Tips For Keeping Your Baby/Children Healthy

Everyone wants to do whatever they can to make sure they are keeping their children as healthy as can be – especially with the current pandemic.  Still, it’s not realistic to think we can guarantee our kids’ health year-round, simply because they are exposed to so many different things as they grow. We should also keep in mind that it’s not necessarily bad for them to experience different illnesses and environments that can help build up their immune system for later in life. Try out these tips to help your little ones stay healthy as possible – physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Encourage Physical and Mental Exercise 

Find a healthy balance of exercise and imaginative play! It is suggested that kids and teens be active for at least 1 hour a day and should engage in activities that raise their heart rates and strengthen their muscles and bones. Going on bike rides, playing at a park, or enrolling them in sports are fun ways to get them moving. Don’t forget to let their imaginations run wild as well! Imaginative play is great for their development. 

Provide a Balanced Diet

It is important to make healthy meals and snacks readily available to your children. This consists of plenty of fruits, vegetables, and water with limited exposure to added sugars. However, you don’t want to completely ban junk food from kids’ diets, rather use the junk food to help them learn a valuable lesson about moderation. Teaching them about finding the right balance of healthy foods and junk foods can be the key to setting them up for a healthy relationship with nutrition later in life.

Let Out Feelings

You can help boost your child’s well-being by recognizing and respecting their feelings. Stress weakens the immune system, but by teaching your children healthy ways to cope with their emotions and talk about their feelings you are in turn strengthening their body’s ability to stay healthy.

Teach healthy habits

Help your kids develop skills to make healthy choices every day. Some great healthy habits are washing hands frequently and getting adequate sleep. Especially with recent events surrounding COVID-19, we understand now more than ever the importance of good hygiene to prevent the spread of germs. Sleep is another very important part of the immune system’s development. Kids who are sleep-deprived are more susceptible to germs taking hold within their body.  Encourage periods of rest when needed, either with an afternoon nap or with just some quiet time spent in their room, and try to stick with an age-appropriate bedtime each night.

Of course, we know that there is no ‘perfect’ way to parent, but we hope these tips help you incorporate some easy, healthy habits into your routine. Check in with your pediatrician for more advice on your child’s well-being.

Looking for more educational opportunities on health and wellness? Visit The Nest’s online calendar or contact them at 863-578-8633.