Elsa, (not her real name), 28, finds that her toddler Ryan is always falling sick compared to other kids his age. She notices too that Mary’s child Liam (not their real names), who is about the same age as Ryan, is hardly ever unwell except for the odd cough or cold now and then. Could there be anything the two moms are doing differently that may be reaping different outcomes for their children’s health? Let’s find out!

Firstly, what’s interesting about both Ryan and Liam is that both started off on breast milk. However, Ryan was weaned off it at five months while Liam continued on breast milk right up to 20 months. While that fact alone may provide sufficient reason as to why Liam seems generally healthier compared to his playmate, there is more.

While we all know that getting sick may be part and parcel of growing up, it does not mean though that parents have to completely surrender to these circumstances. There are always ways to boost a child’s immunity levels so that they’re better able to fight of cold, coughs and the flu – and yes, giving them a good start with breast milk is one of them.

If you haven’t taken that route though, or have weaned your little one off breast milk sooner, there are still many ways you can achieve better immunity levels for your growing child and keep coughs, colds and flu to a minimum.
Here are some pointers.

1. Does your little one get enough rest?

The immune system is a complex one. It takes a lot of energy to fend off illnesses as well as to heal them. Tired bodies can’t tap into this system well. That’s why it’s important that junior gets enough sleep and rest whenever needed, to recharge that growing body so that it’ll be better at fighting off illnesses.

Remember too, that if your little one does somehow fall sick, again, sufficient rest is paramount for quicker recovery. So, do you think your little one is getting enough daily rest through his naps and sleep time? If not, remedy that and you’ll soon find that junior has more energy to play, learn and fend off sicknesses too.

2. Are you serving enough fruits and vegetables daily?

It’s all too easy to overlook this one, as many parents of young children can tell you. Elsa, for example, didn’t see the need to place too much effort in getting little Ryan to try new fruits and vegetables, especially since the little one tends to turn his nose up on most of them.

Mary, on the other hand, although faced with the same dilemma, came up with all sorts of ways to ensure that Liam gets his share of wholesome fruits and vegetables. Her efforts paid off eventually when Liam slowly started to accept most of them into his diet. The difference here is that one mom gave up and the other did not, and the results could somehow be seen in their kids’ overall health.

Immune-boosting nutrients such as phyto nutrients, e.g Vitamin C and carotenoids should be consumed everyday. They are abundant in fruits and vegetables. Growing bodies need them to help increase the production of infection-fighting white blood cells and interferon, an antibody that coats cell surfaces, blocking out viruses. Although there may be many other things that the two moms may be doing differently, this definitely counts as one of them that matters.

Is your child active or sedentary?

Active bodies are fitter and stronger than inactive ones. Body movements help to excrete bacteria from the lungs and airways and thus may reduce your chance of getting a cold, flu, or other illness. To be fair, in the case of Ryan and Liam, both love to play at the local playground under the watchful eyes of their parents.

However, not surprisingly, Liam seems to be able to make the best of playtime, with more energy to climb, jump and run about compared to Ryan, who at times seem to lack the motivation or drive to take part in the usual playground activities.

Hygiene matters!

Whether you like it or not, germs can cause sicknesses and they are everywhere! The dangerous ones are capable of making kids fall ill quite easily. Washing hands whenever needed, good toilet hygiene practices, and other basic hygiene practices have to be taught and followed up on till they become daily germ busting habits!

Keeping themselves and their environment clean will help little ones fend of dangerous germs and organisms that may make them sick, thus lending their immune system a hand.

There’s a smoker in Ryan’s home – Enough said

While it goes without saying that smoking is devastating to the health, secondhand smoke is also just as bad for the human body and children in particular are especially susceptible to it. Secondhand smoke significantly reduces the body’s immunity towards illnesses. Instead, it increases the risk of bronchitis, ear infections, and asthma.

If you’re serious about strengthening your child’s immune system, take heed on this one. As it turns out, Ryan’s father smokes in their home, sometimes with the air-conditioner on and the windows closed! Could this be one of the reasons why he keeps falling ill? We say, yes, it probably is!