Keeping Your Child Healthy Through The Seasons

Child sickness can be difficult due to the loss of school time and the costs associated with managing sickness in the home, as well as the challenge of caring for sick children when parents and caregivers work full time. Getting nutrition right at this time of year may play a key role in reducing those sick days.

There are simple ways to strengthen a child’s immunity that don’t involve costly supplements. Nutritious food and drinks contain a range of different vitamins and nutrients that are key to supporting the body’s natural immunity.

When we want to boost our body’s natural defences against colds and flu, we should always start with the food and beverages we consume.

Simple tips to follow to strengthen your child’s immunity

1. Feed them the rainbow

Fruit and vegetables are packed with nutrients: vitamins, minerals, dietary fibre, and more. Fruits, especially seasonal fruits such as citrus, are packed with vitamin C, which plays an important role in boosting immunity. Orange-fleshed vegetables such as butternut, gem squash, pumpkin and sweet potato are packed with vitamin A and carotenoids that benefit immunity. Feeding children a variety of vegetables and fruits with different nutrients not only boosts their immunity, but also plays an important role in their mental wellness.

2. Keep children hydrated

Cold weather can make drinking water difficult, which can lead to dehydration and a dip in mood and exacerbate the symptoms of common colds and flu. Here are some tips for keeping children hydrated this winte:

Add rooibos tea to a child’s daily winter diet. For example, the Laager Rooibos Tea4Kidz range –which is caffeine-free, naturally sugar-free, available in a variety of flavours, and with two flavours that are vitamin C-enriched – is perfect for boosting immunity. Rooibos can be served with or without sugar, honey or milk.

Offer plenty of vegetables and fruit as these contain water, which is great for hydration. Vegetable soup can be a great addition to a child’s hydration this winter.

Try infused water by adding fresh fruits, vegetables slices and herbs to room temperature water as a way to entice children to drink.

3. Get enough sleep

During sleep, the immune system releases proteins called cytokines, some of which help promote sleep. Certain cytokines need to increase when a person has an infection or inflammation, or is under stress. Sleep deprivation may decrease the production of these protective cytokines. In addition, infection-fighting antibodies and cells are reduced during periods when children don’t get enough sleep. Some advice for encouraging sleep includes:

Use rooibos tea (with or without milk) as a sleep antidote for children. Additionally, Laager Rooibos Tea4kidz Apple & Berry flavours and Peach & Apricot flavour are enriched with vitamin C to help support the child’s immunity.

Ensure the child is comfortable and that their bedroom, pyjamas and bedding are at the right temperature to reduce fussiness and restlessness during sleep time.

Taking a warm bath before bedtime can encourage a better night’s sleep for children.