How to boost a baby's immune system?

[zorrow]

We're travelling in less than two weeks to Ft Myers, South Florida. Our baby is coming with us (he's 1 y/o), but me and my wife plan to go two days to Tampa Bay without him. He will stay at my wife's half-brother's a couple of nights.

As our baby falls sick quite often, I wonder if there's anything we can give him in order to boost his immune system.

Do you guys have any suggestion that would work for a baby?

TIA!

[mathman]

I would love to be able to tell you something special but alas, I can't. Healthy foods, anything natural I would guess. I don't want to presume but mother's milk is usually good. What are you planning to do in Tampa?

[BubbaVO]

Be really careful about trying to "boost" an immune system in a baby - it usually gets stronger from over coming illness in the first place.

Make sure your baby gets plenty to eat and sleep. Feedings / naps / playtime / bedtime routines, to the extent you have them already, should be followed by the care giver exactly. Get them to swear to honor your wishes on whatever they deem sacred - it's really that important.

[murkat]

^ +1.

momma milk.

[zenmindbeginner]

Tell your wife's half brother's family to wash their hands often... look em' in the eye and say that the baby's health depends upon it. In fact, if they are gonna touch your baby, and they are at home, they should have clean hands.

Make sure the baby gets a bit of direct sunlight everyday and totally make sure that they try and follow your routine as close as possible and not to disturb the baby as to stress him too much.

Make sure he gets enough to drink. Keep household pets away from him as much as is possible, don't let younger children handle him much because they most likely have dirty hands.

I wish him a strong constitution on his first big trip. There are tons of germs in the airport and the plane, your goal is to get as few as possible to transmit to your son... be careful of door handles, faucets and countertops. If your son gets a big ol' dose of a nasty bug, it will most likely be an adult who transmitted it to him, because he will be isolated in his chair, stroller etc. Good luck man!

[lincsman]

I have A 5 year old boy and a 3 year old girl and another one due in August,I have had this website in my Favorites for over 5 years and been a good guide for me.

http://www.parents.com/toddlers-preschoolers/health/cough/boost-childs-immunity/

Hope this is of help.

[burningyen]

The thinking these days is that overprotecting and creating *too* much of an antiseptic environment might actually do more harm than good and lead to the development of allergies. Kids get sick, it's what they do. As has already been mentioned, overcoming illness and mother's milk are the ultimate immune system boosters.

[tbonesullivan]

i'd say make sure they drink a lot of water/fluid. A lot of babies, and adults as well, are in a near constant state of dehydration, which can lessen immune response.

For foods, I'd say just normal nutritious food, maybe with some multi vitamins to make sure they are getting the RDA of all the nutrients. Though, studies have found that most people who take vitamins are ones already thinking about eating a balanced diet with nutrients, and don't need them anyway.

[gtone]

We gave this to our boys when they were babies (in some juice) and they were healthy as horses:

http://www.rxmed.com/b.main/b2.pharmaceutical/b2.1.monographs/CPS-%20Monographs/CPS-%20(General%20Monographs-%20T)/TRI-vi-sol.html

Good luck and safe travels, Ionel!

[gorch]

^ +1.

momma milk.

2nd after momma milk: untouched, organic, original cow milk!

We've given all our children udder-warm fresh cow milk - no issues on the health front.

If you can get it from organic farmers, you are on the good side.

[hamerhead]

Pizza and beer. I never get sick.

KIds are supposed to get sick. And they are extremely resilient. They need to get dirty and catch things and be exposed and all that. Like BubbaVO says, that's what makes them stronger. Artificially boosting his system now may lead to bigger problems down the road. Feed him normal healthy stuff, and the rest will take care of itself.

...And if you think he's sick a lot now, just wait 'til he's in daycare or pre-school. The little bastards pick up everything.

[Bobby Marshall]

If this is sorrow's first child it is still little early for him to use phrases like little bastards. Two more years and then he will be one of us.

Just be conscious of items above when you are with your child and hope your wife's family understands her concerns. Most families could care less about what the in-law thinks and usually go against the in-law out of spite alone. And I think I am a pretty caring person.

Have an enjoyable vacation.

[zorrow]

LOL! No, he's not my first one. I have an 11 y/o daughter.

The little bastard is exactly 15 m/o and he's going to daycare since he was 9 m/o. Since then, he has been sick all the time. Nevertheless, he was drinking from his mother until he was exactly 1 year old.

Lately, I've been giving to him cod liver oil, with questionnable results. Someone also told me about echinacea, but not sure how safe it could be on babies or on very young kids.

In any case, the facts are that this guy is way weaker than what his sister was. I do know kids get sick, but man, this one gets everything and gets it constantly. He has been no more than two weeks in a row without having anything, as far as I can remember. Maybe we should put him away from daycare for two months or something? Well, if it was at least "doable"! Anyway, I don' know... Just hope he'll be OK in Florida with my wife's relatives --and also hope the beach will do him some good (I've heard good things about the sea and the immune system).

Thanks a lot for the support guys, and for the kind words and good advices --will check your links out right away.

[Thundernotes]

Daycare is a disease mill anyway. I remember my kids bringing home every hacking-sneezing-puking thing that was going around. Parents gotta go to work and that means sending junior to daycare no matter how sick they are.

Sunshine and fluids. Wash hands often

[ecnal]

Careful, just mentioning (or Googling) the phrase "immune system" tends to draw out quacks and untested, unproven, anecdotal home remedy enthusiasts. (I'm not talking about people in this thread, but am talking about all the internet experts out there, many of whom make a living selling BS to anxious parents).

Handwashing and common sense isn't a bad idea though. Be suspicious of anyone hawking supplements or magic bullets.

Disclaimer: I'm no expert, just a skeptic.

[gorch]

A strong immune system requires to be developed. There is also a psychological factor in strong health. Maybe he, already, has recognized that Canada is not a warm place to live so Florida might adjust him a bit.

[hamerhead]

this one gets everything and gets it constantly.

My youngest was like that. Caught anything and everything. She's almost 18 now, and is as much a normal pain-in-the-ass as her older sister.

It works out.