7 Life-Saving Hacks for Keeping Kids Healthy This Winter 2019-2020

Winters are finally knocking the doors and, unfortunately, so as the season brings cold and flu as well. While winters must be time for sipping hot cocoa and building snowmen, it’s often undertaken by germs, infections, and illnesses. Since children are very prone to sickness, you’ll need to consider some extra initiatives to keep your kids healthy and active this winter. Here are some of the best life-saving hacks that can boost your kids’ immune system this winter. Consider them to make this season bring a little merrier and happier!

1. Kids and Immunity booster foods and drinksThe stronger your child’s immunity system would be the less he/she will be affected by cold and flu. Proper intake of vitamin- and nutrient-rich foods and drinks is the best way to boost the immune system and keeping a bay from diseases. You can choose to incorporate the following healthy foods to your child’s diet this winter:

• Beef - contains zinc, which boosts the production of the white blood cells your child that can help in destroying bacteria and germs.
  Fresh fruits rich in vitamin C—oranges, pomegranates, strawberries, and raspberries all contain a good amount of this essential vitamin.
• Garlic - contains allicin which is a compound that fights back with bacteria and infection.
• Yogurt contains probiotics - yogurt will help to keep the digestive system free from disease-causing germs.
  Much like your home requires extra energy to stay warm during the winter’s your child’s body will need some extra nutrients to fight viruses and infections when they do strike.

2. Limit your child’s sugar intake
Winter season brings a lot of festivities which often include sugary snacks that can wreak havoc on a child’s body. Excessive intake of sugar will not only depress the immune system but also causes systemic inflammation in the body. As a result, kids who eat a lot of sugar & sweets become likely candidates for the cold, flu, and more.

3. Keep your kids hydrated all timeA glass of water is probably the last thing kids want during the winter, but it’s what their bodies actually need in order to fight back with infection and illness. Water is not only rich in nutrients, vitamins, and cells but it also sweeps off toxins from the body. Thus, dehydration increases a child’s risk of getting sick. Experts always recommend children to drink water half of their weight in ounces every day. So, if your child weighs 50 pounds, try to get them to drink 25 ounces of water each day.

4. Make Sure your child is getting enough sleepSleep is very essential for a body to remain fit and get a healthy immune system which allows the body to heal and repair itself. If you’re not sure how much your child needs sleep, here is a quick review:

• 12-18 hours per night for babies younger than 1 year.
• 12-14 hours each night for toddlers ages 1-3 years.
• 11-13 hours per night for preschoolers between the ages of 3 and 5 years.
• Between 10 and 11 hours each night kids ages 5-10.

With an increased amount of germs present in the body, your child will need a little extra time during the winter to fully convalesce.

5. Cheer up your kids to get relax
Whether it is a holiday party, traveling to visit friends and family members, and shopping for holiday gifts, winters remain busy time. As adults can manage the increase in stress but children’s immune systems tend to weaken amid all the hustle and bustle.

6. Teach your kids to wash their hands
However, hand washing is a basic thing that remains ignored by parents. Hands serve as an increase in germs to a child’s bodies, so the cleaner they are, the less likely a child would develop a winter illness or infection. Teach your kids to wash their hands:

• Before and after each meal
• After touching dirt, garbage, animals, or another person
• After sneezing, coughing, blowing their nose
• Ensure that your kids always wash their hands with both soap and water and for at least 30 seconds.

7. Take your child to the doctor for regular checkups
Most winter illnesses clear up on their own after only a few days, but some can turn into more serious medical issues. Contact your doctor right away if your child exhibits any of the following symptoms like fever, very sore throat combined with a fever, vomiting and/or diarrhea, wheezing and/or trouble breathing (this could be a sign of pneumonia).