Flu is a serious illness in children younger than 5 years of age that leads to thousands of hospitalizations every year.
As a renowned and experienced pediatric center in Alpharetta, we know how difficult it is for parents when their little one gets sick. Children are often at higher risk of getting infected during the seasonal change.
Pediatricians estimate that children might catch the cold as many as five to six times a year on average.
Here are some tips to keep your child flu free this season.
1. Teach Your Child How to Wash Hands Properly
Teaching your children the proper hand-washing techniques at a young age is the best way to keep them healthy. Regular hand washing with soap reduces the risk of spreading germs and helps protect your children from contagious infections.
2. Encourage Healthy Eating Habits
A balanced diet provides essential vitamins, minerals, and proteins needed to develop strong immune systems. Limit the amount of sugar and encourage your child to eat fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Consuming a lot of sugar can negatively affect your child’s immune system.
For any concerns regarding the foods that are best for your child, it is always better to talk to a pediatrician.
3. Don’t Underestimate the Benefits of Good Sleep
A lack of sleep not only makes your little one much crankier but also impacts their immune system negatively. Depending on their age, children are recommended to get 9 to 14 hours of sleep per day. Sleep helps in repairing cells from within and keeps the body functioning at an optimum level. So, make sure to set a reasonable bedtime for your children.
4. Keep Your Child Hydrated
Staying well hydrated is essential for everyone, including your children, to help the immune system work properly. Make sure your child drinks plenty of water throughout the day.
5. Stay Up to date on Vaccinations
Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent serious illness which enhances immune response. Vaccinating your child against all recommended illnesses can help protect them against illnesses, including flu. Vaccines not only decrease the chances of contracting the illness but also make it less severe if they catch a virus.
Getting in touch with a pediatric centeris the easiest way for parents and guardians to stay up to date on vaccinations for kids.
6. Encourage Physical Activity
Nowadays children as young as 2 to 3 years are often glued to TV screens or mobile phones. Encourage your children to spend time outdoors and engage in physical activity. This increases their overall well-being. Also, sunlight is a natural source of vitamin D, which can boost immune response and reduce the risk of infection.
7. Teach Your Children Healthy Habits
Another thing recommended by pediatricians is to teach your children healthy habits. Instead of using hands, teach your children to cough and sneeze into elbows to prevent the spreading of airborne germs from touch. You can also teach them the habit of carrying a small bottle of hand sanitizer to ensure they clean their hands frequently and minimize the chance of illness. Most germs and viruses are passed on due to poor hygiene.
Conclusion:
Keeping your child safe from cold and flu is not an uphill task, you can follow the simple tips to minimize their risks. At Sun Pediatrics, we are a leading pediatric center in Alpharetta, specializing in providing comprehensive medical care to keep kids happy and healthy. Our goal is to provide quality health care to attain optimal by understanding your child’s health and pediatric needs.
