12 Natural Ways to Boost Your Child's Immunity

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Mason starts preschool in less than a month. I can’t believe it. I remember telling him that he was going to go to preschool and he was SO excited. I remember gently telling him that it doesn’t start YET and that he still has a couple of months until it begins yet here we are. One month away from my sweet boy going to preschool. How did this happen?

I didn’t expect to get teary while I was writing this post but yet here I am. My baby is going to preschool and before I know it it will be Kindergarten and then middle school and high school. I’m sure you understand. I worry so much about him and what school will be like for him. Will he be “good”? Will everyone appreciate him for who he is? Will his teacher treat him with love and respect? Will he make friends?

I also find myself worrying about him getting sick. Lately my boy has been getting sick. High fevers with no explanation and no other symptoms. What gives?It has led me to really think about what we feed him and how it effects his health and the things that we can do to help boost his immune system. Here are some ways I will help build his immunity.

Get Physical

Mason is only going to school three days out of the week so the other days of the week and after school it’s important to keep him moving and active especially when the winter comes. Letting him run around freely or bring him to the play ground helps him relieve and tension he may be having or stress!

Vitamin D

Being deficient in Vitamin D lowers your immunity. It occurs naturally in very few foods so making sure your little one gets enough through sunlight and supplements is very important!

Eat Fish

Omega 3 fatty acids are found in fish and can help boost your child’s immune system. You can have them take a supplement or make sure you’re they’re eating fish as part of their weekly diet!

Sleep

Make sure that your child is getting about 8-10 hours of sleep every night. Having a 3 1/2 year old I know it isn’t always easy but being as consistent as you can with the amount of sleep your child gets in the long run will be helpful in boosting their immune system. Getting enough sleep sets them up for being happier and stressing less!

Garlic

Garlic is a common remedy used to boost the immune system. It has anti-microbial properties that can fight off certain bacteria and viruses. Most recently I’ve seen garlic oil to treat ear infections by dropping a few drops into the ear. You can use it in it’s oil form, as a supplement or in your cooking. Personally I love Broccoli Garlic and Oil over penne!

Water

Limit the amount of juice that your child gets and make sure that they’re getting water instead. Water helps keep your body functioning which makes it preform at its best!

Massage

I’m no professional but after bath time when I’m putting on lotion I make sure to give them a little massage. Nothing crazy but they both seem to enjoy the skin to skin contact which helps them relax! Massage promotes circulation would should promote overall well being.

Stress Less

Why avoid stress? When you’re stressed your body pumps out adrenaline and cortisol which is taxing on your body and lowers your immunity. Mason is only 3 1/2 but certain things do stress him out which in turn stress me out because I hate when he gets upset. When he gets stressed out or anxious over certain things we do our best to calm him down as quickly as possible. The best way to lower stress for Mason? We make him laugh!

Play Dates

Making play dates to help boost immunity may seem like the opposite of what you want to do however research shows that those who are social are less susceptible to getting a common cold. This includes your furry friends! When you think about how stress plays an part in your immunity it becomes a little more clear to why playing and laughing with friends can help boost your little one’s immune system!

Fruits & Vegetables

So many nutrients can be found in Fruits & Vegetables so it’s important that your child gets the daily allotment if your child is a toddler or preschool age it’s not as much as you think. Since it’s hard to get your littles to eat their veggies sometimes really push the veggies that are high in A, C and E. Eat the Rainbow and you should be great!

Probiotics

Probiotics can be found in yogurts or taken as a supplement. They help keep your digestive track in tip top shape and can help prevent stomach bugs.

Get Rid of Secondhand Smoke Exposure

Cigarette Smoke contains over 4,000 toxins and since children breathe at a faster rate than adults it effects them more. The toxins found in cigarettes can irritate or kill cells in the body. Secondhand smoke increases a child’s risk of SIDS, bronchitis, ear infections, and asthma. It may also affect intelligence and neurological development. At the very least if you’re smoking in the house or the car. STOP.

As part of our daily routine Mason also takes a multi-vitamin to help us in any area where vitamins are needed and we fall short. Mason has been taking one for well over a year now he often asks for them since they taste so good. This post was inspired by one of his favorite gummy vitamins:

L’il Critters™ are the #1 child gummy vitamin. We are the better tasting gummy vitamin that is preferred by Kids and trusted by Moms. “We Make Nutrition Taste Good.”

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