Your baby's immune system has to be powerful to grow healthily, for he/she is extremely vulnerable after he opens his eyes to the world. The mother's womb is a safer environment for a baby, with no direct contact with microbes. He/she needs to be protected against microbes and bacteria outside of the womb. Therefore, in this Mom’s Land article, we take a look at the necessary precautions you can take to strengthen your baby’s immune system.
Strengthening your baby's immune system is directly related to food. A healthy and balanced diet will help your baby to fight microbes and produces antibodies against infections. Here are some tips for you to try:
- You should feed your baby little and often.
- You should ensure your baby’s calorie intake is appropriate for his/her age.
- Scientific research proves that breast milk is the most effective food to strengthen the immunity system of your baby.
- Try not to expose your baby to toxic substances such as smoke. Such chemicals can harm the your baby’s immune system.
- Avoid feeding your baby with sugary and fatty foods. Such foods may negatively affect the immune system of your baby.
- You should feed your baby with foods to help strengthen your baby’s immune system. Fruit and vegetables that can be eaten raw are at the top of the list. Garlic is a good example, which is a rich food source in terms of selenium, and also red onion.
- Don't forget vitamin C: fruit and vegetables that are rich in vitamin C, particularly citrus fruits, strengthen the immune system of your baby.
- Fish oil, known to be nutritious for younger babies in particular, plays an important role in strengthening the immune system with omega-3.
- Even though it has not been fully proven yet, a sterile environment for the baby can be harmful for the immune system. As such, it is important for your baby to be exposed to some microbes and bacteria rather than a fully sterile environment, so that his/her immune system is not effectively disabled.
- Natural probiotic foods such as yogurt, kefir and so on are important for strengthening the immune system. With consulting a doctor, you can start feeding your baby with such foods.
