Colds and flu are a fact of life, but there are smart steps you can take to help keep your kids healthy.
What can you do to protect your child from the endless array of germs they encounter? Well, in some ways, getting sick is simply part of a kid’s job description—and sometimes, it’s actually beneficial to help them build up their immune system.
“We all enter this world with an inexperienced immune system,” says Charles Shubin, M.D., an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Maryland. Slowly, children boost their immune systems by battling an ongoing series of bacteria, viruses, and other organisms—which is why many pediatricians consider six to eight colds, bouts of flu, or ear infections per year normal.
That said, some healthy habits can serve as an immune booster for kids—helping their immune system more effectively fight off pathogens and help them recover faster. Learn what you can do to help boost your kid’s immune system.