*

Sunbathing

Vitamin D is essential for bone development and the immune system. It supports and activates T cells to fight harmful agents. Cold weather makes children lazy to exercise, but parents should take their children outside to increase exposure to sunlight. Sunscreen should be applied to protect the skin from harmful UV rays.

Get enough sleep

Lack of sleep affects immunity because it reduces the number of cells and antibodies that help protect the body. Children who get enough sleep are healthier and have better immune systems.

A child's daily sleep needs vary with age. Babies 0-3 months need about 15-16 hours of sleep, 4-12 months need 12-15 hours, and this decreases to about 9-12 hours as they get older.

Do exercise

Regular exercise can boost your immune system by increasing the number of infection-fighting T cells. Some exercises like yoga, dancing, playing sports, walking, and playing in the yard are suitable for children's physical strength.

Vaccination

In addition to the above methods of increasing immunity, parents should vaccinate their children. This is a proactive way to protect children from infectious diseases. In addition to the necessary vaccines according to age, children 6 months and older can get a flu shot every year.

Bao Bao (According to Health Shots )

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