The stage of raising children’s immunity begins before they are born, any stage of pregnancy, as the expectant mother must pay attention to her health through very important things. These are several important points that enhance the immunity of the child:

• Caring for the health of the expectant mother 

By following:

1. Eating healthy food such as vegetables and fruits to enhance the immunity of the mother and her child.
2. Exercising allowed during pregnancy.
3. Try to reduce stress.
4. Get enough sleep.

• kangaroo care app

There is a style of care called kangaroo care , in which the skin of the baby comes into contact with the skin of the mother and father, especially in the first days after birth, as it helps to transfer beneficial microbes from them to the newborn baby to enhance his immunity.

• Breastfeeding

Colostrum is the milk that the mother’s breast produces immediately after birth and contains antibodies that strengthen immunity and protect the baby’s body from any infection during the first months of his life.

Colostrum also contains sugars that contribute to supporting the health of the beneficial bacteria in the intestines of the child to maintain his digestive system and the development of the immune system.

In addition to the many benefits of breastfeeding, including breast milk containing probiotics, which raise the immunity of children and the mother, as it is transmitted to the child through breastfeeding, and the mother can obtain it from foods such as yogurt.

• Staying longer at home

In the first 6 months of life, the child needs to stay indoors; Because it is more likely to be exposed to infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in addition, anyone who wants to hold a child in his arms should first sterilize his hands.

• get a pet

Having a pet provides a new social experience and new interactions that may contribute to the formation of antibodies within the body that strengthen the immune system. According to experts, safe interaction with pets affects the formation and diversity of beneficial bacteria present in the intestine, and may help prevent the development of asthma .

• Doing sports as a group

According to experts, exercising with the family increases the secretion of natural killers in the body that fight infection.

Raising children’s immunity: important practices

Parents should pay attention to daily practices in the child’s life that will raise their immunity and maintain their health, such as:

1. Maintain personal hygiene

Touch contributes to the transmission of approximately 80% of infections, so a child must learn the correct way to wash his hands using soap and water for at least 20 seconds to remove any microbes and viruses after sneezing, coughing and going to the bathroom to contribute to reducing lung infection by 45%.

2. Adhere to the schedule of vaccinations

Parents should stick to a vaccination schedule from infancy to adulthood to get the measles, mumps, chickenpox and other diseases, and a child with asthma and other chronic diseases should get the flu vaccination annually.

3. Get enough sleep

Healthy sleep raises children’s immunity strongly, as children who do not get enough sleep do not produce cytokines in their body, which fight infection and reduce inflammation.

Learn about the necessary hours of sleep for each age group, as follows:

• 3 – 4 years old: They should sleep 10 – 13 hours a day.
• 6 – 13 years old: They should get 9-11 hours of sleep per day.
• 14-17 years old: Get 8-10 hours each day.

4. Reducing the use of antibiotics

It is not necessary for a child to get antibiotics with every cold he has; Because the flu must take its course in the body before it goes away on its own; Because the effect of excessively unnecessarily taking antibiotics will appear in the long run when the child’s body loses its response to them when needed.

Foods to boost children’s immunity

Some healthy foods can contribute to raising children’s immunity to fight infection and inflammation because of their good impact on their health. Learn about some foods as follows:

1. Yogurt: It contains beneficial bacteria called probiotics that are important in fighting disease and reducing the risk of colds and ear and throat infections.
2. Walnuts: They contain healthy and omega-3 fatty acids that can fight diseases, and omega-3s have been found to have the ability to reduce the incidence of respiratory infections.
3. Fruits and vegetables: You can focus on the varieties that contain high amounts of vitamin C, which is found in citrus fruits, strawberries, sweet peppers, broccoli and sweet potatoes, as it contributes to alleviating colds and flu.
4. Lean meat: It contains proteins that strengthen and raise the immunity of children, and zinc, which enhances the ability of blood cells to fight infections.

source : wikipedia